Punisher

Marvel Comics.
Archives
Essential Punisher 1 (Amazing Spider-Man 129, 134-135, 161-162, 174-175, 201-202 & Annual 15, Giant-Size Spider-Man 4, Marvel Preview Presents 2, Marvel Super Action 1, Captain America 241, Daredevil 182-184, Spectacular Spider-Man 81-83, Punisher 1-5; w Gerry Conway, Archie Goodwin, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Frank Miller, Bill Mantlo, Steven Grant, Mike W. Barr; a Ross Andru, Tony DeZuniga, Keith Pollard, Frank Miller, Al Milgrom, Greg LaRocque, Mike Zeck, Frank Springer). [From Marvel Comics: When the mob killed his family, Frank Castle went to war. But before he became the scourge of the underworld, the Punisher set his sights on a certain world-famous wall-crawler. In time for next summer’s THE PUNISHER big-screen adventure, Marvel presents the vengeance-seeking vigilante’s earliest appearances in the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, DAREDEVIL and more.]
Essential Punisher 2 (Vol. 2, 1-20, Annual 1, Daredevil 257; w Mike Baron, Roger Salick, Eliot R. Brown, Ann Nocenti; a Klaus Janson, David Ross, Whilce Portacio, Mark Texeira, Mike Vosburg, Eliot R. Brown, John Romita Jr.). [From Marvel Comics: Mobsters, terrorists, neo-Nazis, religious fanatics, armored killers; no one's too tough for the Punisher! Follow the trail of blood as Frank Castle's war on crime takes him across the country, south of the border, back to school and Down Under! Plus: The Man With Lots Of Guns vs. the Man Without Fear in a crossover with Daredevil! And who will live and die when the Punisher leads what might be the world's shortest-lived crime-fighting team against the Kingpin of Crime? With Typhoid Mary and a cameo by the X-Men!]
Volume 1
Circle of Blood (1-5; w Steven Grant; a Mike Zeck). [From Marvel Comics: The Punisher - an obsessed killing machine - the personification of revenge. The soul of Frank Castle died when he and his family stumbled onto a mob rub-out and fell under a rain of lead. Castle's body alone survived, but his mind was lost in a desire to bring retribution on all those who need... Punishing. A brutal cycle soon ensues as the Punisher is released from prison by a shadowy organization known as "The Trust" whose stock and trade are vigilantes. The Trust soon floods the streets of New York with Punisher lookalikes to slay the bosses of New York's crime families. A bloody war for succession soon follows and innocent people are caught in the crossfire. The one true Punisher now must make a tough decision on how to break this Circle of Blood. This collection includes the classic blood-soaked first Punisher limited series in its entirety.]
Volume 3
Onslaught 5 The Front Line (11). [See Onslaught page for full contents of this volume.]
Volume 4 (Marvel Knights)
1 Welcome Back, Frank (1-12; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon & Jimmy Palmiotti). [From Marvel Comics: "I have a forty-five. He has a submachine gun. My night goes downhill from there." Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, the brilliant writer/artist team who created Preacher, team up with acclaimed inker Jimmy Palmiotti to break the comics world wide open with their outrageous tales of bloodshed and mayhem. Now they turn their sights on Marvel's classic character The Punisher, transforming him into an unstoppable force for vigilante justice. Frank Castle, The Punisher, wages an ongoing war against crime, one bullet at a time. His first target: the Gnucci crime family, headed by the notorious Ma Gnucci. But the NYPD Special Punisher Task Force, led by the hapless Detective Soap, has sworn to bring Frank down. And to add to the mayhem, there's a new breed of vigilante in town: The Holy, Elite, and Mr. Payback, three righteous madmen inspired by the Punisher himself. Finally, there's the gigantic killer known only as The Russian - who might just be the last enemy the Punisher will ever face. Collecting the best-selling 12 issue series that redefined one of the Marvel Universe's more unique characters, Ennis and Dillon deliver a wild ride of innovative chaos.]
