Get Started In PUNISHER Comic Books

by snowbi-wan, updated Jul 2019

The PUNISHER is Marvel's war hero turned vengeful vigilante and virtual one-man army. When Marine Captain Frank Castle was on leave having a picnic with his family, they stumbled into a mob hit...and the mobsters killed his wife and two children. Castle's life was destroyed, and he vowed vengeance on the gang who killed his family and from there...all criminals. The Punisher wears a distinctive white skull on his heavily armored chest to draw an enemy's fire to it. Castle is a seasoned military combat veteran with extensive training and skills with all manner of arms, explosives and hand-to-hand combat. He has a seemingly endless cache of weapons, vehicles and safehouses. His lethal methods often get him entangled with costumed heroes such as Spider-Man and Daredevil. Introduced in the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129, the Punisher was hired by the Jackal to kill Spider-Man under false pretenses. Spider-Man eventually convinced the Punisher that the Jackal was the bad guy. Throughout the Punisher's early appearances, little was known about his actual origin until the story was revealed in flashback in the pages of MARVEL PREVIEW [1975-MAG] #2. The Punisher continued to make appearances in other characters' titles (mostly Spider-Man's) for a decade before getting his own self-titled mini-series. The Punisher has had no less than 12 self-titled solo series, but also several other secondary ongoing series that bear his name, not to mention near countless mini-series and one-shots. At the height of his popularity, he carried four ongoing monthly series simultaneously. Oversaturation lead to a popularity decline, but Garth Ennis reinvigorated the character beginning with his 2000 Marvel Knights series and going on for an eight-year run with the character. A few other notable writers aside from the original creators that contributed to the Punisher's mythos include Jason Aaron, Rick Remender and Greg Rucka. The Punisher was a mainstay in the Marvel Knights and Marvel MAX publishing imprint eras. (Note: These imprints, particularly the MAX line, are more suited for mature audiences.) It's almost always a big deal when the Punisher goes up against another A-list hero. The Punisher has had three feature film adaptations, but has only achieved mainstream success in live-action from his 2017-2019 appearances in Netflix's television arm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Punisher is one of only a few popular character icons who were not part of the initial 1950s genesis of the Marvel Universe, many of which are also psychologically-troubled antiheroes. And as someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, it appears he'll continue to deal out his lethal brand of justice as long as there are bad guys in the Marvel Universe and creators who can give him a halfway fresh interpretation.

Compilations

In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Punisher comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Punisher. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).

There is a truly staggering amount of Punisher material, and a large portion of that is still in print. The following list contains main series and mini-series compilations. Marvel's EPIC COLLECTION is a series of economy-priced black and white trade paperbacks with up to 20 issues per volume. This successor to Marvel's ESSENTIAL line is not being published in numerical order, so the release months will not be chronological, and the list may have gaps until all the volumes are published. The suggested reading order for this list is chronological by publication. You can't go wrong with that order, since that was the order in which they were published.

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure

Cover	Release Month	Series / Number / Storyline
Quick View	Dec 2018	PUNISHER EPIC COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 02: CIRCLE OF BLOOD CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Feb 2019	PUNISHER EPIC COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 03: KINGPIN RULES CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Sep 2016	PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL BY CARL POTTS AND JIM LEE [2016-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Jul 2019	PUNISHER: RETURN TO BIG NOTHING [2019-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Mar 2017	WOLVERINE VS. THE PUNISHER [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Jul 2018	PUNISHER: SHADOWMASTERS [2018-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Jan 2020	PUNISHER EPIC COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 05: JIGSAW PUZZLE	UNAVAILABLE	$25.99

