Introduction

Cover art for PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #7 by Ariel Olivetti

I've written in this column before how much I like Matt Fraction's newly launched PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL series. It puts Frank Castle back in the body suit with the white gloves, white boots, and adds a little bit of fun. Fraction's take on the Punisher is refreshing, which makes this latest news somewhat distressing. If you're not up to speed, allow me to fill you in.

At the end of CIVIL WAR #7, Captain America Steve Rogers surrendered to authorities leaving his mask amidst the debris of the battle fought between the heroes following him against the superhero registration act and those fighting alongside Iron Man in support of it. In that same issue, the Punisher is seen picking up the mask and giving it his trademark I'm-so-serious-you-don't-even-want-to-know sneer. This was the first sign that something was afoot. Early issues of PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL featured some exchanges between the two that illustrated the immense respect Punisher has for Cap, almost to the point of idolatry. Cap gives the Punisher a pretty serious beating in return for killing a couple of nobody super villains and Punisher refuses to defend himself because he won't fight Captain America. A similar scenario is played out in flashback showing Frank Castle as an army recruit being trained by Cap. What's going to happen is that as of PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL issue #7, he is taking on the identity of Captain America. In hindsight, all the evidence was there, but I just don't like the idea of the Punisher merging his identity with Captain America in any way.

One thing I absolutely hate about it is the costume (pictured above). I mean look at that thing. It looks like a rejected X-Men costume from the 90s with all those belts and pouches. I'm all for modernizing the Captain America costume, but the Ultimate universe has already perfected it. They got rid of the scale armour, the wings on the mask, and the flared pirate boots. This costume has three separate logs on it; Cap's star, Punisher's skull, and a combination of the two on the sleeve. Has Frank Castle never heard of branding? The costume is not really recognizable as either character, but isn't far enough from either to suggest a new character. It just doesn't work.

Another problem I see with this is both characters could end up diminished because of it. Captain America is an icon of justice. He's the ultimate Boy Scout, and the personification of America's best intentions. His signature weapon is a shield; a symbol of protection and defence. The Punisher is basically a homicidal psychopath who blames every criminal in the world for the death of his family, and employs a wide variety of guns and knives to serve his means. I don't understand what the icon of Captain America offers the Punisher that is enticing in any way. Either the character of the Punisher is going soft, or the symbol of Captain America is going to get tarnished. Why would Frank Castle, who admires Cap so much, feel comfortable wearing the Star, but still acting like the Punisher? His previous actions offended Cap so much that he was almost beaten to death for them. Captain America found the Punisher to be loathsome and distasteful, and he said as much several times. Yet, all of a sudden, the Punisher thinks, "This is what he would want,"?

Now that I've stated how much I don't like this idea, let me say I'll give Matt Fraction a fair shot, and I hope he makes the story work. I love his writing on PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL so far, and I really like what he and Ed Brubaker are doing in THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Surely, all these complaints are on his mind as well. After all, he wrote many of the stories involving the Punisher and Captain America. There's a chance that he could make it work, and it could be really good. I'm not in this to hate on mainstream comics, and cry foul if classic characters change. I think more comic characters should change drastically and break out of their perpetual second acts. I'm in this to read good stories, and as long as the stories are internally consistent, I'll keep reading. However, Fraction will have to do some stellar writing to keep me from laughing when I see that costume.

Here's what I picked up this week.

DC Green Lantern #18 - Something about the inking in this really bothered me, and I don't care for Star Sapphire.
Wonder Woman #6 - Special Agent Diana Prince copes with the real world and Circe impersonating Wonder Woman.
Action Comics #847 - Kryptonian criminals are loose in Metropolis, Superman is trapped in the Phantom Zone, and this whole issue is a Jonathan Kent flashback? Lame!
Image Spawn #166 - Things seem a little off since Spawn recreated the world after destroying all life on it. Same thing happened to me two weeks ago.
Marvel Fantastic Four #544 - Black Panther and Storm replace Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, something happens in outer space, and then the Watcher shows up.
Wolverine #52 - Wolverine and Sabertooth are still fighting, but now they're in Africa and the Black Panther jumps in for a taste.
Silent War #3 - The Inhumans really want the Terrigen Mists back so it's inconvenient that Quicksilver is wearing them.
Ultimate Spider-Man #107 - Kitty confronts Peter about Mary Jane, and Matt is mad at Wilson. Then Marissa died and Ryan punched Oliver.
Ultimate Fantastic Four #40 - Time travelling, a medieval alchemist named "Diablo", and the end of the world? You guys are losing me.
Ultimate X-Men #80 - Xavier's still dead, Cyclops disbands the X-Men, and we catch up with Cable in the future.

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