Volume 5 (Marvel Knights)
2 Army of One (1-7; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon & Jimmy Palmiotti). [From Marvel Comics: "See a few familiar faces. Break a few familiar necks." The second volume of hard-edged, urban action from Marvel's grittiest hero! Written by Garth Ennis! Illustrated by Steve Dillon and Jimmy Palmiotti! When Frank Castle's family was gunned down by mobsters, he became the obsessed vigilante known as The Punisher. In this new volume, the acclaimed creative team of Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon, and Jimmy Palmiotti take the Punisher on a blood-soaked round-the-world cruise. From the heights of New York's Empire State Building - where an old enemy returns to battle both Castle and the Amazing Spider-Man - to the criminal sanctuary called Grand Nixon Island, the Punisher cuts a swath of destruction through criminals and corrupt military men alike. Then it's back to Manhattan for the offbeat short story "Do Not Fall in New York City," and a haunting, wordless epilogue. It's a night with the Punisher that you'll never forget.]
3 Business as Usual (13-18; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon, Darrick Robertson). [From Marvel Comics: Once, he was an ex-Marine trying to start a new life with his loving family. But when his wife and children were murdered by the mob, Frank Castle dedicated his existence to ending theirs. Now, the one-man army known as the Punisher has declared war on the guilty... and he won't stop until they're all dead! Garth Ennis, the madman who made Punisher a best-selling book, is back for another round. This time, two of comics' toughest butt-kickers collide when Wolverine and Punisher team up to take down a bizarre underworld predator! But first, the Punisher sojourns to South America, where he must rescue a Mafia don from angry guerilla fighters - only if the mercenaries don't kill the Mafioso, the Punisher might just do it himself! Finally, it's Punisher at its most personal - as Belfast-born Ennis brings Frank face-to-face with terrorism in Northern Ireland.]
4 Full Auto (20-26; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon, Tom Mandrake). [From Marvel Comics: When the mob killed his family, Frank Castle went to war. Now he fights crime - and kills criminals - as the Punisher. In "Brotherhood," the Punisher investigates a large-scale drug ring - and the cops who are supposed to be busting it. But when they get in over their heads, only Frank can clean up their mess. In "Squid," the Punisher sets his sights on a mobster who's tormented by ghosts from his past - and obsessed with a legendary sea monster that may be no more than an urban myth. Finally, in "Hidden," a mysterious "man down below" is gathering the homeless underground as a violent means to unknown ends. And when a young woman becomes their target, the Punisher enters the fray with guns blazing.]
5 Streets of Laredo (19, 27-32; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon, Tom Mandrake, Cam Kennedy). [From Marvel Comics: The Punisher discovers a strange society that lives in the subway tunnels of New York and their tie to the rampant disappearance of homeless people, takes an unforgettable trip to the dentist and meets the one person maybe even deadlier than himself - Elektra!]
6 Confederacy of Dunces (33-37; w Garth Ennis; a John McCrea). [From Marvel Comics: The most deadly man in the Marvel Universe — The Punisher — might finally meet his match as Daredevil, Spider-Man and Wolverine join forces to finally bring Frank Castle’s killing spree to an end. Can the Punisher stay one step ahead of this powerhouse trio of heroes? And how does the Incredible Hulk figure into all of this? It’s the Marvel movie you’ll never get to see in theaters written by the outrageous — and outrageously talented — Garth Ennis!]
Volume 6 (Marvel MAX)
1 In the Beginning (1-6; w Garth Ennis; a Lewis Larosa). [From Marvel Comics: Prepare to be punished! For the first time ever, Marvel’s one-man-army takes center stage in a no-holds-barred Mature Readers series! Writer Garth Ennis and artist Lewis LaRosa take PUNISHER to the MAX — literally — as the hunter becomes the hunted! Frank Castle's old associate Micro is back, and he's after Frank. But first, he's got an offer for Frank that he'd better not refuse. Get ready for blazing bullets, bloodbaths and bold beginnings…]
2 Kitchen Irish (7-12; w Garth Ennis; a Leandro Fernandez). [From Marvel Comics: When a bomb explodes in a Hell's Kitchen pub, Frank Castle embarks on a deadly mission that pits him against two rival gangs. One thing is certain: The Punisher won't be pulling his punches! One of comics' most provocative writers takes one of comics' most provocative characters in a new direction – any direction he wants!]
3 Mother Russia (13-18; w Garth Ennis; a Dougie Braithwaite). [From Marvel Comics: Nicky Fury's got a job that needs doing - in Russia. The kind of suicide mission any sane man wouldn't ponder for a second. And that's exactly why he needs the Punisher. Searching for a deadly retrovirus whose sale on the black market could bring the world to its knees, Frank Castle penetrates a Russian nuclear silo...and comes face-to-face with the Mongolian!]
