Random Happenstance

A random pickup with a variant cover, although an earlier chapter of this one is way better known: from 2019, Punisher #15 (#243), "War on the Streets, part four" Written by Matthew Rosenberg, art by Szymon Kuoranski.

Post-Secret Empire, even though Baron Zemo has like 400 soldiers (many disguised as United Nations troops) and his own Thunderbolts team, while he talks a big game, it feels like he knows he's boned, since the Punisher is coming. And somewhat surprisingly, Frank's not coming alone, as he grudgingly accepts the help largely organized by the Black Widow: Moon Knight, Night Thrasher, Ghost Rider, and Rachel Cole-Alves. (She was from the previous Punisher series--or maybe the one before it? Or before that? Marvel numbering is a nightmare.) Also, who has Ghost Rider's phone number? Or does he just show up for these things? I don't think anybody here had their own series right this minute...(At a glance, Moon Knight had an annual that same month!)

Somehow, Zemo still has Moonstone and Radioactive Man on his T-Bolts, even though Moonstone belittles him constantly, and I don't think Radioactive Man has any particular motivation to work with Zemo and/or get shot at by the Punisher. In the same vein, the Widow and Moon Knight both know Frank will inevitably go off-mission, which he does when he won't retreat from Zemo (as Citizen V) on a tank. Frank does gun down one particularly gung-ho masked type, that I think might've been the new Jigsaw? His kid or something? Ah, Frank doesn't care, neither do I.

Even though he would've been killed without his T-Bolts, Zemo still feels like they're raining on his day; so he catches Rachel to use to lure Frank into a final showdown alone. He really wants Frank dead, not for revenge or bloodlust, but just because god, Frank's a hassle. This run is probably best known for the Frank/Moon Knight "little bit" banter, but some good stuff in there.