Random Happenstance

I think Frank mentions this has been tried before, and never ends well for them: giving the Punisher drugs is just going to be a bad idea. Even super-high he'd probably be cleaning his guns and planning mayhem, so that's not really stopping him either...From 2009, Punisher War Journal Annual #1, "If I Die Before I Wake" Written by Si Spurrier, pencils by Werther Dell'Edera, inks by Antonio Fuso.

Searching for a kidnapped little girl, Frank crashes the club of drug guru Captain Pepper, who caters to superhero and villain wannabes and groupies alike. Having appeared fairly regularly in the main series, the Rhino makes a brief appearance, which catches him both the side-eye and a grenade from Frank! Pepper isn't concerned, though; as he had just dosed Frank with "the psychic suckings of a kiddie's brainbox," plunging him into a trip of a child's imagination. Trying to use his rage to focus, Frank also had his current tech-guy Stuart Clarke guiding him by drone from the club's bathroom, but he can't see the real little girl and gets tased by Pepper.

Every so often Marvel pushes "MGH," or Mutant Growth Hormone, as the drug of choice for disposable dealer-type bad guys, and sure enough that's here, although Captain Pepper might be trying to diversify as well. Pepper has some weird tattoo/curlicue design on the side of his head, which I'm pretty sure is so he doesn't look exactly like Grant Morrison; but he's got some even more weird little helpers, Misters Jingle and Jangle, who can suck thoughts and dreams from someone's mind, and Pepper sold whatever they didn't digest. There was apparently a market for Frank's "psychosis in a can," to "supersquares want(ing) to get hard in the head": if Punisher lasts more than six hours, consult a physician immediately. (A joke, but it's alarming to consider how many people might want that drug, to kill all mercy inside themselves...) Coming through an airduct, Stuart manages to rescue Frank, but then gets a faceful of Punisher-brain from Mr. Jingle, rendering him a drooling psychotic: the clientale of Pepper's is likewise dosed and fare about the same. Imagine having even a smidge of Frank's rage, making you so goddamn angry you couldn't even do anything about it except vibrate in undirected fury--wait, I'm sorry, that's my social media feed.

Frank gets Stuart and the little girl out, where the building is surrounded by cops: shrugging, Frank says he just did as the girl asked, and gave away some magic apples. Yeah, those were grenades and you know it, Frank. Escaping with Stuart in the commotion, Frank looks back and momentarily sees the little girl not with her own family, but with himself and Maria. It doesn't last, but it's a nice thought; while Stuart is not enjoying his Punisher-trip and probably puking his lungs out. Frank advises, you get used to it.

I don't always comment on the art, but this feels like it could've gone like 60-70% harder on the drug trip: the colors likewise don't pop enough; that portion should be a lot brighter. My favorite comic trips: the Brian Bolland cover and Brendan McCarthy art for Judge Dredd's "Report to the Chief Judge on the Accidental Death of a Citizen" or Kevin O'Neill's 'Legends of the Dark Mite' or Judge Death's Scarecrow trip in "Judgment on Gotham." The colors, Duke, the colors--er, I mean, just say no, kids!