Punisher Max...ending?

[SnakeEater]

I just noticed the solit for March says its the beginning of the last story for Ennis over at Pun Max. does that mean the series itself is ending because honestly no one writes punisher that good. its sad because its the one book i never dropped and loved so much.
grr is there any other info on this at all

[Cayman]

I don't think it's ending. I seem to remember a quote somewhere about the next writer being already decided.

I'm guessing it's Duane Swierczynski.

PWCW: You've done a Moon Knight and Punisher MAX annual recently. Will you be doing any more work in either of those series?

DS: You might see my consonant-laden name on another Punisher comic later in 2008.


Interview with Duane Swierczynski (http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6509108.html)

[pimp1911]

Im a little sad that he is leaving. His run is classic punisher.

[Tobias Drake]

Ennis will be missed. He writes Castle better than anyone I've seen.

[abyss]

I'm pretty sure I read a while back that Mike Benson is going to be the new writer. He is the new writer on Moon Knight and he did the Punisher MAX Annual.

[Jake Gallows]

I don't think it's ending. I seem to remember a quote somewhere about the next writer being already decided.

I'm guessing it's Duane Swierczynski.


Duane did an Punisher MAX One-Shot called "Force of Nature", that will come out in February 2008. Originally it should be the second Punisher MAX - Annual, as seen in the last MAX - Sampler.

I read that about Mike Benson in LitG, too. But for now, this is just a rumour. Marvel didn't announce a new writer yet.

[Cayman]

Duane did an Punisher MAX One-Shot called "Force of Nature", that will come out in February 2008. Originally it should be the second Punisher MAX - Annual, as seen in the last MAX - Sampler.

I read that about Mike Benson in LitG, too. But for now, this is just a rumour. Marvel didn't announce a new writer yet.

Yeah, but in the interview he was talking in addition to that one.

Perhaps they'll do a rotating team thing. There's a lot of writers salivating over the possibility of doing MAX Punisher. Gregg Hurwitz wants to write the character too.

[Jake Gallows]

You 're right of course. I didn't see that he spoke about "late 2008". I do hope, he have something different to tell then the type of stories, where the main character didn't appear for most of the time. Ditto for Benson, if he should be the next regular writer.

Hurwitz ? Hmmm ... Maybe it's too early to say, but this could be a good choice. I was very surprised to see how much story there is in his Foolkiller limited series. That's quite refreshing in the age of Decompressed Storytelling.

[ultramandingo]

......too bad ennis cant end the book hitman style - who needs spandex frank anymore

[Laughing Mask]

don't go garth!!!!!

[Brock]

It will be interesting to see how Ennis leaves the character. Given that the book is to continue as an ongoing.

In a way his final word on the character has already been written, in Punisher:The End.

[The Punished]

Ennis redefined the character with his storytelling. I still think there are some great stories left for the character that perhaps a new writer can bring to the table. I remember awhile back Greg Pak stated he would like a shot at doing a Punisher arc likewise.

I was impressed with his Hulk stories, so I think it would be nice to see someone else...let's say keep the seat warm until the fire is rekindled in Garth. I think Garth should be allowed to create any Punisher story he wanted as long as you don't go against his The End story.

[Trey]

Remember the Ennis/Jrjr rumors? Maybe we can get a mini sometime in the future.

What's this about Ennis doing a war comic? Was it Marvel or another publisher?

[Chiasm]

If Ennis leaves, I leave. The Punisher has never been a big favorite of mine because pre Ennis he was a cartoonish character. But I followed Garth Ennis / Steve Dillon to Punisher because I was having massive Preacher withdrawls. And I instantly loved the comic. I loved that the Punisher was basically removed from mainstream 616 because he shouldn't be there since he'll never be editorially allowed to kill anyone significant. And it was obvious that Ennis was the only writer who ever got Frank Castle. The Punisher is a serial killer who revels in the kill. It ceased being about revenge a long time ago and now its about the sexual thrill that all serial killers get in their killing. Ennis got that and its something no other writer ever has. Instead other writers do goofy cartoonish stuff like dressing him up like Captain America.

