Classic Punisher #1 - First Appearance of Bruno Costa, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: Classic Punisher (Marvel, 1989 series)
Issue: #1
Publication date: December 1989
Key date: December 1989
On-sale date: August 29, 1989
Indicia publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.95; 6.25 CAD
Pages: 68
Barcode: 02488525010795
ISBN: 0-87135-583-3

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Bruno Costa - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Matt Skinner - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Byron Hannigan - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Leon Kolsky - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Luis Allegre - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of John Laviano - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Frank Costa - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Frank Castle, Punisher.

Death on record for: Bruno Costa, Byron Hannigan, Frank Castle Jr., Leon Kolsky, Lisa Castle.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	2	pencils: Larry Stroman; inks: Frank Cirocco; colors: Frank Cirocco	Frank Castle, Punisher
1	-	blank page(s)	1
2	Classic Punisher	credits, title page	2	pencils: Bret Blevins; inks: Bret Blevins	Frank Castle, Punisher
3	Death Sentence	comic story	32	script: Gerry Conway; pencils: Tony DeZuniga; inks: Tony DeZuniga; editing: Marv Wolfman	Luis Allegre First, Frank Castle Origin, Frank Castle Jr. Death, Lisa Castle Death, Maria Castle Death, Bruno Costa First, Byron Hannigan First, Forrest Hunt, Leon Kolsky First, Punisher Origin, Matt Skinner First
4	Cover to Marvel Preview #2	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Gray Morrow; inks: Gray Morrow; editing: Marv Wolfman	Frank Castle, Punisher
5	Accounts Settled... Accounts Due!	comic story	20	script: Archie Goodwin; pencils: Tony DeZuniga; inks: Rico Rival; editing: Archie Goodwin	Luis Allegre First, Frank Castle, Frank Castle Jr. Death, Lisa Castle Death, Maria Castle Death, Bruno Costa First, Frank Costa First, Byron Hannigan First, Forrest Hunt, Leon Kolsky First, John Laviano First, Punisher, Matt Skinner First
6	Kites	comic story	8	script: Baron; pencils: Vosburg; inks: Vosburg; letters: Bruzenak; editing: Potts, DeFalco	Frank Castle, Wilson Fisk, Louis Frohike, Iris Green, Jigsaw, Sijo Kanaka, Kingpin, David Lieberman, Microchip, Microchip Junior, Punisher, Billy Russo
7	Cover to Marvel Super Action #1	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Bob Larkin; inks: Bob Larkin; editing: Archie Goodwin	Frank Castle, Punisher
8	-	blank page(s)	1

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Punisher: Back to the War Omnibus #[nn] ISBN 978-1-302-90824-9	2017	On eBay ›
Return to Big Nothing ISBN 978-1-302-93085-1	2021	On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

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Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com