Graphic Novel Review – Jason Aaron And Steve Dillon – The Punisher – Homeless

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2012 – Marvel. Spoiler alerts Few vigilantes have proved as brutal or consistently single minded as Frank ‘The Punisher’ Castle, a quite human ex-Vietnam vet taking on the mob and sometimes also supervillains in revenge for them killing his entire family. Unlike most heroes, Castle was allowed to age, so by 2012, he was an old man and possibly thanks to a few poor movie adaptations, his comic was in decline, so Dillon decided to do the unthinkable and kill him off. The story starts with Castle being released from prison as an old and seemingly broken man, with no more guns or weapons until he builds up his armoury from scratch in pursuit of his greatest nemesis, The Kingpin, who has protection from another of Marvel’s deadly assassins, Elektra. The conflict ends in inevitable mutually assured destruction for the antagonists, with Castle dying a lonely death bleeding out in the street. Only Nick Fury of SHEILD feels any regret at loss of a misguided noble crusader, but with Castle’s death riots ensue round the World against crime lords as many more start turning on the corrupt and evil in our midst. A thoughtful conclusion and a fitting swan song for one of the darkest anti-heroes of all, a creation inspired by the original Death Wish and Mad Max stories. Arthur Chappell