Bat out of Hell's Kitchen

I started with the new “Daredevil” season. Suitably amazing. But one aspect I really love is the confrontational conversation between the titular hero and Punisher. It’s like watching Batman from the Seventies argue with Batman from the Eighties.

On one side, there’s the grimly flamboyant pursuer of justice who makes some sort of effort to maintain ties with humanity. On the other, there’s the psychopath who won’t come out of the dark for anything, existing solely to assault criminals with maximum brutality.

Frank Miller’s  largely responsible for the latter portrayal, which can be seen at extremes in the form of Punisher. But the same author is also credited with bringing greater depth to Daredevil, who more closely resembles a version of the Bat that predates Miller’s involvement.

Then I suppose it’s also like watching Frank’s adopted son argue with someone who’s dressed up like his godchild.

Which might seem slightly weird too. In part because Miller specifically set out to create a version of Batman who was older than he. But that can happen with these sorts of things sometimes. I went to camp around fifth grade with a boy who was already a godfather at the time. He slept right near me.

Bonus Question!

Punisher versus Miller! Frank against Frank!

It’s not hard to imagine that they’d agree on all sorts of things, but both seem vituperative enough about their opinions to find something to quibble violently over. But things’d probably progress over the course of hours and beers to a relatively amiable place from which a friendly outing to a shooting range could seem like an option. And in that scenario, Frank Castle would have to take the win.