"The End" Week: Nothing really ends, as long as we remember it relaunch it, over and over and over...

Good lord, last week I got, in my yard of comics from the dollar bins, five issues of what I thought was the most recent Ghost Rider series. Nope!  From the series before, and the current Ghost Rider book was actually ending this week! I almost wish I could easily track the sales numbers for those, because those returns have got to be diminishing, right? Or does every incarnation of a character like this sell about the same baseline, regardless?

In that vein, I don't read that many mainstream Marvel books, probably in part because of this sort of thing; but (at least!) three I read got cancelled this year...and relaunched virtually immediately. So, let's bite off more than we can chew, and check them out! First up, probably the most permanent cancellation...sort of. Punisher #12, "Punisher No More" Written by Jason Aaron, art by Jesús Saiz and Paul Azaceta. 

I think the Hood or somebody tried this before, but the hook for this series was the resurrection of Frank's wife, Maria; by the ninja clan the Hand, in exchange for the Punisher becoming their "Fist of the Beast." It's literally as well as figuratively a deal with the devil, but if it kills criminals, yeah, Frank's up for it. What Frank may not have known, was that before her death in Central Park, Maria had been on the verge of divorcing him: he was very obviously damaged, from the war and earlier, and utterly incapable of fixing himself or reaching out for help. Maria is also not thrilled when she finds out what Frank's done, in her name and the name of her children: year after year of brutal murder. She shoots Frank with a magic gun he had rigged up to kill Ares, and the Archpriestess of the Hand confronts the bleeding "Fist," a colossal disappointment, that she still believes in: maybe he'll be better, when she brings him back...

The Archpriestess may have jumped the gun, since Frank still had enough power to drive her off, but he's then captured by Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Captain America, Black Widow, and Moon Knight. Who are then at a loss, as to what to do with Frank; who no longer has the power, but isn't the slightest bit repentant. His only request is to Natasha, on behalf of Maria; since he seemed to think Strange or the others would decide she should be dead again. Instead, the coldly furious Maria confronts him: with Natasha's help, she cashed in the Punisher's various assets, and gave Frank's half to charities in the names of their kids: she didn't want him using them as "an excuse for slaughter" anymore--he would have lost them, regardless. She tells him, wherever he's going, "do us all a favor...and stay dead." Frank is left, with no regrets as the Punisher...and nothing but regrets, as a husband and father. 

Strange had left Frank the bullets he had dug out of him, and Frank makes a final prayer (or final threat?) to the Beast. Before the heroes can pass judgement on him--which he figures "wouldn't be enough" anyway--Frank uses a final burst of power, and disappears in flames. Strange says, he was no longer in that plane of existence: "The Punisher...is no more." But...well, let's put this after the break!

  

While the Archpriestess approaches a new candidate for the position of Fist--a young serial killer, in jail--and Maria drives off, with two duffel bags full of cash, and a positive pregnancy test; in a final epilogue, Frank saves four more orphans, in the wars on Weirdworld. Wars he doesn't want any part of...for now, seemingly content with saving lives, as he tells a young girl "Call me Frank."

The Hand stuff seemed like a weird fit from the start, but Aaron's argument seems to be Frank would get into bed with just about anyone that's going to get him to kill more criminals, especially since Frank was pretty obviously intending to wipe out the Hand later on anyway. This series also--and quite intentionally, I think--gives Maria more agency than she's ever had; partially because it's more page time than she's ever had alive. I did feel like she waffled a little in her choice; but despite Frank's shortcomings, she loved him once and saw him as someone who would protect her and her kids...which he didn't, if we get down to it. Aaron's also done Weirdworld before, of course, but sending Frank there...that's straight-up leaving an out for later, as needed. And Aaron had written another end for Frank before, in PunisherMAX #22! There are some interesting character bits with the other heroes here: Frank tells Natasha he's not a "friend" any more than a gun would be; while Moon Knight seems to look at him and see where exactly he was damaged, even if nothing could be done about it. 

There was also a crossover in this series, that should have mattered more to both titles: Chip Zdarsky's Daredevil. I was up on the book almost three years ago and thrilled to get an Elektra-DD figure, which just makes the rest of the run all the more disappointing.

I'm trying to do this without re-reading a couple years' worth of books (and tie-ins!) but let's see: Matt went to jail, as Daredevil, for murder. Elektra took up the mantle of DD on the outside, to maybe prove something to Matt but that might've shown her something as well. There were clones of Bullseye and Mike Murdock was real now? And the wedding of the Kingpin and Typhoid Mary before Matt got out--which was another Daredevil last issue? #36/Legacy #648, and it might be time to admit comic book numbering is just a crapshoot now. Huh, that was in the drawer there, too...("Lockdown, Part 6" Written by Chip Zdarsky, pencils by Manuel Garcia, inks by Cam Smith, Scott Hanna, and Victor Nava.) That's not a great cut-off, since new #1 or not, Zdarsky only had 14 more issues. Well, it seems longer, because the Devil's Reign crossover was next. (The ending, setting up the crossover, isn't bad! Wilson Fisk finds an old file labeled "Daredevil's Identity," but is furious that it seems to be blank; from the last time the genie got crammed back into the bottle.)

