Punisher (2009 series)

Last updated
Punisher
Punisherno12009.jpg
Variant cover art to Punisher (2009 series), #1. Art by Mike McKone. A tribute to the cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #129
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateMarch 2009 – November 2010
No. of issues21
1 Annual
1 "Dark Reign" one-shot
Main character(s) Frank Castle/Punisher
Creative team
Created by Rick Remender
Jerome Opena
Written by Rick Remender
Artist(s)Jerome Opena
Tan Eng Huat
Tony Moore
Roland Boschi
John Romita, Jr. (List one-shot)

Punisher, retitled Franken-Castle from issue #17 on, is a Marvel Comics comic book series featuring the character Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher. Spinning out of the second Punisher War Journal series by writer Matt Fraction, this series of Punisher places the character firmly in the ongoing Marvel Universe inhabited by superheroes such as the Avengers and Spider-Man, and super-villains such as Doctor Doom and the Masters of Evil. [1] For the majority of issues released, the series had tied into the ongoing events of Marvel's line-wide "Dark Reign" storyline, opening with Castle attempting to assassinate Norman Osborn. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

After the events of "Dark Reign", Castle was dismembered and killed by Wolverine's son, Daken, and reassembled as a Frankenstein monster by Morbius and the Legion of Monsters. [6]

Publication history

The story continued in Punisher: In the Blood .

Story arcs

"Living in Darkness" (#1–5)

After Norman Osborn positions himself as "humanity's savior" following the "Secret Invasion", he becomes the foremost national security officer in the country and disbands S.H.I.E.L.D., placing a new organization, H.A.M.M.E.R., in its place. Holding Osborn accountable for his actions as the supervillain Green Goblin, the Punisher plans to assassinate Osborn. Joining forces with a new, tech-savvy young partner, Castle sets about taking Osborn down. Castle, normally favoring simple ends to his targets, must adapt his methods to Osborn's far-reaching influence and deep-seated corruption. Castle and his new associate Henry Russo elect to gather evidence of the former Green Goblin's wrongdoing in order to completely destroy his newfound reputation and end his Dark Reign once and for all. Osborn, on the other hand, has an associate waiting in the wings to get rid of the Punisher. [7]

"Dead End" (#6–10, Annual #1)

The Hood's crime organization grows at an alarming rate, eluding the authorities of New York City, most of the superhero population, and Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R. The Punisher positions himself as the only thing resembling consequence and makes it a personal mission to bring Hood and his organization down. Although, Hood is ready for him in the form of the "Deadly Dozen," a highly trained team ready to move in on Castle and eliminate him. [8] And in the monthly's first Annual, Punisher moves in on criminals of New York City before being confronted by a dangerously strong and agile hypnotized foe: Spider-Man. [9]

Dark Reign: The List – Punisher #1

Going down his list of enemies to eliminate before ascending to, what he deems, "control of the world," Norman Osborn arrives at the man who made his list after attempting to assassinate him: Frank Castle. Devoting the entirety of H.A.M.M.E.R.'s resources to the elimination of the Punisher, Osborn is surprised at the vigilante's resourcefulness in evading H.A.M.M.E.R. ground forces. To remedy this, he dispatches Daken, the Avengers' dark reflection of Wolverine, to eliminate Castle once and for all. Finding him in a New York City sewer, a fight to the death ensues between the Dark Wolverine and the Punisher. The Punisher does well, and manages to fight on par with Daken, but the mutant's healing factor proved too much for Castle, and Daken eventually cut both his arms off before decapitating him. [10]

"Dead and Alive" (#11–16)

Morbius and the Legion of Monsters reconstruct Frank as a Frankenstein monster. Morbius "re-composed" Castle, hoping his military experience, tactical mindset and leadership would help the Legion of Monsters overcome a society that has been hunting them down. However, Frank rejected the group upon waking up and left their base. He stayed in the tunnels, unaware the Legion was being slaughtered by the Japanese society. A creature who previously offered Frank food fled to him for help, but died at his doorstep. Frank joins in the fight to protect the innocent 'monstrous' entities being targeted by their enemies. [11]

"Missing Pieces" (#17–21)

The series was retitled Franken-Castle starting here.