Quick View	May 2018	PUNISHER INVADES THE 'NAM [1994-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Feb 2017	GHOST RIDER; WOLVERINE; PUNISHER: HEARTS OF DARKNESS [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Dec 2017	PUNISHER EPIC COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 07: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Aug 2017	PUNISHER: SUICIDE RUN [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Feb 2016	PUNISHER VS. THE MARVEL UNIVERSE [2016-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Jan 2019	MARVEL KNIGHTS PUNISHER: PURGATORY [2019-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Dec 2018	MARVEL KNIGHTS PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2019-TPB] VOL 01 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Mar 2019	MARVEL KNIGHTS PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2019-TPB] VOL 02 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Jun 2019	MARVEL KNIGHTS PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2019-TPB] VOL 03 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Feb 2019	MARVEL KNIGHTS PUNISHER: TAXI WARS [2019-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Apr 2016	PUNISHER: BORN [2004-TPB] 2ND EDITION ($14.99 COVER PRICE), CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Jan 2016	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 01 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Mar 2016	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 02 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Oct 2016	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 03 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Dec 2016	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 04 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Jan 2017	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 05 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Aug 2017	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 06 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Jan 2018	PUNISHER MAX: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 07 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	May 2016	DAREDEVIL VS. PUNISHER: MEANS AND ENDS [2016-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Feb 2019	PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL BY MATT FRACTION: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2019-TPB] VOL 01 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Apr 2011	PUNISHER: FRANKEN-CASTLE [2011-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Feb 2017	PUNISHER AND BULLSEYE: DEADLIEST HITS [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Aug 2014	PUNISHER [2014-TPB] VOL 01: BLACK AND WHITE CURRENT PRINTING (* OUT-OF-PRINT *)			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Jan 2015	PUNISHER [2014-TPB] VOL 02: BORDER CROSSING CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Sep 2015	PUNISHER [2014-TPB] VOL 03: LAST DAYS CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Oct 2016	DAREDEVIL/PUNISHER: SEVENTH CIRCLE [2016-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Dec 2016	PUNISHER [2016-TPB] VOL 01: ON THE ROAD CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Jul 2017	PUNISHER [2016-TPB] VOL 02: END OF THE LINE CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Jan 2018	PUNISHER [2016-TPB] VOL 03: KING OF THE NEW YORK STREETS CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Aug 2017	DOCTOR STRANGE/PUNISHER: MAGIC BULLETS [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Aug 2017	DEADPOOL VS. THE PUNISHER [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Apr 2018	PUNISHER: THE PLATOON [2017-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	May 2018	PUNISHER: WAR MACHINE [2018-TPB] VOL 01 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Nov 2018	PUNISHER: WAR MACHINE [2018-TPB] VOL 02 CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon

Quick View	Feb 2019	PUNISHER [2018-TPB] VOL 01: WORLD WAR FRANK CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	May 2019	PUNISHER [2018-TPB] VOL 02: WAR IN BAGALIA CURRENT PRINTING			Go to Amazon
Quick View	Oct 2019	PUNISHER [2018-TPB] VOL 03: STREET BY STREET BLOCK BY BLOCK	UNAVAILABLE	$10.39

Quick View	Sep 2019	COSMIC GHOST RIDER DESTROYS MARVEL HISTORY [2019-TPB]	UNAVAILABLE	$11.69

Quick View	Sep 2019	WAR OF THE REALMS: PUNISHER [2019-TPB]	UNAVAILABLE	$10.39

Quick View	Oct 2019	SAVAGE AVENGERS [2019-TPB] VOL 01: CITY OF SICKLES	UNAVAILABLE	$10.39
Quick View	May 2020	SAVAGE AVENGERS [2019-TPB] VOL 02: TO DINE WITH DOOM	UNAVAILABLE	$12.99

Quick View	Dec 2019	PUNISHER: KILL KREW [2019-TPB]	UNAVAILABLE	$11.69

Quick View	May 2020	PUNISHER: SOVIET [2020-TPB]	UNAVAILABLE	$11.69

Quick View	May 2020	REVENGE OF THE COSMIC GHOST RIDER [2020-TPB]	UNAVAILABLE	$10.39

1st Appearance

The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Punisher, if it's within your budget. The Punisher made his first appearance in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129 and continued to make appearances in other characters' titles (mostly Spider-Man's) for a decade before getting his own self-titled mini-series.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129 (1st appearance of Punisher)

Origin Story

The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. The 'origin' of a superhero/villain is typically the event or circumstances surrounding how they gained their powers and/or began fighting/committing crime. The Punisher made three full appearances before an overview of his 'origin' was told in MARVEL PREVIEW [1975-MAG] #2 in flashback as part of the story. It was a simple origin and stood for years before subtle details were added in 1991 and 1994. An alternate mystical interpretation to the Punisher's origin appeared in the short series, PUNISHER [1998] #1-4, but it has been justifiably ignored by creators and fans ever since. On the other hand, the semi-origin story, BORN [2003], a mini-series which reveals Frank's formative time in Vietnam, is worth including on our list below.

