Beginning in issue #24, “The Slavers” story arc tackled human trafficking. It was a way to show how Punisher’s “broken windows” approach to crime could actually have an impact internationally, even if it couldn’t address the roots of the problems.
As you might guess from the title, it focused on the white slave (prostitution) trade from Eastern Europe, and the details were particularly harrowing—even for this series. The power here was in Castle’s confrontation with the most base, fundamental intrusion: Rape. Sex isn’t a subject Garth Ennis shies away from in PunisherMax, but it’s also not a major part of Castle’s personality. His ability to love seemingly died with his wife—although on occasion it can be glimpsed—so protecting a young woman is the closest thing he can get to it. The foil for Castle in this story is a social worker—a do-gooder—who must decide whether to work with, or against, The Punisher when she is faced with a situation in which there can be no “good” result.
Slavers is morally complex—much more so than the stories that preceded it—and, as a result, is a fascinating character study—as well as a bloody good, violent romp.
When he finally catches up to the woman in charge of the slave ring, he tries to throw her throught he window of her high rise, only to see her bounce off it. So he throws her into it again. And again. And again.
Best line: After an escaped female slave tells her story to Frank, Frank thinks: “She told me the whole story. About the day she left her village. About the old man. About her baby. When she was done, I knew a lot of men would have to die.”
Art by Leandro Fernández.
English (US) · 