The Punisher 2099 #1 - Atop the Fourth Wall

Just a reminder - the new system is four AT4W episodes per week, once a day from Monday through Thursday.
Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. In this episode, Linkara reviews a comic about the Punisher... OF THE FUTURE!
atopthefourthwa...
Originally uploaded May 13th, 2013.
ORIGINAL INFO: Just in case you ever thought the Punisher needed more shoulderpads.
RUMINATIONS: The big thing people said in response to this one was that Punisher 2099 was satire and I was taking it too seriously. That might be the case later on, but honestly I don’t really get a satire vibe from the first issue, especially considering his origins as someone motivated by the death of one’s entire family. That’s not really the kind of thing that you use to satirize unless you go much more over the top, or if they aren’t actually killed, just wounded or the like. And even then, why would you have your SECOND book in this new line be more a satire instead of another serious take like Spider-Man had been? Then again, it begs the question of why a Punisher 2099 at all. In the end, the Punisher is just a pissed-off guy with guns. Other than having more futuristic-sounding tech and weapons, what REALLY is the advantage of having a future version of them?

[@PosthumanHeresy]

I can fix his origin easily: dude's family is killed because they couldn't pay their police protection, Jake vows to wipe out crime his way to protect the poor who can't afford to pay for protection. Fits the theme of "cyberpunk libertarian hellscape", still mirrors The Punisher with the added failure of the system, gives him his own reason to hate the megacorps.

[@jamesadamsfl]

Good gosh, How did you throw a better premise together in about 2 lines than professional comic writers did in a full-length comic?

[@billymccrary2246]

Yeah, that would make sense.

[@powerist209]

Also for some reason Cyberpunk RPG might have influence. Especially the police protection (or lack of it, hence why an executive had to hire them when her daughter was kidnapped), title year theming, and criminal gang who harvested organs (or in RPG case, cybernetics). Minus the “yellow peril” with corporate facade (at least America becoming Japanese themed as a “bad thing”…either due to subtle xenophobia-outside of younger audience who generally don’t have issue with it-or well-meaning yet culturally tone-deaf depiction) and militarized ambulance system (Trauma Team).

[@Djinsin]

Linkara, it's totally obvious why they don't go for his head. It's way too small to target properly.

[@JaelinBezel]

This is why I don't play any snipers in Overwatch and instead play characters like Mei, Mercy, Reinhardt, Junkrat, and Tracer.

[@harrietr.5073]

Now, on the other hand targetting his torso-

[@Djinsin]

@@harrietr.5073 like hitting the broad side of a barn

[@Jeddostotle7]

Punisher 2099 in his civilian clothes makes him look like he's from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

[@AlluMan96]

Nah, that's not flamboyant enough. He'd need something more flashy and there are no Heart, Star *or* Dolphin accessories on him.

[@jamesadamsfl]

Maybe he’s like Hol Horse, and one of those ridiculous guns is his stand.

[@lazyuniverse4932]

The truth behind Jotaro Kujo when he loses his hat

[@gomerjomer9209]

Yeah, he got that jojo body type

[@ayandanxumalo9699]

So Jake's family is dead because some guy thought "This is nice. It would be a shame if someone was to ruin it."?

[@hydranoid2009]

+Ayanda Nxumalo I think it's more "My family acted nice but secretly did horrible things, so now I think every family is like that"

[@Ice-Climber]

So Punisher 2099 is a really stupid version Judge Dread?

[@KevlarNinja]

+Ice Climber Isn't the Stallone version the really stupid version?

[@thecomicnation1085]

Almost as stupid as the Sylvester Stallone version. ALMOST.

[@venaretro5444]

+Ice Climber Yep.

[@RyutheWeredragon]

+Ice Climber Isn't Judge Dredd already stupid as is?

[@venaretro5444]

RyutheWeredragon I think youre thinking the Stallone movie.The comic is a entertaining intelligent satire.

[@jaredohlstein7355]

the stinger at the end was hilarious "Why would a long stick need a vibration setting? Ohhhhhhh"

[@JaelinBezel]

So that non-speedsters can still pull a Reverse-Flash.

[@ForrestFox626]

Oh my!

