The Punisher: Year One

(Marvel, 1994–1995, 2009)
™ and ©1995 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.

By 1995, Marvel’s Punisher titles were beginning to lose steam. What was once a daring and controversial character had become a bit formulaic. Marvel remedied this trend by going back to the beginning in this “Year One” title.

In the four issues of this series, we see how Frank Castle, a decorated Marine had his life shattered by the brutal mob slaying of his family. When he was unable to get justice through the system, he was driven at last to use his marine training to become the Punisher, and begin a one-man war on crime.

The Punisher: Year One is the Punisher at his best, showing the personal tragedy and determination which transformed a good man into a weapon of vengeance. It also places a premium on tactics and planning over the raw firepower that characterized later Punisher stories.

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