Synopsis for "Crackdown"

Infamous "Blackface Arc" Part 2 of 3

Like the last issue the comic is largely self-contained but still a part of the larger arc with Punisher turning black and going by Rook. As we left our heroes, Punisher owes Cage a large chunk of cash for his services in helping Frank getting his gear back. Frank’s first assignment for Cage was to go in to an Apartment complex/Drug base/Gang safe-house posing as a crack head.

He cases out the joint while in there and meets the drug supplier, a White man by the name of Mr. Rudy. After learning of Rudy’s plan Frank escapes from the building with the help of Cage. Once the place is cased out, the duo begins working on a plan to take down the gang and free the building from their control. Before enacting their plan the Heroes for Hire meet up with the spokeswoman for the apartment residents and discuss the plan. The dynamic duo discovers there are some hostages in the building and that they must go in without killing to save them. This brings up a sore spot for Frank and Luke as the two don’t agree on killing.

Frank takes the “Whatever it takes” position and Luke is more about doing it as clean as possible for public image sake (as his business depends on it). The pair eventually takes down the gang with some struggle. Frank kills off Rudy and the other members of the guard but the information of his location makes it all the way to Kingpin’s assassin and the crime leader of Chicago. The issue ends on the two plotting to take down Cage and The Punisher.

So the issue is about Frank paying the Hero for Hire back through helping on several small jobs and one large job: Clearing out an apartment complex’s gang headquarters. Throughout the issue we learn more about Frank and Luke’s rocky partnership. Frank’s whatever it takes (including death) attitude goes directly against Luke’s no killing policy. This raises tension between the two as the big job comes along and Frank wants to go in and kill them all, but Cage prevents him for the most part.

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