Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1!One of the most unbelievable swimsuits ever published in aMarvelspecial is officially 100% canon. After three decades,Marvel Comics has brought its swimsuitspecial one-shots back for a brand-new, one-off story and showcase. And this time, it’s canonizing one of the most bizarre pieces of swimwear ever seen in any summer special.
InMarvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1by Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs, and Nick Bradshaw, Roxxon has just published an unauthorized swimsuit special filled with AI-generated photography, and it’s causing an uproar everywhere. To combat the media circus,the Avengers decide topublish their own special and they begin rallying the hero community.
While fighting A.I.M. the Avengers manage to convince Cloak and Dagger, though Punisher is a harder sell. However, they manage to save him from M.O.D.O.K., and Frank admits he owes them one. When they ask if he’ll be part of the special, he digs into his belongings and pulls outPunisher’s skull speedo infamously seen inMarvel Swimsuit Special #2.
Punisher’s Outlandish ’90s Speedo is Canon
Frank Castle Seriously Bared it All with His Most Ridiculous Costume
Through the early ‘90s,Marvel Comics would havea bit of fun with its swimsuit specials, which showed all kinds of heroes (and even villains) having some summer fun in swimwear. Held together by a plot to bring the heroes to various locales, the specials served as a showcase for artists todraw Marvel icons in a breezy, pin-up style.
The canonicity of these specials is tenuous at best because, let’s face it, in what universe is Frank Castle seriously going to wear nothing but a stylized skull over his crotch? ButMarvel Comics seems to want to make it a part of the Punisher’s canon lore, even if it’s one he’s not particularly happy reminiscing over.
Punisher’s History Just Got a Lot More Hilarious
His Infamous ’90s Swimwear Shows Frank’s More Lighthearted Side
It’s understandable that Frank is cringing looking back on this. After all, who doesn’t cringe a bit at their more embarrassing looks? But for a guy who’s so hardcore and serious all the time, it’s kind of nice to know thatPunisheractually let loose a little bit with that showed a very different side of Frank Castle.
Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1is available now from Marvel Comics.