After being revived, Frank must find a way to live with his new limitations and make peace with what he has become. To do this, he hits the streets once again to punish the guilty, and begins to formulate a plan of vengeance against the man who killed him. [12]

Daken, later seen at a nightclub, is attacked by the now monstrous Punisher, who is seeking revenge. After a brutal fight Daken is defeated but decides to hunt Franken-Castle to continue the fight and retrieve the Bloodstone integrated into Fraken-Castle's new physical form. [13] After following Franken-Castle's trail, Daken encounters a series of devastating traps before meeting his foe again. After a second brutal hand-to-hand battle, Daken is severely injured and retreats. Franken-Castle finds him and, after damaging Daken even more, is about to throw him into a mass of concrete foundation (presumably to kill him). However, Franken-Castle is stabbed in the chest from behind, by Wolverine, who states he is intervening in his plans to kill his son. [14]

Franken-Castle knocks Wolverine unconscious; however, Daken manages to slip away. Franken-Castle tries to avoid him, but Daken crashes into the vehicle and moves Franken-Castle's gem into his chest becoming invulnerable and attacks again. Wolverine and Franken-Castle are forced to work together to combat Daken because the effects of the Bloodgem on Daken's healing factor are disastrous. During their battle on the rooftop, Franken-Castle finally takes down the insane Daken. After Daken was defeated, Wolverine removes the gems from his son and gives it to Franken-Castle and the scene ends with Wolverine alone on a rooftop. [15] [16]

After his fight with Daken, Punisher returns to Monster Island and the Bloodstone seems to have returned him to normal but he starts growing insane and the monster within the Bloodgem is starting to take control of him. The Legion of Monsters decide to take him down and retrieve the Bloodstone from him with the help of Elsa Bloodstone. Though Manphibian attempts to talk some sense into the Punisher, Elsa decides to just shoot him and take the stone from him. This angers Punisher and he fights and defeats Elsa in a jungle but before he could finish her off Werewolf by Night intervened and saved Elsa. Then the Living Mummy convinces Frank to give up the gem and walk away. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]

Prints

Issues

The first 16 issues were simply titled Punisher.

No.Title Cover date Comic Book Roundup ratingEstimated sales (first month)
#1Living in DarknessMarch 20097.2 by four professional critics. [32] 43,863, ranked 33rd in North America [33]
#2Living in Darkness Part 2April 20097.9 by five professional critics. [34] 36,519, ranked 39th in North America [35]
#3Living in Darkness Part 3May 20097.4 by four professional critics. [36] 37,564, ranked 39th in North America [37]
#4Living in Darkness Part 4June 20097.6 by three professional critics. [38] 36,992, ranked 57th in North America [39]
#5Living in Darkness Part 5July 20098.1 by four professional critics. [40] 35,621, ranked 44th in North America [41]
#6Dead EndAugust 20098.0 by two professional critics. [42] 32,969, ranked 59th in North America [43]
#7Dead End: Chapter 2September 20096.8 by two professional critics. [44] 31,206, ranked 62nd in North America [45]
#8Dead End: Chapter 3October 20096.0 by three professional critics. [46] 33,022, ranked 65th in North America [47]
#9Dead End: Chapter 4November 20096.0 by one professional critic. [48] 28,400, ranked 89th in North America [49]
#10Dead End: Chapter 5December 20098.2 by two professional critics. [50] 27,151, ranked 74th in North America [51]
#11FrankenCastle: Chapter 1January 20108.5 by six professional critics. [52] 24,978, ranked 83rd in North America [53]
#12FrankenCastle: Chapter 2February 20107.3 by four professional critics. [54] 24,985, ranked 84th in North America [55]
#13FrankenCastle: Chapter 3March 20109.0 by three professional critics. [56] 23,734, ranked 83rd in North America [57]
#14FrankenCastle: Chapter 4April 20109.8 by two professional critics. [58] 23,455, ranked 78th in North America [59]
#15FrankenCastle: Chapter 5May 20108.2 by four professional critics. [60] 22,286, ranked 93rd in North America [61]
#16Franken-Castle (Conclusion)June, 20108.5 by two professional critics. [62] 23,047, ranked 84th in North America [63]

As of issue 17 the series was officially retitled Franken-Castle.

No.Title Cover date Comic Book Roundup ratingEstimated sales (first month)
#17Missing PiecesAugust 20108.2 by five professional critics. [64] 22,378, ranked 92nd in North America [65]
#18August 20105.3 by three professional critics. [66] 19,605, ranked 105th in North America [67]
#19September 20107.6 by four professional critics. [68] 24,947, ranked 83rd in North America [69]
#20November 20104.0 by one professional critic. [70] 24,304, ranked 80th in North America [71]
#21November 20107.6 by five professional critics. [72] 20,036, ranked 105th in North America [73]

Annuals

TitleBetweenPages Cover date Release date Comic Book Roundup ratingEstimated sales (first month)Rated
"Remote Control"Issue 9 and 1040November 2009September 30, 2009 [74] 5.7 by three professional critics. [75] 25,528, ranked 97th in North America [76] PAL

