PC POST #396: Marvel's the Punisher announces new cast with Mennonite? No 'Micro' for season 2?

Yesterday was the beginning of the very first day of filming the Punisher season 2, and Marvel officially unveiled three new actors.

Josh Stewart (Shooter) was cast as "John Pilgrim" a man whose calm exterior belies a ruthless interior. Despite having left behind a life of violence, circumstances will force him to use his old skills and bring him into Frank Castle’s world.

Floriana Lima will play the role of “Krista Dumont,” a smart, compassionate, and driven psychotherapist for military veterans.

Giorgia Whigham has been locked to play “Amy Bendix,” a street-smart grifter with a mysterious past.

This pretty much gives us some hint that the "Slavers" might be a theme that we will all see in the upcoming Punisher season 2.
"Krista Dumont" can be a similar character as Jen Cooke and "Amy Bendix" could be Viorica.

Jen Cooke

Viorica

The curious fact about the discription of "John Pilgrim" is that he remembered me a lot of Mennonite.

Mennonite appear in Jason Aaron's Punisher MAX, released in 2010. This character appeared in PunisherMAX #3-#5.
He was a highly trained assassin back in the day until he joined in the Mennonites. His wife saved his life and he left his past life of violence behind him, focusing in his wife health who suffered from severe illness.
Later on, he was contacted by the Mafia to take out Frank and once again he surrendered himself to the life he has left behind years ago and decided to hunt down Frank and he almost killed him.

The most strange fact is that in the article of Marvel, where they announced the cast they mentioned returning characters they didn't mention Ebon Moss-BachRach as 'Micro'.

"Stewart, Lima, and Whigham will join returning cast members Jon Bernthal as ‘Frank Castle,’ Ben Barnes as ‘Billy Russo,’ Amber Rose Revah as ‘Dinah Madani,’ and Jason R. Moore as ‘Curtis Hoyle.’"

So where is 'Micro'?

#Theory#

Lieberman is living a good life with his family. It doesn't make sense sacrificing his family to join forces with Frank, despite that he owes him for everything Frank did for his family. 

But, if Billy Russo is coming back, he knows who Lieberman is and his family. I expect that Billy might want to take revenge and he will start with the ones closer to Frank. I could foresee a major incident involving Lierberman's family and getting him back in the game more focused on Frank's war.

This is just a theory unless they want to give Frank a new sidekick and let rest Lieberman for a bit.

Let's wait and see what will happen.

There is no date for the release of season 2 but it's expectable to be in 2019. There are three shows ahead of the Punisher series such as Jessica Jones S02, Daredevil S03, and Luke Cage S02.


Article by Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #395: -REVIEW- PUNISHER: The Platoon #4

Garth Ennis is building a great story exploring Frank's past. To be more precise his first tour in Vietnam.

So far, we have seen how brilliant Frank Castle is in the art of war and leadership of his Platoon. Frank Castle is responsible for making his men thrive and being alive in all the obstacles and dangers they had to face.

This issue #4 explores a bit of the psyche of the two main characters from each side of the war. Frank Castle and Ly.

This issue doesn't have kick-ass action panels but Ennis took a time to explore a bit of these compelling characters.

Once again Ennis show how devoted Frank Castle was to his wife and to the war. We get to see some sort of "need" for action when Frank talked with Dryden.

Ly unveiled a tragic past that shows us her motivations on getting rid of American soldiers and the obsession with killing them.

Interesting panels when we see Giap taking information from a captive American soldier about the motivation of the American troops and how the people in the US see this war. Giap is a man of war, a man who takes everything into consideration to make the best results as possible.

Another interesting panel was the eventual confrontation with some green berets who were willing to mess with Frank's Platoon until he arrives and with an amazing stare and posture commands the green berets to go to rest and they leave without any word.

Goran Parlov art is amazing. I risk saying that his art in this book is the best we have seen from him. The way he draws the characters and how they express their emotions through their faces is unbelievably realistic.

Once again, during the eye contact between Frank and the green beret, that calm look and those eyes you know and felt it that Frank Castle is a man you don't want to **** with. It's not the first time he uses this, the last issue Goran did the same when Frank went to negotiate weapons for his Platoon. It's that calm look and confidence that makes his Platoon follow him through hell if they need to.

Jordie Bellaire is responsible for the colors that give huge depth to Parlov's art. The color tone of this series is adequate and of course, she was a huge support to Parlov's art.

OVERALL RATE: 9 /10 

Review by Ivo Santos

PC POST #394: PUNISHER: PLATOON is over! But Ennis work with Frank Castle isn't.

