Punisher War Journal #65-66 (April-May 1994)

These two issues of Punisher War Journal—just one of Frank Castle’s three ongoing titles on this time—feature Captain America in a role that’s becoming familiar: being called, either by his own sense of duty or by an external authority, to apprehend a rogue anti-hero (as he did with Nomad not long ago). Here, of course, his target is the Punisher, which whom he shared an adventure not long ago in the Blood and Glory miniseries, where they compared their thoughts on war, crime, and the “mission” as each one sees it.

When we come into the story, V.I.G.I.L., a federal anti-vigilante task force working with the New York Police Department, have the Punisher trapped in an apartment building in a run-down area of Brooklyn, eager to apprehend him after he was caught on tape killing a police officer in issue #64. At the end of issue #65, the head of V.I.G.I.L. tells the other officers, “don’t bother bringing the Punisher in alive,” to which a voice from off panel responds, “Wrong!” Cap appears on the final page to defend Frank’s basic stance on crime while criticizing his methods, insisting on bringing him in himself rather than endangering the lives of civilians or police.

The action happens in issue #66, starting with Cap appealing to Frank’s sense of honor, pointing out how he’s betraying it by acting like the enemy, and inviting him to stop before he dishonors himself even more.

Frank’s admiration, even worship, of Captain America is highlighted below, although I would question whether any of Steve Rogers’ replacements (William Naslund, Jeff Mace, or William Burnside) were “trained to be the best fighters.” (And let’s not even get started on John Walker!)

Castle admits to himself that he can’t win hand-to-hand, so he tries bullet-to-shield…

…but Cap shows that shield-to-face is the way to go, after which he reminds Frank that even though they’re both fighting wars, so to speak, good soldiers don’t betray their principles to do it.

We also get a reminder of Cap’s physical condition, consistently referenced in all of his appearances since March 1994, which presumably grants Frank a good shot at Cap, giving him his first advantage so far in this fight.

While he runs, Frank considers his options and finds them lacking, but when Cap catches up surprisingly quickly, he frames his choice differently…

…adding a dark third option below. He dismisses surrender and running, leaving only fight or die, so he wields the only advantage he has, as reluctant as he is to consider it.

Frank realizes the impossible situation he’s in, caught between what he can’t do and what he won’t do. At the same time, he picks up on Cap’s condition, which (of course) doesn’t affect Cap’s determination to bring Frank in, ideally without further violence.

Cap continues to appeal to what he believes are Frank’s core ethics in hopes of convincing him he’s on the wrong path, one that threatens to negate the good he’s done, but the narration suggests that the man who might have listened is gone…

…and hasn’t been seen since his family was killed.

After Frank escapes on the TV news chopper, Cap turns his attention to the V.I.G.I.L. leader who wants to take extraordinary measures to bring Frank down (literally), and the exchange between the two officers reminds us that not all police in the Marvel Universe appreciate the presence of superheroes. (Somewhere, Batman nods and sighs.)

Well, not anymore, but once…

Cap gets the final word, assuring the officers that Frank Castle will be brought in. (Wishful thinking!)

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ISSUE DETAILS

Punisher War Journal (vol. 1) #65, April 1994: Steven Grant (writer), Hugh Haynes (pencils), Mark McKenna, Mick Gray, and Scott Koblish (inks), John Kalisz and Scott Marshall (colors), Michael Higgins (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)

Punisher War Journal (vol. 1) #66, May 1994: Steven Grant (writer), Hugh Haynes (pencils), Mark McKenna (inks), John Kalisz (colors), Michael Higgins (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)

Not yet collected.

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ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #426-427 (April-May 1994), Avengers #373-374, War Machine #1, and Warlock and the Infinity Watch #27-28 (April-May 1994), Iron Man #303-304 (April-May 1994), Daredevil #327-328 (April-May 1994), and The Incredible Hulk #417 (May 1994)