PC POST #284: -REVIEW- The Dead Can't Be Distracted (Punisher fan film)

Last time i talked about this fan film was back on May 2013.

Short story: Right about the time Mike Pecci was publishing this project and got the praise from the media, Marvel decided to closed down this project and threatened Pecci's with their lawyers if he published to the public. Check out the full story here.

What was interesting in one part of the answer from Marvel was this...

“YOUR ACTIONS CONFUSE CONSUMERS INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE VIEWING AN AUTHENTIC MARVEL PRODUCTION OR ONE SPONSORED OR LICENSED BY MARVEL, WHEN THEY ARE NOT.”

And they were right, this project was good and way better than anything by hollywood or fan made i've seen so far.

First of all i'm honored to be one of the chosen to watch this fan film and i have to thank to Mike Pecci's for this opportunity.

TDCBD fan film was basically based in Rucka's run more precisely on issue #12, this fan film has only 4 minutes and the main dialogue between Frank and Rachel is based on what we saw in that comic. Frank teaching her that "the dead can't be distracted" by the luxuries of the living.

Clearly Pecci's gave his touch in most of the scenes, transitions, the feel, the colors and the soundtrack.

The fan film begins with Frank (Nick Apostolides) painting his vest while narrating... "I've been where you are. That rage. That confusion". And we see Rachel (Evalena Marie) pointing his gun and shooting. Frank continues to painting and narrating. "It steals focus. Steals reason". And we see Rachel shooting until she's out of bullets. Frank's continues to talk "And unless it can be governed, it will steal your life too". And the title of the film appear and we see the armory with a great 80's music behind it.

Next scene is in the table, Frank tells Rachel to empty her pockets, he picks and chooses what is useful and what's not, just like the comic. In between this dialogue we see some transitions with Frank and Rachel.
After the lecturing we see Rachel covered in blood and in the shower like some sort of "rebirth" washing away all the blood in her, next scene we see her burning her wedding photo with her husband.

The film ends with Frank and Rachel on a elevator ready for action.

The cast was amazing, Nick Apostolides nailed as Frank Castle. His posture, his voice and the presence it was all there, it's the Punisher i imagined while reading Greg Rucka's run.

Evalena Marie was amazing, aside from her beauty, she captured flawlessly Rachel Cole-Alves, while seeing her you could "sense" her rage through her eyes and posture while shooting the gun in the beginning. Just too perfect casting.

Mike Pecci is a genius, he directed this film in the better way possible. The colors and the tone was all there i could see Netflix "vibe" in it. This was an adaptation from the comic but he gave his own touch to it, it couldn't be better due to the circumstances.
The soundtrack just nailed it, i really like 80's music the main theme was done by Kristine feat. Power Glove - Modern Love (Remix).

Before i watch this, i was expecting some action with Frank and Rachel but no, in the end i didn't care for guns blazing. I would rather liked to see Frank with a huge "depth" lecturing Rachel on how to get away from mundane distractions than the usual shoot em up scenes we are used to see. And in the end i got a sense of relief because there are people in the world that can make a good Punisher on screen. And Pecci is one of those people.

I have seen many fan films but this was without a doubt the best i've seen. Mike Pecci is a pro, he used his resources and skills to make this happen and did it, and in my opinion it scared Marvel. That's why they closed down this project. It's a shame, because it would satisfy the Punisher fans in way that could only be compared when Dirty Laundry was released.

Overal Rate: 9.5 out 10

-@ivomgs

PC POST 283: First leaked images from Punisher, Daredevil & Elektra in DD season 2!

While Netflix don't show the trailer that was watched in ComicCon Brasil earlier this month some user from twitter posted the upcoming images from Punisher and Daredevil.

This looks like it was taken from a magazine and we see Daredevil in chains, this scene might trigger some memories of Punisher fans that remember this similar scene in Garth Ennis run when he wrote "Welcome Back, Frank" miniseries.

