Punisher: War Journal

[The Punisher]

Punisher: War Journal
Volume 0, Issue 1
A Declaration of Intent

Joss Nathan still wasn't quite sure what happened.

He was goin' out and gettin' ready to get the club all set for Joey T's big party. Joey T had been Made this week, and he wanted to celebrate, y'know? The works: lotsa booze, lotsa women, the whole nine yards. So Joss had gone down to the Diamond Lounge to put this in motion.

Joey T had come in with the rest of the boys, and then suddenly shit started blowin' up. At least, Joss thought that's what happened. All he remembered was that there was this big whamming noise, a flash, and people and body parts started flying.

Joey T and his heavies-- hell, every body in the lounge that was still in one piece, still alive, and still armed drew their guns and people started shouting. They shouted because they were scared. They shouted because they were attempting to assert control over the situation. And they shouted because their hearing was blown to hell.

The heavies were all trying to hustle Joey T out the back door. Joss knew that Joey would've had a car back there. But then there was another whamming noise and flash of light and flame, and then they were all trying to hustle back inside and away from the fire.

And then Joss sees this big guy come in through the service entrance. Dressed all in black, leather duster too, with this big white skull on his chest. And right about the moment that everyone registers his presence, they all notice he's got a friggin' SAW machine gun in his hands.

If anyone still had any hearing left after the two explosions, they lost it in the noise that filled the Diamond Lounge from the guy's machine gun. Joss cowered behind the bar while glass shattered and spirits spattered all over him, as people screamed and returned fire, for all the good it did them.

The girls had all dived to the floor and screamed and wept and pleaded for their lives while the mobsters and the shooter fired away at each other. And then, gradually, the only sound remaining was the shooter's big gun. And then, that too went quiet.

Joss could hear the big man take a few steps forward, and then he spoke, in a low, gravelly voice, cold and emotionless: "Girls, out."

The girls all did so, sobbing and whimpering in terror. And after they were gone, Joss could hear the groans and bubbling noises of the ones who weren't killed. The man with the skull on his chest moved through the room slowly but efficiently, finding every man who was still living and -- bang, bang, bang -- giving them the double-tap to the head and shot to the heart.

Finally, Joss was the only one left. He trembled, listening with fear as the big man's footsteps approached his hiding place and stopped. There was a long pause, and then came that cold as the grave voice: "Throw the gun away."

Joss realized with a jolt that he still had his own gun in hand. He hurriedly tossed it aside and raised his hands, standing up slowly. The big man had slung the SAW across his back and was aiming a Colt M1911 pistol straight between his eyes.

"Don't kill me, man!" Joss pleaded. "I'm just their errand boy, that's all! I just get the parties all set up and--" the big man casually thumbed the safety off his pistol, and Joss swore, closing his eyes.

There was a long, terrible moment, and then Joss opened his eyes to see the big man regarding him levelly. Joss felt a chill go down his spine. There was nothing in those eyes. No emotion whatsoever. In Joss' line of work, people threw around the phrase "kill you as soon as look at you" pretty casually. But this was the first time he was literally face to face with someone like that.

The big man spoke. "You get your wish, Joss Nathan." Joss about wet himself when he realized the killer knew his name. "I won't kill you. Go back and tell the rest of the Thomasettis."

"T-tell them what?"

"They're next."

And then he was gone.

---

Punisher War Journal. 31-Jan-2011.

Joey Thomasetti is dead. So's the rest of his entourage, with the exception of one man, Joshua "Joss" Nathan, low-level errand boy for the Thomasetti operation.

Nathan may be useful. Cesar Thomasetti's known to be a hothead, and he'll be out for blood with his son's death. He'll get sloppy.

Good night, all in all.

Personal note- stop buying hot dogs from the Armenian on the corner. Swear I found a rat tail in the last one.

[The Punisher]

Punisher: War Journal
Volume 0, Issue 2
Concerns

Punisher War Journal. 4-Feb-2011.

Concerned about the recent media circus around Reed Richards and his team of costumed "superheroes," as the Bugle calls them. Will not deny Richards' intelligence and scientific brilliance, nor the accomplishments of the rest of so-called "Fantastic Four." Question, however, the matter of escalation.

Example-- police started carrying semi-automatic weapons, criminals started carrying automatic. Police started wearing Kevlar, criminals started using armor-piercing rounds.

Ergo-- Richards, the Storms, and Grimm wear costumes and fly around in high-tech air-cars and jets. Already they have been opposed by Latverian potentate Victor Von Doom, who himself wears armor and wears a green cape.

Have heard rumors on the street of other costumed types taking to the streets to fight crime. Contact "Jack Lime" claimed to see some kid in tights and a mask climbing on walls "like some kinda spider."

Very worried this will lead to escalation when criminals start doing same. Criminals are already dangerous enough with just conventional weaponry. What will happen when criminals start using high-tech particle beam weapons or flying transpo?

Other note-- have noticed increased police interest in my activities. Have heard name "Martin Soap" thrown around with re: so-called "Punisher Task Force." Could be problem.