The following contains spoilers for Punisher War Journal: Brother #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
One of the most engaging aspects of Marvel's current Punisher run is the mystical take on the series. Frank Castle has been turned into a supernatural killer, the Fist of the Beast, although he's reconsidering the deal he made with the Hand. He may enjoy bringing criminals to justice for the Japanese ninja clan, but he can tell he's owned by the High Priestess: a true puppet master.
To make it worse, Frank had them bring his dead wife, Maria, back, but culled his own kids when their resurrections flopped, driving a wedge in his mind. As much as he wants them back, he can't go on keeping them, and even Maria, around as abominations. Well, courtesy of the Punisher War Journal: Brother #1 (by Torunn Grønbekk, Rafael T. Pimentel, Matt Milla and VC's Cory Petit), things may get worse for Frank, thanks to one other macabre revival that could take place.
Punisher War Journal Features Frank Castle Murdering Jigsaw - Again
In Brother, a contract is placed on Punisher's head in Europe. He's stunned as women and children try to cash in, breaking him because he can't shake the memories of his own family's demise. Eventually, Frank and his ninja army take their enemies out, which leads to a surprising appearance from Jigsaw.
Billy Russo's not in it for the money, though. He just wants the pride of the kill, especially as he and Punisher have hated each other since Len Wein and Ross Andru created the villain back in the '70s. Once more, however, Jigsaw comes up short, with Frank putting a sword through his throat. An explosion also occurs, seemingly killing both of them. It's a fiery, fitting end, and one that also nods to their brawl in the Netflix TV show, in how Frank did try to hold back against an obsessed, lost Billy.
Punisher War Journal Could Make Jigsaw the Hand's Weapon
Interestingly, the Hand takes their dead bodies back to the citadel, where the worthy are appraised and revived. Frank, of course, is rebooted again, with the Priestess making it clear anyone worth salvaging has to be made into her pawn. This warped recruitment gives them numbers, allows her to physically brainwash them, or even cut a deal like she did with Frank. This teases maybe the clan found Billy, opting to take him in. Seeing as the Priestess can sense Frank may turn on her and the Beast someday, Billy would be a powerful contingency plan.
He has no moral compass, guilt or conscience, so he can be that dog of war. Ares has already warned Frank that to fulfill this role, he needs to shed himself of all humanity, so if Frank isn't ready to be the Hand's god of war, it's easy to see Billy buying in. It'll allow him to murder at will, wield a powerful army, probably heal his scarred face, and give him everything he needs to exact revenge on Frank. And ultimately, this leadership role will satisfy Billy's ego and give offer the full power Frank refused, or was too scared to embrace.