Frank Castle Meets Hip Hop

Do hip hop and comics mix? I think they could – if its done right. On that note I’d have to say only Marvel Comics would work with hip hop since almost all Marvel stories take place in or around NYC (the birthplace of hip hop) If you pick up the June 2009 (released May 5) issue of XXL magazine (Hip Hop on a higher level) you’ll find Eminem on the cover – posing as everyone’s favorite vigilante – The Punisher. This comes as a move between XXL mag and Marvel – meaning the magazine will have part 1 of a comic starring Eminem called Eminem/Punisher: Kill You. Does he team up with Frank? IS he the Punisher: who knows but I know I’m gonna check it out regardless. (I even picked up that dopey Obama meets Spidey comic, also Part 2 of the comic will be online at marvel.com/Eminem after May 5 as well)

Within the mag he talks about Hip Hop – the state of the industry etc – but what’s the kicker is that he is posing as The Punisher in full Frank Castle gear. The pictures look good of course but it’s Eminem. Personally I respect the dude for delivering catchy tunes which eventually get played out cuz they are so damn popular (guys been gone 3 years also – so maybe the Punisher gimmick means he’s back for Vengeance…oh-it says that on the cover) But I don’t know how I feel about the get-up – Maybe I’m too much of a comics nerd to let it slide. To me this is like Woody Allen dressed up as The Man With No Name. Does it matter in the long run? No. Is it another weird move by the Marvel Machine – Absolutely. It’s a great business move – smash something popular together with something else popular and you make a whole new breed of animal. Regardless if you like it or not – what’s up with that look on his face!?