Greg Rucka. Frank Castle. It's a match made in…maybe not Heaven. Vietnam? Some jungle war anyway. Getting shellshocked just thinking about it. Hold me.
Marvel announced the news this evening in a special C2E2 Cup o' Joe panel. Some details may have gotten out a little early, but it's no less exciting. Plus, we've got some art to share with you, courtesy of series artist Marco Checchetto.
And yes, this is a new #1.
"Violently launching the Punisher back to the mean streets of the Marvel Universe, one of the most acclaimed modern super hero scribes brings you one of Marvel’s biggest heroes like you’ve never seen before. Frank Castle is a man on a mission…and he’s the newest BIG SHOT taking aim at the villains of the Marvel Universe!. With every clip the Punisher empties into the guilty he gets further away from being able to find the man he used to be…and he has absolutely no problem with that. This is no hero. This is Marvel’s one-man war machine, fighting to save a life he no longer has."
So, no Dazzler cameos anytime soon. Although. If I may. That…pretty fun idea. If I do say so.
According to Marvel, this Rucka's first new ongoing with the publisher in seven years. And it just feels like the most natural pairing, given that Jason Aaron's already working on his own Punisher title. Rucka knows his guns and his wartime strife like I know…let me get back to you. Guys and Dolls lyrics maybe. But even then, it's been a few years since that production. So maybe there's no decent comparison to convey the man's insight into the underworld and all its tools. Count me in.
Punisher #1 comes in from the rain this August.
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Wow. This is AWESOME.
OMFG… I think I just pissed myself. I cannot wait for this!
i thought Rucka wanted to focus on creator owned?
Did not expect to hear this. It is really good news, though
I’m excited for this but, and I love his work, Rucka has a habit of abandoning some of his stories mid-story (his WW and Batwoman)
I thought it was gonna be Brubaker, but this is just as good a choice, if not better. I’m officially pumped for this.
Man, I thought I was done with Frank after Rick Remenders run. Looks like I’m on the Punisher train again.
that is a great choice for Rucka’s return to the Marvel Universe. maybe he’ll take Frank international to some of the MU’s foreign lands.
OMG! OMG! OMG! RUCKA?!?!?!! ON PUNISHER?!?!?! WITH CHECCHETTO?!?!?! TAKING PLACE IN CHICAGO?!?!?!?!! I AM SO IN!!!!!!!!!!!! (Pissed my pants in excitement, still so very very happy)
@mikeandzod21 Actually, no. I was fired off WW for a relaunch at issue 1, and you don’t even want to know about Batwoman. I hate doing drive-bys on characters, and Wacker and I have already discussed how that will NOT be the case with Frank Castle.
Cheers!
@SpiderTitan The news was announced in Chicago. I can’t confirm that the story is set there.
The series is apparently set in New York.
not a “drive-by”, the news gets better and better
Rucka! That’s all. Will read.
Love Rucka’s work, but the Punisher is just about the worst comic character out there. I’ll pass.
Excellent. I only hope that this lasts longer than his run on Batwoman and is more consistent than Stumptown.
@PaulMontgomery Mostly I am just so thrilled that Rucka & Checchetto are the team on it rather than its setting for the story (as long as its not tropical) Plus I prefer New York being a New Yorker myself. Can’t wait til the first issue!
@ruckawriter wow I just got schooled by one my favorite writers…I feel both elated and ashamed. I’m glad to hear it sir, I’m a big fan of you work (and I’m not just saying that, your novels are some of my favorites) and i can’t wait to see what you do with Frank.
I love a good Guys and Dolls reference! Come to think of it, Sky Masterson would be a good superhero name. Oh, and this news is good, too!
Awesome first paragraph, Paul. Really funny. Oh, and I’m psyched for the Punisher, too.
I love the MAX version of Punisher, but the Marvel Universe version is hit and miss with me. Mostly due to the continuity and interaction with too many heroes. And those fucking white boots have GOT to go. But Rucka? Crap, how can I pass this up?
Just ditch the booties please…
Awsome can’t wait till August not really liking the Max version but love the Punisher in Marvel U!
