By Kevin Mahadeo
Get ready to give extra thanks this Thanksgiving when writer Jason Aaron takes it to the max and joins artist Steve Dillon on the re-launch of PUNISHERMAX in November.
The new ongoing series follows the final issue of current MAX title PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE, formerly the original PUNISHER MAX series launched by writer Garth Ennis in 2003. Aaron admits to a long-standing love affair with Punisher, first discovering the character with the 1986 limited series by Steven Grant and Mike Zeck, but immediately shot through the heart upon reading Ennis' blood-soaked take.
"The Garth Ennis MAX series is not just the best Punisher series that's ever been done but it's also one of my favorite Marvel comics of the last several years," enthuses Aaron. "I just loved everything that Garth did on
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| PUNISHERMAX preview art by Steve Dillon |
Aaron says the hard-boiled, more mature subject matter and tone of the MAX imprint instantly attracted him to the title, as well as the single-minded personality of its gun-wielding titular star. The new gig not only allows Aaron to follow in the footsteps of one of his favorite writers on one of his favorite titles, but the psychological profile of Punisher also opens the door for him to explore aspects of character contradictory to his own.
"Character-wise [Frank Castle] is so completely simple," says Aaron. "You know what drives him. You know what his mission is. He doesn't waver from that no matter the circumstance. He has his principles and his rules that he lives by. To him, everything is black and white. That's interesting to me because it's the opposite of the way I am. I tend not to see
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| PUNISHERMAX preview art by Steve Dillon |
Aaron's first arc on the title introduces readers to the MAX version of two of Marvel's most infamous villains: Kingpin of Crime Wilson Fisk and the psychopathic sadist Bullseye. The arc explores Fisk's rise to power through the mob and explores a bit of the Punisher's past in the process. Aaron says that while the villains will be familiar to readers, they represent a fresh take fitted specifically for the MAX Universe.
"The [Marvel Universe] Bullseye doesn't work in the MAX Universe," explains Aaron. "You can't have a guy running around in a costume killing people with toothpicks and playing cards. We're not going to see that, but it'll still be true to what we know about Bullseye."
Besides introducing some new blood into the title in terms of characters,
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| PUNISHERMAX preview art by Steve Dillon |
"It's a Punisher MAX story, so it's going to be violent," says Aaron. "And Steve Dillon is drawing it, so you got to feed Steve with lots of crazy stuff to draw. It's still surreal for me to see stuff drawn by him that I wrote. [In his career] Steve has already drawn some of the most bizarre and wildest and craziest things you can possibly imagine, so it's good to try and add a few things to that list with outrageous violence and outrageous situations.
"It's intimidating to be following in Garth's foot prints and it's intimidating to be working with a guy like Steve, who I've been a fan of for so long, but that's what's cool about comics. On one hand, you're terrified to take that job and on the other hand, who wouldn't kill to take that job? Following Garth Ennis on PUNISHERMAX with Steve Dillon on
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| PUNISHERMAX preview art by Steve Dillon |
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This is awsome, No one will ever be able to match Garth's run, but I think this may finally come close. Jason has to be one of today's most underrated writers, and I think his syle will be great for the Punisher, and come on with Steve Dillon handling the art, it's practically guaranteed to rock.
Very good news, but I'd like really to see more other titles under the MAX banner...I like to read good Punisher stories, but he's not my all-type favourite characters.MAX would be perfect for some Marvel outcast titles...
Yes!!! The more Punisher the better. Ennis was a God to me for so long with Welcome Back, Frank and the Born books, and he's still rockin it with The Boys. Very excited for this new release...
Jason Aaron on vocals and Steve Dillon on guitar! Hells yes! I think Steve Dillon did an amazing job on that Punisher: War Zone Marvel Knights mini...Great artists. Aaron's work on Wolverine wasn't too bad neither!