4 Up Is Down and Black Is White (19-24; w Garth Ennis; a Leandro Fernandez). [From Marvel Comics: Uber-gangster Nicky Cavella is back with a vengeance -- this time hitting Frank Castle where he least expects it -- right in the black pit of his hardened heart. With one unspeakable act, Nicky will go right to the top of Frank's "to-do" list -- and there's nowhere he'd rather be.] Book of the Week 11/23/05: I never really got into the Punisher, mainly because the writers usually seemed to believe in what he was doing. But when Garth Ennis took over, he overcame the core problem of Frank Castle being a raging psychopath by dialing down the character while simultaneously dialing up the villains and action. The book became an ultra-violent cartoon that didn't take itself too seriously, and suddenly, almost against my will, I found myself liking it. The Marvel Knights series kind of petered out, but Ennis seems revitalized by the move to Max. I haven't read the current volume yet, but from Marvel's description, it looks like great stuff: "Uber-gangster Nicky Cavella is back with a vengeance—this time hitting Frank Castle where he least expects it—right in the black pit of his hardened heart. With one unspeakable act, Nicky will go right to the top of Frank's "to-do" list—and there's nowhere he'd rather be."
5 The Slavers (25-30; w Garth Ennis; a Leandro Fernandez). [From Marvel Comics: On a pitch-black Brooklyn night, in a dead-end alley, Frank Castle brutally dispatches a crew of Albanian thugs menacing a young woman. Her name is Viorica, she's from Moldavia, and when she tells Frank her story, that's when the real killing starts!]
6 Barracuda (31-36; w Garth Ennis; a Goran Parlov). [From Marvel Comics: Jigsaw, Ma Gnucci, the Russian - Frank Castle's faced some fearsome foes in his day, but none as stone-cold rotten to the bone as the Barracuda. He's big, he's mean, and the last thing on earth you want is to see him smile.]
7 Man of Stone (37-42; w Garth Ennis; a Goran Parlov). [From Marvel Comics: The last time General Nikolai Alexandrovich Zakharov encountered Frank Castle, the two men were playing chicken with a dozen nuclear warheads over Moscow. Since then, well, let’s just say Zakharov’s not the type to forgive and forget. When a mutual enemy of Castle comes with the perfect plan to lure Frank out of his hole, Zakharvo is all ears. That man is Rawlins. His bait? His former wife and sometime Castle flame: O’Brien.]
8 Widowmaker (43-49; w Garth Ennis; a Lan Medina). [From Marvel Comics: Five women linked by tragedy and obsession. The Punisher killed their husbands -- put them down like dogs -- and shattered their lives. Now, they want payback, and they’ve hatched the perfect plan to get it. To bring the wolf to their door, all they need is bait.]
9 Long Cold Dark (50-54; w Garth Ennis; a Goran Parlov, Howard Chaykin). [From Marvel Comics: Barracuda's back. The most dangerous foe the Punisher has ever faced has found a chink in his enemy's armor, one even Frank Castle himself doesn't know about. Heart full of blackest hate and loving every minute of it, he's out to crush the vigilante to pulp -- and take his time over killing what remains. But Castle has a lifetime of slaughter behind him, and who knows how lethal he might yet become? Barracuda's going to find out the hard way. In fact, he's looking forward to it.] 3/26/08
Supersize HCs
Punisher 1 (vol. 4, 1-12; Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe GN; Marvel Knights Double-Shot 1; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon & Jimmy Palmiotti, Doug Braithwaite, Joe Quesada & Danny Miki). [From Marvel Comics: The bodies of drug dealers, murderers and the scum of the Earth litter the streets… The Punisher is back - courtesy of writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon! The critically acclaimed creative team that brought you Preacher restores one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe to his former glory and ultra-violent roots. Stripped of sidekicks, spiritual directives and other excess baggage, the vengeance-crazed vigilante hits the mean streets of New York City with a renewed sense of purpose! But not everyone is happy to see the Punisher return. Two unlucky cops draw the unenviable task of capturing him, while the ruthless Ma Gnucci and her gang will stop at nothing to see him dead. The Punisher also must contend with nosy neighbors and the rise of three copycats - the Holy, Elite, and Mr. Payback - who want him to join their crime-cleansing force. Lawbreakers beware: Frank Castle is locked, loaded and waiting for you to slip up! A killer compilation collecting the entire 12-issue Marvel Knights limited series of 2000, plus the out-of-print PUNISHER KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE and Joe Quesada's story from MARVEL KNIGHTS: DOUBLE SHOT #1—all in one super-size hardcover, now with tons of behind-the-scenes extras! The scourge of the underworld returns to blast the dirtbags and dealers off the mean streets of New York City! Look for old friends, strangely changed enemies, and tons of trademark humor and ultra-violence -- as only writer Garth Ennis, penciler Steve Dillon & Co. can deliver!] Old Book of the Week 11/23/05: The first of the Ennis Punishers remains the best, as he strips the character down to the basics and adds a great supporting cast, along with a lot of over-the-top villains and many, many explosions. The recent Punisher movie was a watered-down version of this collection. For my money, this is the best Punisher ever; if you can find it, the super-sized hardcover not only has great repro of Dillon's art, but also collects the hard-to-find Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe OGN and Joe Quesada's dentist short from Marvel Knights Double Shot.