[@calemr]

Frank Castle requesting someone carry on his work? I have seen a lot of things in Punisher storylines that have pissed me off with how his character goes from "My favourite character in all of comic books" to "Just a bad guy", but THAT might be the most out of character thing I've seen. Frank believes he is, in many ways, in the wrong. He's frequently said his last bullet is for himself, that he wishes he could be the hero that Captain America is, Etc. Etc. He would NEVER want there to be another Punisher. He doesn't think he's a good guy, just a better murderer than those he kills. At least, when he's done right.

[@johndeska1]

I'm not too well versed on the character, so that which I'll write can have many gaps in its logic, but maybe after years of crime fighting Frank began to think that his "work" is necessary and needs to be continued. "What I'm doing is wrong," he says to himself; but he realizes that as time passes, crime becomes more rampant, the system gets more corrupt and he's one of the few people left that tries to do something about it. Hence the need to keep his deeds alive. Or, at least , that universe's version of Frank thinks like that.

[@paulakroy2635]

I mean let’s be clear punisher has no regrets. He’s inhuman. He wouldn’t want a legacy but he also isn’t amoral

[@harrietr.5073]

Well, his last bullet being his assumes he'll be done with crime. He won't, will he? Eventually off dying in a fight or from an incident like old age not suicide.

[@AnkfordPlays]

In Scandinavia hammer necklaces is a very common holdover from the viking age that people still wear to this day

[@craigkuhlman6869]

I imagine 2090's Kid to be doing the "Need a hand?" joke a bunch. That sounds equally stupid and hilarious

[@FranklyImaPerson]

Boy howdy am I excited that the .54 caliber magnum came out last year Oh sure I have broken my hands, wrists, and dislocated my shoulder by trying to fire it but boy howdy that engine block never knew what hit it

[@johnalogue9832]

Should've gone for the depleted uranium 30mm round drum-fed pistol. Sure, CONVENTIONAL pistols keep the magazine "simple" and "ergonomic" in the grip, and use wimpy rounds like the .44 Magnum. I mean, it can't even take out ONE main battle tank with a magazine!

[@BoisegangGaming]

@@johnalogue9832 No, its belt-fed, like the pistol in the final panel.

[@johnalogue9832]

@@BoisegangGaming It's an oil drum full of ammo belt

[@Magitek1112]

Fun fact: Jake Gallows (Punisher 2099) actually appeared in Spider-Verse, where he managed to kick the ass of and distract one of the villains for a while.

[@clansullivan6059]

I feel like Spider-Man 2099 was somewhat of an answer to Batman Beyond. A future version of a famous character, that's technically a legacy character with a variation on the characters themselves, which is something I like. Another good thing I liked about Batman Beyond is legacy characters teaming up with older versions of characters and children of other characters, which is something I feel like 2099 is missing.

[@2wingo]

You've got it backwards; Marvel 2099 came out about 7 years before Batman Beyond.

[@grantkelly8696]

2099 came out in the 90's I think batman beyond came out in the early 2000's but yes both ideas are very similar difference is 2099 is a whole dimension beyond is just the future

[@DarthScrewtape27]

Plus they both have girlfriends named Dana. Coincidence?????? .... yeah probably

[@billymccrary2246]

Kinda agree with your saying and would be a bit interesting to see if Marvel 2099 had a reboot or something...

[@cooperross9495]

I know it's stupid to comment on a five-year-old video, but I thought of a way you could make a futuristic Punisher interesting: Have what everyone thinks is the Punisher actually be a robot remotely controlled by a paraplegic man. You could even keep Jake Gallows as a red herring, before revealing who the REAL Punisher is.

[@johndeska1]

That's a pretty neat idea. It's also a good a contrast to Frank who was a walking one man army.

[@Andy_Draws0209]

"Ya know upon closer inspection of his crotch...SHUT UP!" THAT WAS HILARIOUS LMFAO HAHAHAAAAAAAA

[@PosthumanHeresy]

10:40 Fun fact: actual Thor worshipers in reality wear the same thing.

[@Darmelton]

For the most part I enjoyed the 2099 series. Though I do have to admit that Punisher was weaksauce

[@changvasejarik62]

+Dartron indeed though i did like his short appearance in spiderverse where he's beats up daemos with that power bat of his.

