Table of Contents
Marvel’s infamous skull-emblazoned vigilante returns with a new ongoing series by Benjamin Percy and Julius Ohta. The series is polybagged under Marvel’s Red Band initiative to protect younger readers from its graphic violence.
Ink was one of Nicky Cavella’s bodyguards/enforcers, usually paired with Pittsy. He is a callous, ruthless killer with an eye for detail.
Storyline
When a mobster murders Frank Castle’s wife and two children, the ruthless vigilante known as The Punisher sets out to wreak vengeance on all those responsible. Using a combination of tactical weaponry and street smarts, the former Marine is determined to see justice done – no matter the cost.
Despite his brutal approach, the character is considered by many to be an antihero. He has appeared alongside heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America, despite his aversion to working with others. His appearances have also provided commentary on the nature of violence and vengeance in modern society.
In the 1990s, as Marvel’s line shifted towards more violent and adult themes, The Punisher became one of the most popular characters at the company. During this time, the character was featured in multiple mini-series and a few ongoing series. He also shared a team-up title with the superhero War Machine for a brief period.
Now, the acclaimed writer Benjamin Percy brings The Punisher back for an all-new ongoing series with artist Jose Luis Soares. This new take on the hero finds him still dealing with the events of the Red Band series, but waging a war against criminals including a resurfaced Jigsaw. Bullets will fly and blood will flow in this pulse-pounding epic from the superstar HELLVERINE team!
Release Schedule
The Marvel Universe is a world that is recognizably Earth, but also home to heroes and villains who have super powers. This world is a rich source of stories, and characters often cross into other books or series. This is especially true of violent heroes like Punisher, who has been a mainstay at Marvel since the early 1980s.
The first Punisher mini-series was published in 1986, and the character soon earned his own ongoing series. A brutal killing machine with strict moral boundaries, the vigilante is known for his ruthless tactics and extreme violence. Writer Gerry Conway conceived of the character as a villain, but the killing machine emerged as an antihero with his own strict moral code. He also sketched the skull symbol that is now the hallmark of the character.
Following the success of Punisher: Red Band, writer Benjamin Percy is taking Frank Castle to the next level in a new ongoing series debuting in February 2026. This series finds Frank, still dealing with the events of his Red Band run, waging war against criminals including a resurfaced Jigsaw, one of Marvel’s most terrifying super-villains.
In addition to the upcoming ongoing series, Punisher will appear in some of the major 2026 Marvel Universe events. These legacy reprints include the aforementioned All-New, All-Different Marvel #20 and Original Sin #2-5, where he is not only a primary character but takes on a role of supernatural avenging angel.
Key Characters
Marvel Comics fan favorite Frank Castle is the series’ main protagonist, but the new story has plenty of supporting players to keep fans invested. The most obvious is Microchip, a longtime ally of Frank who serves as his eyes in the sky and his tech expert. He is a critical part of the Punisher’s arsenal, but also his moral compass as he questions whether or not Frank’s relentless violence is really justifiable.
Another key character is Amy Bendix, a young grifter who was saved by Frank and taken under his wing after witnessing the murder of her family. She is a strong supporter of his war on crime, and her fiery dedication to her mission makes for one of the more compelling aspects of the character.
Finally, there is Hoyle, an old military friend of Castle’s who is one of the few people that know he is alive after his appearance in the Red Band series. He runs a counseling program for veterans that is funded, at least in part, by Billy Russo.
Why Fans Are Excited
The Punisher is one of the most rounded heroes in the game. Regardless of team composition or objective mode, his kit ensures that he can dish out punishment and create walls of damage that the enemy team needs to break through.
His turret Ultimate is also a great way to hold down choke points, and his piercing shotgun is an effective counter to flier comps on maps with long sightlines. Furthermore, his turret is completely immune to crowd control during its duration, and his ult provides a quick way to shut down enemies by focusing them down and landing a headshot.
Despite his strength, Punisher is a difficult hero to play effectively. He lacks a reliable way to self-sustain or stun his targets, and the only way to prevent him from being focused down is to jiggle peek. However, this tactic is not easy to pull off, and it requires an understanding of when and where to use his jiggle peek, as well as an awareness of how far the enemy can see him through his smoke trail.
A good Punisher player knows how to pair with his allies. Hela and Rocket Raccoon are excellent choices because they both exert a high amount of poke pressure on the enemy team, allowing them to avoid being countered by the enemy’s defensive ult. Moreover, Hela’s Metal Bulwark covers one of Frank Castle’s main weaknesses: his low poke damage and inability to slow down the enemy while he is healing.