Marvel Comics recently launched a whole new Ultimate UniverseAnd in this universe are variants of a number of well-known Marvel characters, including the Punishment. Earth-6160 is an alternate reality taken over by the Maker, who used time travel to shape it to his liking. So far in this continuity, fans have been treated to stories featuring The Ultimates (Avengers), Black Panther and Spider-Man – but there’s one more missing: The Punisher. And it’s One comic writer who would be perfect to deal with a Ultimate Punisher Series.
in The Ultimates #2 by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri, Captain America is preparing for his first mission since being unfrozen. He decides to catch up on the history of the Ultimate Universe and learn about everything he missed between the 1940s and the present day. Standing in a high-tech Stark device, Cap gets a virtual history lesson, and In the 1970s, there is one person who is particularly noteworthy: The Punisher.
The Punisher’s inclusion in the Ultimate Universe amounts to little more than a cameo, but it’s enough to pique interest. The image of Captain America is that of a man with the iconic Punisher skull insignia on his chest, holding two guns. Bodies litter his path on the streets of New York, while others cower in fear of him. As if A mashup of Paul Kersey, Travis Bickle and John Rambo, Frank Castle’s version is the epitome of a ’70s vigilante. And now, it’s time for Marvel to tell its story.
Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe Perfect setup a self-contained Punisher series
The manufacturer created the perfect landscape for amazing Punisher stories
Although The Punisher exists within the wider Marvel Universe, meaning he canonically operates in the same world as the likes of costumed heroes like Spider-Man and The Avengers, Punisher’s best stories were always the ones that were self-contained. The Punisher is a grounded and brutal character, an anti-hero with no superhuman abilities, and absolutely no qualms about killing those he believes deserve it. Marvel’s superheroes don’t like him, and he doesn’t like them, so they naturally tend to avoid each other whenever possible – give The Punisher and his stories Room to be as hardcore as possible.
Punisher’s best stories were always the ones that were self-contained.
Given that The best Punisher stories are superhero-freeThe Ultimate Universe is the perfect setting for a whole new series. The creator is able to conquer Earth-6160 by traveling to different points in the universe’s history, systematically erasing the existence of every superhero. The Maker either killed, depowered or found a way to control every superhero in the Marvel Universe, and let no one stand in his way. Although this would later change with the rise of the Ultimates, this did not happen until the present day, meaning there were decades where the world was without superheroes.
In the 70s, The Punisher was the only thing that even looked like a ‘costumed vigilante’, which basically meant he existed in his own continuity.. Punishment Stories that take place in Earth-616 have to basically just pretend that other superheroes aren’t around, but in Earth-6160, there really isn’t anyone else except for the Punisher. Not only does that mean there’s limitless storytelling potential in this new continuity, but the setup is also perfect for one comic creator who’s no stranger to The Punisher: Garth Ennis.
Garth Ennis has already proven that he is the best writer for a Final Punisher
Ennis is the obvious choice to shape the Punisher’s continuity in the Ultimate Universe
Garth Ennis is famously the co-creator of The boysWhich is perhaps how most comic book fans are familiar with it. however, Ennis has also consistently written Punisher comics for more than two decades, and is arguably the best Punishment Writer in history.
Every Garth Ennis Punishment Comic (in order of release) |
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Punisher kills the Marvel Universe |
Artist: Doug Braithwaite |
1995 |
Punishment #1-12 |
Artist: Steve Dillon |
2000 |
Punishment #1-7, #13-37 |
Artist: Steve Dillon |
2001 |
Wonder Knights: Double Shot #1 “Roots” |
Artist: Joe Quesada |
2002 |
Born #1-4 |
Artist: Darric Robertson |
2003 |
Punishment #1-60 |
Artist: Luis LaRosa |
2004 |
Punisher: The end #1 |
Artist: Richard Corben |
2004 |
Punishment: The cell #1 |
Artist: Luis LaRosa |
2005 |
Punisher: The Tiger #1 |
Artist: John Severin |
2006 |
The Punisher presents: Barracuda #1-5 |
Artist: Goran Parlov |
2007 |
Punisher: War Zone #1-6 |
Artist: Steve Dillon |
2009 |
Punisher: The Platoon #1 |
Artist: Goran Parlov |
2017 |
Punishment: Soviet #1 |
Artist: Jacen Burrows |
2019 |
Get fury #1-6 |
Artist: Jacen Burrows |
2024 |
Garth Ennis always manages to capture the Punisher’s indomitable brutality, while also applying the perfect level of black comedy to his books In the form of over-the-top death scenes and mature humor. And one more thing all these books have in common? No superheroes. And if there are superheroes, the Punisher is either unceremoniously killing them (as in Punisher kills the Marvel Universe), or completely dominating them (as in Punishment (2000) When Frank Chains Up Daredevil).
Garth Ennis famously hates superheroes, something the comic creator has admitted himself and something that’s painfully obvious in series like Hitman And The boys – And The Punisher. When Ennis wrote The Punisher in Marvel’s main continuity, he avoided including superheroes at all costs. And when Ennis tackled the Punisher in Marvel’s Max continuity, he didn’t have to worry about superheroes, because the world was without them. Now, the same is true for The Ultimate Universe, making it perfect for Garth Ennis to create a whole new superhero for free Punishment Series.
Related
The Ultimate Universe Perfectly set up an Ultimate Punisher series with his Frank Castle cameo in The Ultimates #2, and since the established continuity of Earth-6160 has already stated that no superheroes existed during the Castle period as the PunishmentWhich makes the proposed new series perfect for Garth Ennis to tackle.
The Punisher stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, which first aired on Netflix Daredevil. Frank is a US Marine Corps scout sniper veteran who is highly skilled in martial arts, stealth tactics, guerilla warfare and knows how to use various weapons. The death of his wife and two children caused him to take matters into his own hands, and he has since Not killing criminals. Despite being beloved by fans, The Punisher was canceled in early 2019. Thankfully for fans of Bernthal’s character, it was announced in 2023 that he would be joining the MCU by appearing in Daredevil: Born AgainWith Charlie Cox.