Warning: contains a preview of Punisher #1!
There are few characters who are as efficient at killing as the Punisher. With the number of bodies he's left in his wake, the retribution Frank Castle rains down upon criminals is a thing of legend. But the Punisher is now embarking on a new journey that brings him directly to the mysterious ninja clan, the Hand, and it appears this path has made Frank deadlier than ever.
From Monster Metropolis to the afterlife, Frank Castle is a man whose mission has taken him to some odd places. But wherever the Punisher has gone, his goal remains absolute: deliver punishment to the deserving. And in a new Punisher series, Frank finds himself allied with Daredevil's mystical foes, the Hand. Castle may have made himself a modern myth for the methodical way in which he dispatches enemies, but a new preview shows he's more than living up to the myth.
The first glimpse of Frank's deadly new methods comes in the preview pages for Punisher #1 by Jason Aaron, Paul Azaceta, Jesus Saiz and Dave Stewart. Diving right into the action, a crew of criminals come under attack by the Punisher. Castle's reputation precedes him, sending the gang into a panicked state. They arm themselves with some powerful weapons as their leader reminds his flunkies that the Punisher is merely a man. However, darkness suddenly envelops their hideout and a small metallic sound is heard. By the time the lights return, only the head criminal is left standing with his men bleeding out on the floor. Enjoy the preview below:
Marvel recently made the news with an announcement that it was making several changes to the Punisher character. Not only has he gotten a brand-new skull logo, but he's traded in his guns for swords. While Frank has gone down several different paths in his life, this new adventure with the Hand seems to be giving some fans pause. However, it seems that anyone worried that the Punisher's new role will make him any less deadly is mistaken.
If anything, Frank has improved on the way he doles out punishment. His new way is smarter, factoring in the environment and attacking under the cover of darkness. The lack of sounds with a sword also better hides his movements compared to a noisy machine gun, opening up stealthier tactics that make him even more terrifying to his opponents. Swords aren't as flashy as some of the more heavy duty equipment Frank has used, but in the Punisher's hands they're just as deadly. With Frank about to undertake his new adventure it remains to be seen if he's found other ways to improve on punishing the wicked. Punisher #1 is available March 9, 2022.