AXEL ALONSO ON GARTH ENNIS' DEPARTURE FROM PUNISHER

[MattBrady]

And in March, the end begins in Marvel’s Punisher MAX #55. With that issue, Ennis, who’s been associated with the character for seven years, will kick off his final arc with the character, “Valley Forge, Valley Forge: The Slaughter of a U.S. Marine Garrison and the Birth of the Punisher.”

The solicitation copy for issue #55 reads:

Garth Ennis concludes his seminal run on PUNISHER -- in style. Thirty-five years ago, the Fifth Cavalry disgorged their troops on an isolated Vietnamese hilltop and was met by a scene of utter devastation. The final body count ran to well over seven-hundred -- almost 200 hundred of them American soldiers. Standing alone amidst the carnage, a sole survivor: Captain Frank Castle, who years later would be known as the most fearsome vigilante to walk the Earth: The Punisher. Now the Punisher is about to face his stiffest test: He’s hunted big game in his day, but none as big as this. Five men with unlimited resources. Men who’d put anything between themselves and the Punisher’s bullet. Men who know exactly who he is…and how to fight him.

We caught up with Ennis’ Punisher editor Axel Alonso to talk about the writer’s departure from the character.

Newsarama: Axel, you've worked with Garth for years, both during his time at Marvel, and even before that at DC/Vertigo. How'd he know it was time to leave Punisher? Was this a plan all along, or was it something that came up more or less quickly?

Axel Alonso: Garth's run on Punisher MAX alone is 60 issues, which is five years worth of stories. Before that, he had along run on Punisher under the Marvel Knights banner. And before that he had "Welcome Back Frank." He's told a lot of stories. It was just time to move on.

NRAMA: As you mentioned, he’s been with the character for what, about seven years now, which is probably as long, or longer than many previous long-term writers on the character. From your chair, what was it about the character that clicked with Garth?

AA: When Garth asserted that the character isn't a hero, but a seriously disturbed individual, he pretty much redefined the character. He liberated the character from a lot of baggage; writers no longer had to reconcile Frank's bottomless rage with anything the type of heroic qualities you'd associate with Spidey or even a more flawed hero like Wolverine. The Punisher's got a moral code, yes, but he it sure as hell isn't "with great power must come great responsibility."

Frank isn’t just a tough guy prototype. Frank isn't Clint. There isn't a heart under all that muscle just waiting to be thawed. He doesn't secretly yearn for human contact. He doesn't have any buddies to chill with. He is alone and he is all about the mission. His needs -- food, shelter, the occasional loveless quickie -- they're all just fuel for the mission.

NRAMA: Let’s follow on that - broad strokes, what do you think Garth did for the Punisher during his tenure? Obviously, his work was influential for the movie, but what did he do in regards to the...say, viability and relevance of the character – it was that redefinition?

AA: Right. Garth resurrected Punisher, plain and simple. It’s no surprise that the best part of the first Punisher movie were inspired by "Welcome Back Frank." By defining the Punisher so starkly in the pages of the MAX series, he opened up all sort of possibilities for the Marvel Universe version. When Matt Fraction undertook writing Punisher War Journal, he knew the Punisher would have to be a bit, well, cuddlier.

NRAMA: His last story is called “Valley Forge, Valley Forge: The Slaughter Of A U.S. Marine Garrison And The Birth Of The Punisher” - so how does Garth go out? A bang? A whimper? Philosophically? A high body count?

AA: Garth’s last story is a whopper. A brilliant high concept that loops back to "Born." Frank is put into a truly unwinnable situation. The first two scripts are written and I'm losing sleep trying to figure out how Garth's going to pull this off.

NRAMA: From your side of the desk, when you have something like this occur, that is, a long-term writer lets you know that he's going to be leaving the title, what do you do? Did you have a plan?

AA: God yes. These days, writers move around every few months, so five years was a good, long run. So yes, I had a plan in place for that eventuality.

NRAMA: And backing up, let's just confirm that - Punisher MAX will continue without Garth, correct?

AA: Absolutely. The first two arcs are already underway.

NRAMA: Can you say who'll be coming on as the new writer?

AA: Can't yet. All I'll say is that when I told Garth my plan, he said, "Brilliant, mate."

NRAMA: Garth’s next move in MAX is War is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle. Are you also working with Garth on that?

AA: Nope - Nick Lowe is editing Phantom Eagle. And yes, we figure it won't be Garth's only contribution to MAX.

[gregmas]

This has been one hell of a run. Consistently the best comic on the shelves aimed at adults. Congratulations on a job well done.

[KingConan]

This has been an absolute classic run, and I hope it's remembered up there with some of the modern classic comics. Thanks for the memories Garth!

[Marvel Man]

Garth will be missed. Has anyone heard any rumors as to who is taking over?

[amlah6]

Great run by Ennis. There's a very short list of names that could get me to continue with the series after he leaves though.

[grphxkindaguy]

Originally Posted by gregmas

This has been one hell of a run. Consistently the best comic on the shelves aimed at adults. Congratulations on a job well done.

