A Cultural History of The Punisher: Marvel Comics and the Politics of Vengeance Kent Worcester 9781789388589

If the Punisher became a valuable piece of intellectual property during the closing decades of the twentieth century, he has become a global icon in the twenty-first. In this pathbreaking study, Kent Worcester explores the sometimes ridiculous and often socially resonate storyverse of the most famous rageaholic in popular culture: Frank Castle, aka the Punisher.

Worcester pays particular attention to nearly five decades' worth of punishment-themed comics and graphic novels published between the 1970s and the present day. These texts provide the material resources for a close reading of the Punisher's distinctive and extreme form of justice discourse. Punishment, after all, is a political and social construct. Violence does not imply or claim legitimacy. Punishment does. To talk about punishment is to ask who deserves to be punished, who decides who deserves to be punished, and what form the punishment should take. All costumed heroes have their political moments; the Punisher is political.

Frank Castle inhabits the most politically engaged corner of the entire Marvel Universe. His adventures should attract our interest for precisely this reason.

About the Author

Kent Worcester is Professor of Political Science at Marymount Manhattan College, New York, USA.

Reviews

"Kent Worcester has put together a hard-hitting, street-wise, in-depth look at the life and times of Frank Castle. His analysis is trenchant and fascinating, taking into consideration all the myriad aspects of the character and how they have changed over time. This is a rich, important study of a character whose violent ethos and iconography are so much a part of today's cultural zeitgeist."

-- Andrew J. Friedenthal, writer and arts critic

"Deep-diving into a publication history spanning multiple decades, Kent Worcester's precise study helps explain the enduring fascination with the Punisher against the backdrop of an evolving sociopolitical climate. This long overdue examination of Marvel's most controversial yet iconic character will provide valuable insight to scholars, students, and fans alike."

-- Peter Vignold, author of Das Marvel Cinematic Universe - Anatomie einer Hyperserie and Superhelden im Film - Zur post-patriarchalen Utopie des Marvel Cinematic Universe



Book Information
ISBN 9781789388589
Author Kent Worcester
Format Paperback
Page Count 274
Imprint Intellect Books
Publisher Intellect Books