Just because he's a serial killer doesn't mean he can't be written sympathetically or written as a anti hero. See my avatar, Dexter, for an example of one psycho sick serial killer who you root for because of the excellent characterization. The new writer, whoever it is, should be locked in a room for a month with nothing but Dexter reruns and Ennis Punisher comics.

[Young Avenger]

What's this about Ennis doing a war comic? Was it Marvel or another publisher?

Ennis is writing a war comic that takes place during WW1 for the MAX line. It appears on the March solicits.

[earl]

I've gotten hooked on Garth Ennis' Punisher. I started on the MAx trades and am up to the Widowmaker, then I went back and got the trade of the first mini-series he did and am starting to work through the Marvel Knights issues.

I think Ennis has laid out a way for how The Punisher should be done that it is possible that another writer could pick up. I just read issues 9 to 12 of the Marvel Knights Punisher series about the Taxi War and I think the writer Tom Peyer definitely caught on to how Ennis put together Welcome Back Frank. The Max series definitely took away the humor element in those other issues, but I think what Ennis did with the character could be followed up on.

What I think would work in the Punisher Max series and I wish Ennis was the guy to do it, would be to start doing some more flash backs to the 70s and 80s. Since they are playing that the Punisher has had this war going on for thirty years, I think it would be great to see something like the Punisher Max meets Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver or even a storyline like the Son of Sam. In doing so, really play off the fact that the stories are set in the 70s or 80s.

Ennis was really good at doing the flashbacks with the Born miniseries and The Tyger one shot, I would have to think there is some gold in putting the Punisher in some gritty settings from the 70s. New York City was really screwed up in the late 70s and I think the imagery that you see in films like Taxi Driver or stuff based around the Son of Sam would look excellent in a comic.

[Trey]

The Punisher is a serial killer who revels in the kill. It ceased being about revenge a long time ago and now its about the sexual thrill that all serial killers get in their killing.

Completely Wrong!!! He's a vigilante. Thats it.

[Subotai]

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=140484


This is one of the greatest runs I've had the good fortune to follow, from beginning to end.

[Don't pee in the (Dead)pool]

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=140484


This is one of the greatest runs I've had the good fortune to follow, from beginning to end.

I agree. If the Punisher Max ends with Garth Ennis' tenure then it will be rather fitting as I can't see anyone else capturing Frank Castle and his world so vividly. garth Ennis spent several years writing Judge Dredd too and he seems to have an affinity for writing stoic ' fuck-with-me-and-i'll-fuck-you-right-back! ' characters. On the bright side, at least there'll be no magic ret-con involving Mephisto! ;-)

[WOLVERINE25TH]

I'll give post-Ennis Punny a try, but Marvel's record with follow-up creative teams on books I dig lately has not been stellar. Exiles and New X-Men are casualties of this fact, just to name a couple.

[TheMadTitan]

Ennis is the only guy who can write the Punisher!! Other Max comics are good but don't touch his writing. Yes the violence, tone and characterization might be able to be reproduced(possibly), but Ennis' Punisher Max run is so good due to him touching on and dealing with political and social issues, his brilliant monologues as well as creating compelling supporting characters.

I think who ever follows up will have a tough job competing with him - but I wish them all the best and will give them a try!

[matthewaos]

"In the beginning", "Up is down and black is white", and "The slavers" are my favorite stories so far. Ennis' run was exceptional. I can't imagine anyone writing that title but I'll give it a try. I'll be sad to drop the book though...

[Walter Hill]

No doubt Ennis is brilliant. He breathed new life into one dimensional character. I'll miss him too. Hopefully the Max book will live on.
I wouldn't mind seeing Swienrczynski or Benson taking a shot at it. Unfortunately whoever comes on is gonna live in Garth's shadow no matter how ambitious they are. Warren Ellis would be pretty darn special too.