Then, the "Red Fist Saga," which felt like a series of stumbles for me. Like a runner coming off the blocks wrong and never hitting stride: something interesting would be brought up, then not used, or actively ignored. Matt and Elektra are "married," even if it doesn't feel real, as it has something to do with some prophecy for the final battle between the Fist and the Hand. Matt recruits some guys like Stegron (!) and Speed Demon, but in an interesting way, like Zdarsky was trying to say something about justice and rehabilitation...that gets completely left by the wayside. Ditto the battle with the Punisher and the Hand: that doesn't come down to Matt and Frank, probably because Aaron and Zdarsky were maybe working in different directions? There's a fight with the Avengers and Spidey; Elektra is framed for some murders but out before the last issue; Stick, Foggy Nelson, and some unnamed and unseen world leaders are trapped in Hell by the Hand; Matt tricks Elektra into killing him, so he can face the Beast (and the Beast's sister, who I don't know we ever saw before) to save those souls, but is seemingly left behind in hell.

I was kind of joking before, but how many beats does this share with earlier last issue Daredevil #512? With Matt Murdock gone, Foggy Nelson struggles to go on, but has a new partner to help: former cop Cole North. And Hell's Kitchen has a new protector: Elektra as Daredevil, who muses she never used to scare people, mostly because she killed them before they ever saw her. She also confronts new "Kingpin," Butch Fisk, who's presenting a friendlier, white-collar crime vibe; but probably isn't. Foggy has a visit with Reed Richards (who appeared in #36/648 as well, oddly enough) and they discuss loss, and how if anyone was going to come back, it'd be Matt.

Elektra, who is charmingly uncaring about her "secret" identity, beats a couple thugs to help out a storekeeper from earlier in the series; then seems to see Matt heading into a church. And inside, she seems to find him, as a priest: he tells her her scent is familiar, but he doesn't know her, and Elektra isn't about to destroy his peace for her own benefit. But, Elektra had told Butch he could be freed from history, to be something else: Matt hears a man, catch a beating from loan sharks, and moves to do something about it...("The Red Fist Saga, conclusion" Written by Chip Zdarsky, art by Marco Checchetto, color art by Matthew Wilson.) 

 We've long since established on this blog, I'm a godless heathen. No love for the church. Matt as a priest...ah, I'm sick of his mopey, guilty ass anyway. Elektra's my new Daredevil, long may she reign. I really liked when she first put on the horns, and was struggling in the role ("How would Matt do this...in the stupidest, hardest way possible.") but she's like an all-star that's just figured out the offensive scheme: she's got it from here. There is of course a new Daredevil series out already, and sweet Smurfberry crunch, it looks like the same beats of Matt getting his groove back, Ben Urich, Bullseye...hard pass. Marvel's still getting my money, though; with Elektra in the Gang War crossover and a Black Armor mini.

Ugh, I didn't think I was gonna have to blog four comics for this thing, what the hell...still, this one hasn't been relaunched...yet. Today. You have to wait a month! But, this is a sad end for a fun series, all too soon, even if it's been teased out for seemingly months...Moon Knight #30, "The Terminal Seconds of Moon Knight" Written by Jed MacKay, art by Alessandro Cappuccio.

Moon Knight and his allies are in final battle with Black Spectre...like the third Black Spectre. He's really Robert Plesko, who was allegedly killed earlier in the storyline, and actually dates back to 1992 as part of Marc's 'Shadow Cabinet.' Sure. I think a lot of this is a retcon insert, and maybe the last issue isn't the place to do it? Feels like trying to change the rules for a catch while the ball's in the air...Yes, I am watching a lot of football lately, why? Plesko knew Marc back in his merc phase, and describes himself as "a student of atrocity." He wants horrible stuff to happen, just out of curiosity then? Swell.

Back at the Midnight Mission, the vampire Reese confronts the earlier big-bad of the series, Zodiac; who felt like Plesko was deserving a shot at Marc. And if he killed Moon Knight, well, hell, he'd just come back, right? ...right? Zodiac is stunned to hear resurrection was off the table, and doesn't want to lose his chance to kill him: he cuts a deal with the Mission, to get out. Shot and bleeding out, Moon Knight sees Khonshu, who says while he can't help him, he was still proud of him; and Marc struggles to stop Plesko's sonic weapon, but not alone: Marc still had Jake and Steven at his side. With a final apology to Tigra, for breaking his promise, Marc blows up with most of the building; saving the city.

Plesko wonders why his sonic weapon hasn't gone off, and Zodiac tells him "You can't plan for Moon Knight." Still, he had a plan for him, for cheating him of the chance to face Moon Knight again...A month later, the Midnight Mission was still open, and still helping people, with the vampires Reese and Soldier in white suits, redeemed baddie 8-Ball and Khonshu's other fist Hunter's Moon in black, and Tigra. But, instead of Midnight Mission #1 next month, it's the return of Vengeance of the Moon Knight: I don't know what the over/under would be, but my money says it's Zodiac in the new costume, which I don't love, even with the moon-axe things.  I'm hoping it isn't just an amnesiac Marc, or Khonshu forbid, another new personality. 

Relaunching here feels like, thirty issues is positively old growth forest nowadays: I'll say it now, I'll be genuinely surprised--and impressed--if Vengeance hits half that number. Comics would be nothing but goddamn #1's if they thought they could get away with it.