COMICS: Writer Greg Rucka Reveals New Details About PUNISHER WAR ZONE

This October, The Avengers decide that it's time to finally put a stop to The Punisher's violent and deadly war on crime. How will Frank Castle deal with likes of Iron Man and Thor? And why are Earth's Mightiest Heroes going after him NOW? Greg Rucka explains.

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By Josh Wilding - 7/16/2012
Talking to Comic Book Resources, The Punisher writer Greg Rucka has talked about October's five-part Punisher War Zone; a series which will see Frank Castle take on Earth's Mightiest Heroes. However, this won't be like past stories such as Punisher Vs. The Marvel Universe, as it's set firmly in the current continuity and is the conclusion to Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto's critically acclaimed run featuring the character. Below are some of the highlights from the interview, but be sure to click on the link below to read it in full.


On The Punisher's Relationship With The Avengers:

"I don't think Frank is at all surprised when this happens. He knew it was inevitable, but he of course has a contingency plan. He's got a contingency plan for everything. That doesn't mean Frank is happy with the situation though. I never felt that Frank looks at the heroes with contempt. I don't think he looks at the Avengers and says, 'You guys are laughable.' When Galactus shows up Frank is not up to the task of defending the Earth. So if hammers fall from the sky, which has happened recently, that's outside of his bailiwick."


On Why And How The Heroes Will Deal With The Punisher:

"Spider-Man is of the mind that they should have absolutely done something about Castle years ago. Avengers like Black Widow or Wolverine may have a much more pragmatic view of killing and that puts them in a different position. They've got to ask themselves what they believe and what they're willing to do. So there is dissension in the ranks of the Avengers on how to deal with Frank and what to do. There's a legitimate argument to be made, and you can probably guess which Avenger makes it, that says, 'What the Punisher does is ugly and messy and I don't believe for a second that he should be allowed to continue, but saying it's up to us to stop him is a waste of our time and resources. We have to deal with global issues. Why are we chasing one guy around the five Boroughs? Yes he's racked up a huge body count over the years, but there are threats out there that will kill millions if we don't do something about them. So why are we doing this?' It is, to steal a phrase, 'ruthless calculus,' but really what's the best use of their time and resources?"


On How The Punisher Will Combat The Threat Of Earth's Mightiest Heroes:

"It would be rather stupid of Frank to stand still and let the Avengers come to him. That would be poor planning on his part. Much better planning would be for him to make it very, very difficult for them to come at him."


On How The Punisher Will Deal With Powerful Heroes Like Iron Man And Thor:

"I think he's gone down this road before you and I have. He has come to tactical conclusions about all of the Avengers, and I think for him Thor is the most problematic. How do you deal with him? Someone like Tony is a little easier because Tony is tech reliant. If you can figure out a way to cut out those tech legs, you've won that fight before it even begins. With Thor though, you're not going to separate him easily from that hammer. So you have to deal with him in a separate way. By the same token I don't think Thor has a real easy grasp on Frank because he comes from a different culture and a different world and has got a very different view on things. So of everybody there I think the person most likely to underestimate Frank is Thor."


On What Makes This Different From Previous "Punisher Vs." Stories:

I'm not interested in telling a story about Frank trying to beat up on the Avengers for five issues straight, because frankly that's boring. Will there be beatings? Yes, but there's more to it than that and I think it will be a fun ride. And this isn't a misunderstanding that leads to a team-up style story either. No Marvel villains with a capital V will be showing up, and there isn't an insidious mastermind out to exploit or manipulate the Punisher and the Avengers."


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46 Comments
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 10:25 AM
Didn't they do something similar to this not too long ago? Oh, well.

Stay EPIC, my friends!
Jollem - 7/16/2012, 10:25 AM
my money's on mr. castle
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 10:26 AM

Would love to see this on the big screen. :)
inky - 7/16/2012, 10:37 AM
this sounds good but wolverine an avenger now thats always funny.
punishers contigency plan for final solution should be something so devestating and different it makes readers go wow never thought of him doing that.
Jollem - 7/16/2012, 10:38 AM


:)
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 10:40 AM
@Farkosaurus - LoL, hell yeah it did. That was one mean right hook. ;P
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 10:41 AM
@Jollem - D@mn, that's a nice pic, man.
Jollem - 7/16/2012, 10:44 AM
@TheAmazingSpidey63 - thanky. i like yours. that steve mcniven right? he's good
thespiderman209 - 7/16/2012, 10:45 AM
@Jollem from what issue did that image come from?
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 10:46 AM
Now, no matter how tough or "bad-to-the-bone" Castle may be, there's just no way he would win this fight....


