An Interview with Becky Cloonan and Steve Dillon

Feb 29, 2016

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Becky Cloonan (@beckycloonan) and Steve Dillon (@stevedillon20), the couple behind the upcoming Punisher run, were both interviewed recently by PREVIEWSworld.com who asked them about the upcoming new Punisher run scheduled to be released in May.

PREVIEWSworld: Is your take on the character somewhat different from previous incarnations? Was there any retooling of Frank Castle done for this series? Do we assume any previous storylines are outside of this particular timeline?
Becky Cloonan: I like to think that we leave the canon pretty much up to the reader! This is all new material that doesn’t rely on or negate any previous incarnations of the Punisher. We start fresh, so get on board. It’s gonna be a fun ride!
Steve Dillon: Frank’s in his thirties for this one. He still has the look of someone who’s seen far, far too much though.
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PREVIEWSworld: If you could geek out over a particular scene(s) in this book, what would it be?
Becky Cloonan: I have a lot of good times planned for Frank, one of them involves an axe, one of them involves a graveyard, one of them involves an abandoned mental facility and a rocket launcher… but I don’t want to get ahead of myself! As far as issue 1 is concerned, I love the first scene Punisher appears. The way Steve drew it gave me chills!
Steve Dillon: There’s a specific page in the first issue that brought a twisted smile to my face but I can say no more than that!

Let’s see. Frank in his thirties wielding an axe at one point, then a rocket launcher in another point, creating more criminal killings as he embarks on a journey that may unexpectedly push him way beyond his limit. Yep. That’s what Becky and Steve will do to Frank when the run begins with Punisher #1 scheduled to be released in May.

OwossoHarpist

Sherry Konkus lives in Owosso, MI. She is the proud owner of the Camac Athena EX Concert Grand Harp named “Grover” and Camac Mademoiselle named “Ernie.” She’s also the proud author of The Punisher Harp Zone. Sherry is the one who came up with the idea of portraying The Punisher from Marvel Comics as the punishing harpist who plays the harp in memory of his family who was killed by the mob years ago.

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Why does The Punisher play the harp?

It’s easy to imagine The Punisher shooting up criminal hideouts and blowing off the heads of thugs and mob bosses as the ultimate punishment for their crimes. But it’s hard to imagine (and believe) that there is also very gentle side to The Punisher no one knows about except for The Defenders (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist), Microchip (aka David Linus Liberman), and Spider-man (aka Peter Parker) who actually saw and became amazed at him doing something no one has ever thought he could do with his violent hands– play the harp. A gentle stringed musical instrument no one could ever believe that The Punisher would have such talent and ability to use his otherwise destructive hands to gently and tenderly pluck and caress its strings.

Indeed, it’s very hard to imagine and believe that the Punisher’s violent hands that brake bones, strangle necks, and punch out guts are the very same hands that softly and tenderly pluck, caress, and gracefully sweep across the strings of the harp.

Why does he do it, you asked? Because Frank is doing this in memory of his family whom he communes with through songs, poems, and prayers as he gracefully wave his battle-scarred arms and hands across the strings to fill his private family shrine with harp music that moves The Punisher to joyful tears.

Where did the Idea of The Punisher and his Harp come from?

It’s a concept I, Sherry Konkus made up myself. It combines my new found obsession with The Punisher that I had since 2014 and my life long love for the harp. It is the very best concept I ever made. This is my version of The Punisher from Marvel Comics who is portrayed by me as the punishing harpist who plays the harp in memory of his late family who got killed by a criminal mob years ago and whenever he needs a break from waging a one man war against organized crime.

The Punisher was created by Gerry Conway with the help of artists John Romita, Sr. and Ross Andru. His name coined by Stan Lee. The Punisher is owned and trademarked by MARVEL.

The idea, concept, and inspiration behind The Punisher’s portrayal as The Punishing Harpist who plays the harp in memory of his family is in fact my own. Sweetest. Idea. Ever.

The Punisher Harp Zone Archive

An Interview with Becky Cloonan and Steve Dillon