Marvel Teases the Return of the Punisher...But 'Who is the Punisher'?
Marvel released a teaser image suggesting that a brand-new Punisher would be making their debut in the Marvel Universe...or is Frank Castle's return?
Marvel released a teaser today hinting at a brand-new Punisher, with a Rod Reis piece of promotional art simply asking, "Who is the Punisher?" This new Punisher figure has another version of the Punisher's famous skull logo that has caused Marvel some controversy in recent years.
Frank Castle seemed like he was done with the Punisher name at the end of his last series, so it would appear as though this is a brand-new character taking on the mantle of the Punisher. Or has Frank Castle reclaimed the name? Marvel will reveal all of the answers very soon at Comic-Con International at San Diego.
Relaunching The Punisher’s Best Book Is The Only Way To Save Him
The Punisher is apparently done at Marvel Comics, but reviving him in all his gritty glory is the best way to tap into a different market of readers.
The Punisher is one of Marvel's darkest and grittiest characters, and that's exactly why many fans love him. Offering narrative catharsis via a character viciously weaving through a world gone mad, the violent vigilante is in many ways reflective of the time period he was created in. Nevertheless, his themes transcend generations and any real-world controversy that he might inspire, which is exactly why Marvel Comics' best path with the character involves letting him run loose like never before.
Recent mainstream comics have seemingly ended The Punisher forever after changing his story dramatically. It's obvious that Frank Castle's real-world influences might make him a bit contentious to use, but the fact is that he's an immensely marketable character who actually reaches far beyond the publisher's usual superhero audience. Thus, a new book – namely one removed from the Marvel Universe proper – is a great way to vividly and relentlessly showcase what makes The Punisher so beloved, especially since there's already a great example of this formula.
The Punisher Is Marvel's Best Reflection Of Real-World Violence
Created by Gerry Conway, plus the artists John Romita, Sr. and Ross Andru, The Punisher debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 and was a vigilante that antagonized the Webslinger. He would also come into conflict with Daredevil, though the two developed something resembling a respect for each other. A man on a seemingly holy mission, Frank Castle/The Punisher began his crusade against crime when his family was caught in the crossfire of a mafia shootout. He was very much inspired by similar stories and characters of the day, including Paul Kersey from the Death Wish movies, Mack Bolan the Executioner and Remo Williams. The Punisher's presence added more verisimilitude than ever to the Marvel Universe, reminding readers of the rampant crime affecting urban areas such as New York City during the 1970s and 1980s.
By the '80s, The Punisher would receive his own monthly title, with many covers for the various issues even resembling the action blockbusters and young men's adventure novel characters that influenced his creation. Initially written by Mike Baron, this series was a straight-up crime comic and had literal interaction with Marvel's broader superhero characters. To that end, Frank Castle's enemies weren't costumed supervillains, but rather the very human threats of gangs, drug pushers, cartel hitmen, the Mafia, and even corrupt government officials. Even amid the sometimes bombastic action, these stories had a degree of reality to them that simply couldn't be found in the mythological pages of Thor or the cosmic catastrophes experienced in Fantastic Four. He's even darker than the aforementioned Daredevil or even the psychologically twisted Moon Knight, which is part of the character's success.
This would be exemplified even better years later in Garth Ennis' Punisher MAX. Following a successful run in the mainstream Marvel Universe, Ennis helmed a mature audiences title under Marvel's MAX imprint. This book featured stories that were dark, bloodier, sexier, and more depraved than ever. While this could sometimes veer into ridiculousness via comedic killers such as Barracuda, it was many times far more grounded and even poignant. Such was the case in the iconic story arc "The Slavers," in which The Punisher did battle with a group of European sex slave ring operators. These are the stories where The Punisher works best, as it's a type of tale that most Marvel characters simply can't provide. Sadly, these narrative opportunities have been increasingly missed due to the publisher's reticence to use the antihero.
Modern Marvel Comics Have Completely Missed The Point Of The Punisher
Ever since the second Punisher MAX series from writer Jason Aaron ended, The Punisher hasn't quite had a slew of great modern stories, be it within or outside the mainstream Marvel Universe. The one notable exception was The Punisher: Soviet, though this was once again the work of Garth Ennis in the MAX imprint continuity. Most recently, Marvel Comics has radically changed The Punisher's story and modus operandi, making him an operative of The Hand and retconning his entire history and resurrected his deceased wife. Even his iconic skull shirt has been switched out, with the real deal supposedly "co-opted" by controversial real-world figures. While that might be the case, that's no reason to throw away or drastically alter one of Marvel's most iconic characters ever.
Even for those who don't read comic books or follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, The Punisher's entire premise and especially his "costume" are instantly recognizable. It's arguable that, when the popularity inflation of the movies is removed, he's actually far more known and even marketable than heroes such as Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel. In fact, he particularly appeals to more than just superhero and comic book fanboys due to his resemblance to both Wild West gunfighters and the vigilantes of mafia and crime fiction from decades past. This is a huge market for any company to tap into, and while a company owned by Disney might be hesitant to do so, it's a niche that begs to be filled.
In order to allow The Punisher to work best while perhaps skirting as much controversy as possible, a great idea would be to reboot Punisher MAX or to launch a book similar to it. This way, the character is completely removed from the superhero universe of such characters as the household name Spider-Man, allowing him to bloody his hands in a world without talking raccoons or cape-wearing wizards. By being outside mainstream Marvel Comics, the character and his skull shirt thus might not attract the same level of scrutiny as they have in recent years. Likewise, there'd be a product on comic book store shelves that fans of the classic Punisher could enjoy. The same goes for those who might never read a traditional superhero comic book but might be interested in a violent, action-based crime thriller, as a well-done Punisher title would be just that. It's simply a matter of Marvel Comics as a publisher going outside its usual comfort zone while also employing a tactic that's worked wonders in the past. Regardless of how "politically incorrect" he may seem, it's inarguable that The Punisher has several magazines (both in terms of publishing and ammunition) of potential, and it won't be reached by killing him off or changing his clothes.