Although i don't believe it will be an exact copy of this particularly scene but it could be something similar. The main importance of this scene and what should be portrayed in Daredevil season 2, is that the Punisher will leave Daredevil in a "no way out" situation. Either option he takes, he will "lose" and will cross his moral values.

I'm more and more excited and feel more confident about how Netflix will portray the Punisher.

Here is Elektra!

PC POST #282: -REVIEW (Spoilers) - Ultimate End #5 (Punisher Appearence)

Probably this was the last appearence of Frank Castle during the current Secret Wars mega event.

Ultimate End tie-in was the book that counted with a significant Punisher appearence in every issue, not the best Punisher appearence because Bendis make him a confused character and almost a trigger happy lunatic even towards heroes.

This time, the Punisher had a minor appearence in this comic but that doesn't mean that wasn't irrelevant, in fact he had a glorious moment. 

While Miles Morales stopped the fight between the heroes and revealed the truth behind the Ultimate realm Doom sent his troops, the Thors squad.

Frank from a rooftop shoots a rocket and kills some Thors that were ready to attack the heroes.

 After the rocket explosion, Frank were killed by Thors... At the end of the issue most heroes fell.

The artwork is great by Mark Bagley but i didn't like how Bendis built the plot of the series and how he portrayed the Punisher, the Punisher acted like a lunatic in most of these issues. Only in the end he seemed that took some senses and fought Thors to defend the heroes who gave them time to teleport to a safe place.

 

 

PC POST #281: -Rumor- Punisher in Weirdworld?

This piece of rumor was released by Bleeding Cool when Axel Alonso (Marvel's Editor Chief) answer to fans regarding what to expect from the upcoming Weirdworld comics. This interview can be seen in CBR.

To fans, I’d say: Weirdworld is here to stay. It’s an essential component of the Marvel Universe. Anyone that’s been jonesing for the type of dark fantasy that was pioneered by Robert E. Howard or Tolkien or Marvel’s classic “Weirdworld” series from back in the day, will find what they want in this series. Barbarians — check. Wizards — check. Elves — check. Cavemen — check. Dragons — check. The Punish — Next question!

 

Okay, Axel Alonso said "The Punish", personally i can only imagine FrankenCastle in this sort of situation, Frank Castle would be weird to see in Weirdworld. But i confess seeing the Punisher in a land like this, weaponless and fighting for his own survival it could be interesting, it will definetely challenge the character to the limits.

Some fans might not like it because we are going to see the character away from his "core" elements. But to me, seeing in this type of situation and if he is well respected by the creative team, i'm totally down for this title. I like to see the character grounded in universe 616 and with all of the weirdness we can be presented as long as if he is respected.

What do you think?

PC POST #280: [Exclusive]Daredevil S02 teaser from ComicCon Brazil (No video)

A few hours ago in the ComicCon Brazil it was revealed a second teaser of Daredevil season 2, unfortunately this time we don't have any video to show, just a description from a Tumblr user...

The “teaser” started on a scene where Matt, dressed as Daredevil (wearing the uniform from the end of season 1) walks on a room that looked like a refrigerator. The place was barely lit and had big slices of meat hanging from the ceiling.

As Daredevil walks on that room (the camera focused only at him) we see that he’s searching for something as he stays quiet, slowly walking deep into the room, turning his head trying to hear something. At some point, something not show to the spectator grasps his attention. 
The camera open focus to the rest of the room and we see that there are also people being hanged like meat. 
Matt searches the corpses with his super senses, not touching, only trying for heart beats, once he finds someone he rush to aid the man: “I’ll take you of that” (or something like it), he says as he tries to take the barely alive man off the hook. 
After succeeding, he lays the guy (that I have no idea of how he could be alive considering how badly injured the dude was) on the ground and say something along the lines “Why did they do this to you?” In which the guy mumbles “They? It was just a guy”. Matt stays dead silent, camera focusing on him. 

