The following contains spoilers for Punisher #12, on sale now from Marvel Comics.

"The Punisher is no more."

Written by Jason Aaron with art by Jesús Saíz and Paul Azaceta, Marvel's latest Punisher series launched in May 2022 ends with Issue #12. In the title, the titular antihero Frank Castle becomes the Highslayer of The Hand, an evil ninja organization, granting him supernatural powers as the "Fist of the Beast." The Hand convinces Frank to take on this role by resurrecting his wife, Maria Castle, along with the intent to do the same for his two dead children. However, fed up with the atrocities he's committed, Maria shoots the Punisher with a mystical gun at the end of the prior Punisher #11, and the series' final issue reveals his ultimate fate while sending him on a new path within the Marvel Universe.

RELATED: The Best Punisher Story Wasn't Even a Marvel Movie

Frank Castle talks to Doctor Strange about how his wife almost killed him in Punisher #12 (2023).

How Frank Castle Cheats Death in Punisher

The Punisher survives his gunshot wounds thanks to Doctor Strange, but loses his supernatural powers as a result. The Sorcerer Supreme and the heroes Captain America/Steve Rogers, Black Widow/Natasha Romanova, Wolverine and Moon Knight capture the wounded Frank at The Hand's compound, and imprison him within the basement of Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. There, Strange pays a visit to Frank, and presents him with the mystical bullets that were removed from his body. The two discuss how Maria shot Frank, and that her revival is unnatural because, as Strange puts it, "When they reanimated her corpse, The Hand perverted all the laws of Earth and Heaven."

Frank Castle sets himself on fire using magic bullets in Punisher #12 (2023).

Despite this, Frank insists that the heroes help Maria and not return her to the grave. Maria is the last to have a one-on-one visit with Frank, and explains that she sold off all his assets with Black Widow's help, keeping half the money for herself while donating the rest to charity. She declares their marriage over and leaves to begin a new life, but doesn't tell the Punisher that she's pregnant. Before the heroes can share with Frank what fate they've decided for him, he uses the remaining magic within the bullets removed from his body to set himself ablaze, disappearing without a trace.

RELATED: Marvel Just Made Punisher's Greatest Loss Even More Heartbreaking

Frank Castle leads Weirdworld orphans to safety in Punisher #12 (2023).

Punisher’s Finale Sets Frank Castle on a New Journey

After the Punisher vanishes, Doctor Strange says, "He is no longer within this plane of existence," adding, "The Punisher is no more." Although it seems that Frank kills himself, in actuality, he is transported to another realm: Weirdworld. Aaron previously wrote about this magical Battleworld domain in 2015's Weirdworld miniseries drawn by artist Mike Del Mundo. The epilogue of Punisher #12 shows that Frank now protects orphans and those in danger within Weirdworld, dropping the "Punisher" moniker and preferring "Frank" instead.

Along with Aaron, Azaceta and Saíz, Punisher #12 is colored by Matt Hollingsworth and lettered by VC's Cory Petit. Main cover art for the issue is by Saíz, with variant cover artwork contributed to by John Cassaday, Laura Martin, Mico Suayan and Frank D'Armata. The issue is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel