The Punisher (1986 limited series)

Supercbbox| title = The Punisher Limited Series
comic_color = background:#ff8080

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caption = Cover of The Punisher Limited Series #1
Note the banner; "#1 in a four issue limited series"
schedule = Monthly
format = Limited series
publisher =Marvel Comics
date =1986
issues =5 (incorrectly listed as four)
main_char_team = The Punisher
past_current_color=background:#5be85b
writers = Bill Mantlo
artists =
pencillers = Mike Zeck and Mike Vosburg
inkers = John Beatty
colorists =
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators =

"The Punisher" was a five-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in 1986, starring the fictional vigilante The Punisher. It was written by Steven Grant, and illustrated by Mike Zeck and Mike Vosburg.

History

In the early 1980s, Grant and Zeck proposed creating a four-issue Punisher miniseries. The company was initially uncomfortable with the idea of a protagonist who killed in cold blood. However, as crime increased nationally throughout the decade, Marvel responded by testing the market for such a character and then publishing though not initially promoting a miniseries which debuted in Jan 1986. Due to demand the series was increased to five issues and promotion was started.

In keeping with its hard-boiled premise, "The Punisher" included several events rare in Marvel Comics publisher in the mid-1980s: a suicide, the death of an inoccent child, and the main character having intercourse. In issue #3 the warden of Rykers prison (who assisted in the Punisher's prison break) committed suicide when faced with the options of battling the Punisher or going to prison himself. Also in issue #3 Marcus Coriander, a small time numbers runner used as a proxy crime boss by The Kingpin, accidentally kills an innocent girl while exchanging gunfire with the Punisher. In issue #2 the Punisher is nursed back to health by Angela, a plant by Punisher's enemies "The Trust." In one panel Angela states that "everything I have is yours." In the next panel the Punisher is shown walking away from a bed containing a nude Angela; intimating they had had sex.

Publication

The first issus was bannered on the cover as the first of four. After this first issue immediately sold out, Marvel expanded the miniseries to five issues. The miniseries was such a success that the Punisher was brought back the next year in his own ongoing monthly title.

Issues #1, #3 and #4 had banners promoting a four-issue limited series and issues #2 and #5 promote a five-issue series. Mike Zeck was the artist on the first four issues and Mike Vosburg was the penciller of #5. The splash page of issue #5 has a caption stating "Special thanks to true pros Mike Vosburg (pencils), Jo Duffy (script), and Big John Beatty (inks)" alluding to the difficulties of expanding a four-issue limited series into five issues.

The covers were paintings by Mike Zeck and Phil Zimelman. They featured the Punisher in generic poses.

Plot

"Circle of Blood" January 1986

The Punisher is sprung from Rykers prison by The Trust, a citizens organization whose purpose is to make America great by brainwashing criminals and making them part of their "Punishment Squad." This group wears uniforms similar to the Punisher's and kills criminals. A man named Alarec is in charge of this operation.

"Back to the War" February 1986

After being rescued by Angel, a female operative of The Trust, the Punisher falsely tells Ben Urich that he has killed the Kingpin. The purpose of this is to start a gang war where the criminals will kill themselves. The Punisher then becomes concerned by the large number of innocent people caught in the crossfire.

"Slaughterday" March 1986

The Punisher forces mob leaders (at gunpoint) to have a meeting to stop the gang war. Force is necessary, because The Trust had previously used a purported gang meeting to kill a number of criminals.

"Final Solution" April 1986

The Punisher attacks Alarec's home and finds that Jigsaw has been brainwashed and become a member of the Punishment Squad. The Punisher defeats Jigsaw but is captured by Alarec and placed in the conditioning room.

"Final Solution part 2" April 1986

The Punisher escapes the brainwashing room because his weapons and clothing weren't removed when he was put there. The Punisher then forces Alarec to implicate The Trust in his prison break and the Punishment Squad's murders. While leaving the mansion, the Punisher is confronted by an Angela. He defeats her and leaves her in her jeep, precariously situated on the railing of Alarec's mansion's bridge. The Punisher walks away as the jeep begins to slip.

ee also

*List of The Punisher comics

External links

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/punisher.htm The Punisher at toonopedia.com]
* [http://www.sequart.com/punisherV2.htm List of The Punisher (1986 limited series) issues at sequart.com]