These Punisher tales could possibly be the beginning of a brand new period for Frank Fortress within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is honest to say the best live-action Punisher adaptation continues to be to return, and any one of many unforgettable story arcs listed beneath might function the blueprint for that defining cinematic second.
Punisher’s live-action observe file ranges from cult traditional (Thomas Jane’s Punisher) to much-maligned (Punisher Struggle Zone, Dolph Lundgren’s Punisher.) Actor Jon Bernthal’s MCU interpretation has been well-received, however he hasn’t been given the chance to go “full Punisher” but.
The tales beneath, in a technique or one other, would give Bernthal, or a future Punisher actor, that likelihood.
“Punisher Noir”
Punisher Noir #1-4, Written By Frank Tieri; Artwork By Paul Azaceta; Revealed In 2009
Marvel Noir is poised to be the subsequent large pattern in live-action Marvel, serving as a novel different to the MCU. This period is kicking off with Spider-Noir, starring Nic Cage, however there are more Noir versions of Marvel heroes filmmakers and TV showrunners can draw from, most notably Punisher Noir.
Whereas the enjoyable of Spider-Man Noir comes from taking the Webslinger out of his normal heroic context, Punisher Noir highlights how the anti-hero suits seamlessly into an earlier crime-ridden period. Additional, it presents a novel twist on Punisher’s origin and lore, telling a generational story that might make for a exceptional translation to the display screen.
“The Sicilian Saga”
Punisher Struggle Journal #26-27, Written By Mike Baron; Artwork By Mark Texiera; Revealed In 1990
“The Sicilian Saga” is an underrated Punisher arc, one which has all the pieces wanted to make a fantastic self-contained action-thriller. To place it bluntly, “The Sicilian Saga” is thinly-veiled Godfather worship. It takes Frank Fortress again to the “outdated world,” exploring his Southern Italian heritage. Which, after all, lands him in the midst of a longstanding Mafia battle.
Broadly talking, there are two sorts of Punisher tales. There are the tales the place Frank Fortress’s questionable morality pushes the anti-hero up towards the border of villainy. Alternatively, there are tales the place, as unhealthy as Frank is perhaps, his foes are unquestionably worse, making it clear the Punisher is the hero.
“The Sicilian Saga” is certainly within the latter class. Adapting a story like this into the MCU would ship a daring assertion in regards to the Punisher’s place within the cinematic canon, serving as a reminder that he’s extra than simply an ancillary character to Marvel’s superheroes, however certainly one of its most fascinating figures in his personal proper.
“Six Hours To Kill”
Punisher: Frank Fortress Max #66-70, Written By Duane Swierczynski; Artwork By Michel Lacombe; Revealed In 2009
Loads of Punisher tales are certain to make nice diversifications, however few really feel particularly designed for a movie adaptation the best way “Six Hours to Kill” does. This story is the Marvel equal of the Jason Statham film Crank. The premise of the story entails Frank Fortress being captured and injected with a deadly drug cocktail that offers him simply six hours to dwell.
The result’s a rampage that holds up as the most effective in Punisher historical past. With out spoiling the place the story goes, and the way it winds up, “Six Hours to Kill” must be thought of the #1 candidate for a future standalone Punisher movie. It’s a pulse-pounding, and fist-pumping, story arc that will make for an exhilarating motion flick.
“Kitchen Irish”
Punisher (Vol. 7) #7-12, Written By Garth Ennis; Artwork By Leandro Fernández; Revealed In 2004
“Kitchen Irish,” a classic Garth Ennis Punisher arc, was loosely tailored for the Daredevil and Punisher Netflix reveals. Which means it offered character names and a plot skeleton, which the sequence then fleshed out in ways in which solely marginally mirrored the unique storyline. But, whether or not it takes a tender or onerous reboot, “Kitchen Irish” stays excessive on Punisher followers’ adaptation wishlists.
