Once again, Marvel is making a change to thePunisher’s iconic skull symbol, prompting fan discussion of the logo’s real-world use and whether Marvel needs to retire it (and potentially even the character) for good.
Fans seeing the new design could be forgiven for thinking that Marvel is continuing to avoid the classic logo, but there’s a twist…
Frank Castle has had multiple different characterizations over the years, but at his heart, the character is a lethal vigilante who targets killer criminals, ‘punishing’ their crimes and protecting the innocent in the process. In recent years,the character’s skull logo has been adoptedby real-life extremist groups and even law enforcement personnel, celebrating the idea of individual ‘justice’ carried out using violence.
Marvel has seemingly responded by redesigning Frank Castle’s logo multiple times, notably keeping the character away from his original skull symbol for protracted periods in its comics. Now, the Punisher is getting yet another logo redesign, courtesy ofMarvel Knights: Punisher.However this time, things are a little different.
Cover Artist:
DAN PANOSIAN
One of the other pillars of MARVEL KNIGHTS enters the fray with THE PUNISHER! How did Frank get from the killer of killers you know to the man you met in THE WORLD TO COME?! Marvel Knights co-founder Jimmy Palmiotti and artist extraordinaire Dan Panosian treat you to one of the most savage comics ever!
Punisher’s Logo Has Become the Most Hotly Debated Subject in Comics
Marvel Has Repeatedly Redesigned the Character, Keeping Him Away from His Iconic Symbol
Over the last few years, thePunisher’s symbol has been changed repeatedly. First, Frank Castle became the leader of the Hand, with a new demonic skull adorning his body armor. Then, after Frank Castle was exiled to an alternate dimension,he was replaced by Joe Garrison, whose hi-tech armor created a negatized, white-and-black skull symbol. Meanwhile, in the Ultimate Universe, Punisher kept his traditional skull, but was reimagined as a serial killer who inspired modern Neo-Nazi groups.
Marvel Knights: Punisherwill see Frank redesigned again in a potential future of the Marvel Universe.Spinning out ofMarvel Knights: The World to Come(by Christopher Priest and Joe Quesada), the new comic shows an older Punisher in black body armor, with white stripes picking out the eyes, nose and teeth of his iconic skull. However, this design is spread over the costume’s surface, turning Frank’s body into the ‘skull’ and avoiding his classic logo.
It’s possible that Marvel believes the heat surrounding the symbol has died down…
Fans seeing the new design could be forgiven for thinking that Marvel is continuing to avoid the classic logo, if not foranother Punisherseries heading to shelves this year…
Don’t Despair, Classic Fans - The Original Symbol Is Returning Too
Frank Castle’s Return Brings His Skull Logo Back into Continuity
AlongsideMarvel Knights, Marvel has announcedthe publication ofPunisher: Red Band. This adults-only title will see Frank Castle return to Marvel’s main continuity, once again taking the Punisher name. Marco Checchetto’s cover art shows Punisher wearing the iconic skull logo, suggesting thatMarvel is indeed returning Frank to his classic symbolin its mainstream stories.
MARCO CHECCHETTO
FRANK IS BACK! Reread and reload, True Believers - Frank Castle is BACK. With no memories, a full clip and a thirst for wrathful vengeance, his violent search for answers could only be chronicled in a Red Band series! Bullets will fly, blood will flow, and the citizens and criminals of New York City alike will fear the name THE PUNISHER! From the superstar HELLVERINE creative team of Benjamin Percy and Julius Ohta, don’t miss a single pulse-pounding page of this explosive new series!
It’s likely thatPunisher: Red Bandwill once again kickstart discussion of what the Punisher’s symbol means and how Marvel’s comics should be influenced by its real-world use. Opinions vary vastly, with the character’s creator Gerry Conway (speaking to99% Invisible) arguing the skull can be reclaimed,suggesting Punisher could be rebooted as"a Black vet"and explore"the issues that minorities in the world face today.“Meanwhile, Garth Ennis - one of the franchise’s most celebrated creators - has argued (during an interview withComic Book Herald) that the Punisher as a character is bigger than his symbol, and could continue on without it.
It’s possible that Marvel believes the heat surrounding the symbol has died down, or that this series being age-restricted will sidestep any controversy. Whatever the case, while thePunisherisgetting a redesign for hisMarvel Knightscomic, the mainstream Frank Castle is back to wearing the classic skull in a series where his vigilante violence will be turned up to 11.
Punisher: Red Band #1is coming September 10 from Marvel Comics, followed byMarvel Knights: Punisher #1October 8.