The scene shifts. It’s night time and someone is on the top of a building aiming a sniper riffle at a person on a taxi. I’m not sure if the person being aimed was a man or a woman, though it looked like a woman. 
The man behind the gun is no one else but the Frank Castle. While Frank is readying his riffle for the perfect shot, unaware of his surroundings, DD appears. 
Running on the rooftop, he jumps and kicks the gun, amazingly diving over Frank to stop him. They soon engage on a fight, but when it was getting interesting and intense as fuck the scene was cut with the Daredevil logo and “2016 - NETFLIX”.

Luckily we will have the teaser out in a few days like it happened with the last one, a big thank you for this tumblr user who shared this description for the fans!

PC POST #279: The untold Punisher story "Rules of the Game"

The guy on the back is Baron Von Strucker

There are projects that stays on hold for a few years (Punisher: Nightmare & Punisher: The Trial of Punisher) and eventually are released and others that will never see the light of the day.

Rules of the Game is one of those stories, it was written by Gregory Wright and in the artwork the legendary Jim Lee.

Nick Fury and Punisher would form an uneasy alliance to take down the same enemy for different purposes one of the main reasons for this alliance was to create much tension as possible between Fury and Castle.

The bad guy was named Walter Maddox and he was the leader of the group called Blackhearts, he was a drug lord that negotiate with other "parties" hi-tech weapons stolen from S.H.I.E.L.D.

 

This project was never halted or even had a schedule. The problem was that Jim Lee was working in the X-Men titles and Marvel didn't want to make an ultimatum because he was a talented artist and Marvel needed him. Marvel gave him the time he needed to finish this project.

But unfortunately it was lost in time and i have no hope to see this 64 page graphic novel finished. 

Many Thanks for Gregory Wright who was kind enough to give us these informations about this project.

PC POST #278: Detective Oscar Clemmons in Jessica Jones!

It's really happened... Netflix introduced Oscar "Ozzy" Clemmons in Jessica Jones, a character created by Greg Rucka and designed by Marco Chechetto in the Punisher run launched in 2012.
For those who don't remember him, "Ozzy" was a NYPD detective who wanted to put down Frank Castle because of his vigilante acts.

It's really amazing seeing this character on screen, i wonder if we will see him in Daredevil season 2, or who knows, in a possible Punisher tv series that we all are waiting for.

 

PC POST #277: Quesada says that Punisher fans will be blown away!

IGN caught up with Marvel's Chief Creative Joe Quesada and asked about the future of the Punisher and if a solo TV series was still a possibility...

“I think we’d love to see something happen, but it’s way too soon to tell, and we don’t necessarily like to discuss which metrics we use to decide these things" he continued..

“But what I can tell you is anyone who is a hardcore Punisher fan is going to be blown away and incredibly satisfied by Bernthal’s take on Frank Castle. It’s one of those cases where it’s the character from the pages come to life.”

Quesada's seems really confident of Bernthal's role as the Punisher, personally, i wish he is right and i hope Bernthal delivered the most memorable Punisher portrayal ever seen on TV.

Until then... we have to wait until 2016!

  

 

PC POST #276: TOP 8 Badass Moments of the Punisher in Thunderbolts!

Thunderbolts run is far from being memorable... The writers promised so much but the team itself didn't accomplished nothing relevant in the universe 616.

With an amazing cast with Red Hulk, Punisher, Deadpool, Elektra, Agent Venom and later on Ghost Rider.. This team had enough arguments to shake the Marvel universe but due to lack of ambition from editors and writers this run turn out to be almost absolete.

Although there are some few points in all these stories being the last arc my favorite "Punisher vs Thunderbolts", some dialogues are really bad, but the action is pretty good. At least it's the best we've seen in all this run.

The Punisher had a few "badass" moments and i will show you what were the best in my opinion...