That is as a result of “Kitchen Irish” is “avenue stage” Punisher storytelling at its most interesting. The way in which it depicts Frank Fortress’s one-man battle on crime as half of a bigger felony underground, during which gangs are simply as desperate to struggle one another as crew as much as take out the Punisher, highlights what makes the character a fantastic crime drama protagonist.
“Up Is Down And Black Is White”
Punisher (Vol. 7) #19-24, Written By Garth Ennis; Artwork By Leandro Fernández; Revealed In 2005
“Up Is Down and Black Is White” is from the identical Punisher run, and similar inventive crew, as “Kitchen Irish,” and whereas the earlier entry was a consummate Punisher story, that is an example of an iconic Frank Castle tale. That’s, it mines the depths of Fortress’s psychological turmoil to a level that few writers moreover Garth Ennis have ever totally embraced.
The story begins with one of the disturbing moments in Punisher lore, and is stuffed with gonzo violence and nightmare-inducing imagery from that time ahead. If and when Marvel ultimately returns to the concept of a hard-R-rated Punisher movie, “Up Is Down and Black Is White” is the form of ugly and heartwrenching story begging to be tailored.
“Widowmaker”
Punisher (Vol. 7) #44-49, Written By Garth Ennis; Artwork By Lan Medina; Revealed In 2007
One other licensed traditional Garth Ennis arc, “Widowmaker” is a good Punisher story as a result of it forces Frank Fortress to reckon with the human toll of his long-time battle on crime, not simply by way of physique depend, however the trauma and grief inflicted on his victims’ households. In fact, it does this by having the households come after the Punisher.
Particularly, a gaggle of widows of Punisher victims be part of collectively to wage their very own campaign of vengeance on Fortress, in a grim echo of his personal motive for doing what he does. “Widowmaker” is a narrative that brings onerous questions on the Punisher’s motives, methods, and the true meaning of his actions to the floor, after which refuses to supply straightforward solutions.
“World Struggle Frank”
Punisher (Vol. 12) #1-5, Written By Matthew Rosenberg; Artwork By Szymon Kudranski; Revealed In 2018
Many of the entries on this checklist have centered on tales that will carve out a definite area of interest for Frank Fortress within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, simply as he tends to occupy in Marvel’s comedian e-book continuity. “World Struggle Frank” presents the choice, a narrative that finds Frank tangling with superheroes, and pits the Punisher towards a familiar MCU antagonist: Hydra.
“World Struggle Frank” finds Frank upgrading his normal siege on street-level crime to tackle the infamous worldwide terrorist group often known as Hydra. This brings him into the orbit of recognizable faces from the MCU just like the Winter Soldier and Nick Fury, whereas recontextualizing the Punisher’s position within the up to date Marvel Universe.
For followers of a extra tightly interwoven MCU, “World Struggle Frank” exemplifies the form of story they’d prefer to function supply materials for future Punisher movies. The main points would possibly should be remixed and rearranged to swimsuit MCU canon, however the bones of a robust cinematic storyline are actually there.
“Lengthy Chilly Darkish”
Punisher (Vol. 7) #50-54, Written By Garth Ennis; Artwork By Howard Chaykin; Revealed In 2007
If it wasn’t clear already, Garth Ennis is the definitive Punisher author, and plenty of of his celebrated Punisher tales should be tailored wholesale. To this point, they’ve primarily served as inspiration, even for the gorier live-action Punisher makes an attempt. “Lengthy Chilly Darkish” is one other arc from Ennis’ mid-aughts run that’s thought of certainly one of Frank Fortress’s most brutal encounters.
“Lengthy Chilly Darkish” is the ultimate struggle between Frank and a significant recurring antagonist from Ennis’ tenure on the e-book, Barracuda. It’s a ferocious battle, one the Punisher actually does not stroll away unscathed from, bodily or mentally. A whole season of MCU tv could possibly be constructed across the Punisher vs. Barracuda feud, with “Lengthy Chilly Darkish” because the uncompromising climax.
- Launch Date
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2017 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
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John Romita Sr.
- Administrators
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Mark Goldblatt, Lexi Alexander
- Writers
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Gerry Conway
