The Punisher War Zone (1992 series)

Last updated
The Punisher War Zone
Punisher War Zone 1992 cover.jpg
Cover by John Romita Jr. and Klaus R. Janson. Romita's signature can be seen beneath the logo.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication date1992
No. of issues41 + 2 annuals
Main character(s) Punisher
Creative team
Created byChuck Dixon
John Romita Jr.
Written byChuck Dixon (1-11, 25-37, 41, Annual #1-2), Steven Grant (38-40, Annual #1-2)
Artist(s)John Romita Jr.
John Buscema
Joe Kubert
Penciller(s) John Romita Jr.
John Buscema
Joe Kubert
Inker(s) Klaus R. Janson
Art Nichols
Thomas "Tom" Palmer Sr.
Joe Kubert
Letterer(s) James R. 'Jim' Novak
Colorist(s) Gregory A. Wright
Kevin M. Tinsley - Stick/Stickman
Joe Rosas
Editor(s)Don Daley
Tim Tuohy
Justin F. Gabrie - J.F. Gabrie
Alex Starbuck

The Punisher War Zone is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics about the vigilante The Punisher. The series was written and drawn by several artists during its run. The series lasted for 41 issues. It was the first series of The Punisher War Zone title history and lasted from 1992 to 1995. The vast majority of the series was written by Chuck Dixon. [1] Besides John Romita Jr. who worked a lot on the series, several other artists painted the covers, among them Rainier "Rain" Beredo, John Buscema and Joe Kubert. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Plot

The series was split up in different story arcs which tended to last several issues. The first story arc was Psychoville U.S.A. which lasted from issue 12 to 16, the next was The Jericho Syndrome beginning with issue 17 and ending in 19, third was Suicide Run from 23 to 25, after that was Conan with a Gun starting from 26 and lasting to issue 30, later was River of Blood picking up from issue 31 and concluding at 36, next to last was the Dark Judgment arc lasting from issue 38 to 40. The final arc was Countdown which took place in all three ongoing Punisher series at the time, The Punisher , War Journal and War Zone.

Reception

The series was popular upon its original release. [4] The launching of the series, which was the Punisher third simultaneously ongoing series at the time, marked the peak of the character's exploitation and popularity at the time. [6] [7]

Content

In the beginning of the series publication Marvel still adhered to the comic code and even with the main character, Frank Castle, killing a criminal in the first issue no details or effects of the shooting is portrayed. This is in stark contrast to later Punisher series such as those by Garth Ennis. [8] Despite this and other Punisher series remained controversial and rejected in some circuits. Upon the release of the hugely popular issue of Alpha Flight in which the character Northstar came out as gay the New York Magazine reported that a store in Bleecker Street in New York City resorted to making customers who wanted to buy a copy of it purchase an issue of the series The Punisher War Zone as well to combat hoarding of the comic. [9]

