What can Marvel do to get you to buy the current Punisher book?

**DaronK** · 03-16-2012, 10:56 AM

I'm sure I'm going to get a bunch of snarky comments here, but I'm really curious about this. As someone who usually can't stand the character (and usually find him and his story very one-dimensional), I'm constantly blown away by this title and I'm surprised it's doing so poorly sales wise.

So with that in mind, what would it take?

**CTpitch** · 03-16-2012, 11:06 AM

I don't really know how. People keep on comparing every punisher to the Garth Ennis PunisherMAX series, which I don't see as fair because he had his own universe in PunisherMAX that was just for Frank Castle. 616 Punisher has always seemed as a goofy lunatic in tights. That be said Greg Rucka's Punisher is shaping up to be one of the best runs with the name the Punisher on it IMO. With great art and a crossover with Daredevil people are really missing out on this title

**DaronK** · 03-16-2012, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by CTpitch

616 Punisher has always seemed as a goofy lunatic in tights.

This is exactly how I felt about him too. He definitely felt like a character who didn't have any stories left to tell, yet Rucka is knocking this title out of the park. I honestly think I like it better than DD at this point (as the last couple issues of DD haven't been as good as the ones that came before - and I think each issue of Punisher gets better).

**CrazyOldHermit** · 03-16-2012, 11:12 AM

If I had known it was a 2.99 book when it was starting I'd probably be buying it. But right now I find myself not caring because after reading Aaron's MAX run I consider the current 616 version of the character to be the fake version. The fact that they've updated that version's origin and made him younger just makes the fakeness even more clear. As far as I'm concerned, the Punisher's first appearance was in 2000. Current 616 Punisher might as well be the Ultimate version and I just can't bring myself to care.

**DaronK** · 03-16-2012, 11:27 AM

That's sad to hear...especially from someone with a Punisher avatar.

**vh4ever** · 03-16-2012, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by DaronK

I'm sure I'm going to get a bunch of snarky comments here, but I'm really curious about this. As someone who usually can't stand the character (and usually find him and his story very one-dimensional), I'm constantly blown away by this title and I'm surprised it's doing so poorly sales wise.

So with that in mind, what would it take?

I already am, enjoy Rucka's work, guess I'm a sucker though.

**DaronK** · 03-16-2012, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by vh4ever

I already am, enjoy Rucka's work, guess I'm a sucker though.

How does that make you a sucker? I think it makes you a person with discerning taste.

**One More Day** · 03-16-2012, 11:49 AM

I would buy it if there was excessive gore, violence and sexuality along with gratuitous profanity.

**NickFury90** · 03-16-2012, 12:02 PM

I would buy if they got rid of Greg Rucka. His run is sooooooooooo boringgggggggg. It's the flatest, most literal version of the Punisher I've ever seen. Police prodecural without a hint of the fantastic that you get in the best Ennis, Remender, or Baron Punisher stories. It's almost like it's ashamed to be in the MU.

Call me back when Punisher is having another team-up with Spider-Man, or he gets turned into a zombie or something interesting.

**CTpitch** · 03-16-2012, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by NickFury90

I would buy if they got rid of Greg Rucka. His run is sooooooooooo boringgggggggg. It's the flatest, most literal version of the Punisher I've ever seen. Police prodecural without a hint of the fantastic that you get in the best Ennis, Remender, or Baron Punisher stories. It's almost like it's ashamed to be in the MU.

Call me back when Punisher is having another team-up with Spider-Man, or he gets turned into a zombie or something interesting.

Oh you want him back in goofy tights as well?

**DaronK** · 03-16-2012, 12:07 PM

I believe he's teaming up with Spidey and DD next issue...

**NickFury90** · 03-16-2012, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by CTpitch

Oh you want him back in goofy tights as well?

I think the 616 Punisher works best as the straight man to the wackiness of the MU. A man with black and white morality in a world of grey, red, blue, pink and Kirby Dots. Play him straight when he's blowing off Stilt Man's head, or begrudingly teaming up with Neo-Nazi white supremacy leaders, or using Skrull Super-Sniper rifles to try and assassinate superpowered foes.

Let him stab a Gorilla again or something, not all these generic goons