Mike Zeck - Punisher #1 Variant Cover (1986-1989)
Artists: John Beatty (Inker) , Mike Zeck (All)
65 Comments - 858 Views - 45 Likes
Additional Images:
Pencils before they were inked!
Punisher 1 variant (2018)
Artwork Details
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DescriptionI remember as a young teen back in 86 or 87, meeting Mike Zeck at a local convention. I had already picked up the comics and loved them. Mike was selling color prints of the covers to the 5 comics. Suffice it to say, that series was my introduction to Frank Castle and I have been a life long fan ever since.About the art: So this one has a bit of a long back story. Here's what I know: Originally intended for use as one of the first French Punisher Portfolio plates released by Editions Deesse in 1986, but was not included at the time. The image area of this piece is slightly larger than the image area of the published portfolio plates. It was pencilled the same year Zeck illustrated the original Punisher Limited Series! Subsequently, John Beatty started inking the background characters and then, circa 1989, Zeck took over to finish inking the expansive majority of the piece including the Punisher and the background, thinking that he might later submit this piece to Marvel for publication. This specialty piece first saw publication in Zeck's 2005 sketchbook The Art of Michael J. Zeck and was later featured on the on the back cover of the Raw Fury book produced in conjunction with the art exhibit focused on Zeck's work at the Cartoon Art Museum in 2014. In 2018, it also became a variant cover and print sold by Zeck at conventions for Punisher #1 (LGY #229). Thank you so much for checking out my gallery! Social/Sharing |
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Comics Superworld 
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Can't get over the fence! How'd he do that part?
Matt Kennedy
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Comics Superworld wrote:
Can't get over the fence! How'd he do that part?
I suspect a white, pencil-tip eraser during the initial pencil process? That must have been a long and laborious process in both the penciling and the inking —requiring a LOT of patience, because that fence really does look amazing!
JN 80
Member Since 2016
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
The bullets are palpable! Hurts your f to m ratio but well frigging worth it D.
Chris K.
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Wow...brings back a lot of memories. What an amazing piece!!
Dan P
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Beautiful. It really harkens back to the original series!
Derek Crabbe
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...
Dave W
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Wow, this is everything you want in a Punisher piece from Mike - this is Zecktacular in so many ways. Hearty congrats Dan!!!
M L
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Great image Dan! Shoo in for a Snorek pick, and possible heist!
E DLS
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Love the intensity here. But what really gives this scene its grit and realism is that lower right quadrant. The garbage can, that fence, and everything that's visible through the fence. All those elements really put you there. The Punisher as only Zeck could deliver.
Dino Mauricio
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Amazing Punisher cover, a Zeck of an addition to your stellar collection!
Jeremy Radisich
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Explosive piece that stands alongside the best of Zeck's 1980s Punisher pieces. Love the story of it taking a while to gestate. Congrats!
Daryl R
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Wow. Simply amazing. You know I'm envious of this one. Huge congrats Dan!
Rich Cirillo
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Great piece! He used some great photo reference for the fence, guns and some of the buildings to give it a very realistic feel! Interestting how his belt and skull logo teeth changed from the pencils to the finished inks, going with military pouches instead.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
You better Zeck yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause I'm bad for your health
I come real stealth
Dropping bombs on your lawn
Duke’s art is armed
Doing foul crime, I'm Punisher wit' yo' ink line
Sold as portfolio, always let bricks blow
And friends know, inks on the pencils
Oh, I've got Punisher bringing in his skills of pain
And oh, I've got the cover, print colored
Headbutt ya, uzi you ink brush this
And the mood Punisher, attack all the suckers
Here to let you know boy, oh boy
I make dough, with core bullet alloys
There ain't no comic motion picture
A guy like Spiders, Ghost Rider, Avengers, and Deadpool
Taking that ink by the Zeck, so you better run a check
So come on and chickity- Zeck yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Chickity-Zeck yo' self before you wreck yo' self
Yeah, come on and Zeck yo' self before you wreck yo' self
'Cause shotgun bullets are bad for your health
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Superb Dan!!! This piece makes it feel like you're living through the bulletfire while looking at it. Very interesting background story and publishing history to it too, you'd have to seriously question Marvel if they never published this as a variant cover but looks like they made the right call. DAMN!! Huge congrats.