One-shots

NameTie-in toPages Variants Publication datesUPC Comic Book
Roundup rating		Estimated sales
(first month)
Dark Reign: The List -
Punisher - #1 "A Good Lie"		Dark Reign48 [77] Original
Second printing [78]
Hero Variant [79]
Marvel Unlimited 		October 28, 2009
October 28, 2009
October 28, 2009
March 1, 2011 [80] 		UPC   5960606915-00111 8.5 by six critics. [81] 36,769, ranked 52nd in NA [82]

Collected editions

Title
[Tagline]		FormatMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBNEstimated sales
(North America)		Rated
Punisher, Vol. 1: Dark Reign Trade paperback
Hardcover HC		Punisher (2009) #1–5136November 18, 2009 978-0-7851-4069-6
978-0-7851-3997-3
Punisher, Vol. 2: Dead End Trade paperback
Hardcover HC		Punisher (2009) #6–10
Punisher Annual #1		168December 16, 2009 978-0-7851-4162-4
978-0-7851-4278-2
Punisher, Vol. 3: Franken-Castle Trade paperback
Hardcover HC		Dark Reign: The List - Punisher
Punisher (2009) #11-16
Franken-Castle #17-21
Dark Wolverine #88-89		344April 27, 2011 978-0-7851-4420-5
978-0-7851-4754-1 		PAL
Title
[Tagline]		FormatMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
UPC		Estimated sales
(North America)		Rated
Punisher: Franken-Castle
— The Birth of the Monster		Dark Reign: The List - Punisher
Punisher (2009) #11		48 [83] June 3, 2010 [84] UPC   5960607305-00111
The ListHCDark Reign: The List - Amazing Spider-Man (2010) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Avengers (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Hulk (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Punisher (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Secret Warriors (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Wolverine (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - X-Men (2009) #1		232January 6, 2010 [85] 978-0-7851-4236-2
UPC   5960614236-00111
The ListTPBDark Reign: The List - Amazing Spider-Man (2010) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Avengers (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Hulk (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Punisher (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Secret Warriors (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - Wolverine (2009) #1
Dark Reign: The List - X-Men (2009) #1		232June 30, 2010 [86] 978-0-7851-4806-7
UPC   5960614806-00111 		PAL
Title
[Tagline]		FormatMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBNEstimated sales (North America)Rated
Punisher by Rick Remender OmnibusHardcoverDark Reign: The List - Punisher #1
Dark Wolverine 88-89
Punisher/Franken-Castle 1-21
Punisher (2009) Annual 01
Punisher: In The Blood 1-5		768July 18, 2012 0785162135
978-0785162131 		PAL

Reception

The first 16 issues holds an average rating of 7.8 by 51 professional critics on the review aggregation website Comic Book Roundup. [87] After the series was renamed it holds an average rating of 6.5 by 18 professional critics. [88]