8. Leader... a brief wake!
The Leader is a vilain from Hulk stories, he is probably one of the brilliant minds in the Marvel Universe.
Ross told Deadpool the advantages of using the Leader brain resources, but Deadpool warning that if the Punisher knew, he would put a bullet in him.

Deadpool behaves like a moron most of the time, but he is right most of the times too.

 
 

7. Punisher saves Elektra

Mercy was supposed to be a member of Thunderbolts but she had her own agenda. Despite she was tortured and imprisoned by Ross.

At some time she bring some troubles to the team. Ross, Deadpool and Ghost Rider went to Hell to get rid of her, while Punisher and Elektra went to do a mission together.
Mercy felt the presence of Ross and went looking for Punisher and Elektra and the fight started.

Soon we knew that Elektra and Punisher couldn't fight long against Mercy, when she was called to Hell both fighters fall from an high altitude, Frank gets most of the impact.

 

Frank is dying... Deadpool bring a feather from Hell after some angelic invasion and the surprise happened when the feather healed Frank and saved his life.
For those who read Punisher Vol.3 when he is doing some angelic stuff, will know why.

6. Punisher dismember Deadpool. 

Poor Deadpool... In the arc Punisher vs Thunderbolts not even him "get a pass" from Frank revenge. 

Most of this payback was totally unecessary but it was a good the dialogue from Deadpool while the Punisher dismembered him and put his various body parts in Vibranium jars.

5. Punisher vs Orestez Natchios.

Probably my favorite issue... Orestez Natchios is Elektra's brother, terrorist and an excelent martial artist. He said that he was better than his sister (which i doubt).

Elektra let her brother escape during the Crimson Dynamos arc, Frank knew this and we all know that he don't let loose ends. He ended him in hand to hand combat (so good to see Frank fighting in h2h again!).

4. Punisher eliminates a false Dr. Strange (Witch).

During the annual, the Thunderbolts got a mission to eliminate Dr.Strange, because he was spreading "joy" through the city and was gaining huge amounts of power.

Regular enemies that were affected were now almost best friends.
 

Thunderbolts equipped with various magical weaponry to face this threat, most of team members fall from this witch "joy" power, but not the Punisher.

3.Explosive Punisher against Madman.

Madman (Philip Sterns) is brother of Leader (Samuel Sterns) and he has some gamma power that turn himself into an Hulk.

Punisher and Deadpool were fighting him but without success. Punisher take almost a desperate action to get rid of him temporarily. He equipped a landmine in his chest and hug Madman.

With his Madman turned into his human form.

2. Punisher fights Red Hulk with a "Hulkbuster".

During the "Punisher vs Thunderbolts" arc, the Punisher surprised every one of us when he fought against Red Hulk with some sort of Hulkbuster.

It didn't last too long but he purpose was served, distracting Red Hulk from a weapon that shot a bullet that make him turn into his human form.

 1. Punisher vs Ghost Rider

And for the number one is... the fight against Ghost Rider! 

As a whole it was priceless... The Punisher had a contingency plan just in case Ghost Rider turned against him and this was what it makes it so cool.

The Punisher studied many ways to get rid of Ghost Rider, but he knew he couldn't beat him using human weapons and he visit a big bad villain called Zadkiel a powerful angel that was cast out to hell but he was operating on earth.

He add a sword of Mephisto that was of highly interest of Frank when he got a chance he took it and eliminate Zadkiel and his demonic minions with the sword. 

Who knew that Frank would use a sword to get rid of this big boy?

 After acquiring the sword and other items, Frank was "ready" to take out Ghost Rider... But things wasn't all that easy...

 

 I don't know much about Ghost Rider but the Penance Stare works for those who harm innocent lives, it doesn't work like "regrets". 

 

 

Maybe this fight was way overated for Frank's side but it was really fun to see him doing some prep work to take out Ghost Rider.

All the action since the prep work plus the fight itself and the way he resisted to Penance Stare make this the badass number one moment in this run.

Article by @Ivo Santos