[@thecomicnation1085]

Anyone else read Doom 2099? That's my favourite series of 2099 books

[@changvasejarik62]

the Comic Nation 108 and linkara's uploading it next week

[@KamisamanoOtaku]

I did enjoy this book when I was young *but* I enjoyed most comic books at the time e.g. I know I was easy to please. ;) That being said, I believe the *general concept* isn't as bad as Linkara makes it sound. 1) This would have been a *great* book to introduce the various weapons technology used in the rest of the 2099 universe. Of course, it would have helped if more of the weapon-tech had been winners. 2) Linkara seems to forget that actually *yes*, if you go back far enough, killing in vengeance *was* legal. Actually, it is kind of funny; you can find stuff like that mentioned in the Bible... yet Jake ends up being from a Church of Thor family. *Again* this doesn't mean the story was well written. XP 3) I suspect Kron being a psycho wasn't purely about lazy writing. Maybe mostly, but the story seems to want us to focus on how a clear nutter like him can easily walk free thanks to being a Black Carder (or whatever it was called). Making him sane-but-villanious may have distracted from it. Pity they didn't give the readers credit to make Kron evil in a more complicated manner. 8-X Yup, solid general concept, D- execution. ... We've seen Linkara cover so much worse. >.>

[@ultimatedarkrai255]

Dartron however if you ask me only the second worse behind only ghost rider the took my favourite part of my favourite marvel character and removed it completely by making him mechanical instead of spiritual

[@ACFan120]

11:30 "Oh neat, a gun that shoots roast beef." Arby's will go ballistic

[@gregdeandrea1450]

I HAVE THE MEATS NOW!!!! (RATATATATATATATATATA---)

[@0n1baka]

I can't help I love how ridiculous guns are in the 90's 😍

[@chaser5616]

Punisher in future wear high heels...he really need to remember how to get dressed correctly. i saw his skull shirt is like this face ">_

[@mogan4534]

Chaser oh, god, now I can't unsee it!

[@storba3860]

The original origin story worked better. It's sadder when your kids die than when your immediate family dies because at least they had a longer life. It kind of waters down the shock.

[@Mask0fFate]

Hey Linkara, I'm sorry if you've gotten this question before, but would you be willing to do another 2099 month at some point in the future?

[@JaelinBezel]

Imagine a Punisher animated series made by 4kids tv in the nineties.

[@robo-nidai4236]

Am I the only one that thinks Punisher 2099 would've been better if he was a cyborg/robot instead?

[@kalebsantos72]

Robo - Nidai that's a pretty cool twist to it actually

[@sowdock6417]

*insert Robocop joke here*

[@morganyoung3557]

Even if it would be a lot like Robocop, making 2099 Punisher a cyborg would a lest give it a reason to put it in the future. Like have his home blown up because of a crazy gang war killing his family and only he survives, but is so injured that he has to be turned into a cyborg.

[@sowdock6417]

The punisher doesn't necessarily have to be in 2099 to be a cyborg given that marvel already tried that with franken-castle.

[@erebistus]

They did that only with Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider 2099 is robot/cyborg.

[@Mask0fFate]

Fun Fact: Kron Stone would later become Venom 2099.

[@Mask0fFate]

+Eamonn Deane ... Jeez...

[@Mask0fFate]

+Eamonn Deane Okay, the half brother part I did know.

[@thebluePrincess5904]

+Samuel Johnson he's also Scorpion 2099

[@huangwen-si7498]

Samuel Johnson He's my favorite character.

[@tannerprice2018]

Samuel Johnson I didn’t know there was a Venom 2099.

[@ellnats]

why would a long stick need a vibrate setting........ohhhhhhhhhhhh

[@Delta4280]

11:57 Looking at the gun he was using, I think the artist got the rear and front sights mixed up (though the rear sight is still ridiculously huge, even if it was the suppose to be the front sight)

[@Jayfive276]

9:53 - Almost certainly the first time ever I've heard an American say "nobhead" :D

[@averagegamecritic]

Street surgeons connected to bills and corporations! That is part of Repo! That automatically makes this a good comic. You got to admit, shooting the guy in the head after that and the set up was kind of funny.

[@frankcastle1314]

yeah punisher 2099 wasn't the strongest punisher book.

