The PUNISHER LS #1 club. 0

[Nexus]

The published version is the published version. It will always have the most value. But value aside, I prefer the pen/ink version aesthetically. Zeck's art looks best in its original pen/ink state, imo. Of course, to each their own, and I agree, all great pieces!

[CGCboy]

An all-time favorite issue...always loved that cover. Interesting to see how the colors were toned down for the published cover.

 

Here's a pen/ink version from ComicArtFans:

 

 

You own this?

[comiconxion]

The original B&W Punisher #1 cover can be found in the gallery of mega collector David Mandel. He leant it to the Cartoon Art Museum earlier this year so it could be displayed as part of the Raw Fury exhibit.

 

There is one other B&W version that Mike Zeck did in the early 2000's. I'm proud to say that I own this one:

 

.

 

There are some slight changes in this version.

[Mmanick]

 

 

Had to bump this in honor of our boy frank castle getting in on the DD show. The punisher should be getting another movie but ohh we'll at least we get a cinematic version hopefully done right not like the that was war zone.

 

 

 

Mike zeck punisher and cap on the outsides here to

[TheLiamSturgess]

This isn't exactly issue #1 but I still love it.

 

[whetteon]

One of Zeck's finest covers!

[comiconxion]

Yes, that UK version was a much better printing of the cover to #1. You can actually see the "Spidey Lives" graffiti that Zimelman painted behind the Punisher's head in the final painting. The printing on the original printing of Punisher #1 was just awful.

[Illustrious]

Pardon the scanner glare...

 

[whetteon]

[RockMyAmadeus]

Yes, very sexy.

 

But it's missing a few signatures...

 

[Archaeon90]

love this Limited series

here's mine it's raw but means i can read it when i want to (thumbs u

 

 

[whetteon]

Nothing wrong with that. (thumbs u

[Greatest Lantern]

A little bit off topic, but what's with a four issue mini series that has 5 issues? Also the last issue has different people working on it? What's the deal?

[comiconxion]

A little bit off topic, but what's with a four issue mini series that has 5 issues? Also the last issue has different people working on it? What's the deal?

 

According to Mike Zeck... The Punisher Limited Series was always intended to be five issues, but because most Limited Series at the time were four issues, someone in production mocked up the logo incorrectly. Zeck noted the mistake to the editors after the first issue which is why the 2nd issue was correct. But, they quickly forgot and the mistake was made again on the 3rd issue. After that point, Zeck didn't think it was worth it to note the mistake again so the mistake continued until they finally got to the fifth issue.

[Martin Sinescu]

Wow, that's been silently bugging me for almost 30 years. Thanks for the closure! (thumbs u

[Greatest Lantern]

Yeah, thanks for the info! Now, is there a reason that Zeck doesn't work on issue five? Grant gets story credit, but someone else gets writing credit for issue five.

[RockMyAmadeus]

love this Limited series

here's mine it's raw but means i can read it when i want to (thumbs u

 

 

You can read slabbed copies if you want to...just takes an extra 5 minutes to break them out.

[comiconxion]

Yeah, thanks for the info! Now, is there a reason that Zeck doesn't work on issue five? Grant gets story credit, but someone else gets writing credit for issue five.

 

When they started the mini-series, the publishing schedule wasn't set. But, after there was such a positive response to the early work, they rushed the series to the shelves and set a monthly deadline. As you can see, starting towards the end of the 2nd issue, Zeck's penciling started getting looser. By issues #3 & 4, Zeck was primarily doing breakdowns. So, the editor decided to replace Zeck for the 5th issue as they were concerned about deadlines. When Zeck was taken off the penciling duties, Grant walked off the book with him.

 

Now. as much as people may not have liked Vosburg's fill-in, keep in mind he was only given 1-2 weeks to draw the whole issue. And with that, he did a full set of full-size of layouts. He did the job as a favor, but ultimately, he received more grief from fans about it than it deserved and was worth.

 

Just think how great the mini-series would have been if they had released it on a bi-monthly schedule rather than a monthly schedule. But, at the time, the focus was on getting product out on the shelves rather than the creation of a classic story.

[Greatest Lantern]

Thanks for the info! Good to know. I just read the Circle Of Blood tbp and thought it was pretty awesome.

[B-Smooth]

One of the all-time great covers, for any age, in my opinion.