Random Happenstance

Despite the John Romita Jr/Klaus Janson cover, I'm pretty sure I had fallen off this book before this issue. But, it's all right: from 1992, Punisher War Journal #43, "Adriondack Haunts" Written by Rich Rainey, breakdowns by Val Mayerik, finishes by Fred Fredericks. 

The letters page thought the next issue--"Barbarians"--was from the same creative team, but that was written by Chuck Dixon. I don't know if I saw any other credits for Rainey; was he a pseudonym for some reason? Or was this a fill-in? Either way, this is a pretty straightforward little number, as a mountain climber is shot at the summit, so he can be abducted by a mob doctor's crew. The climber has a little more agency than usual for this type of story, as he's able to explore the facility and see what was in store for him. 

Of course, I read this the weekend after Punisher #12 came out; the last issue and possible-but-probably-not swan song for the character. I'd read some of the run, and the concurrent Daredevil storyline, and not really loved either; although I can see some of the things they were trying to do. It attempts to give Maria Castle more of a voice than she'd ever had; although I thought she flip-flopped on her choice a bit. I'm not sure anyone likes where this ended--the readers, the characters, Marvel itself--but watching right-wing comics "fans" lose their little minds over it wasn't as entertaining as you would hope, either. If it helps any: Moon Knight appears the last couple issues; in the last one seemingly piecing together for himself why Frank was the way he was.