The Punisher Has Finally Been Given The Villain He Truly Deserves

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Warning: contains spoilers forThe Punisher #2!

Marvel's The Punisher has a rather unique problem when compared to his fellow superheroes: he has no real pool of villains to fight. While Frank Castle certain has his share of super-foes, they usually don't return for subsequent issues — because the Punisher usually kills them all. But The Punisher #2 reveals one of the very few villains that Castle can't defeat with a bullet, and he's all the more better for it.

While Marvel's heroes usually refrain from killing their enemies, even vowing never to take a human life (similar to Batman's so-called One Rule), the Punisher has no such vow. In a fragrant violation of the comics norm at the time of his introduction (1971), Frank Castle slaughters his enemies, believing they are worthy of neither pity nor mercy. It's worth noting that Frank doesn't always consider this a morally-correct action - merely a path he must walk so that others do not have to. Nevertheless, this leaves the Punisher without many recurring enemies.

Related: Marvel Confirms The Punisher Now Has Superpower (Yes, Really)

But The Punisher #2 seeks to change this, along with a large part of Castle's status quo. For starters, his wife has miraculously returned from the dead, newly resurrected by new mysterious employers. His iconic skull logo is gone, replaced by a more demonic logo, evocative of the Hand. His new enemies, the Apostles, are worldwide arms manufacturers in suits with Greek helmets, uttering «Bless the war» at every opportunity. There leader is none other than Ares, the Greek God of War.

Ares is a formidable opponent; in charge of the entire Apostles, he seeks to popularize war and violence in all forms — and the Punisher is, according to the Hand