Punisher 2 (vol. 5, 1-7; 13-18; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon, Darrick Robertson). [From Marvel Comics: A long time ago, he was an ex-Marine starting a new life with his wife and two young children. When his entire family was murdered in the crossfire of a New York City mob war, the man once named Frank Castle died, too – his spirit hardened into the icy-cold Punisher. The scourge of the underworld accepts no excuses. For every criminal piece of scum that preys on innocents, the Punisher is the judge, jury and executioner. In this all-new volume, award-winning writer Garth Ennis returns to the Punisher, sending this one-man army on a worldwide tour of duty to wipe out crime wherever it hides. From the darkest corners of Brooklyn, New York, to the bloody streets of Belfast, Ireland, the Punisher is locked and loaded for battle. * Facing the return of an unstoppable enemy, the Punisher forms an unlikely alliance with a certain world-famous web-slinger in an unforgettable team-up only Ennis could deliver. * Taking a shot at the Punisher is dangerous business, especially if you can’t finish the hit. An assassin’s trail leads the Punisher to Grand Nixon Island, home to the world’s most dangerous crew of murderers and mercenaries. Can Castle fend off an entire island full of killers to find his target? * Artist Steve Dillon makes his writing debut, in a silent story illustrating the Punisher’s relentless hunt for justice. * A reporter will break all the rules to get an exclusive interview – only to discover that while the Punisher only kills bad guys, it doesn’t take much to make his list Plus: It’s the biggest fight of millennium – the Punisher vs. Wolverine! When the X-Men’s toughest mutant crosses paths with an armed and dangerous Frank Castle, only one will walk away from the battle.]
Punisher 3 (vol. 5, 19-27; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon, Tom Mandrake). [From Marvel Comics: Writer Garth Ennis – whose classic but contemporary take on the Punisher serves as one of the strongest influences for the upcoming Punisher feature film – tells more tales of vigilante Frank Castle’s bloody and unending war on organized crime. In "Brotherhood," the Punisher has to deal with corruption in the police force. And in "The Underneath," The Punisher finds something horrible in the tunnels beneath Manhattan.]
Punisher 4 (vol. 5, 28-37; w Garth Ennis; a Steve Dillon, Cam Kennedy, John McCrea).
Punisher MAX 1 (vol. 6, 1-12; w Garth Ennis; a Lewis Larosa). [From Marvel Comics: This deluxe hardcover collects PUNISHER MAX VOL. 1: IN THE BEGINNING and PUNISHER MAX VOL. 2: KITCHEN IRISH, plus a hefty helping of DVD-style extras! In IN THE BEGINNING, Frank Castle's old associate Microchip is back, and he's after the Punisher. But first, he's got an offer for Frank that he'd better not refuse. Get ready for blazing bullets, bloodbaths and bold beginnings! In KITCHEN IRISH, Frank Castle embarks on a deadly mission that pits him against two rival gangs when a bomb explodes in a Hell’s Kitchen pub. One thing is certain: The Punisher won’t be pulling his punches!]
