The following contains spoilers for Punisher #1, now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Marvel fans have been slowly soaking in Frank Castle's latest transformation in Punisher, stunned to see he's transcended into a supernatural themed super-soldier. Frank wanted to elevate himself in the war on crime, so he accepted a position leading the Hand. As the "Fist of the Beast," the possessed Frank now has his own army, working from a base in Japan, allowing him access to more resources than he ever dreamed of.
He's since used the legion to hunt terrorists and murder them -- reviving the sadistic crusade that often ran him afoul of the Avengers. This time, though, Frank's mission won't be changed because this deal resurrected his dead wife, Maria. The surprises kept on coming in Issue #2, though, with a bombshell scene confirming Punisher's newest power borrowed from Moon Knight's most twisted Marvel Cinematic Universe villain.
This is none other than clairvoyance particularly towards those who have sinned. In the Moon Knight TV show, Arthur Harrow revealed the talent when Marc Spector witnessed his cult. Harrow used a mystical cane and judged people, akin to Ghost Rider's Penance Stare. However, Harrow's ability could also see people's sins and future crimes.
Thus, as he drained these folks, he was basically killing innocent people. In fact, that's what his leader, the Egyptian goddess, Ammit, wanted -- to purge the Earth by judging those, even folks who hadn't committed their heinous acts yet. This prevented the opportunity for change and severely limited hope, which is why Marc and his Steven persona fought back to save the planet from a cruel judge, jury and executioner.
A similar narrative arc unfolds in Punisher #2 (from Jason Aaron, Jesús Saiz, Paul Azaceta, Dave Stewart and VC's Cory Petit) when one of the Apostles of War arrived with a peace offering at the Hand's tower. He wanted Frank to know there's no need for a war between the Hand and Ares' soldiers, but Frank rejected the proposal. He revealed red eyes, channeling the Hand's overlord, the Beast, and confessed how he saw the soldier's sins -- past, present and future. It's literally Harrow's Ammit-powered ability, which does not bode well for enemies.
Emboldened by the Beast's dark magic, Frank dispatched the fiend, but seeing as Punisher's gotten out of control over the years, this extra emotional instability could result in actual genocide. Coupled with PTSD, this impulsive nature makes the Punisher a ticking time bomb, with the Hand lapping up the bloodshed.
Only time will tell how Frank tempers this gift, but again, it does seem to be corrupting him the same way Ammit poisoned Harrow in the Moon Knight TV show, who ironically was an agent of vengeance under Khonshu. It reinforces how human vessels can be co-opted by devious gods in these comics, and ultimately, how the road to hell is paved with good intentions.