[matthewaos]

Yeah, Ellis is just like Ennis, though he is sicker!!! I mean he has a black sense of humor (or sick if you prefer), his comics are brutal, but Ennis is funny even when he writes the most brutal scene ever, whereas Ellis is just plain sick. Hope that made sense... Anyway, Swienrczynski's Moon Knight annual was not bad but far from touching Huston's run. Benson's annual was better I think. Actually I think Benson, Huston or Aaron would be great. And Ellis of course.

[The Adventurer]

Maybe now the title will be worth reading. God Ennis's Punisher was terrible.

[z0mbie_aut0pil0t]

Blasphemy! Garth's Punisher run has been outstanding.

[botch]

The Punisher is a serial killer who revels in the kill. It ceased being about revenge a long time ago and now its about the sexual thrill that all serial killers get in their killing. Ennis got that and its something no other writer ever has.

I don' think you understand vigilantism, the nature of it or Frank Castle. He isn't a serial killer.

[botch]

Maybe now the title will be worth reading. God Ennis's Punisher was terrible.

Give your eyes to people who deserve them. This is one of the most critically acclaimed runs in all of comics.

[botch]

I wish I had alot of money so I could pay Ennis to stay on the book forever. One fo the best writer runs in all of comics. A title so consistently good it still amazes me.

[StoneGold]

Still no actual information on this, huh?

[Walter Hill]

Sorry to hear Ennis is leaving.

[idolone]

Sorry to see Ennis is leaving the book. Punisher has always been my favorite comic character, and Ennis is probably the best writter for the Punisher books (though Dixon was pretty awesome too). I really hated his Marvel Knights stuff (putting breasts on the Russian, come on), but his Max stuff has been top notch. Punisher Max 53 comes out this week, and I'm dying to see what happens. That's the thing about the Max series, it's so exciting to read month to month. It seems many comic readers are sticking to trades only, but man, there's something about Ennis' writting that just works better reading in single issues.

I'm actually a little excited though to see what direction the book will take now. I guess it all depends on the creative team. Man, just keep Mat Fraction the $#@! away from the book, war journal is aweful. I mean I'm considering dropping it, and I'm one of the die hardest Punisher fans (have every book so far, minus a few appearances). I seriously can't deal with 2 sucky Punisher books, so hopefully Max will continue to be great.

[Libaax]

Sorry to see Ennis is leaving the book. Punisher has always been my favorite comic character, and Ennis is probably the best writter for the Punisher books (though Dixon was pretty awesome too). I really hated his Marvel Knights stuff (putting breasts on the Russian, come on), but his Max stuff has been top notch. Punisher Max 53 comes out this week, and I'm dying to see what happens. That's the thing about the Max series, it's so exciting to read month to month. It seems many comic readers are sticking to trades only, but man, there's something about Ennis' writting that just works better reading in single issues.

I'm actually a little excited though to see what direction the book will take now. I guess it all depends on the creative team. Man, just keep Mat Fraction the $#@! away from the book, war journal is aweful. I mean I'm considering dropping it, and I'm one of the die hardest Punisher fans (have every book so far, minus a few appearances). I seriously can't deal with 2 sucky Punisher books, so hopefully Max will continue to be great.

Couldnt agree more Fraction is so horrible with Punisher that i hope he never comes near Max where the real Punisher is in.

I dont have high hopes for Punisher post Ennis, he is one of the best writers. It will be almost impossible to keep the quality of the writing at his level with a new writer. It needs a big gun who can write dark stories or someone that understand the dark tone with the social stories Ennis wrote for Punisher.

I just read 52 and despite the cartoony art i cant wait for what happens next.


Punisher has been the Marvel comic i have enjoyed most for the last 7 years thanks to Ennis. Frank is one of my big favs now, i couldnt even read him before Knights and Max Punisher. I cant take if he becomes a joke again and dont get dark,realistic stories he got with Ennis.

[Superbeast]

Maybe now the title will be worth reading. God Ennis's Punisher was terrible.

Please seek mental help.