Punisher MAX 2 (vol. 6, 13-24; w Garth Ennis; a Dougie Braithwaite, Leandro Fernandez). [From Marvel Comics: Locked and loaded with a bevy of bonus material, this deluxe hardcover collects PUNISHER MAX VOL. 3: MOTHER RUSSIA and PUNISHER MAX VOL. 4: UP IS DOWN AND BLACK IS WHITE. In MOTHER RUSSIA, Nicky Fury’s got an assignment that needs doing. It’s the kind of suicide mission any sane person wouldn’t ponder for a second. And there’s only one man for the job: the Punisher. Searching for a deadly retrovirus whose sale on the black market could bring the world to its knees, Frank Castle penetrates a Russian nuclear silo...and comes face-to-face with the Mongolian! And in UP IS DOWN AND BLACK IS WHITE, mobster Nicky Cavella finally figures out how you take down the Punisher. How you get under his skin. How you send Frank Castle over the edge. But when Cavella’s scheme unleashes a wave of violence that rocks New York to its core, other predators start to come out of the darkness. There are scores to be settled. Blood to be spilled. When the world turns upside-down, will the killing and carnage ever end? Can even the Punisher go too far...?]
Punisher MAX 3 (vol. 6, 25-36; w Garth Ennis; a Gorlan Parlov, Leandro Fernandez). [From Marvel Comics: This deluxe hardcover collects Punisher MAX Vol. 5: The Slavers and Punisher MAX Vol. 6: Barracuda, plus extras. In The Slavers, Frank Castle brutally dispatches a crew of Albanian thugs menacing a young woman on a pitch-black Brooklyn night, in a dead-end alley. Her name is Viorica, she’s from Moldavia, and when she tells Frank her story, that’s when the real killing starts! And in Barracuda, the Punisher meets his match! Jigsaw, Ma Gnucci, the Russian – Frank has faced some fearsome foes in his day, but none as stone-cold rotten to the bone as the Barracuda. He’s big, he’s mean, and the last thing on earth you want is to see him smile.]
Punisher MAX 3 (vol. 6, 37-49; w Garth Ennis; a Leandro Fernandez, Lan Medina). [From Marvel Comics: In MAN OF STONE, two new players arrive to work out a lethal grudge as British Special Forces and Taliban insurgents face off in the Afghan highlands. One is Frank Castle, the man they call the Punisher. The other is General Nikolai Alexandrovich Zakharov, Soviet war criminal, known as the Man of Stone. Neither will stop until the other is dead - and Zakharov has brought not only a platoon of elite shock troops, but CIA traitor Rawlins, blackest of black operators. Castle has allies of his own, but this is old, bad, bloody country. You go to war in Afghanistan...and everybody dies. And in WIDOWMAKER, five Mafia widows are going to try what so many of their menfolk failed at: They're going to take the Punisher down. But they're not the only ones out for revenge. You spend your life married to organized crime, you end up with things in your past you'd rather forget. And for these women, the past is coming back in the worst way possible. Armed. Deadly. And hungry for justice.] 2/20/08
War Journal
1 Civil War (1-4; w Matt Fraction; a Ariel Olivetti, Mike Deodato Jr.). [From Marvel Comics: Hey, there, Marvel Universe. He’s back – with a vengeance. Taking no prisoners. Literally. With CIVIL WAR in full throttle mode, Frank Castle is feeling the heat. His safe houses have been raided and his munitions seized, and he’s square in the crosshairs of a Marvel Universe big gun who always gets his man. Until now, this wasn’t Frank’s war. But when spandex-clad baddies start carrying badges – well, let's just say that’s something the Punisher can’t abide. Brought to you by rising star Matt Fraction (The Last of the Independants), with eye-popping art by Young Guns Reloaded superstar Ariel Olivetti (LAST AVENGERS STORY).]
2 Goin' Out West (5-9; w Matt Fraction; a Ariel Olivetti). [From Marvel Comics: The Bushwacker has taken a hostage in the heart of Times Square. With every TV camera in the world rolling, it’s New York City’s biggest nightmare, and it’s coming down live. As G.W. Bridge watches the worst day of his life uncoil in real time, a lone beat cop is the only thing that’s keeping Bushwacker in check... and when Bushwacker demands to see Frank Castle... well, that’s when things get really interesting. By Matt Fraction (Casanova, THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST) and Young Guns Reloaded artist Ariel Olivetti.]
Misc.
Assassin's Guild (OGN; w Jo Duffy; a Jorge Zaffino).
Black Widow/Punisher: Spinning Doomsday's Web (OGN; w Dan G. Chichester; a Larry Stroman).
Blood on the Moors (OGN; w Alan Grant & John Wagner; a Cam Kennedy).
