The Punisher’s infamous skull logo has been a subject of much controversy over the last few years, but Hawkeye Kate Bishop called out the hypocrisy of those who would use it in the name of “justice” more than a decade ago in the pages of Marvel Comics.
After the Punisher’s skull logo was appropriated by several far-right extremists, Marvel made the controversial decision to replace it in the latest revamp of the character. The new storyline sees Frank Castle becoming the leader of the villainous Hand ninja clan, trading his guns in for a pair of katana and replacing the Punisher's classic skull logo with a new insignia that gives the skull an oni-like appearance with fangs and horns. Marvel feeling the need to rethink the whole ethos behind one of its characters shows just how serious the situation is in the real world, to the extent that some law enforcement officers have (unofficially) adopted the symbol of an anti-hero who is essentially a serial killer.
Hawkeye Kate Bishop Calls Out the Punisher-Inspired Executioner
However, Kate Bishop pointed out this hypocrisy all the way back in 2009 in Dark Reign: Young Avengers #3 by Paul Cornell, Mark Brooks, Christina Strain and Cory Petit. The story finds a new group of heroes calling themselves the Young Avengers in the post-Secret Invasion Marvel Universe, which saw Norman Osborne rise to power after helping to repel the Skrull invasion. Osborne sends this new team after the original Young Avengers, which leads to a clash between the two teams. After the fracas, original Young Avengers leader Patriot gives the new heroes an ultimatum: try out for the real Young Avengers, or find a new name. As part of the tryouts, the heroes are paired off with each other, and Kate is teamed with the Punisher-inspired Executioner. Disgusted by his methods, Kate imagines a scenario where she tells the young hero what she really thinks, stating that anti-heroes like the Punisher ultimately don’t make a difference.
“I don’t think gang bosses are exactly strangers to the threat of violence,” Kate explains, pointing out that the Punisher’s methods are akin to a shark going after a shoal of fish. Even if the shark manages to get a few of them, the other fish keep on swimming anyway. Kate also makes the point that superheroes should inspire others to do the right thing, as opposed simply focusing on punishing guilty parties for their offenses. Being inspired by another hero is something that Kate Bishop knows a thing or two about herself - after surviving a brutal attack, Kate began training herself in various combat disciplines, taking up original Hawkeye Clint Barton’s bow when she joined the Young Avengers and became one of the most prominent heroes in the Marvel Universe.
Hawkeye Kate Bishop puts forward a compelling argument for why superheroes in Marvel Comics aren't just power fantasies like those influenced by the Punisher - they inspire others to work for a better world.