Hell, DP can just talk Castle to death. :P
snow2cold - 7/16/2012, 10:46 AM
excited
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 10:48 AM
@Jollem - Thanks. I try to look for the best pic there is on the Web. And, yeah, I od believe that McNiven. Good drawings. :)
Zombie137 - 7/16/2012, 10:48 AM
I love Greg Rucka. I dont know if any of you have read is Atticus Kodiak books. But they are brilliant and need to be made into movies.

This does not seem like another flash in the pan, lame Punisher vs story and i cant wait for this.
NotU - 7/16/2012, 10:49 AM
just glad to see Castle back in action. that Frankecastle thing was one of the dumbest arcs I've ever seen.

I miss War Journal....
Jollem - 7/16/2012, 10:52 AM
@TheSpiderMan209 - wolverine vs. marvel universe #4 apparently. i never read it
WinterSoldier - 7/16/2012, 10:55 AM
I don't see why the Avengers have a problem with Punisher but not Wolverine, Logan kills just as many people monthly as Castle but none of the Avengers seem to care about him.
Godzillafart - 7/16/2012, 11:06 AM
This actually sounds great.
fedup - 7/16/2012, 11:12 AM
@WinterSoldier because Wolverine doesn't go out of his way to kill people anymore. He doesn't compile hitlists to systematically wipe people off the map anymore. He may be brutal in hand to hand combat, but he's learned the value of just bringing the bad guys in. Doesn't mean he's gone soft or that he doesn't kill anymore (because even Cap kills from time to time). He just doesn't make killing his primary objective. Wolverine at this point is a killer, sure. But not a murderer. Difference between killing and murder is all about intent. Guy accidentally hits someone with his car is a killer. Guy who makes hitlists and acts on them is a murderer.
Jollem - 7/16/2012, 11:18 AM
@SaxoWolf - i guess cap asked to get capped:) for something that he couldn't deal with. something involving zombies?
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 11:20 AM
*do, not od. Freaking autocorrect. >:(



One more for laughs....


;P
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 7/16/2012, 11:21 AM
@Vegakingblade - Hmmm, I can't recall if he had beaten Deadpool. But I just think that with those two put together to fight, DP would win. :)
spectre88 - 7/16/2012, 11:28 AM
I'd bet in the end he joins the Avengers.
Paulley - 7/16/2012, 11:33 AM
Remember the Punisher/Sentry fight... Frank so-called put bombs in hospitals to force Sentry to fly off and deal with them (though i think it was just a ploy and there were no bombs)

Scabsallover - 7/16/2012, 11:34 AM
#DirtyLaundry is sweet! Borrows from TDK score but this is dope!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWpK0wsnitc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
JustAnotherFilmGeek - 7/16/2012, 11:41 AM
As long as it ends with the Punisher death and not coming back at least 5 years later this could be one of the best marvel stories of the decade.
RamonSuarez - 7/16/2012, 11:45 AM
They better not make a story like DC does where Batman takes on the JLA and pwns them all.

No way on God's green Earth does Punisher stand a chance against the JLA - and Punisher is my favorite all time hero.
BackwardGalaxy - 7/16/2012, 12:25 PM
This story, to me, is all about creativity. If you can creatively and credibly show Frank dealing with this threat in a convincing way, the outcome is moot. It'll just be fun and that's all you can really ask for.

That being said, I fully expect Frank to get away because The Avengers realize that the only way they can stop him is to kill him and they aren't willing to do that.
RexDartEskimoSpy - 7/16/2012, 12:50 PM
Greg Rucka is one of very few writers that make want to read Punisher comics. I'll read anything Rucka writes, but he's THE master of street crime comics.

