WARNING: The following contains minor spoilers for Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3, written by Chip Zdarsky, illustrated by Rafael de Latorre, colored by Federico Blee and lettered by VC's Clayton Cowles, now on sale from Marvel Comics.

Frank Castle's controversial new Punisher skull design has made its debut earlier than expected.

While Jason Aaron, Jesús Saiz and Paul Azaceta's Punisher presitge series debuts on March 9, Frank makes an appearance on the final page of Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3, setting the stage for his new role as the warlord of the Hand.

RELATED: Punisher: Marvel Is About To Reveal The First Person Killed By Frank Castle

Punisher new skull design Marvel

The skull on Frank Castle's shirt has become a symbol of controversy in recent years, despite being present since his first appearance in 1974's The Amazing Spider-Man #129. This is largely because the skull has been co-opted by police and military, which stands in stark contrast to Frank's status as a man who takes the law into his own hands when the system fails him. That said, the new design was also met with contention from fans.

RELATED: Marvel Debuts New Art Featuring Punisher's Revamped Skull and Status Quo

"After writing the Punisher over the years, I’ve always been fascinated by the character of Frank Castle," Aaron said when the Punisher series was announced, at which time it was also revealed that The Punisher's skull was getting a redesign. "What moments made him the Punisher, even before that fateful day in the park? And how far will he go to win the war that has consumed his life? Spoiler: as far as it damn well takes. This story is the destined next step in the dark and tragic evolution of Frank Castle, from troubled kid to heroic soldier to revenge-driven vigilante…to the duly anointed King of Killers. Believe me when I say, I am as excited about this story as anything I’ve ever written for Marvel."

"A few years ago, Jason Aaron came into one of our creative summits with a pitch for Frank that made our collective jaws drop," Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski added. "The story Jason is telling – a truly epic tale about darkness, violence, and choices – can only be told with the Punisher at its core. This series will build on Frank’s legacy while introducing us to a side of him we’ve never seen before, setting the stage for an evolution that we’ll find was inevitable."

Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3, written by Chip Zdarsky, illustrated by Rafael de Latorre, colored by Federico Blee and lettered by VC's Clayton Cowles, is now on sale from Marvel Comics. Punisher #1, written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Jesús Saiz and Paul Azaceta and colored by Dave Stewart, goes on sale March 9.

KEEP READING: Punisher Co-Creator Still Believes the Skull Logo Can Be Reclaimed From Far-Right Extremists

Source: Marvel Comics