The covers to this series continue to be tributes to classic Punisher stories, and I continue to love that. #2 pays tribute to the all-time greatest Punisher artist, Mike Zeck.
I’m gonna start with this: Rick Remender’s Punisher run is best known (and often reviled) for the “Frankencastle” story. About that, first I say that if you hate that story you’re just wrong. Punisher has a long history of transformation. There have been girl Punishers. Punisher has been black. Punisher has been an angel. So making him a zombie? Really consistent. More importantly, everyone remembers it so…It must have been good for something.
Anyway, last issue, a new character named Henry Russo saved Punisher from being captured by Sentry. In this issue we learn a bit more about Russo, who teams up with Punisher to do all he can to expose Norman Osborn’s connections to the New York City underworld.
And because the crime families are now organized under The Hood and feature all kinds of powered players, they start by refitting Punisher’s armory…
…With all kinds of new cool stuff Russo has stolen from A.I.M. and others (like Ant-Man’s shrinking gear and Hawkeye’s bow!).
This is such a great idea.
After disrupting Hood’s operations, the villain assembles an anti-Punisher army. After Frank slaughters them all, Hood is fully on his radar.
So much death. But don’t worry. The roots of Frankencastle start here–but first, this tale features a very creative series of kills. In the last several issues, Red Hood has taken up the hunt for Punisher. This issue begins with a series of pizza deliveries to Hood’s gang. The pizzas are poisoned and lots of Hood’s bodyguards die. And one isn’t just poisoned…
It has a Punisher in it, shrunk using stolen Ant-Man tech.
A figure watches with Hood on closed circuit. It’s Microchip, who has been recruited to betray his former partner.
But he’s dead, you say?
Well, like I said, the zombie stories start here. He has been resurrected by the Hood, who has the ability to access the powers of Dormammu.
When Punisher finally shoots his way through Hood’s base and reaches the villain, Hood offers to resurrect Punisher’s entire family.
Pun says no, and fights his way through Hood’s gang to escape. In the end we see Hood resurrecting an even larger army.
Loving this run.