Well, I binge-watched the entire 2nd season of Netflix' Daredevil, and loved every minute. As it was just released, I'll keep this spoiler-free. DD's new cowl is a big improvement and it was great to see the returning characters again. What really made it special though, was the addition of Punisher and Elektra to the mix. It was great to see the characters presented so well after multiple cinematic misfires. Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle stands out as the MVP of season two. His performance was a mix of rage, pain and determination and I would not be surprised to see an Emmy nomination down the line. I would definitely be up for a solo Punisher series now.
Absolutely wonderful cover- I love the dramatic "feel" of the whole thing- but I can't help nitpicking just a little- at least in the stories I've read, the Punisher isn't a mercenary. (I do like the alliteration, though.)
ReplyDeleteThe Earth-STF Punisher is.
ReplyDeleteThe Punisher as a mercenary?! I can't see that. As an ex-marine, though, out to avenge the massacre of innocent American sailors because of a homicidal mer-mutant? That would be more in character for a team-up with Aquaman.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cover! That has to be one of the most unexpected team-ups ever!
ReplyDeleteIn his first appearance in ASM Punisher was presented as a mercenary.
ReplyDeleteDon Berner- My recollection is that the Jackal simply convinced the Punisher that Spider-Man was a dangerous criminal, rather than paying him to take out Spidey. It's been a long time since I've read that story, though.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...maybe on Earth-STF, Punisher finds out that Black Manta was behind the New York mobs, and so was ultimately responsible for the death of Frank's family? That would give him a reason for teaming up with Aquaman, whose son Manta killed.
ReplyDeleteI assume in this scenario, the whale on the cover would be a tool of Manta's, mind-controlled somehow.
I have the same problem as others with the use of the word "Mercenary," and while I accept your explanation, Ross, I think maybe "King Joins Killer" might have been a better phrase.
ReplyDeleteThat's the only downside to this cover, though. This is an action-packed panel that looks almost like it could have been a unit piece. The story Kid proposes would probably work great for what's inside, too.
Off-topic: It's been a wee while since the last new ad hoc group, and one just came to my mind: Captain Klutz, the Tick, the Greatest American Hero, Awkwardman (of the Inferior 5), and Joxer the Mighty. I have no idea what to call the team, except maybe Trouble. (It just now occurred to me that my own character Speed Bump could fit in as well.)
Greatest American Hero and Thermoman?
ReplyDeleteDanny the Street and Madam Fatal?
ReplyDeleteActually I'd go for either of those two, with anyone :)
Bob, I try to feature a team once every 40 issues... next one will be STF #1450 (which will actually be a returning team)
ReplyDelete@Don Berner: even on Earth-STF, the Punisher is only a mercenary in the sense that he confiscates criminal proceeds to _finance_ his one-man war. For the most part, though, he's still more of a killer vigilante a la Don Pendleton's "Mack Bolan the Executioner."
ReplyDeleteBetter?
ReplyDeleteI have ASM 127-he's repeatedly referred to as a mercenary.(This didn't last very long in his follow up ASM appearances) As for what he is on Earth-STF, he's whatever Ross say he is.
ReplyDeletegahhhhh-ASM 129.I have 127 too but that's neither here nor there.lol
ReplyDeleteBut "marine" does work better, anyway, on a number of levels. Quite clever, Ross.
ReplyDelete@Ross: MUCH better!
ReplyDelete@Don B: That may be true. But, with all due respect to Ralph Waldo Emerson? Not _all_ consistency is foolish! "Here endeth the lesson."
Am I the only person who saw this and imagined Moby Dick + superheroes? The Punisher fits the Ahab role pretty well, even.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete"Am I the only person who saw this and imagined Moby Dick + superheroes?"
No, you're not.
@my namesake: even more evidence that _any_ version of the Punisher is more obsessed vigilante than professional mercenary.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous159: true! Professional mercenaries, aka soldiers-of-fortune, get their name from the fact that they basically (and literally) sell their military skill set to the highest bidders. So, if the Punisher were a true merc, that would mean the real reason he occasionally targeted certain crime syndicates for destruction would not be due to the fact that he was a killer vigilante waging a one-man war on organized crime out of inconsolable grief over the loss of his family. But, rather, he had been paid to go after those crime syndicates by their rivals!
ReplyDeleteThat, in turn, would make him a hypocrite as well as an impostor. A traitor to his family's memory! So, it's undeniably better that the motivation of his Earth-STF version remain consistent with that of his Earth-616 counterpart. To wit; he's a killer vigilante who only _occasionally_ poses as a merc.