Cap's uneasy alliance with Frank was easily my favorite part of Civil War.
jimoakley666 - 7/16/2012, 12:59 PM
All I'm saying is Wolverine's son cut Frank into tiny pieces. Daken has nothing the big gun Avengers. Wolverine included. I think this story will be one of those frustratingly tenuous ones that just make you shout "Are you [frick]ing kidding me?! Bullshit!".
AlexDeLarge87 - 7/16/2012, 1:15 PM
I would like to see The Punisher on rampage in The Walking Dead comic specially after the events of the 100 issue! Rick would seriously need his help right now!:(
storyteller - 7/16/2012, 1:28 PM
Wolverine isn't a murderer? Really because last time I checked, he runs a X-men team for assassinations. This guy planned to kill a teenage girl. Wolverine in his own comics goes into enemy territory and starts killing people. I think if Wolverine had a few less comics, then he would seem like a guy who does what needs to be done. But in the majority of his comics he kills first and then sends folks to jail.
musashi - 7/16/2012, 2:24 PM
I can't believe that the Punisher could beat the Avengers. The only advantage that he would have is his desire to kill. If he has set up traps around the world where people will die, the Avengers wouldn't be able to touch him. Obviously he wouldn't kill innocent people though.
Keldor - 7/16/2012, 2:38 PM
If Batman can take on The Justice League, then The Punisher can definetely take on the Avengers. Same Battle. Same idea. Same characters.
Keldor - 7/16/2012, 2:40 PM
@jimoakley666: Right before Daken cut him up, The Punisher Effectively evaded The Sentry after taking a shot at Osborn.
fedup - 7/16/2012, 2:44 PM
@Intruder Nah, I'm good.
ISeeStupidPeople - 7/16/2012, 3:50 PM
If Castle beats Cap in a fight I'm throwing this entire series in a garbage bin.
birdfists - 7/16/2012, 3:57 PM
They said this will be about Frank being completely prepared.
musashi - 7/16/2012, 4:12 PM
But If The Punisher suddenly got the Captain Universe powers .... Nah, better not say it, it might come true!
ckal - 7/16/2012, 5:46 PM
First of all, Greg Rucka clearly has no handle on Thor WHATSOEVER.

1) Do you really think Thor needs his hammer? He does not. Without it Frank stands to die in the same amount of time if Thor has Mjolnir.

2)Thor underestimate Frank? Frank has literally NOTHING he can do to even harm Thor. All Thor has to stand is stand there. Literally.

Greg Rucka...come on bro.
ckal - 7/16/2012, 5:47 PM
I can't stand it how people think Thor is nothing without his hammer, or like if he is separated from it he is helpless. It's not the 1960's! He is the God of Thunder you imbeciles!
chujong - 7/16/2012, 8:18 PM
@ckal I was thinking the same thing. The comment in the article makes it seem like that Thor is powerless without his hammer. WTF?!
Marxman12 - 7/16/2012, 8:49 PM
Thor should have some weakness, some flaw. Obviously Rucka's weakness for Thor is his seperation from Mjolnir.
sameoldthing - 7/17/2012, 4:38 AM
Sorry crybabies..The Punisher is a fictional character inhabiting a world with superhumans & other bizzare individuals,even if he has no powers he's a comic book creation so he can & will be able to do things an ordinary man with his skill set cannot accomplish.

Obtaining weapons & tools that inhabit the Marvel U would allow Frank to devastate The Avengers & other powered beings..saying he couldn't is like saying Spidey couldn't gain spider powers from radiation or Cap his abilities from the serum given to him.
It's make believe!..and it's all for entertainment.

This takes place in Marvel comics continuity so hopefully we will see The Punisher live up to his potential as one of the most dangerous men alive,after all that's why The Avengers want to stop him.
mctrinket - 7/17/2012, 6:03 AM
Punisher is not a superhero so it's ludicrous to think he could win a fight against one.
AdamX - 7/17/2012, 10:04 AM
Castle is gonna mess the Avengers up... In the begining then the Avengers will get themselves sorted out and come back.
sameoldthing - 7/17/2012, 2:01 PM
@mctrinket
You need to read my comments above yours but I will repeat & elaborate..
..The Punisher exists in a world of super powered beings & other "marvelous" occurrences.
You act as if no normal person can fight against powered beings.

Well I say thousands of comics have been written,sold & enjoyed for decades that prove you wrong,many times villains or others with no powers have obtained weapons or training or other means to battle those with greater abilities.

Daredevil has limited powers but has fought more powerful foes & Batman is another example as well. In a comic book world your only limited by your imagination..all is needed is a good story..throw out what is "believable"..read the newspaper for that stuff.

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