The Punisher #1
In "Marching Powder," the first issue of The Punisher (1987) kicks off with a stark, unflinching look at the inner workings of Marvel’s editorial machine, laying out a detailed roster of editors, assistants, and the titles they oversee—ranging from Larry Hama to Jim Shooter—before diving into Frank Castle’s relentless mission. The cover, a striking, gritty piece by Klaus Janson, captures the tone of a series rooted in raw, no-nonsense storytelling.
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The Punisher gets a tip from an old marine buddy about an international drug ring which is being run, in part, by a Vietnam vet who was in their unit and who is listed as dead on the Memorial Wall. When his friend, Ayers, turns up dead, the Punisher begins working his way up the cocaine ladder to get to the people responsible.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).