These phonebook-sized, B&W, value-priced collections each contain about 25 issues each. Volume 1 is almost entirely comprised of The Punisher's chronological early appearances from all around the Marvel Universe before he had his own title, whereas the other volumes are just consecutive issues of his solo series.
— Description from Comic Vine community (comicvine.gamespot.com · https://comicvine.gamespot.com/essential-punisher/4050-25928/).