MARVEL PREVIEW [1975-MAG] #2 (4th full appearance/origin of Punisher)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL [1976] #15 (1-page character profile of Punisher)
OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE [1983] #8 (1-page character profile of Punisher)
OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE [1985] #10 (2-page character profile of Punisher)
PUNISHER: AN EYE FOR AN EYE [1991] (origin retold with new circumstances revealed)
PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994] #1-4 (origin retold and expanded)
PUNISHER [1998] #1-4 (strange mystical 'spin' on Punisher's origin has been unilaterally ignored by all subsequent creators)
BORN [2003] #1-4 (Frank Castle's brutal days in Vietnam told)

Main Publication History

Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Punisher comic books. The Punisher made his first appearance in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129 and continued to make appearances in other characters' titles (mostly Spider-Man's) for a decade before getting his own self-titled mini-series. The Punisher has had no less than 12 self-titled solo series, but also several other secondary ongoing series that bear his name, not to mention near countless mini-series and one-shots. At the height of his popularity in the 1990s, he carried four ongoing monthly series simultaneously.

PUNISHER VS. BARRACUDA [2020] #1-5
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129, 134-135 (1st and earliest appearances of Punisher)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #161-162, 174-175, 181 (early follow-on appearances of Punisher)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #201-202, 244, 284-285, 288 (more early follow-on appearances of Punisher)
DAREDEVIL [1964] #181-184 (appearance of Punisher)
SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN [1976] #78-81 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1986] #1-5 (1st self-titled series (mini-series))
PUNISHER [1987] #1-104 (2nd self-titled series)
DAREDEVIL AND THE PUNISHER: CHILD'S PLAY [1988-SC]
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [1988] #1-80 (a second concurrent ongoing Punisher series)
PUNISHER ANNUAL [1988] #1-7
PUNISHER: ASSASSIN'S GUILD [1988-GN]
PUNISHER MAGAZINE [1989-MAG] #1-16 (b/w reprints from PUNISHER [1987] and PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [1988])
CLASSIC PUNISHER [1989] #1 (reprints MARVEL PREVIEW and MARVEL SUPER ACTION)
PUNISHER: RETURN TO BIG NOTHING [1989-GN]
PUNISHER: INTRUDER [1989-HC]
PUNISHER MOVIE SPECIAL [1990] #1 (official comic adaptation of PUNISHER (1989) film)
PUNISHER ARMORY [1990] #1-10 (spin-off series with stories showcasing Punisher's arms and equipment)
PUNISHER: NO ESCAPE [1990]
PUNISHER: THE PRIZE [1990]
PUNISHER P.O.V. [1991] #1-4
WHAT IF...? [1989] #26 (What if Punisher had killed Daredevil?)
PUNISHER SUMMER SPECIAL [1991] #1-4 (series of annuals released during the height of Punisher's popularity)
PUNISHER: AN EYE FOR AN EYE [1991]
GHOST RIDER; WOLVERINE; PUNISHER: HEARTS OF DARKNESS [1991-SC]
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [1992] #1-41 (a third concurrent ongoing Punisher series)
PUNISHER AND CAPTAIN AMERICA: BLOOD AND GLORY [1992] #1-3 (team-up mini-series)
PUNISHER BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL [1992] #1
WHAT IF...? [1989] #44 (What if Venom had possessed the Punisher?)
PUNISHER: DIE HARD IN THE BIG EASY [1992]
PUNISHER: G-FORCE [1992]
PUNISHER/BLACK WIDOW: SPINNING DOOMSDAY'S WEB [1992-GN]
PUNISHER HOLIDAY SPECIAL [1993] #1-3
PUNISHER: GHOSTS OF INNOCENTS [1993] #1-2
PUNISHER 2099 [1993] #1-34 (ongoing series featuring the Punisher of 2099 (Jake Gallows))
