Since the Punisher's first appearance in the pages of Spider-Man #129, the character has become one of the most popular and controversial figures in Marvel's vast universe. The Punisher represents one of the most recognizable types of anti-heroes. His iconic skull insignia stands for a unique type of justice: protecting the innocent while violently eliminating everyone he sees as a villain. This collection examines the Punisher from philosophical perspectives about morality and justice. Essays critique the character through the lenses of gender and feminism; consider the Punisher's veteran status in relation the Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq wars; and examine how politics and gun violence connect the Punisher's world with the real world. Many iterations of the Punisher are examined within, including the Netflix release of Marvel's The Punisher, comics series such as Punisher: MAX, Marvel Knights, and Cosmic Ghost Rider, and several fan fiction stories.

About the Author
Alicia M. Goodman is a professor of theatre management and administration at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. Matthew J. McEniry is an associate librarian and the director of the Digital Scholarship Lab at Texas Tech University. Ryan Cassidy is an associate librarian at Texas Tech University, where he runs the University Library's Makerspace and Virtual Reality Lab. Robert G. Weiner is the popular culture librarian at Texas Tech University. His work has been published in the Journal of Popular Culture, Public Library Quarterly, Journal of American Culture, International Journal of Comic Art and Popular Music and Society, and is the author/editor/coeditor of numerous books related to popular culture.

Reviews
"A compelling book that offers a complete and varied analysis of one of the most controversial figures in the world of comics...a detailed analysis...captivating...fascinating...a more than interesting compilation of articles, the editors have done a great job compiling great quality works as well as making a thematic selection that allows a fluid reading of the essays."-Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics



Book Information
ISBN 9781476682501
Author Alicia M. Goodman,
Format Paperback
Page Count 154
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
Weight(grams) 333g