Punisher: Platoon #6, was released today and it ended in the best way possible. Still got reviews of issues #4, #5 and #6 to make for the blog but I will keep it spoiler free for you to enjoy the great news below.

After reading Punisher: Platoon #6, I thought Ennis was done with his work with the Punisher, at least for a while. But no! In the letters page, Ennis just gave all the readers some insight of his future plans if they are approved.

"Pretty soon we will see our hero-- on his second tour of duty, now with the Marine Recon-- fighting shoulder to shoulder with the one man who loves combat even more than he does.
Beyond that, I'm talking with the editor Nick Lowe about another Punisher story, a contemporary one this time,  featuring... Well, I may have said too much".

So let's make some sort of breakdown of this statement.

I couldn't be more excited to see that Ennis work with the Punisher is far from being done. It seems that he's born for the character as the time goes by, more and more I believe in this.

Looks like Ennis is already preparing two gifts to all Punisher fans, first, a sequel to the Platoon when Frank enters the Marine recon. Ennis hints us that he will fighting be with "one man who loves combat even more than he does", there aren't many characters in the MAX universe who could share this feeling with Frank, my guess will be a guest appearance of Nick Fury.

The second piece of good news is that we might have a modern story of the Punisher. Ennis didn't unveil details if it's a MAX story or set in 616 Universe but if he's writing I'm on board. Day one.

Written by Ivo Santos

PC POST #393: No more Punisher as War Machine in May?

Marvel announced a "fresh start" for their books to begin in May. Some titles will be renumbered and "lose" their legacy numbering.
Marvel is promising new creative teams, new storylines, new beginnings and new directions.

At least this change will bring back the classic characters we care and love.

So what this has to do with Punisher: War Machine? Well in my opinion everything.

As you can see in the poster of this new promotion, the Punisher is on the right side of Spider-Man. 

He's with his regular suit, not War Machine. I'm happy with the "back to basics" but I've enjoyed a lot of this Punisher War Machine run written by Matthew Rosenberg.

Rosenberg said that his run would be a miniseries but I always thought it would be a matter of sale numbers to keep it going for just a while. I was expecting a maxiseries and after this arc when he hunts down Petrov's army he could deal with the likes of Iron Man and Captain Marvel due to their relationship with James Rhodes and seeing the Punisher using the War Machine armor to do his own war.

Again, this doesn't mean they will end this war machine run, my theory is just based on the teaser above when we see the Punisher with his regular gear. But we have to wait for the upcoming Marvel solicitations to May and find out what will happen to the Punisher War Machine.

Article by Ivo Santos

PC POST #392: [Rumor] Punisher Season 2 new character descriptions and a possible storyline

Earlier today we've been hinted by The Hashtag Show about three character roles for Marvel TV. This is still a rumor, not an official source. But still, they did some logical connections.

Marvel TV is looking to cast two female and one male role. Those characters names are:

Annie Beir - A 16-year-old who is described as “someone who is used to the streets and is both scrappy and aware of her environment.”

Kim Davis -A mid 30's female regular series therapist.

Melvin Skelling - An honest detective in his early-30's.

The Hashtag Show make the logical connection that Annie Beir might be Viorica from the Slavers arc, one of the darkest stories ever written for the Punisher by Garth Ennis. In this story, Frank saves this young girl (Viorica) whose story helps Frank discover those behind the sex slaves ring. Vera Konstantin and Cristu Bulat.

This is where Kim Davis might enter if she will have the same role as Jen Cooke in that story.
Jen Cooke is a social worker who helped Frank put down the sex slaves ring.

Viorica

Jen Cooke

The other character breakdown connection was Melvin Skelling being Martin Soap. Martin Soap does have nothing to do with the Slavers arc, but the character made his first debut in "Welcome Back, Frank". He was part of a "damned" police department that no one wanted to belong. The Punisher Task Force. Soap is a good cop but during the Punisher MK run by Ennis, he was one of the unluckiest characters ever in a Punisher comic.

Again, this is just speculation. It's not official. But it would be great to see The Slavers being portrayed in the Punisher season 2. Being this story one of the darkest stories ever written for the Punisher, it would be a good call to see Frank back as the Punisher.

Steve Lightfoot revealed that he would like to see Barracuda and Kathryn O'Brien in the Punisher series. Not to mention Billy Russo as Jigsaw that might appear in season 2. Too many things in hands and very few info.

So far the only official details about the show are that it will be set in New York and they will start shooting this year.


Written by Ivo Santos