By Steven Grant, Mike Zeck & John Beatty, Jo Duffy & Mike Vosburg (Marvel)
ISBN: 0-87135-394-6
The story goes that Marvel Comics were reluctant to give Frank Castle a starring vehicle in their standard colour comic-book line, feeling that the character’s very nature made him a bad guy and not a good one. Debuting as a villain in Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February 1974), the Punisher was created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru, a response to such increasingly popular prose anti-heroes as Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan: the Executioner and other returning Viet Nam vets who all turned their training and talents to wiping out organised crime.
Castle saw his family gunned down in Central Park after witnessing a mob hit, and thence dedicated his life to eradicating criminals everywhere. His methods are violent and permanent. It’s intriguing to note that unlike most heroes who debuted as villains (Wolverine comes to mind) the Punisher actually became more immoral, anti-social and murderous, not less: the buying public shifted its communal perspective – Castle never toned down or cleaned up his act…
As well as his many “hero-or-villain†appearances in other character’s series the crazed crime-crusher had previously starred in Marvel Preview #2 (1975) and Marvel Super Action #1 (1976), but as these were both black and white magazines aimed at a far more mature audience, writer Steven Grant and penciller Mike Zeck apparently had an uphill struggle convincing editors to let the grim, gun-crazed maniac loose in that shiny world where little kids might fixate on a dangerous role model – and their parents might get all over-protective, litigious and shirty…
In 1985 they finally got the green-light and the five issue miniseries turned the industry on its head, although there was indeed plenty of controversy to go around – especially as the series had a “hero†who had lots of illicit sex and killed his enemies in cold blood. Also causing problems for censorious eyes were the suicide of one of the major characters and the murder of innocent children. Doesn’t it make you proud to realise how far we’ve since come…
The company mitigated the potential fall-out with the most lacklustre PR campaign in history, but not telling anybody about The Punisher didn’t stop the series from becoming a runaway, barnstorming success. The rest is history…
Two years later as the graphic novel market was finally getting established and with Frank Castle one of the biggest draws in comics (sorry, I’m such a child sometimes) that contentious series was released as a complete book and it remains one of the very best of all his many exploits.
The action begins in ‘Circle of Blood’ as Frank Castle is locked in Ryker’s Island prison where every inmate is queuing up to kill him. Within hours though he has turned the tables and terrified the General Population, but knows that both old foe Jigsaw and the last of the great mob “Godfathers†have special plans for him…
When a mass breakout frees all the cons Castle brutally steps in. For this he is allowed to escape by the warden, who casually offers him membership in The Trust, an organisation of “Right-minded, law-abiding citizens†who approve of his crusade against crime. Castle also discovers he’s being stalked by Tony Massera, a good man from a bad family.
‘Back to the War’ finds the Punisher back on the streets hunting scum, supplied by the Trust but still not a part of their organisation. After an abortive attempt to blow up The Kingpin, he is saved by the mysterious Angel, and begins a liaison with her. Tony wants to kill him to avenge his father, one of Punisher’s many gory successes – but only after the streets have been swept clean of scum like the rest of his own family…
With everybody believing the master of New York’s underworld dead, a bloody gang-war erupts with greedy sub-bosses all trying to claim the top spot, but by the events of ‘Slaughterday’ Castle realises that too many innocents are getting caught in the crossfires. He also discovers in ‘Final Solution’ that the Trust have their own national agenda as hit men and brainwashed criminals dressed in his costume are out there, executing mobsters and fanning the flames…
All the Trust’s plans for this “Punishment Squad†and the country are uncovered in the blockbusting conclusion ‘Final Solution Part 2’ as all the pieces fall into place and the surviving players reveal their true allegiances. In a classy final chapter mysteriously completed by the highly underrated Jo Duffy and Mike Vosburg, from Grant’s original plot, The Punisher takes charge in his inimitable manner, leaving God to sort out the paperwork….
We can only speculate as to why the originators fell away at the last hurdle, but I’m pretty sure those same reluctant editors played some part in it all…
This superbly gritty, morally ambiguous if not actually ethically challenging drama never ceases to thrill and amaze, and has been reprinted a number of times: in the black and white compilation Essential Punisher volume 1, as Punisher: Circle of Blood, in hardback editions (2006 and 2008) and of course, as the satisfyingly heavy calibre softcover graphic novel (with a new original painted Zeck cover) under review here.
Whichever version suits your inclinations and wallet, if you love action, cherish costumed comics adventure and crave the occasional dose of gratuitous personal justice this one should be at the top of your “Most Wanted†list.
© 1988 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.