You might have rolled your eyes when Punisher vs. Spider-Man #1 was announced – it’s the third or fourth synergistic Marvel comic that ties into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but truth be told, it’s a successful and worthy start. Upon closer inspection, artist Matteo Della Fonte proved himself more than worthy when drawing Nova: Centurion, and writer Dan Abnett needs no introduction. The larger trick of this book, however, is making a story meaningful in the uphill battle of crafting a prequel that feels impactful.
It’s clear from the jump that this is a comic set in the past. Punisher is edgier, colder, and a bit new to interacting with superheroes like Spider-Man. Meanwhile, Spider-Man quips better than ever and has a hopefulness that feels childlike. The main hook is that this is the second time these heroes have interacted, and they both want to help each other. Well, that, and Frank wants to use Spider-Man to carry out his mission.
Punisher vs. Spider-Man #1 opens on a rooftop, first from Frank’s perspective, then with close-ups of his gear and gun. In four short pages, Spider-Man shows up and gives him a hard time; we get a quick recap of their first meeting, and the story kicks into gear from there. Through War Journal captions, Abnett reveals Punisher’s annoyance with Spidey’s quipping, and through the dialogue, we gather Spider-Man just wants to break through to the man behind the skull. Their dynamic is interesting from the jump.
I love how Della Fonte draws Spider-Man on the wall here.
Credit: Marvel
Della Fonte’s art is super clean, with a thin line and detail that evokes an earlier time. His rendering of Spider-Man is pitch perfect with the eyes and eye expressions subtle but doing a lot of work. It’s a smaller eye expression, which suits this story set in the past.
This issue is satisfying in its own right, showcasing the two heroes teaming up on a mission against a priest named Father Crime and seeing them take him down to the end. He’s a street-level villain powered by a cutting-edge supersuit, which makes him and his goons a worthy enemy of both Spider-Man and Punisher. There are other enemies to fight, including dressed-up ones, which are used to further allow these heroes to bond.
The big win I didn’t expect was seeing Peter and Frank, with their hair down, among people they trust. These scenes mirror each other as they receive advice on how to handle Punisher and Spider-Man, respectively. It’s a neat way to show both are interested in the other.
If you doubt Spider-Man would ever help Frank, fear not, as Abnett rectifies that with a key scene between Spider-Man and Human Torch. It’s believable, especially since this is earlier in Spidey’s tenure.
Punisher vs. Spider-Man #1 overcomes any skepticism about its movie-tie-in origins with confident storytelling and a compelling character dynamic. Dan Abnett captures the philosophical divide between Frank Castle and Peter Parker while giving each hero room to grow through their interactions. Matteo Della Fonte complements the script with polished artwork that evokes a classic era of Spider-Man. The result is an enjoyable first issue that stands on its own while leaving plenty of room for the partnership to evolve. So far, it’s a gripping team-up that hits every target.
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