[@OnDavidsBrain]

So Kron Stone is Tatsuya Sudou 2099. Good to know, though at least he isn't setting things on fire while screaming about the voices in his head.

[@shadesofnier1]

+1TrulyMad and leading a cult that brings successfully the end of the entire universe. That's also a thing Sudou has for him.

[@OnDavidsBrain]

Technically that was Joker but yeah he was his #2 so fair enough.

[@ColeVecsion]

y'know, if the sister in law confronted dbz nutbar guy first as he held them up during the initial attack, it'd make alot more sense as to why she'd want to try to talk it out, y'know, instead of after her husband and mother in law were melted in front of her, obvious little tweaks like that could've gone a long way in helping this story

[@harmonicajay91]

Wow, it's been 4 years since this episode was released?! Wow. I was still in College when this came out.

[@MightyWizard19]

Lol, that after credits scene. 😂

[@samuelbarber6177]

"Mom, get behind me!" All I can think is this from the Simpsons movie: I wish Dad was here... His big fat ass would shield us all.

[@wynautwarrior2161]

"Why would a long stick need a vibrate setting?" XD

[@bdpickett]

HA! We've finally determined the Identity of the Laughing Man. Turns out it was a crappy Punisher cosplayer this whole time. Weird.

[@Nintendon85]

I have to notice that, from how the panels are arranged, our hero just let the innocent guy get murdered and mutilated in order to hide in the shadows and give his monologue. I mean, it's not like the he's lacking in long range weapons, and his "armor" would give him enough protection to buy the time he needed to take them out.

[@VelkanKiador]

If I had to make punisher 2099 I would call it Punishers 2099. They would be a group of vigilantes who drew inspiration from the original Punisher.

[@billymccrary2246]

That would be very interesting to explore.

[@БогданГоранов-п9х]

If fuel is too expensive to burn people to death, i guess Spawn's death was acctually pretty special.

[@Punisherfan123]

To be fair about the armor, it somehow protects his head (as the Punisher but not as a cop) and is a skintight robo-suit thing that goes under all the rest of his clothes (as both) with martial arts programmed into it (as the Punisher) Also, he didn't stick out to his cop buddies because everyone in the future seems to be jacked beyond belief.

[@spideyviewer327]

7:25 I love the Power bat. It's so bat...

[@antonhanna2423]

Fun fact: As it turns out,this guy is in the contest of champions comic book right now.

[@powerist209]

Ironically, enough the writer happened to be Pat MIlls, someone who actually did the same premise well except this one for some reason. Also he wrote the Redeemer, memetic badass of a fanatical gang leader in an overcrowded slum planet, for Games Workshop.

[@Shatari]

His belt fed pistol raises so many questions. It looks like an old school revolver and it appears to have a revolving cylinder, but that either makes it really illogical (because revolvers do not work that way) or really impractical (I can envision making something that loads the bullets into a cylinder after each shot, but why would you want to?). It also seems to eject the shells upwards when he fires, but there's no ejector port. And if it functions as a double action revolver (which I assume is the point of the design) then why make it belt fed? The main appeal of a revolver is that they are compact, powerful, easy to aim, fairly accurate, and easy to clean. The addition of a belt ammo system takes away every advantage. The more I look at this thing, the less sense it makes.

[@masterofthelag8414]

5:48 Ooh, the elite version of the longshot (I think?) looks a lot cooler than the old one

[@Merit2397]

To be honest, I don't really have much to say about the other characters related to the 2099 line. All I will say, is that it's both pretty random and bizarre. A futuristic version of an anti-hero (who at this point was considered a cliche), an updated then iconic supervillain, and a garbage man themed superhero. I honestly don't know why they didn't go for anyone that was more popular right after Spider-Man. I know that later X-Men 2099 would be published but honestly, that SHOULD have been Marvel's second 2099 book.

[@dizzigurl212]

"This asshole with DragonBall Z hair" From henceforth I shall only refer to my girlfriends son this way

[@rorylumley4727]

Frank castle knew what to do steal the war machine armor and then become the cosmic ghost rider.

[@gerisarodriguez3231]

So linkara, your not going to let supergirl live that line from cry for justice down are you?

