Dustin Gebel
During today’s MARVEL: Heroes, Hulks, and Super-Soldiers panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel unveiled more information about the new Punisher debuting later this year. Writer David Pepose and artist Dave Watcher bring this new version of the character to life this November, with Rod Reis providing covers for the new ongoing series.
After Frank Castle’s turn to the hand and disappearance, a new vigilante takes his place in the form of Joe Garrison. As a retired S.H.I.E.L.D. black ops agent, Garrison has the skills and history to wage war on the criminal element of the Marvel Universe. The press release teases that a part of the ongoing mystery will be what drove Garrison back into the costumed life and set him on the path of the Punisher.
During the panel, Pepose discussed the inspiration for the new character:
“The man might be different, but the punishment remains the same. I wanted to introduce the Danny Ketch to Frank’s Johnny Blaze.”
This marks for Pepose’s second opportunity to write for a Punisher that’s not Frank Castle, after the inclusion of Punisher 2099 in the recent Savage Avengers. Pepose is also no stranger to bridging old and new to the street-level side of Marvel thanks to the issue of Moon Knight: City of the Dead. That issue sees the introduction of Layla El-Faouly’s Scarlet Scarab, bringing the new character to Moon Knight’s past and present.
Marvel has shared a first look at Rod Reis’s cover and the first variant from Mico Suayan:
PUNISHER #1
Written by DAVID PEPOSE
Art by DAVE WACHTER
Cover art by ROD REIS
Variant Cover by MICO SUAYAN
On Sale 11/8
Stay tuned to Comic Watch for more SDCC ‘23 coverage and additional details about the new Punisher.