re: Garth Ennis, I liked Dangerous Habits from his Hellblazer run, it's just his Nick Fury collection I disliked intensly. Haven't read any of his Punisher stories yet, but that sounds like a twisted and inspired explanation.

...which also reminds me I haven't read any of the comics featuring the Marvelverse version of Death yet, I just know Thanos is in love with her because it was mentioned in a lot of "who is Thanos" explanations after The Avengers hit the cinemas.