The Punisher, whose real name is Frank Castle, is a fictional antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru, he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 in February 1974.
Character Overview:
Frank Castle is depicted as a former U.S. Marine who, after the tragic murder of his wife and children by the mob for witnessing a killing, becomes a vigilante known as the Punisher. Driven by vengeance, he wages a one-man war on crime, employing methods such as assassination, kidnapping, extortion, and torture.
Portrayals in Media:
- Television: Jon Bernthal portrays Frank Castle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He first appeared in the second season of Daredevil (2016) and later starred in his own series, The Punisher (2017–2019), on Netflix. Bernthal is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again (2025).
- Films: The Punisher has been featured in several films, including:
- The Punisher (1989): Starring Dolph Lundgren.
- The Punisher (2004): Featuring Thomas Jane.
- Punisher: War Zone (2008): With Ray Stevenson.
Recent Developments:
Jon Bernthal’s return as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again has been confirmed, with filming underway. The series is expected to blend elements from the original Netflix adaptation while introducing new aspects for the Disney+ audience.