Warning! Spoilers for Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3 ahead!
The dangerous anti-hero Punisher has been missing in action for a while, but in the latest issue of Daredevil: Woman Without Fear, fans got their first look at his fresh logo as he takes charge of the Hand. Sporting some new modifications to his armor and a horned skull on his chest, Frank Castle has a fresh look as Marvel looks to revitalize the character often marred with controversy.
The Punisher hasn't seen much action recently, with some extremist political groups, including the January 6 Capitol rioters, co-opting his logo. Punisher #1 by Jason Aaron, Jesus Saiz, Paul Azaceta, and Dave Stewart will follow Castle has he embarks on a new path, as the leader of the Hand. Much is set to change about the Punisher, including his weapon of choice, as multiple previews have shown him wielding katanas in place of his signature firearms. The Punisher's new logo, however, stands out as his biggest new change. With clear inspiration from Oni, a demon-like mythical figure from Japanese folklore often associated with murder, it's clear Marvel is looking to blend the Castle fans know with one of Marvel's most iconic criminal organizations.
Before the launch of his solo series that will surely reveal more about how Frank Castle found himself in his new role, the redesigned Punisher made a surprising appearance at the conclusion of Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3 by Chip Zdarsky, Rafael De Latorre, Federico Blee, and Clayton Cowles. The issue centers around Elektra's fight against Kraven the Hunter, who has been sent after her by her old ally from the Hand, Aka. After retreating from Elektra, Aka meets with an Arch-Priestess of the Hand, who introduces Aka to the one who will "bring the Beast throughout the world, as is ordained." The person who will accomplish this task is none other than Frank Castle.
Since being shelved by Marvel, fans and critics have questioned how the Punisher can fit into today's comic book world. Jason Aaron himself has admitted that the Punisher is a tough character to tackle. In a 2017 interview with Salon.com, Aaron reflected on his time writing for Punisher MAX, saying, "The Punisher is not a character I agree with in any way or that I support. The one time I’ve been called for jury duty was for a serial murder trial. I didn’t make the cut because I oppose the death penalty. The Punisher and I would disagree on a lot of stuff." Years later, as the Punisher's very logo has been co-opted by hate groups, the challenge of writing Frank Castle in an endearing way has only gotten more difficult.
By changing Frank's logo, it sends a signal to readers that this is a different Punisher, and that's a good thing. The days of a murdering vigilante being cheered on by the masses are long gone and, frankly, would feel in poor taste to attempt to replicate in the modern era. By bringing Castle in to lead the Hand, it's an opportunity to give the Punisher order and purpose outside of blind, permanent justice. That being said, in his cameo in Daredevil: Woman Without Fear, Frank says he doesn't mind waiting to fight, so long as he's "there when the killing starts." So Punisher may ultimately not be much different than he's been.
As the Punisher gears up for a new adventure, a new look is definitely welcome. Merging his logo with Japanese folklore to link him closer to the Hand is both a fun design decision and a much needed change to his look. While some may miss his iconic logo, ushering in a new era of the Punisher seems fitting as Marvel looks to reimagine the character for today's audience, and fans will get their first look March 9 with the release of Punisher #1.