Punisher: Red Band #1: Welcome Back, Frank

It’s been a weird few years for Punisher fans. IRL bootlickers co-opted Frank Castle as some sort of pro-law enforcement hero, irrespective of how far from the truth that actually was; in response, and responsibly understanding they had a problem on their hands, Marvel backburnered the character and then tried to replace him with a well-intended but ultimately failed new iteration. A lot of that has simmered down, though, so someone at the House of Ideas decided it must be the right time to bring ol’ Frank back. Again.

Frank Castle, of course, is no hero. (He’d be the first to tell you that.) This site has pointed out before that he’s essentially a villain with a get out of jail free card because he kills “bad” guys. That doesn’t mean he’s going to go palling around with Spider-Man anytime soon, but it’s definitely created a weird, unspoken Marvel Universe narrative wherein Punisher is quietly tolerated.

That’s problematic.

But the flip side is this – Punisher stories, when handled correctly, tend to be damn fun. Just ask Garth Ennis, Mike Barr, Matthew Rosenberg, Rick Remender, or any number of writers over the years who clearly “got” the character and didn’t really care about any real-world reflections or other problematic elements the Punisher might possess. These authors understand the escapism inherent to a character like the Punisher is a huge part of what makes him endure.

All of which brings us to Punisher: Red Band #1, written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Julius Ohta and Yen Nitro and letters by Cory Petit. From the first page, it’s clear that Percy gets it: a Punisher story should take you out of your comfort zone, and into a black-white-and-red world where problems can be solved with prejudice and a well-placed bullet. Being one of Marvel’s Red Band titles allows for a wealth of violence to be shown (though curiously no swearing) at a level since Punisher MAX, and centers readers immediately around the central concept that yes, Frank Castle does very bad things to very bad people and what are you gonna do about it? This stripped-down, inherent simplicity to Percy’s approach reels readers right into the fray, and makes them feel right at home.

At the same time, though, there’s clear consequences to Punisher’s approach to fighting crime, and those consequences are the meat of the story. Sorry, no spoilers – but suffice to say, Frank Castle’s way of life might have finally caught up with him, and no one less than the Kingpin himself is going to take advantage of that.

Julius Ohta’s art is sublime and fits this world well, though perhaps a little rough around the edges. That’s a good thing, though – Punisher’s world should look rough and ragged. Muted colors by newcomer Yen Nitro fit the story’s tone and other sensibilities well, too, jumping off the page as needed and grounding it otherwise in the real world. The grit and grime of what Frank Castle does is evident in every panel.

In the final assessment, this is a good Punisher comic. Benjamin Percy is clearly most at home with “damaged goods” characters like Frank Castle or Wolverine, and that coziness shines throughout the entire issue. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, nor should it. But it understands that there’s a certain responsibility to writing the Punisher to show that his actions have consequences. He’s not “cool.” He’s very much a bad guy – but he’s also one whose stories we can read and enjoy despite that. Not a bad way to have your cake and eat it too.