A Plea to Marvel and Netflix Regarding THE PUNISHER

A Plea to Marvel and Netflix Regarding THE PUNISHER

A plea to Netflix and Marvel Entertainment to stop glorifying gun violence and mass shootings by cancelling their upcoming series, The Punisher.

Editorial Opinion
By HamFam2 - Oct 04, 2017 11:10 AM EST
Filed Under: The Punisher

Fresh off the heels of yet another mass shooting, considered to be the deadliest in modern U.S. history, which resulted in 59 deaths and hundreds injured, it’s perfectly understandable that emotions are running high right now. They should be. Many mass shootings have taken place over the last year alone, with at least one occurring each day. Every day, the lives of innocent people are ended and destroyed by gun violence.

So why are we still glorifying it?

This month on Netflix, perhaps as soon as this Friday, there's going to be a 13 episode series based on Marvel Comics’ The Punisher, a vigilante character who uses assault weapons to take justice into his own hands, going so far as to massacre people if he feels justified. He's been around for years, plastered onto shirts, merchandise, into movies, and making his mark on American culture. He has an undeniable impact on people, and in almost every poster or comic book cover or appearance he has in any sort of media, he's wielding an assault rifle. This is an obvious and iconic part of the character. It's his entire gig; what separates him from other vigilantes like Daredevil or Batman.

But it's also undeniably harmful. People pined for him to get his own series. They praised his portrayal in Season 2 as sympathetic, badass, etc, even though we were first introduced to him when he massacred a bar of Irishmen. Giving a  character such depth, asking people to sympathize with him when his entire gimmick is that he shoots entire groups of people does nothing but glorify gun use. Why do we need to keep watching angry white people and giving them a platform to connect with people instead of other characters, other voices that haven't been heard? Why don't we give a thirteen episode show to characters like Kamala Khan, Sam Wilson, or Riri Williams, who, instead of ruthlessly plowing people down with weapons intended to kill entire groups of people, represent an inspirational fight against forces of evil?


To Netflix and Marvel, I simply ask that you cancel the Punisher series, and to be very very careful about how you portray the character in the future, if at all. Understand that your stories have impact on people. Marvel comics is where I turned for characters I could relate to and felt inspired by, and so many other people do too. A man wielding an assault rifle should not be considered to be either of those.
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Kumkani
Kumkani - 10/4/2017, 11:45 AM
I don't know why there is this incessant need to place blame on other things when domestic terrorism occurs in America, particular with gun violence.

The problem is that YOUR country has these type of guns READILY AVAILABLE. Sick, demented and violent people will always exist every but guns make it soooo easy to kill dozens of people and injure hundreds.

That's what needs to be addressed.

Also, I think season 2 of Daredevil tackled gun violence very well.
MUTO123
MUTO123 - 10/4/2017, 12:11 PM
@BlindWedjat -
Ragnarocknroll
Ragnarocknroll - 10/4/2017, 11:48 AM
Don't blame The Punisher for the absolutely bullshit laws your country has. Seriously, I really can't comprehend Americans' love affair with weapons.
Kyos
Kyos - 10/4/2017, 11:56 AM
This is well intended, no doubt, but I can't really get behind pleas to adjust the way shows/movies/games/etc potentially glorify gun violence as long as a sizeable portion of the society in question seems to glorify actual guns.
WYLEEJAY
WYLEEJAY - 10/4/2017, 12:01 PM
Well written. But makes no sense at the same time. For one, it's fiction, are you going to remove all violent shows and films? Why are you singling out Punisher? Agenda? What about John Wick? Nevermind the list is forever long. So your just gonna single out one Marvel show. Ok. Don't watch it then. But if you knew what the character is all about, you would understand why he's so interesting.

Second, why are you using a horrible incident like this to push your agenda against a comic book adaptation on a comic book site? What in the Holy hell are you hoping to accomplish? I'm against guns myself. My choice. At least it should stop at semi auto pistols and hunting rifles. But I'm still going to watch this. I'm not going to go out there and tell people what they should WATCH! That isn't REAL! Take this someplace it belongs.
WYLEEJAY
WYLEEJAY - 10/4/2017, 12:05 PM
I'm legit pissed that I have to see this bullshit here. I come here to get away from this crap on Facebook, and the news.

@NateBest
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