Lately it seems like the public is more interested in finding out about the darker of the super heroes. The whole Batman series is a prime example of this. Now it has extended to the animated versions as well.
Avengers Confidential’s latest coupling brings together the Black Widow and Punisher. Both are dark and not much information is known about them. This combination seems to have peeked fans’ interest. Unfortunately despite the oodles of uncharted and limitless potential the makers of this have fallen back on weak clichés.
The Punisher (voiced by Brian Bloom) is doing what he does best – hitting first and asking questions later. This time he is trying to break up an illegal arms deal being led by Cain (voiced by Kyle Hebert). Not a master of delicacy in doing so he has pissed off S.H.I.E.L.D. and gets a lecture about it from Nick Fury (voiced by John Eric Bentley). The result is that the Punisher now becomes a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is forced to work with the Black Widow (voiced by Jennifer Carpenter) on a case involving the dismantling of the terrorist group Leviathan. This group runs arms and has stolen a S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons system. The closer they get to the truth the more they realize that this is bigger than anyone thought.
Zero creativity in a story that was begging for and open to it. Too bad as it is an opportunity missed. Even though these two characters are pretty much blank slates that they could do anything with they end up going with the safe and boring choices. It is cool that the two unlikely heroes are paired up but the good ends there.
It obvious that they wanted to focus on the dark and dangerous aspects of these two super heroes but it really feels forced. Plus they don’t really have any kind of a story to fall back on so they end up just stuffing in action scenes haphazardly. It is all rather predictable and boring.
Special Features: Digital Copy, Conceptual Art Gallery, The Vigilante vs. The Spy, Espionage and Punishment
