Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In the Beginning | 2004 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 2 | Kitchen Irish | 2004 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 3 | Mother Russia | 2005 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 4 | Up is Down and Black is White | 2005 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 5 | The Slavers | 2006 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 6 | Barracuda | 2006 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 7 | Man of Stone | 2007 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 8 | Widowmaker | 2007 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 9 | Long Cold Dark | 2008 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 10 | Valley Forge, Valley Forge | 2008 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 11 | Six Hours to Kill | 2009 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 12 | Welcome to the Bayou | 2009 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 13 | Naked Kills | 2010 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 14 | Untold Tales of Punisher Max | 2012 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
| 15 | Punisher Max | 2017 | Jonathan Maberry | Buy |
The Punisher MAX series collects volumes of Marvel’s mature-rated Punisher comics published between 2004 and 2017. This version of the character operates in a grimmer, more realistic version of the Marvel universe, stripped of most superhero elements. The fifteen volumes cover Frank Castle’s brutal one-man war against organized crime, corrupt officials, and human traffickers.
The series is known for its unflinching violence and dark subject matter, made possible by the MAX imprint’s adult content rating. Writers including Garth Ennis shaped the series during its early years, establishing a tone that later volumes maintained. Jonathan Maberry contributed to the series, adding his own horror-influenced style to the Punisher’s world. Titles like In the Beginning, Kitchen Irish, and The Slavers reflect the street-level crime focus of the books.