The MOST controversial Punisher story EVER? | The Punisher: The Final Days

[@lukeduckworth7227]

Ethan hearing the word “Melanin Shots” and his jaw just slowly starts to drop, is one of the top 10 moments in comic pop history.

[@loganshirley9058]

You know a Back Issues is going to be extra good when it starts with a flash forward to Ethan and Ben’s eventual bafflement

[@Sasu123456789x1]

So true lmao 🤣

[@creed8712]

But how did we get here? Well let’s go back, let’s go back…

[@ryanhensley4836]

I just think we should start our stories when they get interesting

[@Ducaso]

I did not see that reveal coming.

[@will_da_man_]

Frank Castle might have the most insane status quo changes in comic book history. He's been an angel, a demon, a Frankenstein monster, War Machine, Ghost Rider and... a black man. Truly peak fiction.

[@TevyaSmolka]

Indeed

[@cidergus04]

And cosmic ghost rider my man has been through a lot of insane changes

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@cidergus04 that too

[@will_da_man_]

@cidergus04 fuck, I knew I was forgetting one! It's been bugging me for days lol.

[@arduit]

Starting the episode with a "Let's go back" is always a good sign

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

"Yeah, so the plan is to blackmail Punisher?" Hehehe. Ah, I love homophones. Also, this only goes to further prove Ethan is a god. He's A god, not The God. I don't think.

[@TevyaSmolka]

lol indeed

[@SharinganVizard07]

i started this episode going "where have i heard this title before?" then you got to Jigsaw and i remembered and went "OH NOOOOO"

[@bensneb360]

Daredevil: hey Frank, how come every time you run into Luke Cage, he gives you a dirty look? Punisher: you don’t wanna know Red. Lol

[@paulakroy2635]

Tbf I’m not sure what anyone is suppose to do in a bizarre situation

[@TheMonghy]

Episode starts with Ethan exclaiming in disbelief. This is gonna be a good one lol.

[@cladladd]

“I’m gunna send you to hell, consider this your vigil-antie” -the pun-isher

[@udonsei5216]

Infernal puns from a virgil-antie

[@screamingsheik2264]

As a massive Frank Castle fan it makes me sooooo happy to hear Max Punisher is eventually gonna be covered 💀

[@JayTheRed602]

I sent in a copy of Born years ago. Maybe now it's finally time ☠️

[@etherd]

Going to be hard to monetize those videos lol.

[@AnarchicArachnid]

Barracuda : hehe

[@valiantshadowproductions]

I just want to see them do The Slavers, because I want to see the unanimous reaction on the couch of “Get ‘em, Frank.” That’s like the one story arc where even the most fervent Punisher haters are like ”…you can have this one.”

[@ConspiracyOpossum]

If doing max id rather see fury or squadron supreme

[@tylersaez4095]

Once Jigsaw started talking about messing up Frank's face the lightbulb went off I realized what story this actually was.

[@tysiudamasceno]

Yep. Same here

[@flerken4233]

It took me until Sal talking about Punisher wanting to change how he looked for it to click for me lol

[@spectacleHD]

For me it was when Sal talked about him being mistaken for black when he was carved up.

[@jacquesturner1196]

As a black man I have to say this is hilarious! It sounds like someone saw Soulman and they were like that's a great idea...Also I love Ethan's comic book title.

[@akiraeatsguitarpicks491]

Holy shit this IS almost the exact same idea as Soulman

[@mttylerdurden9]

Have you ever heard of the brown bomber? Back in the 70s DC was going to create a superhero that was a racist white man that turned into a super powered black man when he said black power.

[@accidentalmadness1708]

This is the best birthday present I could ask for 😭. Jesus Christ frank! He went full tropic thunder.

[@ecosmith7852]

Frank Castle: For 400 years!

[@RonCorleone]

You never go full Tropic Thunder.

[@UnrealMisterD]

38:52 For a brief moment, I forgot that Jigsaw was the name of a Punisher rogue, and in that gap of time my brain immediately made up a scene of Tobin Bell watching Frank walk past his cell with an ominous glare.

