Vigilante Frank Castle, infamous for his lethal justice, resumes his role as The Punisher.
Time for Frank Castle's Comeback! The Violent, Brutal, and Explicit Return of the Punisher
Fresh off our screens, Frank Castle, the relentless, gun-toting antihero, is making his way back to the comic book medium. Get ready for some blood-soaked carnage with the upcoming Punisher: Red Band, a five-issue miniseries by Ben Percy (Wolverine) and Julius Ohta (Iron Man).
Last seen in 2023, Frank found himself at the helm of the Hand ninja cult, discovered his wife was alive and wanted a divorce, and ended up in Weirdworld. This new series finds Frank back in NYC with no recollection of his past life, but still adept at dishing out death. Expect plenty of on-point headshots as this title lives up to its namesake.
Percy expressed his excitement about the project, stating, "Frank Castle is one of my all-time favorite characters, and Punisher is a series I've been chomping at the bit to write for eons. I'm gonna dive headfirst and kick the living crap out of this genre: testosterone-fueled psychopaths gone wild. Buckle up for some sheer, adrenaline-fueled mayhem."
Marvel's struggle to find the right direction for Frank isn't anything new. Some of it was due to the timing of a heavily-armed vigilante on TV in the aftermath of mass shootings, while other times it was due to the misuse of the Punisher symbol by law enforcement. Daredevil: Born Again addressed the latter issue head-on by having Frank take out a whole squad of Punisher cops and swiftly letting them know they're not up to snuff.
Come September 10, we'll see what the future holds for Frank as Punisher: Red Band hits the stands.
In the mood for more? Check out the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, get the lowdown on the DC Universe's upcoming films and shows, and stay tuned for updates on the future of Doctor Who.
Enrichment insights:- Series Details: Punisher: Red Band is a new comic series by writer Benjamin Percy and artist Julius Ohta, with a launch date set for September 10, 2025.- Content Warning: The series falls under Marvel's Red Band label, indicating it contains more explicit content than usual, protected by a polybag to shield younger readers.- Genre: The narrative offers a gritty, bloody exploration of street-level mayhem, with Percy aiming to push the envelope of the genre.- Plot Summary: Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher, starts a brutal war against crime without any memories of his past life, embarking on a hunt for answers with bullets flying and blood flowing in NYC.- Real-world Relevance: The series also seeks to address the controversial real-world use of the Punisher symbol.- Creative Team: Percy and Ohta bring their dark and intense style, thanks to their work on Hellverine, to Punisher: Red Band.
- The highly-anticipated comic book series, Punisher: Red Band, is set to hit the stands on September 10, 2025, under Marvel's Red Band label, promising a grittier and bloodier exploration of street-level mayhem.
- As the future unfolds, Frank Castle, the relentless antihero, finds himself back in New York City with no memories of his past life, but still adept at dishing out death in this new series.
- Fans of entertainment, technology, movies-and-TV, and specifically the Punisher, should keep an eye on io9 and Gizmodo for updates on this exciting project, as they continue to provide insightful coverage on the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who.
