The Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane harbors some of the darkest secrets Marvel Comics has to offer. Kingpin runs the show at Ravencroft, which houses everything from monsters, to villains, and now, heroes - well, Frank Castle aka the Punisher.
Ravencroft has become Marvel's answer to DC Comics' Arkham Asylum. It's an institution where the worst of the worst are kept. While the current institute is being run by Wilson Fisk, Ravencroft's got a dark origin with some interesting and shocking connections to the bigger Marvel Universe. In a preview for the next issue of the series, Frank Castle is revealed to be an inmate at the institution.
In CBR's preview of Ravencroft #3 by Frank Tieri, Angel Unzueta, José Luis, Scott Hanna, Rachelle Rosenberg, and VC's Joe Sabino, another mystery at Ravencroft is answered. In the series second issue, it shows a guard looking to get revenge on a prisoner for murdering his cousin. He threatens the prisoner outside cell 616 (a nice nod to Marvel's main continuity Earth-616), and when he opens the door "to make him pay," he's immediately grabbed inside the cell. In issue #3, that prisoner is revealed to be the Punisher. In the preview, the Punisher holds the guard with an electrically charged stun baton in his face.
There are more questions than answers from the panel. Obviously, the biggest one being how did Frank Castle end up in Ravencroft? The obvious connection with the Punisher and the Ravencroft Institute is Kingpin. With Kingpin running the show, perhaps, he decided to throw one of the biggest thorns in his sides behind bars? It would be a great way to keep tabs with his activity while ensuring he's in a (seemingly) secure place that he has access to. On the flip side, maybe the Punisher is doing his own investigations into Ravencroft and figured the best way to learn more was to get inside himself. It remains to be seen how Frank will get himself out of this one, but clearly, he doesn't care about who he takes out along the way. Check out the solicit for Ravencroft #3 below.
- Ravencroft #3 (of 5)
- Written by Frank Tieri
- Art by Angel Unzueta, José Luis & Scott Hanna
- Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
- Letters by VC's Joe Sabino
- Cover at by Kyle Hotz
- Ravencroft is fully staffed, but who thought it was a good idea to put these people in charge of helping inmates? Watch as John Jameson attempts to keep the beasts at bay!
- In comic book stores and online on March 25, 2020.