Rucka Sets the Boundaries For "Punisher: War Zone"

[CBR News]

Writer Greg Rucka looks back on the first issue of "Punisher: War Zone" and teases what's to come in Frank Castle's escalating conflict with Earth's Mightiest Heroes.


Full article here.

[Paladin King]

It's a good thing everything else is great....because man, I do not like Carmine di Giandomenico's art. Never have and still don 't. Possibly my least liked artist in Marvel's roster not named Greg Land.

[punisher97]

It's a good thing everything else is great....because man, I do not like Carmine di Giandomenico's art. Never have and still don 't. Possibly my least liked artist in Marvel's roster not named Greg Land.

He wasn't that bad.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I'd recommend fans of it, especially those who refuse to read the new Thunderbolts, to pick up Rucka's "Lazarus" next spring.

The meeting between Wolverine and Frank was interesting and I hope their interaction is expanded in future issues.

[Movieartman]

It's a good thing everything else is great....because man, I do not like Carmine di Giandomenico's art. Never have and still don 't. Possibly my least liked artist in Marvel's roster not named Greg Land.

what about Steve dillion, that guy is a Bloody Disaster

[TsaiMeLemoni]

I think the art on this book is pretty decent. At least it doesn't look like Dillon's. His art isn't bad, it just feels like it doesn't have much movement or energy.

[AaronAlex]

I always enjoy the depth and thought Rucka puts into his interviews - always a pleasure to read, and as a fan, it's always satisfying to know that a writer treats these characters thoughtfully without ever pandering to the fans. He's made me interested in the Punisher for the first time since ... well, to be honest, ever.

A quick correction though: you're referring to the series as "Punisher: War Journal" repeatedly in your captions. Otherwise, good stuff!

[Rollo Tomassi]

Shame on Marvel for taking Punisher away from Rucka and giving him to Daniel Way.
That's like telling Ernest Hemingway to piss off because we got that silly witch that wrote the Twilight books and we don't need his Hemingway nonsense around anymore.

They say you should pick your battles. That was a battle Wacker should've picked.

[Dog]

They say you should pick your battles. That was a battle Wacker should've picked.

How do you know he didn't?

[Rollo Tomassi]

Because Daniel Way is writing Thunderbolts and Rucka said he's done with Marvel.
If Wacker did pick it, he should've picked it harder.

[Dog]

"You can't fight City Hall."

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

Honestly, I think Marvel could have left Punisher on a slightly longer leash. Numbers weren't really drifting downwards that quickly, but I guess they decided to make a clean break since it was Marvel NOW.

[Will.S]

Shame on Marvel for taking Punisher away from Rucka and giving him to Daniel Way.
That's like telling Ernest Hemingway to piss off because we got that silly witch that wrote the Twilight books and we don't need his Hemingway nonsense around anymore.

They say you should pick your battles. That was a battle Wacker should've picked.

I don't think that's what happened.

From what I've pieced together it seemed like the sales for the book weren't all that great so they gave Greg enough time to finish his run and then do War Zone as a mini series. After that they probably wondered what to do next with Punisher so they just stuck him on T-Bolts which may or may not be bridged with War Zone's ending. They didn't consult Rucka for the move to T-Bolts but then again Marvel doesn't really have to because Punisher wasn't his character although I'm sure Rucka would have appreciated the gesture.

[Dog]

It's been said the idea of this Thunderbolts team, including the line-up, goes WAY back, maybe even a year or so. Rucka was always on borrowed time, unfortunately.

[jsf]

I've loved Rucka's run on the Punisher -- I honestly think it's been the best take on the character I've read. I'll definitely be sorry to see it come to an end, and have no interest in the Punisher on Thunderbolts by Way.

That said, I think Rucka was a bit off about Frank getting revenge for his family's death. The story that dealt with his hunting down those responsible (Marvel Super Action magazine) basically ended with someone else killing the mob members responsible before Frank could get to them. He was basically denied closure (although he did kill the assassin). I've always felt that explained why he continues on better than anything else (more than he simply "likes" killing, which is what Ennis suggested): Frank remains angry and driven because he himself didn't get to punish the people responsible personally. There's something tragic in that -- and something selfish -- and something unheroic, even if sympathetic at some level. It's a complexity of the character that I think Mike Baron captured well at times in his run with back in the '80's. Still, Rucka nails it in the last issue of the main series when he has Frank basically say no one should be like me.

Really will miss this iteration of the character when this is done.

[Bionder]

I'm divided who which has the perfect take on the Punisher if it is Ennis or Rucka. Don't know if i would go with the ruthless killer of Ennis or the tactically, self discipline and speechless Punisher by Rucka.

Either way i think this Punisher can relate at times with the Punisher of Mike Baron, a little less speechless but we can "sense feelings" within him. It was a pleasure reading this take of Rucka's and it is a shame that Marvel already cancelled his ongoing run.