Fans of the Sideshow Collectibles line of Marvel Comics Premium Format Figure statues have been speculating for a while about which major Marvel character would be the next to get their day in the sun from Sideshow, but today Sideshow Collectibles let the cat out of the bag: the Classic Punisher Premium Format Figure goes up for pre-order next week…

It’s been quite a long time since the first photos of the Apocalypse Premium Format Figure prototype were released, so many collectors assumed (or at least hoped) that Apocalypse would be the next Marvel character immortalized by Sideshow. That wasn’t to be, but an even older and more prominent character than Apocalypse got the nod instead: the classic version of the vigilante antihero, The Punisher!

We first saw concept art for this particular Classic Punisher Premium Format Figure back in November 2012. Though we’ve seen the Punisher undergo some drastic costume redesigns over the course of the last decade or so–and Sideshow has already produced a 1:4 Modern Punisher Premium Format Figure–this Sideshow Punisher Premium Format Figure will be classic-inspired through and through!

It seems like just yesterday that Sideshow released their Punisher Comiquette and their first (modern) Punisher Premium Format Figure, but it’s actually been several years. While this new statue will still be the same character, he’s dressed entirely differently from his Sideshow predecessors. Just as in the comics, Frank Castle will come wearing his fashion faux pas white gloves. He also features a cloth costume including soft-goods straps and a real, working soft goods holster.

This Frank Castle 1:4 scale statue will come wielding the fan-favorite AA-12 Fully Automatic Shotgun, which looks as cool as it does deadly paired with this Premium Format Figure.

In addition, the Sideshow Exclusive Edition Classic Punisher Premium Format Figure will include a battle-damaged Punisher extra head that the regular edition will ship without!

I think the beat-up, black eye portrait on the Punisher will definitely add a little something extra to the style of the street-level hero’s Premium Format Figure.

But that’s not all! As well as the extra head, the Sideshow Exclusive version of the Classic Punisher Premium Format Figure will also include an interchangeable left hand wielding a knife! I’m a little dubious about why the knife couldn’t just be an accessory to put in the Punisher’s hand, but what the heck–I’ll take it!

The Punisher Premium Format Figure statue by Sideshow Collectibles is now available for pre-order (including the low-run limited-edition exclusive version of the figure), so if you want it, be sure to place your order ASAP!