[@JoeChillton]

more 2099 months please

[@supernerd5781]

You should do HULK 2099

[@adam_nathan]

Oh the naivté of Linkara in this review towards how obviously broken a legal system can be before it completely breaks down…

[@grantkelly8696]

I always found the punisher character to be very boring I mean he's just some guy with a gun also about this comic where in the future are the FUTURISTIC WEAPONS I mean you'd think in 2099 they would have some cool weapons like I don't know laser guns , maybe freeze rays that cause frostbite automatically or a grenade that can destroy a whole city

[@andreworders7305]

I guess the spin on the punisher here is “+ torture”

[@MarginalSC]

How old is The Punisher? 36 caliber. Where does the Punisher live? On the edge!

[@TheGrayMysterious]

Jake Gallows looks like the awkward test tube child of Clint Eastwood and Guts from Berserk.

[@mateowright3264]

Is it a microwave powerd rocket launcher that shoots shotguns

[@benjamin_burke]

5:25: "I'M NOT WEARIN' HOCKEY PADS"

[@noahmagana137]

10 years of the punisher 2099 review

[@myriadmediamusings]

Laughing at you pulling out the Nerf Longshot. Amusingly I'm sure back in 2013 when this was first uploaded the Longshot was hot stuff. Now though it's pretty weak compared to 2019 Nerf stuff unless you mod it.

[@ztyran]

The armor punisher is wearing is probably the 2099 version of a bulletproof vest under his clothes. Also most people aim for the center of mass because the head is still a difficult target. But yeah a weak comic.

[@KevlarNinja]

Yeah, it's weird how Frank Castle gets all these alternate versions. I mean, I like the Punisher just fine, it's just that his concept limits where you can go with the character. I mean, take 1602 Marvel: Nick Fury works for the queen, Magneto works for the Spanish Inquisition and Punisher......is a pilgrim with a flintlock and a sword.

[@kevinwilley4180]

Strangely, I take 2090s kids side on the "Radical sensor" as trading the ability to make head shots for turning some misses into hits sounds like a decent trade, especially for guns meant for suppressive fire.

[@SaurAuteur]

5:57 Well at least no one else will hear that stupid line over his gunfire (or are those guns just glowing brightly?)

[@fallenangelchaos]

Should have done a Red Dwarf joke with the third hard. The end of the Inquisitor episode from Season 5 is when it happens. Also, the Laughing Man in the Ghost In The Shell: Standalone Complex did a similar thing by placing his logo over his face like the Punisher.

[@shadowlinkbds]

Wow I can see a similarly to this and Judge Dread in a way. So does that make Sylvester Stallone as the Punisher in 2099? lol.

[@nohomers100]

He even looks like frank castle

[@Canadamus_Prime]

Here's a question, why did Marvel go with "2099" instead of, say, 3000? Seems like an odd number.

[@Soulful96QC]

+Matthew Walton Marvel was originally gonna go with 2093 because the universe would be 100 years apart from when the book was published but later on, they dubbed it 2099 which is odd, making it 106 years in the future from the imaginations of writers circa 93.

[@jonathanwarrdddedcxddeecec4787]

To be honest I love all the 2099 comics. Flaws and all

[@TylerBoyette]

Jonathan Warrdddedcxddeececldron I have issues of 1-3 of punisher 2099 the first appearance of hulk 2099 and hulk 2099 1-2 And I like them 😂.

[@kurtwagner1915]

Even Ravage? That's a bold take sir, but I respect it.

[@masterbison8957]

18:04 were did that giant fireplace come from ?

[@kalebsantos72]

Anonymous um ... technology yeah FROM THE FUTURE !!!

[@rodimusrider8798]

And apparently this guy is put in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D 2099

[@gweegweezoozoo]

"How much stupider was it?" About as much as your word choice.

[@RaphBlade7]

*The following is the opinion of a Salty SEAGULL named EARL who just shows up in my posts whenever he feels like it!* [EARL the Salty SEAGULL:] 1:57 - "This incarnation of Punisher 2099 uses NERF GUNs cause real guns and bullets were banned in 2077!" 3:45 - "I wouldn't be surprised if 2099 Street Surgeons actually did work for the Surgeon General 2099! After all the FUTURE IS DUMB, so dumb villains like her make total sense!"

