The Punisher in Two Classic Paintings by Mike Zeck

Michael Zeck is on Facebook and he recently shared his own scans of two classic Punisher paintings that he did for Marvel.

The cover to Punisher #1, the limited series by Zeck and writer Steven Grant that launched this supporting Spider-Man character into a lead character.  How those flying bullets seem to miss the Punisher's vital organs...magic must be involved somehow!

This piece above appeared as a pinup in Marvel Fanfare and then later was sold as a poster.  Both pieces have airbrushed air by Phil Zimelman.  If you look closely at this power you will see a some famous names in the background...and I think I see a little cartoon of Archie Goodwin in there too.  Nuff Said!

Mike Zeck: Spider-Man and Punisher Marvel Tales covers

Dipping back into the well of Marvel Tales covers, there was a series of them in 1988 featuring reprints of Punisher and Spider-Man team-ups.  Mike Zeck, the Punisher's main man, drew some of the fantastic covers.

Marvel Tales #209 features Frank Castle front and center with Spider-Man in the crosshairs.  Despite the fact that he is holding pistols instead of a rifle! 

Marvel Tales #211.  The Punisher spews bullets out of twin Uzis as he and Spidey crash through a window.  Forget about stun bullets!

Marvel Tales #216.  Off to save Jonah from Hitman.  Nice angle on this cover.

Marvel Tales #219.  There is a Gil Kane feeling with many of Spidey's poses by Zeck, don't you think?

Marvel Tales #218.  Brings back the tried and true formula of the hero having his identity revealed, and it works great on this cover!  Nuff Said.

Michael Golden Draws The Punisher Armory

Pretend you are an artist working for Marvel Comics.  An editor tells you about a great new mini-series titled The Punisher Armory, a Marvel Handbook style index to every weapon Frank Castle ever fondled.  Your artistic challenge: draw a cover for this title, featuring the Punisher and his toys.  Your mission: get the devoted Punisher fans so excited about all this hardware that they'll buy the book.

A difficult task?  Not if your name is Michael Golden.

Golden provided the last two covers for this title, the first one appearing in issue #9 (1994), with the Punisher drawn in silhouette and adorned enough weaponry to take on an army.  It's really impressive--if you overlook the fact that there's no way the Punisher could run for his life with all that shit weighing him down.  I still love the cover though.  I can't possibly back this up, but I would assume that Golden drew weapons that really existed.  That machine gun in his right hand with the laser-sight looks particularly lethal.

The cover to issue #10 features the Punisher bearing down on the viewer, as if you were the one responsible for killing Frank Castle's family.  Look at all the pockets and pouches on this outfit.  I hope he's carrying a Cliff Bar in there for when hunger strikes.

Can you believe The Punisher Armory had enough material for 10 issues?  It was all due to Eliot Brown, the Marvel staffer who researched every single weapon.  Visit Eliot's website for some material on the Armory and other work.  Nuff Said!