In a new tie-in to Marvel's Heroes Reborn, the Punisher will be recruited to protect the alternate reality created by Mephisto, the Demon Lord of Hell. In this new reality for the Marvel Universe, the Squadron Supreme of America serve as Earth's Mightiest Heroes due to the Avengers having never assembled. This has also created a cascade of changes throughout the rest of the world, with nearly every hero and villain having the course of their lives changed as well. Now, the preview for Squadron Savage #1 confirms a massive change for Frank Castle's Punisher in this new reality with the reveal that his family is still alive, making him more than willing to rejoin Elektra's dark unit when his new reality is threatened.
The SSA being the premier heroes of this new reality had to have been an intentional action by Mephisto, seeing as how he and his servant Phil Coulson had the entire team of Justice League counterparts brainwashed long before reality was even altered. Now, Coulson is president, Mephisto is worshipped as a god, and the entire Marvel Universe is different with much of it now bearing a resemblance to the DC Universe. However, Squadron Savage #1 from Ethan Sacks and Luca Pizarri will reveal that there are some missions that require darker methods and a different approach rather than sending the Squadron Supreme.
In the new preview for Squadron Savage #1, Frank Castle is living a life of retirement with his family, having earned a peaceful life. However, reality is in danger, and the Department of Defense needs the Punisher to suit up once more and rejoin the Squadron Savage, essentially a mix of the Savage Avengers and DC's Suicide Squad. Led by Elektra, Frank Castle will be joining Cloak, Crossbones, and Murder Hornet (most likely the Wasp gone bad), and their target will be a foe who can rewrite reality itself. Here's the synopsis and preview pages for the issue:
- SQUADRON SAVAGE #1
- ELEKTRA LEADS A TEAM OF THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST HEROES AND VILLAINS - WITH ALL OF REALITY HANGING IN THE BALANCE!
- There are some threats that require a more savage approach than the Squadron Supreme of America can offer. For those missions, the Department of Defense has put together a team consisting of Elektra, the Punisher, Crossbones, Cloak and the enigmatic Murder Hornet. They must fight their way through a team of super-powered terrorists known as the Redeemers-if they don't kill one another first! Prepare for twists, turns, double crosses and action aplenty!
Along with this threat to reality, it looks as though the Squadron Savage will be dealing with a terrorist group known as the Redeemers as well. In any case, it makes sense that the Punisher would agree to come back to the team for this mission in particular. Even if he can't remember the life he's meant to have in the normal Marvel Universe where his family was killed, there's no way he would ever risk losing them and would do anything to protect the reality in which where they're still alive at all costs.
However the rest of the issue plays out, it's most likely going to be all kinds of intense and brutal, as the synopsis teases "twists, turns, double-crosses and action aplenty!". While the Punisher is clearly the biggest and most intriguing focus from this preview, it's going to be interesting to see what else the Squadron Savage has in store when the full Heroes Reborn issue releases.