Since making his comic debut in Amazing Spider-Man #129, Punisher has gained a reputation as Marvel's darkest and most violent character. With a constant willingness to kill, and a belief that no criminal can face redemption, Punisher is a street vigilante who instantly sets himself apart from the rest of Marvel's vigilante community.
Proving to be incredibly popular for a Spider-Man villain, Punisher has received numerous solo stories, with his mythos constantly being reinvented and explored through different lenses. With an incredible origin story, polarizing methods, and countless significant appearances, Punisher has become one of Marvel's most compelling characters.
11 Punisher Killed The Marvel Universe
A one-shot comic released in 1995, Punisher Kills The Marvel Universe is a non-canon story that features Punisher rampaging through the entire Marvel Universe. Killing over fifty significant Marvel characters in the book, the comic intends not to develop Punisher as a character but rather to symbolize Frank Castle's status as a cold-blooded character who isn't necessarily a hero or a villain. Though the power scaling is all over the place throughout the book, it emphasizes that things like power-scaling don't matter to someone like Punisher. This story serves to emphasize that what truly matters to Punisher is not ability, but rather will and determination.
10 New York City Lost Power In The Punisher Volume 11
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Published in 2017, Punisher Volume 11 features Frank Castle's return to New York City. In Punisher Vol 11 #13, after New York City suddenly endures a city-wide blackout, the streets devolve into some of the most brutal crimes the city has seen in years.
Heading into the subway, Frank hunts down a violent killer, leaving a trail of destruction in his path. Later in the storyline, Frank goes head-to-head with a strength-enhanced Face, hoping to stop the violent mutant from rampaging through the streets of New York City.
8 Punisher Made His Solo Debut In Circle Of Blood
In October 1985, nearly 11 years after his first appearance as a Spider-Man villain, Punisher received his first self-titled solo series. A five-issue mini-series, Punisher Volume 1 slightly retconned Frank Castle's most violent actions, explaining them to be a result of drug poisoning. In Punisher Vol 1 issues 1-5, Frank Castle checks into the prison on Ryker's Island, immediately drawing the attention of every prisoner and guard. Once again fighting both sides of the law, Frank finds himself in the middle of a war as he wonders who he can trust.
7 Punisher Met His Equal In Barracuda
In 2004, one of the most iconic and influential comic runs of all time started with Garth Ennis' Punisher MAX. Serving as Volume 7 of the ongoing Punisher title, Punisher MAX is famous for its consistent depiction of Frank Castle as a vigilante and anti-hero. In Punisher MAX issues 30-36, Punisher is pitted against Barracuda, a mercenary with an extensive history in the US military.
Facing off a number of times throughout the six-issue arc, it's made very apparent that Barracuda is not an everyday mercenary and is more than capable of matching Frank's brutality.
6 Punisher Infiltrated A Prison In The Cell
A one-shot comic set within the continuity of Punisher MAX, Punisher: The Cell features a story where Frank allows the police to arrest him and send him to prison. Once behind bars, Frank quickly starts to create doubt amongst the prisoners, forcing them into rivalries born from paranoia. Eventually leading to a full-scale riot, Frank's actual plan is revealed as he sets his sights on a mob boss being held within the prison. For anyone looking for a dark and brutal Punisher story that doesn't require any previous reading, Punisher: The Cell is the perfect comic.
5 Punisher MAX Launched With In The Beginning
Starting off Garth Ennis' iconic Punisher run, In The Beginning occurred in Punisher MAX issues 1-6. In the comic, set thirty years into Frank Castle's misison, Punisher captures the attention of CIA officer Robert Bethell. After recruiting Punisher's former partner Micro, Bethel kidnaps Punisher and offers him a spot on a covert CIA strike force.
Refusing the offer, Punisher frees himself from the CIA's clutches. Eventually creating a bunker as a base of operations, Frank prepares for a full-scale war between covert CIA operatives and the New York City Mafia.
4 Welcome Back, Frank Revitalized The Character
Garth Ennis' second endeavor with the character after Punisher Kills The Marvel Universe; Welcome Back, Frank, is a twelve-issue series credited with revitalizing Punisher's mythos and putting him on the path to becoming a top-selling character. Starting off in the aftermath of a drug deal broken up by the Punisher, the series immediately throws readers into the thick of the Punisher's everyday world.
Cultivating an odd group of neighbors in his run-down apartment building, Punisher secretly operates a massive war on New York City crime. Eventually, readers are introduced to a crime family named the Gnuccis, who Frank has tasked himself with taking out one by one. The widespread success of this storyline is the reason Garth Ennis remained as Punisher's main writer for numerous years, eventually leading to the iconic Punisher MAX.
3 Up Is Down, Black Is White Packs A Heavy Punch
A six-issue arc in the middle of Punisher MAX, Up Is Down Black Is White occurred in Punisher MAX issues 19-24. A sequel storyline to the previously mentioned Welcome Back, Frank, the storyline centers around the Mafia getting revenge on Frank for attempting to dismantle their organization.
Committing an unspeakable act on Frank's deceased family, notorious mobster Nicky Cavella returns and stakes his claim as one of the worst individuals Frank Castle has ever dealt with. An arc well-known among longtime Punisher fans, this storyline delivers all the darkness Ennis fans have come to expect.
2 The SlaversDisplays Frank's Heroic Side
A six-issue arc directly following the events of Up Is Down, Black Is White; The Slavers occurred in Punisher MAX issues 25-30. Putting Frank in a unique position, The Slavers is considered to be one of the more heroic tales in Punisher's history. Tasking himself with freeing a woman from a slave-trading ring, Punisher teams up with a social worker to protect women on the streets from slavery. Displaying his policy of no tolerance for evil, Punisher takes matters into his own hands as engages in one of the most brutal and unforgiving comic arcs Marvel has ever published.
1 Born Documents Frank's Days As A Marine
Set inside the central Marvel universe, Born is a four-issue mini-series that documents Frank Castle's time serving as a Captain for the US Marine Corps during his final tour of duty in the Vietnam War. Though not the first Punisher book to be set during his days in the military, Born is considered by Punisher fans to be the most harrowing and compelling of all Frank Castle's military age stories. Assigned to the isolated border of Valley Forge Firebase, Frank is put through the wringer in a way only war can do. Among Punisher fans, Born is the definitive origin story of Frank Castle.