Born (4-issue mini; w Garth Ennis; a Darick Robertson). [From Marvel Comics: Frank Castle has dedicated his life to waging war against the criminal underworld. For decades readers thought the ex-Marine’s crusade began with the brutal murder of his family in Central Park at the hands of the Mafia. But that isn’t the whole story. In the tradition of WOLVERINE: ORIGIN, witness the true birth of the Punisher years before, as Frank Castle the man enters his third tour of duty in Vietnam, but leaves a force of nature.]
Captain America/Punisher Blood and Glory (3-issue mini; w Dan Chichester, Margaret Clark; a Klaus Janson).
Daredevil vs. Punisher (6-issue mini; w & a David Lapham). [From Marvel Comics: It’s wall-to-wall David Lapham (Stray Bullets) as the Eisner Award-winner and indy sensation writes, pencils and inks two of Marvel’s biggest icons! Daredevil and the Punisher vie for the soul of Hell’s Kitchen as half the East Coast’s underworld — in chaos since Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, was deposed—scramble for a shot at the big chair. And as the city descends into chaos—as murder and intimidation become the staples of the day —Daredevil and the Punisher each seek to restore order in their own unique way. For Daredevil —who’s anointed himself the city’s new “Kingpin”—this means dispensing justice at the end of a billy club. But for the Punisher, justice at the end of a billy club isn’t justice at all. For the Punisher, justice for these animals is at the end of a shotgun. Featuring more Marvel villains than you can shake a stick at—including Hammerhead and the return of the nefarious...Jackal!]
From First to Last (One-shots The Tyger, The Cell, The End; w Garth Ennis; a John Severin, Lewis Larosa, Richard Corben). [From Marvel Comics: Collecting three deadly one-shots! The Tyger: Long before he waged a one-man vendetta against organized crime, long before he was a young lieutenant waging war in the jungles of 'Nam, Frank Castle was a 10-year-old boy growing up on the mean streets of Brooklyn. When a classmate commits suicide in the aftermath of an unspeakable act, young Frank uncovers a secret dark enough to blacken the purest of hearts. Thus begins his first journey on the road that will eventually turn him into the man known as the Punisher, a journey that will bring him face to face with the Tyger: a creature not made by God, but just as vital to the world as anything He created. The Cell: From the darkest bowels of Riker's prison, the old men preside over their empire. Nothing goes down without their say-so; no one draws a breath without their permission. And when a riot explodes, they need only fortify their defenses and ride it out. But someone else is weaving his way through the bloodstained halls, their newest neighbor: Frank Castle. The End: Legendary artist Richard Corben joins definitive Punisher writer Garth Ennis for Frank Castle's last stand! In a world gone mad, the Punisher just might be the sanest man on Earth. Now he's heading home, to the place it all began, and heaven help anyone who stands in his path.]
Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: The Dark Design (w: Howard Mackie; a Ron Garney).
Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness (w Howard Mackie; a John Romita Jr.).
Intruder (OGN; w Mike Baron; a Bill Reinhold).
Kingdom Gone (OGN; w Chuck Dixon; a Jorge Zaffino).
Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (OGN; w Garth Ennis; a Doug Braithwaite). [From Marvel Comics: In this WHAT IF? style adventure, the wife and children of Frank Castle were killed not in a mob shoot-out, but were instead caught in the crossfire of a super hero slugfest. Contacted by a mysterious group who have also suffered great loss, Castle is given a mission: kill those responsible for the death of his loved ones-the superhumans whose daily battles callously endanger the lives of innocents. Armed with an arsenal of advanced weaponry, the former soldier hunts down Spider-Man, Magneto, Captain America, the Kingpin, Daredevil, Dr. Doom, the Hulk, Venom, Wolverine and more. One by one, group by group, mutant or monster, the one-man army means to kill them all. Pity the heroes... and fear the Punisher!]
Punisher: The Movie (3-issue mini + Amazing Spider-Man 129, Punisher vol. 3 #1; w Peter Milligan; a Pat Oliffe). [From Marvel Comics: Presenting the official comic book adaptation of Marvel’s 2004 blockbuster motion picture — starring John Travolta, Thomas Jane and Rebecca Romjin-Stamos. Frank Castle is an undercover government special agent pushed over the edge when his family is executed. Left for dead, Castle is reborn with one all-consuming mission — to punish the murderers! Also collected in this volume: the very first appearance of the Punisher, and writer Garth Ennis’ first Punisher story! Collects PUNISHER: THE MOVIE ADAPTATION #1-3, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #129, PUNISHER Vol. 3, #1!]
