Directed by Kenichi Shimizu Screenplay by Mitsutaka Hirota | Produced by Taro Morishima Story by Marjorie Liu | |
Japanese アベンジャーズ コンフィデンシャル: ブラック・ウィドウ & パニッシャー Hepburn Abenjāzu Konfidensharu: Burakku Widō & Panisshā | ||
Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher (アベンジャーズ コンフィデンシャル: ブラック・ウィドウ & パニッシャー, Abenjāzu Konfidensharu: Burakku Widō & Panisshā) is a 2014 direct-to-video anime film by Madhouse. The film is produced by SH DTV AC BW&P Partners, another partnering of Marvel Entertainment with Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and Madhouse, following up on the Marvel Anime series. The film was released in North America on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital on March 25, 2014.
Contents
Plot
Punisher is taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody after interfering in a S.H.I.E.L.D. secret mission. In exchange for his release, the Punisher and the Black Widow are teamed up to take down the terrorist organization Leviathan who plans to auction stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. technology.
Cast
In addition, Thor, War Machine, Captain Marvel, Grim Reaper, Graviton, Griffin, Taskmaster, Count Nefaria, and Baron Zemo also appear in uncredited roles.
Crew
Featurettes
The discs has two featurettes: "Espionage and Punishment" and "The Vigilante Vs. The Spy", while the Blu-ray has an additional bonus, the Conceptual Art Gallery. "Espionage and Punishment " shows the adaptation of the characters to anime and a "making of" the film including early concept art and storyboards. "The Vigilante Vs. The Spy" profiles Frank Castle (The Punisher) and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow).
Reception
IGN awarded it a score of 8 out of 10, saying "Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher is a complex and effective animated offering from Marvel." Den of Geek awarded it a more negative score of 2 out of 5, criticising the dialogue and characterisation but praising the fight scenes.