Marvel kicked off this year’s 616 Day at 6:16 am ET, by announcing “Big Guns,” a four-issue crossover between Wade Wilson: Deadpool and the main Punisher series, beginning this September. Written by Benjamin Percy, with art on the respective titles by Geoff Shaw and José Luis Soares, the story will see two anti-heroes clash after Wilson’s “latest mess” angers Frank Castle, which is inconvenient for the Merc with a Mouth, as he’s about to embark “on one of the most high-stakes jobs of his career!”
Percy comments, “When you’re writing the Punisher, and you’re writing Deadpool — two street-level characters with opposite personalities — the math works itself out. I had to bring them together. Violently. Get ready for non-stop mayhem, the re-invention (and glow-up) of a classic villain, and the introduction of the Merc-mobile (a rolling HQ I’m pretty damn excited about) as well as a new weapon that will change the 616 forever. Unlike Frank and Wade — who naturally despise each other — Geoff Shaw and José Luis are a perfect pairing, the best pens drawing the biggest guns.”
The crossover will begin in Wade Wilson: Deadpool #8 on September 2, before continuing in Punisher #8 on September 9, and the ninth issues of both series in October. (Meaning it’ll conclude with Punisher #9.) David Marquez will provide the covers for the Punisher issues, while Josemaria Casanovas will illustrate connecting variant covers for both sets of chapters, and there will also be variants only featuring crossover logos. You can check out the main covers for the first two chapters in the meantime below:
The announcement over a month after the death of Punisher co-creator Gerry Conway, and shortly before the character’s return to the big screen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31. The Punisher will also star in the comics Spider-Man: Long Way Home, starting tomorrow; Punisher vs. Spider-Man, beginning July 15; and Marvel Zombies: War Zone, which will also start on September 2. Deadpool’s recent forays into the DC Universe, meanwhile, will be collected in DC/Marvel: The Cosmic Kiss Caper & Other Stories, out September 8.