[@Finamajig]

“Live or die, the choice is yours Frank Castle”

[@VanCantian01]

Oh HELL YEAH! Keep the bit in the beginning as a nice "trailer" for the episode. Whoever had this idea, THAT'S GENIUS!!!!!! "He works for the Triads, because they're JAPANESE you see" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Please Sal NEVER change!

[@magusreaver]

but.. the Triads aren't....

[@VanCantian01]

@@magusreaver EXACTLY🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Whether intentional or not PURE COMEDY🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MugenNiFukuzatsuna]

I'm glad someone else caught that. I didn't want to be the "Uhm, actually" guy.

[@gbone302]

Sal sneaking “demure” into a Punisher episode is hilarious, when I read this back in 8 years I won’t know why that stood out but TODAY, i applaud you

[@amanzeihedioha]

Rest in Peace, John Cassidy🫡

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

Yes. Sad news to hear. I'm going to reread Planetary (again).

[@marcushamner5994]

Sad news. He wrote Astonishing X-Men too.😔

[@bretts7072]

​@@marcushamner5994not to be "that guy" but he drew Astonishing X-Men. Joss Whedon wrote it. RIP John Cassaday

[@marcushamner5994]

@@bretts7072 That’s what I meant to say. He only drew Astonishing X-Men. Sorry for the mistake.

[@bretts7072]

@@marcushamner5994 eh no worries, it happens! I am just a big one for proper credit in creative endeavors

[@Grievousish]

Punisher's a dude, killing a dude disguised as another dude!

[@lukespicer9363]

Good one😂

[@Sasu123456789x1]

Ha! 😂

[@TheCaptainKuhn]

Dude

[@bearerofbadnews1375]

What?

[@Grievousish]

@@bearerofbadnews1375 look up Tropic Thunder

[@chrisdaily2077]

*Sees the intro* Surely it can't be that bad. "Frank needs melanin shots." Oh no it's Lois Lane all over again.

[@flywheelshyster]

In the way Winston yells I LOVE this town at the end of Ghostbusters..*I LOVE this show!*

[@architeuthis3476]

I had this comic when I was a little kid. My reaction to the last page was "WTF?" Then the child psychologist my parents took mee to, who had presumably been influenced by _Seduction of the Innocent,_ blamed my ADHD on the comics I was reading, causing my parents to throw-out all of my comics, so I never learned what happened next - although, through cultural osmosis I knew that Punisher went back to being white at some point - and assumed that, because the surgeon was also a junky, she drugged him. 5ish years ago, the used comic store by my house had a bunch of early 90s comics that had been collected in clam shell plastic (all 5 versions of _X-Men_ #1 for example) for $5 each - including 2 packages containing the issues that followed this story. I bought both of them: one to open and read, thus bringing closure to the decades-old cliffhanger (it was extremely disappointing); and one to keep as a trophy to remind myself that the shrink was a putz. Big thanks to ComicPop!

[@KiramidHead]

About people not knowing that Frank Castle is the Punisher, it's even dumber than that. Every other issue will have someone looking at the Punisher in full costume and not even recognizing him as such. "Whaaaat, who are you supposed to be?"

[@bradleyd.9801]

Uncle Ben in Valhalla fucking killed me 😂

[@KOFNY]

INTRO HAS ME HOOKED!

[@Jackfernando4555]

37:04 Pitch Meeting being referenced in Back Issues is TIGHT

[@salinesolutions468]

1:32:12 "Most grandpas don't get to go to Valhalla" was a really weird sequel.

[@mrwesley8926]

The reveal of Frank in the mirror is when I noped out of reading Punisher. It was probably 15 years or so before I would take Punisher seriously again.

[@dinosaurusmaximus8506]

Uncle Ben is in Valhalla is my new favorite headcanon

[@thepanelbiter9915]

This is like if a jump scare was a comic book.

[@takeruneverborn4740]

These intros never get old keep it up Sal and Co. Via Comic Pop Inc.