[@ricky99903]

OH NO A VIRBO-BAT! THEY CAN PASS THROUGH ARMOR!

[@cassiedevereaux-smith3890]

It's very 90s how the badass gun dude wastes dozens of bullets spraying in all directions around one target at point blank range rather than one bullet actually aimed at the target. One bullet works, dude, and makes you come off as more a coldblooded killer. As much as I detest Max Lord shooting Blue Beetle in the head, that was much more chilling.

[@th3rasave]

8:02 would've been cooler (and smarter) If he wore a pixalted skull helmet in real life (or at least in the fictional world) as opposed to having hardware that censors his head on all cameras in the city

[@kamenridernephilim]

Hey Linkara it is possible make some of the guns depicted in this. Though it's a mote point considering the Punisher's revolver in this changes from belt feed to multi barreled scatter gun to a regular revolver all over again with no consistency. I got video links for belt pistols and a belt feed shotgun and shotgun that can launch grenades and combination guns. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXepe2Nmd8dpnJY

[@andreworders7305]

So I’m this world you can commit whatever crime you want as long as your victim doesn’t pay their bills? That’s seems like it would hurt the Government as well, but I guess the government doesn’t have much power anymore.

[@jamesadamsfl]

Kron is a BADLY written character. I think the idea was supposed to be that he was abused, and that’s why he kills people and calls it “merciful” and spouts falls them “liars.” But then he grins and mocks Gallows after his trial, and he just looks like a smug @$$hole who revels in his ability to get away with murder. BE CONSISTENT! As for the system: there’s no way this could work even or rather ESPECIALLY in a corrupt police system. It’s one thing to ignore random strangers in trouble, but the cops won’t support the system if they have to worry about themselves or their families being slaughtered by guys like Kron. The blue line has been crossed!

[@Cartoonicus]

I hate the Punisher so much, why do I keep watching these videos? Why do I keep doing this to myself? I freaking hate the Punisher!!!

[@Theokal3]

Sooo I just realized. Kron Stone... isn't that the guy who later becomes Venom 2099?

[@sesfilmsllc]

It's that like if the lawgiver pistol was a nightstick.

[@nvfury13]

Punisher 2099 was the worst of the crop from 2099. Ghost Rider 2099 was pretty odd as well...

[@garganrose]

2:54 perhaps he is using the spread gun from contra>

[@VicPhant]

Despite how bad this book was, it's still better than anything else involving the Punisher.

[@dethblade4836]

my wishes for an AT4W episode on Punisher 2099 came true

[@daRiddler32]

wow, the mobile game Marvel Contest of Champions made Punisher 2099 seem so cool though

[@thecomicnation1085]

So your uploading these videos daily now? Good, I'm happy

[@KaMeHaMeHa9021000]

wow, I've been watching Lewis for a long time, but this is the first comic he's reviewed that I actually owned! lol as a kid I liked this issue, the amount of cheesiness was very 90s action. I loved it hahaha. I see it as it is now of course but I can see the demographic it was aimed towards.

[@masterbison8957]

i find the fact that you're using your batman voice for punisher's lines disturbing...........................................

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

7:18 DAMN YOU AND YOUR LEMONADE!

[@geekmangacomic9916]

If I ever wrote Marvel comics, I'd want to write 2099 series.

[@JaelinBezel]

A shame this comic sucks, the world of 2099 seems like it desperately needs a Punisher or Ghost Rider.

[@lawpreacher2000]

What is worse is Spiderman 2099 is also the son of the alchemax CEO

[@greymonku]

Kron is also Miguel O'Hara's half-brother and venom 2099

[@Weirdoid]

It could be worse, in the Guardians of the Galaxy future their was a punisher inspired street gang.

[@Grim_Sister]

Wait... so they just stole the idea from the Repo Man Musical for the beginning? What a rip off

[@Azazreal]

Ahem i present to you Linkara : The Multi Shocket Launcher 5000

[@9-bitfox]

Fox: Not sure if any one told you, but back in the old days when Christianity was taking over, the norse actually wore the tiny hammers like that for thor. Similar to how Christianity did with Crosses. (Atleast that's what I was told on the Discovery channel I believe)

[@andreworders7305]

Why is his face identical to Frank Castle’s? Is he a clone?