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Punisher #11 Review: Get Ready For FrankenCastle!

Find out what G-Man thinks of this new direction for Frank Castle.

By Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero  |  Nov. 19, 2009

Here we go, FrankenCastle.  Is there any way this will work?  The Punisher was sliced and diced by Daken in Dark Reign: The List - Punisher.  I really wasn't sure what to think when I first heard about this.  Let's have a look and see if it's any good.
 
 
  
I have to admit, I liked this.  I'm not completely sold.  I will be back for issue #12 to see where this will go.  Perhaps it's because the Punisher isn't at the top of my list of favorites, I'm okay with this...for now.  I want to see how thought out this is.  How far can they go with this?  How can they ever change FrankenCastle back to plain old Frank Castle?
 
Rick Remender does a good job here setting things up.  I'm hoping we won't just have Frank hanging out on Monster Island.  From what I've seen for the upcoming issues, it doesn't look like that will be the case.  I'm really digging Tony Moore's art the more I see it (check out this week's Victorian Undead from Wildstorm).  I'm curious what others will think.  I'm really curious what the die-hard Punisher fans will have to say.
 
The bigger question could be what will Norman Osborn, Daken and the rest of the Marvel Universe think?
Filed under: Punisher, Rick Remender, Tony Moore
40 Comments
danhimselfon Nov. 19, 2009 at 5:46 p.m.
honestly?  I thought this issue was one of the worst books that I've read in a long time.  It just seemed so corny compared to the last arc and The List Issue 
 
I've never been a big fan of the Punisher but he was starting to grow on me with this new series but after this issue I'm seriously thinking about dropping this series
Grendelon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:11 p.m.
I really liked the initial arc Remender wrote (And it had some spiffy art).
 
But this won't work.
InnerVenom123on Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:13 p.m.

Oh yay! Let's try to fix something that ain't broke! What a GREAT IDEA Marvel! I mean, really, you guys are GENIUS at this sorta thing! 
 
-_- 
 
(And if anyone tries that "Oh, lets see you do better" thing, I actually plan on writing comics and have a plan to make it happen, so HA :P)
Media_Masteron Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:17 p.m.
It kinda makes sense that Frank would eventually die, but coming back as a FrankenCastle, well... I have to read it to judge it properly.
raidenexeon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.

G-Man, were you trying to make FrankenCastle sound like Sylvester Stallone?
jamesewelchon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:25 p.m.
I'm a big Punisher fan (since early 90s when I got into comics) and I'm not fond of the Frankencastle idea. I think Marvel can do whatever they want, but it's just not something I'm going to buy. I'll trick myself into thinking that Frank really died at the hands of Daken and wait until they reboot Frank in the future before picking up the Punisher series again.  I skimmed over #11 and the story seemed okay, but I'd rather just have Marvel invent a new Dr Frankenstein's monster and make a title dedicated to monster genre stuff. I don't think it's a bad book, but I think they jumped the shark with Frank again.
 
Punishermax #1 came out a week prior to The Punisher #11, so for any die-hard Punisher fans, I'm betting they'll just jump over to Punishermax. If the die-hards haven't jumped over to Punishermax, then they should check it out at their LCS. Punishermax just rebooted and issue #1 was last week, so it's a great jumping on point. (Note: That's what I did. I canceled my pull for The Punisher and added Punishermax at my LCS.)
 
The attraction to Punisher has always been that he's a normal (non-superpowered) guy who's flipped out. He doesn't have any super powers, just technology and motivation. He's always been out matched by the super-villains, but he has a desire/hatred that drives him. He's an underdog who comes out on top sometimes. He's like an anti-hero Nick Fury without government or superhero support, but I don't know why Marvel can't find a good spot for him in the Marvel universe. Maybe they should have just let the 616 Punisher die and end the series after The List.  Marvel could have had Frank injected with Super-Soldier serum and started a new story arc, which I think would have been a much better and more fitting story arc.
Decept-Oon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:32 p.m.

Is it just me or is Marvel trying to integrate ideas that should be in the "What If?" line of their books into their regular titles?   
 
G-Man, you were chuckling at the start of this review and I truly thought you weren't going to be able to maintain your composure.  I am totally surprised you gave this such a high rating.   
 