[@TheGreatDevlin]

Me halfway through the episode: Man, I almost though this was THAT Punisher storyline. Me after the reveal: Damn it!

[@naplockblubba5369]

Same lol

[@antgto]

I honestly didn't think this story would get featured, so I'm absolutely down for this ridiculousness.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

"Me giving you the pinkie back is like me signing a contract." So, this is Punisher's version of a pinkie swear. 🙂

[@threex0xthree]

BOOOOO🍅🍅🍅!!!!

[@BronzeBoy520]

Oh my god is this the one where Punisher gets surgery to become a black man so he can do a crossover with Luke Cage? Yes, Frank Castle becomes black… and the artist draws Frank exactly like Luke, so you can’t tell them apart if you don’t look at their clothes!

[@AnarchicArachnid]

The eyes , frank got baby blues, Luke got chocolate brown eyes

[@BronzeBoy520]

@@AnarchicArachnid when the colorist remembers to draw them

[@ecosmith7852]

There’s a Rdj Tropic thunder joke/ MCU joke in here.

[@nal101]

@@ecosmith7852Frank: “For 400 years…”

[@bearerofbadnews1375]

What the heck Marvel or the writer of that comic were thinking with this?

[@youngjohngoodman12]

As a punisher fan I'd love to see some of the older runs covered like OG war journal and Mike Baron era. The old comics are always so out of their mind it's a blast seeing you guys experience them!

[@bryceharriet9209]

How have I never heard of this before watching this episode?!

[@fcm3d]

Punisher always reminded me of my Dad if any of his kid's were taken. Crazy military guy that looks like Frank with the height of Wolverine and the military experience and top gun awards with a tank.

[@Samael_Morningstar666]

4:06 my personal favorite Punisher in prison story is the MAX The Cell one shot

[@chandlerburse]

Thats the one where for some reason the artist made Frank look like Clint Eastwood

[@ecosmith7852]

58:52 Yes! 🤣

[@CamWG95]

they really took the "dark" part of "dark, gritty reboot" a bit too seriously...

[@voidaspects9173]

I didn't recognize the title, but then as soon as I heard the intro and remembered the thumbnail, it immediately clicked what story this was. Oh my god

[@ozzyalbor8292]

these are my fav types of episodes! The OG crew!!

[@mr.goblin6039]

Oh, so THIS is where THAT infamous image comes from!? I was not expecting this. 😂 Great episode.

[@raistlinmajere5550]

I love Punisher so much but i really wish they did a Luke Cage "what do you mean, you people" moment" I really cant wait to see the reactions to Bullseye from Punisher MAX

[@KiramidHead]

I read through all the major Punisher books over several years, and I feel like Mike Baron was just out of steam by this point, because he had written the better part of 60 issues, as well as a decent amount of War Journal. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning took over after this story and they really gave the book a shot in the arm, including actual status quo shifts that felt meaningful.

[@codystork3008]

Marvel has so many kind of regular guys that Hawkeye, the Swordsman and Frank for sure who btw all debuted as bad guys are non powered guys. Maybe Shang Chi, and Star Lord as well. But the kind of powered guys like Blade, DD, Fury and and anyone else who takes the infinity formula, Cap and Danny Rand, Luke Cage all have enough power to be hard to kill. The normal super line is a little blurry because so many heroes have minimal powers.

[@Henderson10666]

Shang Chi, sure. Peter Quill's dad was a space emperor

[@The_Great_Crane]

I have been waiting for this storylines

[@swashkiv7509]

It came out like 30 years ago lol. What do you mean you’re “waiting ?”

[@andrewfuentes8568]

Anyone else love Ethan’s shirt? Top tier comedy 😂😂😂

[@Sicod79]

I had the issue of Luke Cage where he interacts with Castle and references him being black for a bit. So nuts.

[@priceyyeti4058]

Well that's a strong hook.

[@c.l.6957]

My favorite part of these videos is always: "yeah, great question! Anyways..."

