‘The Circle Of Blood’ by Mike Powell
“This tale portrays Frank Castle within his first five years of becoming The Punisher. The story takes place in Hell's Kitchen and revolves around The Punisher, a select group of police officials designated to bring him in, and the bad guys... people involved in truly horrible black market operations. The Police hunt the Punisher, The Punisher hunts those involved in the black market, and the black market hunts everyone.
This tale is not your usual superhero/action movie. It is loaded with action, and violence, yes... but it involves the characters on such a personal level. You get to know the characters in such a way, that you feel you know them, and like them... you may even like some of the bad guys.
The violence is spectacular. I wrote it in such a way that only the Punisher is the man who is so powerful that he can make every man, woman, or child anticipate how he kills his next victim, and how gruesome or amazing it will be. There are
scenes where the audience will cheer, then others where they'll gasp in horror.
I wrote this story because I have been a Punisher fan for as long as I can remember. I am currently 24 years old, and work as a cameraman for NBC-17 news in Raleigh, North Carolina. When I heard a Punisher movie was being made, I jumped at the chance to write the script. This is something I know, a person I know very well. So I thought of aspects of all the many Punisher comics that I liked the best, and picked a topic that really hasn't been dealt with on this level in any movie. What I came up with, and I think some of you will agree, is the definitive Punisher script. No, I don't focus on the origin of him as much, it's not really as important as who he's become. The origin is seen in the beginning, and detailed later in the script. I didn't want a movie about, this happens to this guy, so in turn, he goes out and does this. The movie also doesn't deal with the people who murdered his family, except in the beginning. No superheroes, though several faces, and names, will be recognizable. The only established characters are Lynn Michaels, and Deke Wainscroft. Lynn isn't quite as you all remember, but Wainscroft is.
What I want everyone to see, is that a comic can be translated to a movie without losing a single thread of its originality. The skull costume is here. Why would they not use that? Regardless, 'The Circle of Blood' is what all of us Punisher fans, and comic book fans, have been waiting for. A great action packed film, with a dynamic killing machine, who is as complex as any character in comics today. If you liked the movie 'Out of Sight' or Ennis' Punisher run... or just like good movies, then check it out.