Punisher War Journal: Base # 1 2023 NM

Punisher War Journal: Base # 1, published by Marvel Comics on February 22, 2023, is a one-shot issue that explores the origin of Frank Castle’s infamous war journal. Set before his family's murder, the story serves as a psychological study of Frank’s difficult transition from a Marine back to a suburban husband and father. 

The story is divided into two distinct parts that contrast Frank's domestic life with his inherent violent nature: 

• The Struggle for Normalcy: The first half focuses on Frank’s life with his wife Maria and their children. He attends marriage counseling at Maria's request and begins the journal as a therapeutic exercise. Despite his efforts to communicate and love his family, he suffers from a sense of "suffocating boredom" and feels a part of him is missing without the war.
• The Warrior Awakens: The second half takes a violent turn when Frank, while out on a nightly walk, discovers a grisly crime occurring in a neighbor's house. This confrontation features the Gnucci crime family and marks the first time Frank acts as a vigilante before officially becoming the Punisher. 

• Writer: Torunn Grønbekk.
• Artist: Djibril Morissette-Phan, whose "dark and moody" style has been compared to Frank Miller's early work.
• Cover Artist: Javier Rodriguez (Main Cover) and Leonardo Romero (Variant Cover).