I thought about posting a Punisher piece today but NOPE, I'll just stare at this a little longer and pick something else lol ;-)
George H
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Epic Zeck piece and glad to see it was published as a cover after all those years!
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Oh I've seen this image a number of times and it's a wonder. As a fellow huge Zeck fan, CONGRATS. Hard to top as a Zeck or Punisher example! Just screams the look, vibes, feels, etc of the original series that took the Punisher to a whole other level. Wow. Love it!
Comic Art Channel
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Incredible addition to the collection! Huge congrats on such an amazing example.
Jared Simmons
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
The action and detail in this piece is wondferfully Zeck. This is a one and done piece. Congrats!
Jason D'Ambrosio
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Dukie! I like this a lot but didn't think Canadians liked guns???
Eranga Devasurendra
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
Oh this is incredible, man! Massive congrats!
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 7/1/2024
This is indeed a piece done as a portfolio plate. Classic image and even better than some of the mini-series covers!
Malvin V
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
Wow Dan! This is better than his painted Punisher mini series covers!!
Bob Kopman
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
This is quite the beauty. Congrats on getting it.
Chris Snorek
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
MONSTER score, Duke. To be honest, this exceeds many of the original mini-series covers in content and level of detail/effort.
Mark Howland
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
Definition of bada$$. And I'm talking the art - not the character (though there could be authority for both.
James Dornoff
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
Such a solid piece, great find. It's not in my wheelhouse but hard not to want it. It's a wonderful capture of Punisher by a very talented artist. Cheers!
Steve Lipsky
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
Wow, stunning just doesn't cover it! One of Zeck's best (If not, THE best) Punisher pieces ever done! I still remember when Mike gave me a copy of the pencils in 1985 while Mike and Bill Sienkiewicz were giving my Kubert School roommates and I a tour of the Marvel Comics offices in Manhattan. Good memories.
John Espinoza
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 7/2/2024
A modern published piece but 100% vintage Zeck Punisher! I have that Raw Fury book. I'll have to check out the back cover now.
Toni S
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 7/3/2024
That is extraordinary. I can almost hear the bullets whistle!!
Joe Murray
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 7/10/2024
wow, Wow, WOW, absolutely stunning, one of Mike’s all time best, huge congrats!!
Alex B
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 7/10/2024
Simply one of the best portrayals of the Punisher EVER. Breathtaking art for this unforgettable cover. Huge congrats !!!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/11/2024
Killer Punisher piece by Mike Zeck! One of the best Punisher covers ever! I love everything about this art. The pose of Frank Castle ducking behind a brick wall to avoid being shot from one direction and then shots coming from the opposite direction! Love the gritted teeth expression Frank shows. Love the way the light comes around Frank's body outlining the well-developed muscles on his arms and chest. Love all the little details Zeck includes--like the multiple gunmen descending fire escapes behind Frank. Love nitpicky details like the painstakingly rendered chainlink fence (Who takes the time to accurately detail a chainlink fence?), and the garbage overflowing the trash can in the alley. Phenomnal inking really polishes this piece off beautifully! Exceptional pick-up, congrats!
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 7/14/2024
Many congrats on an excellent piece and for an excellent backstory as well!
Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 7/18/2024
Since you've 'forgot about it' already (you even mention the keywords to yourself in your for sale description) you clearly would not mind if you got someone to post it over to me as a pressie, you generous and forgetful soul, you.
Craig Zablo
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 6/12/2025
What an awesome example of Zeck's Punisher work. The Beatty backgrounds are the icing!
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