Marvel ditches popular superhero: Was he too conservative for fans?

The Punisher: Marvel’s Anti-Hero

In 1974, Marvel introduced a new character in “The Amazing Spider-Man” who would go on to become one of their most enduring heroes. That character is Frank Castle, better known as “The Punisher.” Initially a two-bit henchman and assassin, Castle quickly became one of the more fleshed-out characters in the Marvel universe.

Castle is a military veteran who has been on a never-ending mission of vengeance since his family was brutally murdered. His penchant for guns, brutal methods of vigilantism, and willingness to outright kill put him at odds with much of what people associate with superheroes. However, his popularity skyrocketed as he fought real-life analogs for real-world scum, as opposed to the more fantastical villains seen in comics.

He was the quintessential anti-hero, and because so much of his fiction was rooted in gritty realism, the Punisher became a mega-hit.

Despite his popularity, leftists have associated the Punisher’s popularity with the farthest fringes of right-wing extremism. Marvel has been left in a conundrum, trying to have its cake and eat it too. They have recently spun off the Punisher’s story to effectively end the character, but not the man. Marvel has effectively written off the Punisher, but keeping around Frank Castle. In short, the Punisher ultimately ends up in a quasi-limbo. In said limbo, Castle sheds the moniker and opts to adopt a life of solely rescuing children.

So everything about the Punisher that made him the Punisher — the white skull logo, the guns, the rage — is effectively gone from the Marvel universe, while Castle remains trapped in the middle of nowhere.

It’s a narratively cheap trick, as the character is certainly not dead, but also not imminently connected to anything else in the comic book world. Marvel has effectively put Frank Castle in Tupperware while allowing the Punisher to expire. He can be brought back at a moment’s notice.

Why the Left Hates the Punisher

The Punisher represents much of what the left hates. He’s a white, straight Catholic male who is deeply ingrained with guns and gun culture. He’s a man of immense drive and discipline, and he doesn’t buy into moral relativism or being soft on crime. Right is right, wrong is wrong, and justice shall be meted out based on that with the Punisher.

Now, ask most leftists why they think the Punisher is as popular as he is, and you’re likely to get some variation to “Because of racism.” But that’s what the left defaults to, and ignores the brutal realities of why the Punisher actually is so popular: Because most people, leftists included, would love a “Punisher” in real life to deal with the soaring crime rates throughout the country.

Soft-on-crime DA’s and their policies won’t mean much if repeat offenders end up dead the first go around.

To be clear, this is not to condone or approve of murder or vigilantism. The American justice system exists for a reason. This is just to say that it’s understandable.

Marvel’s Answer

Marvel has effectively put Frank Castle in Tupperware while allowing the Punisher to expire. He can be brought back at a moment’s notice. And with the Punisher poised to have a big live-action role in the upcoming Disney Plus series “Daredevil: Born Again,” you can be sure Marvel will dust him off once a little heat is off the hero. But for now, Marvel would like you to forget that the Punisher and a number of his more conservative traits exist.

Er, Frank Castle.

Regardless of whether or not the Punisher was actually being co-opted in hateful ways, the perception was that it clearly was, and in fairness to the whiny leftists complaining about the character, it’s easy to see why.

Headlines

Just look at these headlines:

• Newsweek: “Marvel’s Punisher Problem”
• Inverse: “The Punisher isn’t Marvel’s anymore. He belongs to the Proud Boys now.”
• American University included the Punisher’s skull logo as part of a “Decoding Hate” article
• The Guardian suggested making the Punisher’s skull logo a “Black Lives Matter” logo instead
• Forbes: “The Creator Of ‘The Punisher’ Wants To Reclaim The Iconic Skull From Police And Fringe Admirers”

Marvel’s attempt to distance themselves from the Punisher’s more conservative traits may be a smart business move, but it’s also a disservice to the character and his fans.

The Punisher is a beloved character, and it’s a shame to see Marvel try to erase him from their universe.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases