In Marvel Comics, both heroes and villains know who Frank Castle aka the Punisher is and its usually considered a good thing if Frank doesn't cross your path. The war veteran and former Marine turned vigilante has had all sorts of characters in his dreaded sights, from criminals to monsters, and even gods have faced and learned to fear the skull insignia on Frank's chest. One of his most ambitious kills was in the Ultimate Marvel universe, where the newest Avenger killed both the Vice President and the newest Ghost Rider and nobody was there to witness it.
In Ultimate Comics Avengers 2 by writer Mark Millar and artist Lenil Yu, the Punisher has been "recruited" for Nick Fury's Avengers as the team is charged with protecting Vice President Michael Blackthorne from the supernatural Ghost Rider. After Ghost Rider tears through the Avengers, Blackthorne is revealed to be a participant, who once sacrificed Johnny Blaze and his girlfriend Roxanne, in a satanic ritual that granted them success and power in exchange for their souls. However, their master double-crossed them by granting Blaze the ability to become the Ghost Rider and return to Earth to seek revenge on his murderers. When Blackthorne is the last man standing, he makes an additional deal with Satan, whose double-cross condemns him further, that transforms him into another Ghost Rider called Vengeance, a lesser-known Ghost Rider making his Ultimate debut.
With similar powers and transportation as Blaze, Vengeance makes short work of the Avengers who mistake him for Ghost Rider until Johnny reveals himself, eager to settle his score with Blackthorne. Although he may have the same powers, Johnny's control proves to be stronger as their battle rips through Washington, DC. Temporarily stunned by the Avengers and SHIELD forces protecting the Vice President, Ghost Rider decides enough is enough and drags Vengeance toward a church. Despite the fact that the holy ground will render both of them powerless, the now-human Ghost Rider's battle it out and at one point, it would appear Blackthorne gains the high ground. This advantage is for naught as the Punisher disables him and despite Blackthorne's status as the Vice President, Frank kills him with one shot between the eyes.
While Frank's bullets and powers due his recent wardrobe change did nothing when he originally faced Ghost Rider, the Punisher's police training came in handy when Blaze decided the church would be the final battleground. Remembering that the mainstream Punisher once had been an altar boy, the atmosphere is gorgeously befitting as the church renders both targets human. However, after hearing Johnny's claims about Blackthorne's crimes, the Punisher did what he always does, punish the guilty. He originally shot Blackthorne in the arm and this newly damned Ghost Rider's tried to scare Frank with his power or status. He'd learn that means nothing to the Punisher who sees another corrupt politician with blood on his hands, and he reunites Vengeance with his master in death.
In the end, one of the Punisher's coolest kills was seen by nobody except his real target whom Frank let go when he realized how much they had in common. This act of insubordination was not surprising at all, the surprising thing was Nick Fury thinking he could ever control the Punisher, even for one mission. As Frank eventually escapes and gets back to punishing, this version of the Punisher accomplished a kill that his mainstream counterpart has yet to do and that in itself is worth its weight in bullets or body bags.