This page may contain one or more affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through that link, I may receive compensation. The links will be identified with the text "affiliate link". Click to learn more.
The Marvel Max series of violent comics has always been an intriguing selection, but Foolkiller, one of Marvel Comics’ forgotten characters, may stand out a little more than usual. A friend recommended this comic to me, and it is pretty hard-core, even by the standards of Marvel’s best anti-heroes.
If you are a fan of Punisher, it will be hard not to compare him to Foolkiller, another of Marvel’s notable anti-heroes. This five-part miniseries about a vigilante taking revenge for his past misfortunes shares clear similarities with other Marvel antiheroes. Even so, that does not keep it from being entertaining in its own right, much like how fans debate who would win between Deadpool or Ghost Rider.
Imagine winning the jackpot… literally. Win ten million dollars in a slot machine. Then use that money to build a successful car company, only to settle for inferior parts that get your own mother killed. Not only that, but the resulting car wreck also kills a bus full of school children. Would that scar you for life? Yeah, I think so. That is the backstory that creates Foolkiller, a character that stands alongside other 90s anti-heroes in the Marvel universe.
The Foolkiller, whose real name is Greg Salinger, finds a man who screwed over a powerful gambling scam organization, which has a leader that looks a lot like the Kingpin from Spider-Man comics. Nearly his entire family killed for no good reason, and his hand stuck in a garbage disposal, the Foolkiller sympathizes, because he has one living daughter left in a hospital waiting to get a heart transplant. This complex backstory sets Foolkiller apart from more mainstream Marvel heroes like Captain America.
Foolkiller is made with realistic pencil sketches and has a colored-pencils look to it. Some panels are clearly from posed models to the point of being laughable. Otherwise, the series is well constructed and has some awesome angles and gun play, particularly when Foolkiller uses his signature purification gun.
Of course, any Marvel Max comic series would not be complete without gratuitous violence. Lots of decapitations and blood squirts are present from panel to panel. Sweet. This level of violence is what you might expect from a super killer comic, setting Foolkiller apart from more family-friendly Marvel characters.
Be sure to check out Foolkiller in all its bloody glory. Available as a convenient graphic novel (affiliate link), there is no reason for you not to pick it up. Unless you are a fool. You are not a fool, are you? After all, dealing with fools is Foolkiller’s specialty.
For those interested in diving deeper into the Marvel universe, it’s worth noting that there have been multiple incarnations of Foolkiller, including Kurt Gerhardt. The character has crossed paths with various Marvel teams and organizations, including the Defenders and S.H.I.E.L.D. Some versions of Foolkiller have even spent time in mental institutions like the Ravencroft Institute, adding depth to the character’s complex psychology.
While not as well-known as Deadpool or other Marvel antiheroes, Foolkiller represents an interesting exploration of vigilantism and morality in the Marvel Comics universe. His story raises questions about what to call a hero that kills and the fine line between justice and vengeance. Whether you’re a long-time Marvel fan or new to the world of comics, Foolkiller offers a gritty, thought-provoking read that stands out in the crowded field of superhero stories.