The action-packed Punisher #1 sees Frank Castle recruited by The Hand in return for his wife’s resurrection in the gory yet stunning premiere.
The Punisher’s story is one of tragedy and never-ending vengeance. After the senseless murder of his wife and children, the ex-marine Frank Castle became a fearsome vigilante, crossing lines few other heroes of the Marvel roster would dare to. His name soon became synonymous with death, leading him to be feared by most and revered by some. Punisher #1, the beginning of the new 12-issue miniseries written by Jason Aaron, covers the Punisher’s unlikely recruitment to the most infamous cult of the Marvel Universe: The Hand.
Punisher #1 sees both parties now with something they want. The Hand is in possession of a truly dangerous threat in the form of Frank. In return, they have given the Punisher the thing he wants the most and brought back his wife. While he seems to be taking to his role of assassin for The Hand, Frank may be on his own mission, with allegiance only to himself. However, the Punisher may not be as in control of his role in the Hand as he thinks.
There is a strange, dissonant sense of serenity and restraint throughout Punisher #1 in the writing, art, and pacing. The Priestess Aka of the Hand tells the story as a frame narrative, lending the comic a cool, detached tone unusual for this franchise. The Punisher’s story is told through her eerily calm and loving eyes. There are musings about gods, human nature, various cults, the cycle of violence, and war as a form of worship. It’s tranquil and unsettling — and effective. The Punisher is not the first antihero that the Hand has influenced, but the Punisher is notable for how revered he is. As the world’s most accomplished mass murderer, the Punisher is viewed as royalty, a king among their ranks holding court with every slaying. While he’s normally solitary and rage-filled, here the Punisher is cool and reserved as the dignified leader of a group.
The Punisher is defined by his quest for vengeance, forever mourning what he has lost, and his unending bloodlust. The loss of his family is never far from his mind — something his foes have exploited. Frank Castle has confronted his grief multiple times, with tragic results. Whenever he is given the opportunity to resurrect his family, he almost always turns it down — sometimes violently. So it’s surprising that Punisher #1 ends with Frank in bed with a scarred but living Maria, contented and happy. In previous comics, Maria’s resurrection would come at a cost Frank wasn’t willing to pay. In The Punisher #1, the Hand gave him his wife back without forcing him to give up his bloody crusade. It’s too good to be true — and if the Priestess’ ominous narration is any indication, it probably is.
Punisher #1 is perhaps one of the most visually beautiful entries for this character, thanks to the formidable team of artists Paul Azaceta, Jesus Saiz, and colorist Dave Stewart. Although the cold open with the Punisher’s origin story is exaggerated and surreal, the rest of the comic is subtler and serenely, bloodily beautiful. As usual for the Punisher, there is plenty of blood and dismemberment, but there is a sense of restraint in Punisher #1 that gives it a feeling of maturity and subtlety absent in most previous incarnations. The settings and environments are especially beautifully rendered.
The Punisher himself has gotten a makeover beyond his sleek new outfit and updated logo, fresh for his cultish recruitment. He appears more fresh-faced than in previous recent incarnations, even romantic at moments. Considering that Punisher #1 is something of a fresh start for the character and his continuity, this new look is fitting.
Punisher #1 is a major departure for Frank Castle, but this opens his character up to whole new explorations. What happens when the Punisher gets everything he wants? Punisher #1 gives the audience a few ideas and plenty of material for the next issue to work with.
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