I concur 100%!!! This has been my favorite run of Punisher EVER.

I came on late to the Max book (been buying the tpb's), but I'm so loving it...

[Green Llama]

Damn...I knew it had to happen eventually...but that doesn't make hearing it any easier to take...

This has been a CLASSIC run...Thanks Garth!

[looshkin]

Garth did a great job on this book. The only person who could replace him would be Jimmy Palmiotti

[RoiVampire]

Originally Posted by gregmas

This has been one hell of a run. Consistently the best comic on the shelves aimed at adults. Congratulations on a job well done.

i'd go a step further and call it one of the most consistently well put together comics on the shelves period. Ennis gets this character like Stan Lee gets the silver surfer. You'd swear Ennis created Frank himself by how much care he put into fleshing him out.

This is the end of an era

[blankpoint]

I want to thank all involved with PUNISHER MAX for what has been, month in, month out, the best title on the stands for the past five years.

A lot of people think that the title's ultra-violent and that's it. But you've got those great Ennis moments of nihilism and perfectly narrated despair that just stick with you. I remember the last lines of THE SLAVERS: "Some days are good. Some days aren't. All she can do is live what life they left her."

[Arvandor]

An outstanding run, and an outstanding saga. Ennis is the definitive writer of Punisher in my mind. Some of these stories were modern classics.

[melperfect]

Garth Ennis' MAX Punisher run has been exactly what I've wanted from a comic for the last 5 years, absolutely outstanding stuff.

Highlights for me were Mother Russia and the Slavers, 2 of the best story arcs I've ever read in comics.

Garth, you will be missed and can never be replaced.

The new writer has to be someone very intriguing for me to continue with this title, hard to imagine anyone's hand other than Garth's driving this bus.

[Sluggo]

Jason Aaron. Perfect replacement. That would keep me buying.

[xdemon]

Originally Posted by Sluggo

Jason Aaron. Perfect replacement. That would keep me buying.

After the fantastic job he has been doing on Scalped, he would be a great pick.

I think The Slavers has been my favorite arc.

[eloso]

Man, I'm going to miss Garth. The Tyger Special with art by the Legendary John Severin, Born, the slapstick-y Marvel Knights, and the MAX title have all been superb. Solid artists all the way through as well. And don't forget the Painkiller Jane special...one of the more hilarious "loveless quickies"...God the replacement better be GREAT!

[Sims]

Originally Posted by xdemon

I think The Slavers has been my favorite arc.

I'm right there with you, but In the Beginning has to be a close second. The ending was so brutal! But let's not forget Born; that was an awesome piece of writing, too.

And yes, Jason Aaron would rock Punisher MAX!

[Prof. Warren]

Garth's run on The Punisher will never be equaled. As someone else said, Ennis "gets" Frank so well he might as well have created the character. As sad as I am that he's leaving, he's definitely going out on top. Maybe it was just time to move on - although I can't help but speculate that War Journal might've played a part in his decision. Not that it isn't a fun book and all but to me having that out at the same time as Ennis' run is as if Marvel had put out another Daredevil title that featured the zanier side of Matt Murdock while Miller was doing his gritty, groundbreaking work. I have to imagine this has to gall Ennis on some level - like, "hey, I've been busting my ass to make this character great and three-dimensional and real but if you want to make him into a clown, it's all yours."

Whatever the reasons behind his departure, his place in the Punisher's legacy is assured. One of the best runs on a Marvel title ever.

[Floyd Lawton]

Damn I want to know who is taking over.

[stlfan79]

I will probably cry, this and BMB's DD have been my two favorite series of the 00's. Oh well, it will give me an opportunity to cut another book.

[I am MODOK]

Fantastic run on a fascinating character. Great job.

[Whipsnakes]

One of my favorite books of all time. Every arc has been spectacular, with amazing scripting and a fantastic array of rotating artists. I am going to miss it. Hoping they get Aaron or Rucka as a replacement. I am even willing to give Hurrwitz or Benson a chance though.

[Reaper]

A great, great run by Mr. Ennis. (Although I most sorely miss the humorous take that he did on the character with Steve Dillon at the beginning of his run.)

Originally Posted by looshkin

The only person who could replace him would be Jimmy Palmiotti

Not in my opinion. Unlike Ennis, Palmiotti writes stories that don't resonate, that don't stick with me after the fact. In other words, they're disposable.

I'd like to see what Ed Brubaker would do with the character.

-Tim

[gokujam]

I loved this run. I dont think anyone can follow on the same level

[heelmark]

If I ever meet the dude, I'm buying him a beer or twelve. This has been one of the greatest runs that a comic has seen. Just an instant classic, time in and out. Mother Russia was simply one of the very greatest stories I've laid eyes upon. I could sit here all day (or at least the next few minutes) typing about how great these books have been, but I can't. I'm too pissed I won't be getting any more Garth Ennis Punisher stories.
I'm greedy like that.

[xdemon]

I hope Marvel puts out an Omnibus of Garth's Punisher MAX run with the specials.

That would be sweet.