Punisher Presents Barracuda Max (5-issue mini; w Garth Ennis; a Goran Parlov). [From Marvel Comics: What? You didn't actually think that a load of buckshot to the chest in shark-infested waters was gonna put him down for good, did you? The Punisher's wildest foe is back...give or take a few boy parts - this time he's embarking on a solo mission: playing bodyguard to the son of a dangerous mob boss. Should be a breeze for a guy who went toe-to-toe with Frank Castle and lived to tell about it, right? Guess again. Junior is a hemophiliac - and every crime syndicate in the country can't wait to take a shot at him as payback to his dad. To survive, Barracuda will have to navigate hitmen, corrupt cops, black ops, a Central American strongman and rescue a damsel in distress. No kidding.]
Punisher vs. Bullseye (5-issue mini; w Daniel Way; a Steve Dillon). [From Marvel Comics: Alphonse Patrillo's a rare breed: a mob boss who looked down the barrel of the Punisher's rifle and lived to tell about it. Ever since that day, he's taken pains - great pains - to stay under the Punisher's radar while he schemed his revenge. Now, Uncle Fonzie has got a plan: He's going to fight fire with fire. Who do you hire to take out a relentless psychopath like the Punisher? An even more relentless psychopath. And this guy, well, let's just say he never misses. Wall-to-wall action by the creative team behind BULLSEYE'S GREATEST HITS and SUPREME POWER: NIGHTHAWK: Daniel Way and Steve Dillon.]
Return to Big Nothing (OGN; w Steven Grant; a Mike Zeck).
Very Special Holidays (One-shots Red X-Mas, Bloody Valentine, Silent Night; w Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Grey, Andy Diggle; a Mark Texiera, Paul Gulacy, Kyle Hotz). [From Marvel Comics: Spend the holidays with the Punisher! In Red X-Mas, 'tis the season... for revenge. Following an eight-casket funeral, a group of vengeful mob widows go holiday shopping for the perfect assassin to take down the man responsible - and enlist the services of the lovely and lethal Sicilian assassin known as Suspiria! In Bloody Valenine, something sparks the little black pit in Frank Castle's chest - the one that used to be a heart! Suspiria's back, and she wants to kiss and make up. It seems the murderous pair have a mutual enemy, an arch-villain whose pursuit will take them to Suspiria's home turf of Rome. Can Frank withstand his partner's charms? Does he want to? And finally, are you ready for a little holiday cheer? No? Neither is Frank Castle. In Silent Night, he's more interested in tracking down a mob rat in the witness protection program and punishing him. But to do that, he'll have to face his greatest foe. Hint: he's fat, dresses in red, and sports a white beard!]
War Zone (War Zone 1-6; w Chuck Dixon; a John Romita Jr & Klaus Janson). [From Marvel Comics: Showcasing the powerful pencils of master storyteller John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk) and the pulse-pounding prose of action auteur Chuck Dixon (Robin, Nightwing, Birds of Prey)! When mobsters murdered his family, Frank Castle vowed to spend the rest of his life avenging their deaths! Trained as a Marine and equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, the Punisher wages a one-man war on crime! Now, the scourge of the underworld goes undercover - striking an uneasy alliance with the very vermin he's sworn to eradicate! Abandoned by his aide-de-camp and hunted by a mysterious hired gun with ties to his troubled past, will the Punisher sell his soul to get his man? If Castle's not careful, he just might end up married to the mob!]
River of Blood (War Zone 31-36; w Chuck Dixon; a Joe Kubert). [From Marvel Comics: The Punisher faces the Russian mob on its home turf, and the legendary Joe Kubert is there to lend his distinctive style to every explosive detail! Out of his element and outgunned, can the scourge of the American underworld hold his own in Mother Russia?]
Wolverine/Punisher 1 (5-issue mini; w Peter Milligan; a Lee Weeks). [From Marvel Comics: Marvel’s bad boys of the big screen join forces for a gun-toting, claw-popping adventure not to be forgotten! Deep in the South American jungle there's a place of legend — a final refuge where the nastiest of the nasty can disappear from the prying eyes of the world. Now, the vigilante known as the Punisher and the X-Man called Wolverine have stumbled upon this secret sanctuary, and the residents of "Erewhon" couldn't be happier... or more prepared.]