Comic Book Review - The Punisher #1

Rob reviews The Punisher #1...

Frank Castle is back! Not only is he still doing what he does best - shooting those unsavoury criminal elements. He's also now in cahoots with that murderous band of Ninja assassins - the Hand. But with the world of the characters bleeding into real life, how has Marvel distanced Frank Castle from those who see the character as a social pariah? And what of "that" logo? 

The Punisher #1 attempts to reinvent the character for 2022's society. Born back in 1974, the character's origins and motives are arguably flat when compared to modern-day storytelling. Frank Castle is a character born out of vengeance. He's attempting to right many wrongs, and he doesn't care who gets caught in the cross-fire, well unless they're innocent. He's got nothing to lose and if his quest for "justice" ends in his demise, then so be it. However, in creating this renegade who operates outside of the Law, Marvel has also made him a figurehead for those in our world who claim to be "fighting injustice". With The Punisher's recognisable logo also being co-opted by these "social warriors", Marvel has attempted to distance their character from the controversy. 

This is arguably what's wrong with the character. Back in my younger years, I was a big Punisher fan. The character is a no-nonsense killer, who wasn't afraid to murder anyone who stood in his way. He's the gritty underbelly to the more glamorous side of the Marvel Universe. But as I grew older I started to see the character as the one-dimensional person that he is. Frank Castle doesn't have any motive - well not anymore. His thirst for continued vengeance has moved well beyond its original meaning of coping with his family's death. And now he's essentially killing for the sake of it. 

With The Punisher #1, it feels that writer Jason Aaron has also felt this, and as such he's attempting to give some background to this bloodlust. As such this sees Frank Castle/The Punisher as head of the Hand!?

Yes! Marvel's anti-hero/vigilante is now head of a league of assassins who happen to worship the demonic entity known as "The Beast". But what happens if The Punisher is the real-world incarnation of their God? 

Could this be what Jason Aaron is heading towards? Well, time will tell...but for now, this reimagination is in a bit tangle.

Not only does Aaron have the task of moving the character away from the real world issues, without destroying it in the process. He's also got to sufficiently explain why Castle would lead a group of known killers. The reason giving does make for a compelling argument. But is it there to justify the means? Either way, there is a lot of this story left to tell.

Jesus Saiz and Paul Azaceta are on art duties for this one, and for the majority, it's not too bad. The redesigned logo doesn't deserve the controversy that it's caused. While it's not the (in)famous skull logo, it is still synonymous with The Punisher, albeit with an oriental spin. The same can be said for Frank's armour too, and considering that the bulk of this issue takes place within the Hand's HQ then the Japanese ascetic makes perfect sense. And to be fair, having a Samurai-esq spin to things is quite refreshing. 

There's also a distinct lack of that gritty noir feeling too. The bulk of the issue takes place in the somewhat serene mountain atmosphere of the Hand's HQ. This comes complete with tranquil zen gardens and plenty of vibrant colours. The only time this issue felt like a Punisher comic is during a flashback to New York. And yes it's full of gratuitous violence...I won't wreck it for you. 

Come to this issue's conclusion and I'm not top sure what I think. Whilst I completely understand the need for this new direction, I'm not entirely sure just in what way it's going to go. Having the character team up with the Hand is certainly a random choice, and feels a little too convenient. But we do still have a few more weeks of this series to go. Hopefully, come it's the finale, I'll be praying for Jason Aaron for reinventing The Punisher. But for now, it's far too early to say...

Rating: 5/10 

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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev