I really don't like how Ennis eludes to Frank making a deal with the Devil or Oliver or whoever it's supposed to be, and I like even less that he makes it seem like it was Frank's poor judgement that resulted in the family death.
I've always loved the idea of the family death being an excuse to continue his war, but for me, BORN goes a little too far with it, I think. It lessens the tragedy of Frank's loss.
Anyone else care to comment?
I always thought I was alone with this, given how much Ennis' stuff is loved. It always made me extremely uneasy. I liked the vast majority of Ennis' contributions, but that was too much for me. I hated it. While it's interesting, it just changes too much of Frank for me. I think the current idea of how Frank couldn't come home and adjust to being a really "normal" person is incredibly interesting, but having him want the war to go on forever and wanting his family to be offered up to "death" stinks to me.
When I was a kid, I got into the Punisher because of the Sega Channel's offer of the Genesis Punisher beat 'em up. From that point on, I saw the situation as, he's another victim of crime, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the thing that sets him apart from any other victim is:
1.) He has the training and means to war against those who do wrong
2.) Combine the above with the fact that this isn't the real world, but rather a place filled with heroes, thus the idea of "doing something" would be a bit more plausible than in the real world. "This is a world where people can punch out evil and bring about justice when the authorities fail to do anything! I'm a damn good soldier, why can't I help people? Make a difference?!"
3.) And finally, the disgusting irony of it all. He went to do multiple tours in 'Nam. Went to hell, but came back everytime. Now that he's back where it's "normal" and "safe" -- A time out zone, is where he and his family die.
As I said above, I like the idea of Frank being unable to connect, but I like a version in which he's conscious of something wrong, he wants to be back to normal, but can't and doesn't know why he's so far from his family. I like that rather than, "sure he cares about his family, but he cares more about killing and war--that's fun. His family was weighing him down and he wanted to have them leave in some way -- not to
die, but, oh well, don't look a gifthorse in the mouth."
The former is so tragic to me. The war changed him, took something away, while simultaneously adding things to his very being.
I don't know, maybe I've got it wrong, but that's why in part I'm looking towards Rucka's run. It'll be a new taste, on a familiar loved character. I find it interesting that he'll be playing with the nature vs nurture question of Frank; "would he still be doing this if his family was alive?" idea. It'll be a new option other than Max. I like Max and all, but 616 is my first love.
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