The Punisher to return in new Netflix series
The latest Netflix series based on Marvel Comics characters is set for a Nov. 17 debut. After appearing as a guest star in the second series of “Daredevil,” the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) now will get his own series.
According to Netflix, the Punisher will uncover a conspiracy that runs deeper than New York’s criminal underworld.
Marvel Television President Jeph Loeb told Inverse in October that no changes were made to the Netflix series based on recent gun violence.
“It hasn’t changed the television series; the show is not predominantly about gun violence, and in fact it shows you the problems that occur in that world,” Loeb said.
The Punisher has been the main character of three films; 1989’s “The Punisher,” starring Dolph Lundgren; 2004’s “The Punisher,” starring Thomas Jane; and 2008’s “Punisher War Zone,” starring Ray Stevenson.
In the comics, after the mob killed his family, Frank Castle became the vigilante known as The Punisher, becoming judge, jury and executioner for those who crossed ways with the law.
The character was first introduced as an antihero to serve as a foil for Spider-Man.
In 1974, writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru introduced The Punisher in “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 129. The Punisher’s death’shead costume, with the teeth of the skeleton formed by his cartridge belt, was designed by then-Marvel art director John Romita.
The Punisher declared war on crime, shooting down those the law couldn’t apprehend.
He clashed with Spider-Man when the Punisher was misled into believing Spidey was a villain.
The Punisher was a popular guest-star, popping up in the pages of “Amazing Spider-Man,” “Daredevil” and “Captain America.”
The Punisher first starred in his own series in 1986, written by Steven Grant with art by Mike Zeck.
The Punisher is imprisoned as the series begins, but his release by a shadowy organization begins a blood feud among New York’s crime families.
These early appearances were collected in September in the “Punisher: Back to the War” omnibus edition.
Mike Baron, Chuck Dixon, Carl Potts and others wrote the Punisher’s adventures throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, with artists that include Jim Lee, John Romita Jr. and Whilce Portacio.
It’s likely that the Punisher wouldn’t have become the ubiquitous comic-book star he became in the 1980s without Baron’s work on the character.
Baron kept up the Punisher’s solo tales for several more years, establishing Castle as an anti-hero and introducing his assistant, Microchip.
The Punisher for a time supported three ongoing series and a host of miniseries. By 1996, however, the character’s overexposure led to his cancellation.
In 1998, the Punisher returned as Chris Golden and artist Berni Wrightson created a supernatural version of the Punisher who fought demons.
After middling sales, British writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, the creative team behind the DC-Vertigo mature readers hit “Preacher,” were brought in to bring the character back to basics.
Ennis brought back the killing machine of the mid-1980s, but infused the title with a black humor that made the Punisher a must-read again.
Ennis’ first story, “Welcome Back, Frank,” was released as a 12-issue miniseries.
Ennis wrote 37 issues of a monthly “Punisher” series before moving the character into Marvel’s adults-only line for “Punisher MAX.”
The character in recent years has had fairly successful comic-book runs written by Greg Rucka, Nathan Edmondson and Becky Cloonan.
As part of “Marvel Legacy,” the character gets a new start with “Punisher” #218, an issue number that combines the numbering of the previous volumes. In the new story, written by Matthew Rosenberg with art by Guiu Vilanova, the Punisher will acquire the heavily powered armor of War Machine. That issue goes on sale Wednesday.