As a "What If?" story, this would be frikkin' awesome.  As part of the "regular" Punisher series, man, I just don't know.  Not that I'm buying Punisher anyway but still, this is just a bit too much.   
 
Dog crap isn't the only thing you should be smelling Frank.   I'm smelling something...something that smells......
 
 
 
Agent Buttonson Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
i'm with dan on this one
thiagofonsecaon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:45 p.m.
relax. mephisto will turn him back to normal when sales drop.
King Quislingon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:48 p.m.
I love it! :D
Marshal Victoryon Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:53 p.m.

theirs a easy way to undo frankin castle. 
simple an almost makes sence well as much sence as the MU can make.frank an daken fight sure did casue alota blood loss on both side.. an daken hes on them their muntants an he has a healing factor to. so could dakens blood give frank a healing factor an over time he regens outa the frankencatle ? 
 
naw that would be to easy right? 
reaper2923on Nov. 19, 2009 at 6:55 p.m.
Monster's have feelings too.
Kid_Zombieon Nov. 19, 2009 at 7:03 p.m.
Ok, I don't read a lot of Punisher although i am a fan of the character, I read a few recent issues and i dug them a lot, enough to concider picking up the dark reign punisher series but then i heard this news about them making him into a frankenstein ( my favorite monster by the way) but i couldn't get behind this and put me off from picking up his series. Is this supposed to be a joke? Not trying to sound mean, but seriously is this now a comedy series? or are they taking this completly seriously? I'm so confused with this direction, im just not sure what to make of it.  But in a world of clones healing factors and alternate realities it is possible to get the original frank back. 
Remeber that stint of him being a demon who shot fire from his guns? so this isnt the first time hes been a monster and returned. Hell maybe he will make a deal with the devil and change back, but that would just be to easy......cough cough.
Pez85on Nov. 19, 2009 at 7:51 p.m.
G-Man, I'm SOOOOO glad that you had Monster Mash playing in the background. That's the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the promo for Franken Castle. If you do any more Punisher reviews (which you said you would), please....PLEASE continue playing Monster Mash in the background. I would be forever grateful.
G-Man staff is online on Nov. 19, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.
@raidenexe: It wasn't my original intention. I noticed it when I was editing and actually laughed at myself.  Guess this is what happens when you don't script out these videos.
 
@Decept-O: Yeah, there was some chuckling.  This is such an absurd idea, I think that's why I like it.  Who would have thought Marvel would have the ba...guts to actually do something like this.  It's so crazy that it might work. 
 
The reality of it is, I don't think this is a permanent thing.  Just like when Spider-Man switch to his black costume (and also becoming a clone) or Hulk turned gray or Bruce Wayne getting his back broken or...Thor turning into a frog.  There are some things that will always revert back to the status quo.  I see this as entertainment and I will read and enjoy the stories if they are well written.  The main thing I liked here was the art.  I mentioned that, for me, the deciding factor will be the next issue.  I do think this is a bold move and I'm going to love seeing how Marvel backs out of making this permanent.  Am I in favor of FrankenCastle staying around?  No.  But I did dig the classic 'monster' stories as a kid so we'll see how this goes.
DMCon Nov. 19, 2009 at 8:08 p.m.

I'm definately giving this a chance, though I'm not all that crazy about the art.  
 
Can't wait for the rematch with Daken
Xionon Nov. 19, 2009 at 8:09 p.m.
Last time i remember, Monster Island was the home of Godzilla, Anguirus and Minilla :P
Vance Astro moderator on Nov. 19, 2009 at 8:10 p.m.
The Punisher is turning into Deadpool....
Silverwolfon Nov. 19, 2009 at 8:28 p.m.
Dumb. 
I've always thought that The Punisher was sort of a douche, but this thing they've done there is just... dumb. 
Quit being dumb.
Red L.A.M.P. staff on Nov. 19, 2009 at 10:03 p.m.
I like the art too.  I'll read this tomorrow.  G-Man you are truly funny in this video.

Dig Deeper into Punisher

After his family was killed in the crossfire of a mob shootout, ex-US Marine and war veteran Frank Castle began a one man war on organised crime. Relying on his combat experience, he became the vigilante force of nature known as The Punisher!

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