[@Depthcharge2030]

It took me a bit to remember why this story sounded familiar, then I realized it was the infamous 90s story. Oof. I hope one day before Ennis' MAX gets covered that at least his Marvel Knights run gets touched upon. As much as we laud Ennis' hard hitting gritty realism from MAX, we don't get that without Ennis' dark comedy days.

[@creed8712]

I’m still praying we get Punisher and Eminem

[@Depthcharge2030]

@@creed8712 I eagerly await the return of Ben rapping Eminem music.

[@eqs1782]

It's be cool if you could interview Tom Brevort and at the tail end of the interview and just ask "So frank turning black? What?" 😂

[@Ducaso]

The thumbnail for this video is so rad.

[@KingArthur39]

Me watching the first 10 seconds "What happened? What are they reacting to? Lets go back, lets go back..."

[@badboi6247]

Sal just did a "lets go back" on us

[@threex0xthree]

Ethan: *sigh* oh my god.

[@umabomber]

Knowing what was coming on this episode and watching them get there made this one of the best episodes ever.

[@comicpop]

Nor followed up in subsequent tweets, either. Weird.

[@FreddieLane9001]

58:53 lmaoooo I get that reference!

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

If you want another couple of Punisher runs, "Suicide Run" was like Marvel trying to capitalize on the Death and Return of Superman. As I recall there were multiple Punisher's running around. There were also the comics coming out back in the Marvel EDGE series where Punisher thought Nick Fury killed his family and went on a rampage.

[@eqs1782]

Jigsaw: I had a chance to unalive frank but i chose to scar him, is it too late to redo my revenge? Lol

[@popcronartist5488]

I loved the episode but silver surfer parable please

[@willknight685]

This might just be the best Thumbnail yet

[@lennylaserdiscs]

This is easily in the Top 5 episodes of Back Issues ever.

[@Worldtour1994]

I remember when Sal almost spoiled the crazy part of this story in another episode but stopped himself.😂

[@bradystutorials]

Absolutely devastated we never got a Saturday morning cartoon about Frank Rook, Luke Cage, and Blade going on adventures together called Punisher and His Pigmented Pals.

[@Grimlockfly]

It was wild how a lot of concurrent Spider-Man titles happened before that daredevil story too

[@CrazyWildChris]

Always love when you have a pitch meeting reference!

[@ericdefrancesco7607]

Love the little preview,...now we need a : previously on... Back issue

[@johnb3919]

I’m 14 seconds in. Sal pulls a jaw drop, then does a “Let’s go back”. I am so excited

[@f1naltyrant]

I always heard Frank was turned black but never knew the story, so my jaw hit the floor once I realized this was it

[@Chalk0073]

1:20:00 #60- #62 were the first Punisher books I ever read, they came in a bundle with Cage #1, the Punisher books set up the Cage in Chicago status quo and 2 issues later in Cage there's another 2 issue crossover where they team up again to fight Tombstone and Nitro (yes, that Nitro)

[@SpiralSine6]

This might actually be one of the most shocking plot twists discussed on the couch. Not necessarily the biggest or most important - certainly not the best - but most shocking? Yeah it’s up there.

[@OkMakuTree]

This isn’t even the first time Frank’s had his face sliced up by Jigsaw and repaired with bizarre means. The last time it happened, the Punisher forced a devil worshipping cult leader in Venezuela to heal his face with magic. I’m impressed that Marvel came up with an even more ridiculous plot line the second time around 😅

[@KiramidHead]

@OkMakuTree if I remember right, the demon also fixed Jigsaw, only for Frank to shove his face into a cactus and mess it up again.

[@OkMakuTree]

@@KiramidHead Yep, that's right! One of the many times when I've wondered why Frank doesn't just kill Jigsaw, seeing as he (unsurprisingly) swears vengeance against the Punisher immediately afterwards.