Prints

Issues

No.Title Cover date Comic Book Roundup ratingEstimated Styx sales (first month)
#1Only The Dead Know BrooklynMarch 1992
#2Blood In The WaterApril 1992
#3The FrameMay 1992
#4Closer To The FlameJune 1992
#5Feeding FrenzyJuly 1992
#6The Carrion EatersAugust 1992
#7Muggers's PicnicSeptember 1992
#8The Hunting GroundOctober 1992Ranked 22nd in North America [10]
#9GonersNovember 1992Ranked 26th in North America [11]
#10Tight SpotDecember 1992Ranked 28th in North America [12]
#11In A Deadly PlaceJanuary 1993
#12Psychoville U.S.A., part 1: Family TiesFebruary 1993Ranked 28th in North America [13]
#13Psychoville U.S.A., part 2: Happy DaysMarch 1993Ranked 35th in North America [14]
#14Psychoville U.S.A., part 3: My Two DadsApril 1993Ranked 39th in North America [15]
#15Psychoville U.S.A., part 4: Father Knows BestMay 1993Ranked 42nd in North America [16]
#16Psychoville U.S.A., part 5: Empty NestJune 1993Ranked 57th in North America [17]
#17The Jericho Syndrome, part 1July 1993Ranked 64th in North America [18]
#18The Jericho Syndrome, part 2August 1993Ranked 69th in North America [19]
#19The Jericho Syndrome, part 3September 1993Ranked 61st in North America [20]
#20Numbah One Boom BoomOctober 1993Ranked 74th in North America [21]
#212 Mean 2 Die!November 1993Ranked 70th in North America [22]
#22Taking Tiger MountainDecember 1993Ranked 70th in North America [23]
#23Pt. 2: Bringing Down the HouseJanuary 1994Ranked 65th in North America [24]
#24Pt. 5: SHHH!February 1994Ranked 67th in North America [25]
#25Pt. 8: Last Dance in LaastekistMarch 1994
#26Conan With A Gun, part 1: PiratesApril 1994
#27Conan With A Gun, part 2: Boss SugarMay 1994
#28Conan With A Gun, part 3: Sweet RevengeJune 1994
#29Conan With A Gun, part 4: The SwineJuly 1994
#30Conan With A Gun, part 5: Ring Of FireAugust 1994
#31Part 1: Scorched EarthSeptember 1994
#32Part 2: ComradesOctober 1994
#33Part 3: Capital CrimesNovember 1994
#34Part 4: Dead Men's EyesDecember 1994
#35Part 5: Open WoundsJanuary 1995
#36Part 6: Children of the GunFebruary 1995
#37Something Like LoveMarch 1995
#38Dark Judgment, part 1April 1995
#39Dark Judgment, part 2May 1995
#40Dark Judgment, The ConclusionJune 1995
#41Countdown: 2: Dead And DeaderJuly 1995

Annuals

Title
[Tagline]		BetweenPages Cover date Release date Comic Book Roundup ratingEstimated sales (first month)Rated
The Punisher War Zone (1992) - Annual 01
  • [High $take$]
—641993————
The Punisher War Zone (1992) - Annual 02
  • [From Out of the Icey Grave... ...Thorn!]
—641994————

Collected editions

Title
[Tagline]		FormatMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBNEstimated sales
(first month)		Rated
The Punisher: War Zone vol. 1 Trade paperback The Punisher War Zone #1-6144 [26] July 2002 0-7851-0923-4 [27] 1,894, ranked 39 in North America [28] PSR [27]
The Punisher: River of BloodTPBThe Punisher War Zone #31-36144 [29] November 30, 2005 [30] 0-7851-1542-0 1,820, ranked 61 North America [31] T+
The Punisher: Barbarian with a GunTPBThe Punisher War Zone #26-30120November 12, 2008 [32] 978-0-7851-3428-2 1,735, ranked 66 in North America [33] T+

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Booker, M. Keith (28 October 2014). Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [4 volumes]: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   9780313397516 – via Google Books.
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  8. ↑ Schmid, David (2 November 2015). Violence in American Popular Culture [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   9781440832062 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Comic Store Policy No Laughing Matter". New York . February 10, 1992. p. 10. Retrieved March 18, 2017– via Google Books.
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  25. ↑ http://www.hoknescomics.com/Styx%201993%2012%20Top%20100%20Comics.jpg [ bare URL image file ]
  26. ↑ Dixon, Chuck (2002). Punisher War Zone Volume 1 TPB Paperback – September 16, 2002. Marvel Comics. ISBN   0785109234.
  27. 1 2 "THE PUNISHER WAR ZONE TPB (Trade Paperback)".
  28. ↑ "July 2002 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  29. ↑ Punisher: River of Blood. Marvel. 7 December 2005. ISBN   0785115420.
  30. ↑ "Punisher: River of Blood (Trade Paperback)".
  31. ↑ "November 2005 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  32. ↑ "PUNISHER: BARBARIAN WITH a GUN TPB (Trade Paperback)".
  33. ↑ "November 2008 Comic Book Sales Figures". comichron.com. The Comics Chronicles . Retrieved 2017-07-04.
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