PunisherMAX
Encyclopedia
PunisherMAX is the second comic book
ongoing series
published under the MAX
imprint
of Marvel Comics
featuring the vigilante
anti-hero
the Punisher
.
, also writer of the 2000 and 2001 Punisher series, wrote issues #1-#60 of the first Punisher series under the MAX imprint. After that series was canceled after issue #75, the new creative team of writer Jason Aaron
and artist Steve Dillon
(well known to Punisher fans for his previous work on the character with Garth Ennis) came onboard for a series relaunch with a new #1 issue. Unlike the concurrently running Marvel Universe-proper series
featuring the Punisher, the MAX imprint allows the creators the freedom to write more realistic and hard-edged stories that cannot be seen in regular mainline Marvel Universe stories. Also unlike the previous MAX series, which focused mainly on Frank Castle's war against the mob, this series has Frank squaring off against MAX versions of popular Marvel super villains. The series is scheduled to end with issue #22
, is apparently chosen as this new figurehead. When the Punisher crashes the meeting, Fisk gets the bosses to safety and has a chance to kill the Punisher, which he does not take. He goes home to his wife and sleeping child, when he receives the call that will seat him as the Kingpin. Smiling, hinting at an ulterior motive, he accepts.
becomes the "Kingpin of Crime," he cancels all of the former boss' appointments. However, Fisk's secretary calls and informs him that one man refuses to have his appointment canceled. The man is known only as Bullseye
, the world's deadliest assassin. Bullseye never misses his target, and has set his sights on the Punisher.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
ongoing series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
published under the MAX
MAX (comics)
MAX is an imprint of Marvel Comics aimed at a niche 'adults only' audience, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
featuring the vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
.
Publication history
Garth EnnisGarth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
, also writer of the 2000 and 2001 Punisher series, wrote issues #1-#60 of the first Punisher series under the MAX imprint. After that series was canceled after issue #75, the new creative team of writer Jason Aaron
Jason Aaron
Jason Aaron is an American comic book writer, known for his work on titles such as The Other Side, Scalped, Ghost Rider, Wolverine and PunisherMAX.-Early life:Jason was born in Jasper, Alabama...
and artist Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon is a British comic book artist, from Luton, Bedfordshire, best known for his work with writer Garth Ennis on Hellblazer, Preacher and The Punisher.-Biography:...
(well known to Punisher fans for his previous work on the character with Garth Ennis) came onboard for a series relaunch with a new #1 issue. Unlike the concurrently running Marvel Universe-proper series
Punisher (2009 series)
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...
featuring the Punisher, the MAX imprint allows the creators the freedom to write more realistic and hard-edged stories that cannot be seen in regular mainline Marvel Universe stories. Also unlike the previous MAX series, which focused mainly on Frank Castle's war against the mob, this series has Frank squaring off against MAX versions of popular Marvel super villains. The series is scheduled to end with issue #22
"Kingpin" (#1-5)
Interrogating a mobster, the Punisher discovers a meeting place where many of them will be in the same place. After the meeting with the mob bosses, the men determine that the mythic "Kingpin of Crime" should be fabricated by them in order to throw the Punisher off their trails. One of the bosses bodyguards, Wilson FiskKingpin (comics)
The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
, is apparently chosen as this new figurehead. When the Punisher crashes the meeting, Fisk gets the bosses to safety and has a chance to kill the Punisher, which he does not take. He goes home to his wife and sleeping child, when he receives the call that will seat him as the Kingpin. Smiling, hinting at an ulterior motive, he accepts.
"Bullseye" (#6-11)
Immediately after Wilson FiskKingpin (comics)
The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
becomes the "Kingpin of Crime," he cancels all of the former boss' appointments. However, Fisk's secretary calls and informs him that one man refuses to have his appointment canceled. The man is known only as Bullseye
Bullseye (comics)
Bullseye is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.A psychopathic assassin, Bullseye uses the opportunities afforded by his line of work to exercise his homicidal tendencies and to work out his own personal vendetta against Daredevil.Although he possesses no...
, the world's deadliest assassin. Bullseye never misses his target, and has set his sights on the Punisher.
"Frank" (#12-16)
After the cruel fight against Bullseye, Frank gets arrested and sent to a high-security prison with a thousand people who want nothing more than to see him dead. Frank reflects back on his time during the war and immediately after returning home, while struggling to understand his Punisher persona and refusing offers from crime bosses. He contemplates a life of peace versus continuing his violent methods.Collected editions
- PunisherMAX, Vol. 1: Kingpin (collects PunisherMAX #1-5), August 2010, ISBN 978-0785145967 (HC), November 2010, ISBN 978-0785140719 (TPB)
- PunisherMAX, Vol. 2: Bullseye (collects PunisherMAX #6-11), May 2011, ISBN 978-0785147558 (HC), November 2011, ISBN 978-0785147565 (TPB)
- PunisherMAX,: Frank Premiere HC (collects PunisherMAX #12-16), October 2011, ISBN 978-0-7851-5208-8 (HC)120 pages, explicit content, MRSP $24.99 Cover by Dave Johnson
See also
- The Punisher (2000 series)
- The Punisher: Frank CastleThe Punisher: Frank CastleThe Punisher: Frank Castle is a comic book ongoing series published under the MAX imprint of Marvel Comics, featuring vigilante anti-hero, the Punisher....
- List of The Punisher comics