References

  1. ↑ "#1 With a Bullet - Rick Remender Talks New Punisher Series". Newsarama . 9 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Punisher,no. 1(March 2009).Marvel Comics.
  3. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/punisher-villains/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170404225926/http://comicsalliance.com/punisher-villains/
  4. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/rogues-gallery-punisher-enemy-poll/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405013635/http://comicsalliance.com/rogues-gallery-punisher-enemy-poll/
  5. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/rick-remender-on-uncanny-avengers-its-just-a-matter-of-maki/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405013852/http://comicsalliance.com/rick-remender-on-uncanny-avengers-its-just-a-matter-of-maki/
  6. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Punisher,no. 11(January 2010).Marvel Comics.
  7. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Punisher,no. 1-5(March–July 2009).Marvel Comics.
  8. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Punisher,no. 6-10(August–December 2009).Marvel Comics.
  9. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Punisher Annual,no. 1(November 2009).Marvel Comics.
  10. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Dark Reign: The List – Punisher,no. 1(December 2009).Marvel Comics.
  11. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Punisher,no. 11-16(January–June 2010).Marvel Comics.
  12. ↑ Remender, Rick ( w ). Franken-Castle,no. 17(June 2010).Marvel Comics.
  13. ↑ Dark Wolverine #88 (September 2010)
  14. ↑ Franken-Castle #19 (September 2010)
  15. ↑ Dark Wolverine #89 (October 2010)
  16. ↑ Franken-Castle #20 (October 2010)
  17. ↑ Franken-Castle #21 (November 2010)
  18. ↑ Wolkin, David (2010-09-30). "The End of Franken-Castle: Why We'll Miss the Monster". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  19. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/the-punisher-build-a-frank-puts-monster-face-in-fans-hands/ https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://comicsalliance.com/the-punisher-build-a-frank-puts-monster-face-in-fans-hands/
  20. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/heres-the-thing-episode-12-angel-punisher-vs-frankencastle/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170404230633/http://comicsalliance.com/heres-the-thing-episode-12-angel-punisher-vs-frankencastle/
  21. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/cast-party-legion-of-monsters/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170404230945/http://comicsalliance.com/cast-party-legion-of-monsters/
  22. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/marvels-top-five-horror-heroes/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170404231128/http://comicsalliance.com/marvels-top-five-horror-heroes/
  23. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/x-men-serve-and-protect-no-vampires-just-villains-nycc/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170404231343/http://comicsalliance.com/x-men-serve-and-protect-no-vampires-just-villains-nycc/
  24. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/true-stories-of-the-core-marvel-universe/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405011539/http://comicsalliance.com/true-stories-of-the-core-marvel-universe/
  25. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/the-punisher-has-a-nuclear-libido/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405011821/http://comicsalliance.com/the-punisher-has-a-nuclear-libido/
  26. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/the-legend-of-frankencastle-is-immortalized-in-custom-made-plast/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405011939/http://comicsalliance.com/the-legend-of-frankencastle-is-immortalized-in-custom-made-plast/
  27. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/the-outfit-you-wont-be-seeing-in-iron-man-2-or-frankencastle/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405012101/http://comicsalliance.com/the-outfit-you-wont-be-seeing-in-iron-man-2-or-frankencastle/
  28. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/the-punishers-most-ridiculous-moments-ever/ https://web.archive.org/web/20160928061721/http://comicsalliance.com/the-punishers-most-ridiculous-moments-ever/
  29. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/marvel-monster-mash-ups-8-strange-transformations-wed-love-to/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405013134/http://comicsalliance.com/marvel-monster-mash-ups-8-strange-transformations-wed-love-to/
  30. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/punisher-chopped-up-reassembled-as-frankencastle/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405013255/http://comicsalliance.com/punisher-chopped-up-reassembled-as-frankencastle/
  31. ↑ http://comicsalliance.com/extreme-makeover-frankensteiny-punisher-edition/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170405013419/http://comicsalliance.com/extreme-makeover-frankensteiny-punisher-edition/
  32. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #1". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  33. ↑ "January 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  34. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #2". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  35. ↑ "February 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  36. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #3". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  37. ↑ "March 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  38. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #4". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  39. ↑ "April 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  40. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #5". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  41. ↑ "May 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  42. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #6". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  43. ↑ "June 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  44. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #7". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  45. ↑ "July 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  46. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #8". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  47. ↑ "August 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  48. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #9". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  49. ↑ "September 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  50. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #10". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  51. ↑ "October 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  52. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #11". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  53. ↑ "November 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  54. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #12". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  55. ↑ "December 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  56. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #13". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  57. ↑ "January 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  58. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #14". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  59. ↑ "February 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  60. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #15". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  61. ↑ "March 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  62. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009) #16". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  63. ↑ "April 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  64. ↑ "FRANKEN-CASTLE #17". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  65. ↑ "June 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  66. ↑ "FRANKEN-CASTLE #18". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  67. ↑ "June 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  68. ↑ "FRANKEN-CASTLE #19". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  69. ↑ "July 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  70. ↑ "FRANKEN-CASTLE #20". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  71. ↑ "September 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  72. ↑ "FRANKEN-CASTLE #21". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  73. ↑ "September 2010 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  74. ↑ "Punisher Annual (2009) #1 | Comic Issues | Marvel".
  75. ↑ "PUNISHER ANNUAL #1". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  76. ↑ "September 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  77. ↑ "Dark Reign: The List - Punisher (2009) #1 - Comic Book DB". Archived from the original on 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  78. ↑ "Dark Reign: The List - Punisher (2009) #1 - Comic Book DB". Archived from the original on 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  79. ↑ "Dark Reign: The List - Punisher (2009) #1 - Comic Book DB". Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  80. ↑ "Dark Reign: The List - Punisher (2009) #1 | Comic Issues | Marvel".
  81. ↑ "DARK REIGN: THE LIST - PUNISHER". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-06. Issue specific
  82. ↑ "October 2009 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  83. ↑ "Punisher: Franken-Castle — the Birth of the Monster (2010) #1 - Comic Book DB". Archived from the original on 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  84. ↑ "Punisher: Franken-Castle - the Birth of the Monster (2010) #1 | Comic Issues | Marvel".
  85. ↑ "The List (Hardcover)".
  86. ↑ "The List (Trade Paperback)".
  87. ↑ "PUNISHER (2009)". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  88. ↑ "FRANKEN-CASTLE". Comic Book Roundup . Retrieved 2017-07-05.
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