With Marvel’s current Spider-Man/2099 event, reinventions of existing 2099 characters have been advertised alongside newer ones like Conan 2099. The Punisher returns to 2099, and the future is a different and scarier place than it was in 1994.

Punisher 2099 comes to us from the crew of writers Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson. Matt Horak and Eoin Marron worked on the art together, while Rochelle Rosenberg colored the pages. Joe Sabino lettered as well.

Hector Tago is a Lieutenant in the Private Eye security force of Nueva York. Not only does the Private Eye police those who pay for the service, but also those with a high Social Score. The higher the score, the more valuable the person is… and those with a score of zero are considered wastes on society. To ensure perfect public service, a drone follows all Public Eye employee to record their actions on duty for further review. When an incident with violent worshipers of Thor results in the death of someone who Tago could have sworn was unarmed despite all recorded evidence to the contrary, he needs to begin digging into the skeletons in the closet of the Public Eye… and it looks like the Punisher will need to dole out his namesake.

The duo of Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson have done a wonderful update to the concept of the Punisher. While it is an entirely different angle from the 1994 incarnation of the character, it is also a refreshing change. Using the added theme of social media approval being just as important as law enforcement actually makes for a neat commentary of serving the public versus serving the rich that plagues police and the justice system today. While the story acts as an origin tale for Hector Tago’s time as the Punisher, it is a decidedly exciting angle: with injustice and redemption as his goal rather than revenge, this is a Punisher that could actually appeal to readers on more than a revenge fantasy level.

Matt Horak and Eoin Marron do a great job together on the art. Neither one gets a specific credit for inks or pencils, so one must assume that they shared duties on this book in that respect. The pages flow wonderfully, with action being fluid and easy to follow. Other pages crammed with action or suspense wind up becoming cleverly cramped and claustrophobic, only aiding in the feel of the dialogue. Setpieces are truly bizarre, with a Yggdrasil display built out of dismembered human limbs splitting a double splash page into being the most memorable and disturbing.

Punisher 2099 is a rare breed: a Punisher comic that wants to make you think. With that alone, this book deserves to be read, but it helps that the story and artwork perfectly together to relate. 

Grade: A-