Marvel just did the one thing they could to make me read Punisher (even though I do want to pick up the Aaron trades). Don’t know this artists work, but he sorta reminds me of Lemire in a weird way. Not in the faces, but in some of the line work. Anybody else see what I’m talking about? Really digging it actually.
@Rucka – Are there any Punisher stories we should read before yours or will it be a good stand alone story? I know it’s a #1 but that doesn’t always mean easy entry.
good to have rucka back in comics
Eh, like before this doesn’t interest me. I prefer the MAX version because, as silly as it sounds, that version of the Punisher is more realistic then in-continuity Punisher. This is like, the 1000th time I’ve read the exact same premise for a Punisher book that I’m seeing here.
Again, I really like Rucka and Chechhtteo seems to fit for the character, but I couldn’t be less interested then I am now for this book.
Looks great, will give it a look.
Rucka + gritty new york + any character = fucking awesome. I’m not the biggest punisher fan, but I don’t there are any bad characters, just bad ways of writing them. I am definitely on board with this one.
Interesting. I’ll check it out.
I’ve never been a Punisher fan…never had the slightest interest reading the character….. but Rucka’s name has me wanting to check it out…and Checchetto’s art just might be the clincher to keep me there.
Crazy news, hoped rucka would return to queen and country, but this is good too
Wow, looks like I’m finally getting a punisher comic again.
Personally, I’d rather have more Stumptown.
that’s fantastic art.
Dammit to Hell! Now I have to read the damn Punisher! I HATE punisher! But I love Rucka more. *sigh*
About time!! A punisher book that might actually be worth reading, i love the punisher but havent enjoyed a punisher story since ‘welcome back frank’ fingers crossed this will good. The art looks decent aswell cant wait.
Excellent. I will definitely be picking this up. I remember on his last Wordballoon interview he had said that Marvel had dangled something in front of him that might be too good to pass up. Looks like this was it.
Between this and DD, looks like theres two new titles for my pull list at a time when I wanted to cut things…but how can i say no? There’s a simplicity to the Punisher premise that I think offers some real freedom to a good writer to do interesting things. Just look at what Remender managed.
Art looks cool. Glad to see Rucka back.
Is he really going to kill top teir villians or is it going to be just midlevel b characters he knocks off?
I’ll read it. For Rucka.
This sounds awesome.
@jbradley
Did you just ignore like everyting PunisherMAX? If anything, The Punisher has been one of the most consistent books through out the last 5 years. MAX and 616. Between Remender, Fraction, Ennis, Aaron, and now Rucka.
Rucka + Punisher = Marvel Fanboy Boner
Awesome. I’ve always been kind of interested in reading Punisher at some point, even though I do feel he is a very one note character, so with Rucka writing this will finallyl get me to check him out. Rucka definitely works best with the street level characters, and the art looks pretty cool so count me in.
I’m in. Rucka on Punisher should definitely be interesting. I’m especially looking forward to see how he reacts with the Marvel U, as we already have a “real-world” Punisher with MAX, so it’s fun to see how he interacts in a world of superheroes. I really hope he does get to eventually tell a Punisher vs. Wolverine story, as that would be bad-ass, but hopefully not too soon, I’d like to see Rucka tell a few other stories before getting to that one.
I remember a convention video on here about Rucka retiring. I guess that didn’t sit well for long?
@robbydzwonar No, you just have the facts wrong.
@robbydzwonar He just stopped being exclusive to DC
I see alot to “I hate the Punisher” tone on this board. The punisher is a template for anger. He is vengeance personified. You can throw all of your anger on him and he just soaks it up unloads his M2 into a bunch of goombas screaming at the top of his lungs. Rucka can take this template and make is sing. I have loved the Punisher since the Grant/Zeck mini and I will alwasy have him on my pull. Some of the top talents in the comic biz have had runs on the Punisher. Franks return to the MU was a product or 80’s Ronnie Raygun/Bernie Goetz acceptance of violence as a personal right. Castle lives on. Name another character is the pantheon of the Big 2 that has no superpower/high intellegence and is considered a criminal but can carry two to three titles a month.