Looks like Frank's going out on a Road Trip Next Year.

Oct 27, 2015

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The latest interview with Becky Cloonan, the author behind DC Comics’ Gotham Academy, and Steve Dillon, the veteran Punisher artist, about the team’s upcoming new Punisher run set to be released early 2016, has now been released by Marvel.com. In the interview, we find that Frank is setting out on a Northeastern road trip to find the source behind the incredibly unstable version of the Super Soldier Serum and destroy it. Where it leads to may not be what he has in mind.

Marvel.com: In the previous Punisher series we saw Frank Castle set up shop in Los Angeles, and now it sounds like he’s headed back to the East Coast. Where exactly will this latest adventure take The Punisher, and what draws him back east?
Becky Cloonan: The first issue will see Punisher back in New York City, a place I lived for 14 years, so I’m pretty excited to spend some more time there. It doesn’t last long, however, and soon Frank finds himself following a lead on a new and dangerous synthetic drug hitting the streets. He takes the show—and a bunch of guns!—on a blood-soaked road trip through the Northeast to a place I don’t think even he will see coming.

About the author

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

Looks like Frank's going out on a Road Trip Next Year.