[@KiramidHead]

@@OkMakuTree Jigsaw definitely gained his archnemesis status through sheer dumb luck. He's almost always written as a joke character in the old stuff. Hell in his first appearance Frank basically tells Spider-Man "I have no idea who this asshole is" lol

[@ThePandaSupreme]

Wtf that twist at the end is insane… I can’t believe they approved that lol

[@ProfMurderGM]

Totally forgot that this was the storyline with that ending. Thanks for the genuine surprise.

[@bearerofbadnews1375]

This whole plot near the end with Franks skin color being changed is such a WTF moment? How and why did this happen?

[@logan2b]

The whole build up was worth it for that one moment

[@chancylvania]

I would think Frank wouldn’t care if he’s horribly scarred. It would just make him a more menacing punisher.

[@ChristopherZubin]

With an opening like that, you know something really off-the-wall is coming.

[@Sqoobthedude]

I always wondered what happened to max the dog and im so disappointed to hear of how they treated him.

[@mttylerdurden9]

They gave Frank Re-vitiligo.😂😂😂😂

[@grkpektis]

I completely forgot about this story and didn't know what was controversial until the black guy showed up and thought "oh god this story"

[@bensneb360]

It’s funny, you didn’t even have to say the name of the story, all I saw was “most controversial” and I’m like “oh, we’re doing THIS ONE!!!” lol

[@BBmetalhead04]

With the amount of bizarre status quo changes Frank has gone through, you could probably do a Family Guy cutaway gag with every single one. Frank: Hey Micro remember that time I was an angel?

[@catswithlasers]

Wait, since Jigsaw is in the same prison as Frank in this comic, is this the basis for the storyline in the 2005 Punisher video game? Because that has Frank getting arrested and sent to Ryker's Island where he goes after Jigsaw, who is also in the prison.

00:06 Oh we know 👀👀

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Oh. You’re doing THAT one! I’ll make popcorn

[@The_Great_Crane]

I have been waiting for this story to pop-up

[@Three_Tiny_Robots]

I was imagining Max rescuing Frank by flying a Helicopter that looks like a van.

[@dedbatt8869]

Great start to an episode this week..!

[@sombrashadow0013]

1:15:33 HUH?!!!! Not gonna lie, not where I thought this story was gonna go😂😂😂

[@SirRobinBP]

What's bizarre, I can think of Marvel doing this at least one other time, where in Thunderbolts they had to disguise Beetle/Mach-One and made him look like a black person

[@codystork3008]

I was wondering if anyone else remembered that, having read that run for the first time last year, I dropped it at that issue.

[@ShudderingSeagull]

I knew some day this was gonna get covered I just...I still wasn't expecting it.

[@mrmegagamenerd]

This show is the one thing I always look forward to every Wednesday

[@samkirkby7010]

God it’s just dawned on me, the guy who played Microchip in the TV show will be playing Ben Grimm

[@TheVegeta67]

I looked up what this story is and I instantly remembered what this was. This is going to be a fun.

[@brandonf6169]

I remember I got this entire run in singles of Punisher all bagged together at my local Toys R Us😂 It was the first punisher story I had ever read as a child. Can you even imagine my confusion!?

[@onifrancis1566]

Man got 3 live action movies and a show. Madness.

[@Hulkzilla0]

For the most part this is a typical Punisher story, gratuitous but not unexpected. But then that final issue just goes unhinged with a VERY questionable idea. If nothing else, it's part of Punisher history. And it is.... Memorable.

[@DarkMayhem666]

I consider Punisher a ‘superhero’ in the same way I consider Batman or Iron Man ‘superheroes.’ Just because a character doesn’t have superpowers doesn’t mean they can’t be a superhero. And let’s be real, even the ‘human’ characters are still in peak condition and can do things a real human cannot do. Punisher has fought literal supernatural threats and won.

[@LoneGh0ste]

I thought they were objecting to the idea of him being a superhero not because of his powers but because of his ethics. You can argue he’s a super, but is he really a hero? Personally, I don’t think so, but I do know there are people who’d disagree 🥶

[@chandlerburse]

Franks an anti hero technically