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE ANNUAL [1993] #1-2
WHAT IF...? [1989] #51 (What if the Punisher became Captain America?)
PUNISHER: ORIGIN OF MICROCHIP [1993] #1-2
VENOM: FUNERAL PYRE [1993] #1-3
WOLVERINE AND THE PUNISHER: DAMAGING EVIDENCE [1993] #1-3
SPIDER-MAN/PUNISHER/SABRETOOTH: DESIGNER GAMES [1993]
WHAT IF...? [1989] #57 (What if the Punisher became an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.?)
WHAT IF...? [1989] #58 (What if the Punisher had killed Spider-Man?)
PUNISHER: A MAN NAMED FRANK [1994]
BATMAN/PUNISHER: LAKE OF FIRE [1994]
ARCHIE MEETS THE PUNISHER [1994] #1
PUNISHER MEETS ARCHIE [1994] #1
PUNISHER/BATMAN: DEADLY KNIGHTS [1994]
PUNISHER: EMPTY QUARTER [1994]
GHOST RIDER, WOLVERINE, PUNISHER: THE DARK DESIGN [1994-SC]
PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994] #1-4 (origin of Punisher)
DOUBLE EDGE: ALPHA [1995] #1
DOUBLE EDGE: OMEGA [1995] #1
PUNISHER KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE [1995] #1 (Garth Ennis' 1st work for Marvel; a 'What If' style story)
PUNISHER [1995] #1-18 (3rd self-titled series replaces the three former concurrent ongoing series)
PUNISHER [1998] #1-4 (4th self-titled series; Marvel Knights era begins; radical, new, mystical 'spin' on Punisher's origin has been justifiably ignored by creators and fans since)
WOLVERINE/PUNISHER: REVELATION [1999] #1-4
PUNISHER [2000] #1-12 (5th self-titled series; Garth Ennis revival series aka WELCOME BACK, FRANK)
PUNISHER VS. DAREDEVIL [2000] #1
MARVEL KNIGHTS [2000] #1-15 (team member)
SPIDER-MAN VS. PUNISHER [2000] (reinterprets AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129)
PUNISHER [2001] #1-37 (6th self-titled series; Garth Ennis' follow-on ongoing series)
MARVEL MANGAVERSE: PUNISHER [2002] #1
MARVEL KNIGHTS DOUBLE-SHOT [2002] #1, 4
BORN [2003] #1-4 (Frank Castle's brutal days in Vietnam told)
PUNISHER [2004] #1-65 (7th self-titled series; Garth Ennis' out-of-continuity MAX series; numbering continued in PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX [2009]; renamed to avoid confusion with the new, in-continuity PUNISHER [2009] series)
WOLVERINE/PUNISHER [2004] #1-5
PUNISHER: THE END [2004] #1
PUNISHER: COUNTDOWN [2004-MINI] (mini-comic packaged with PUNISHER(2004) DVD release)
PUNISHER 2099 [2004] #1
PUNISHER: RED X-MAS [2005] #1
PUNISHER: THE CELL [2005] #1
DAREDEVIL VS. PUNISHER [2005] #1-6
PUNISHER VS. BULLSEYE [2006] #1-5
PUNISHER: THE TYGER [2006] #1
PUNISHER: SILENT NIGHT [2006] #1
PUNISHER: BLOODY VALENTINE [2006] #1
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [2007] #1-26 (a second monthly ongoing Punisher series)
PUNISHER: X-MAS SPECIAL 2006 [2007] #1
WITCHBLADE/THE PUNISHER [2007] #1
PUNISHER: FORCE OF NATURE [2008] #1
PUNISHER MAX SPECIAL: LITTLE BLACK BOOK [2008] #1
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [2009] #1-6 (Garth Ennis' sequel to WELCOME BACK, FRANK)
PUNISHER MAX X-MAS SPECIAL [2009] #1
PUNISHER [2009] #1-16 (8th self-titled series; Rick Remender's semi-continuation of PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [2007] gets weird; numbering continued in FRANKEN-CASTLE [2010])
PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX [2009] #66-75 (numbering continued from PUNISHER [2004], Garth Ennis' out-of-continuity MAX series)
PUNISHER MAX: NAKED KILL [2009] #1
PUNISHER NOIR [2009] #1-4 (alternate Marvel Noir Universe version of Punisher)
PUNISHER ANNUAL 2009 [2009] #1
DARK REIGN: THE LIST--PUNISHER [2009] #1
PUNISHERMAX [2010] #1-22 (Jason Aaron continues the out-of-continuity MAX series; aka PUNISHER [2010])
PUNISHER: FRANKEN-CASTLE--THE BIRTH OF A MONSTER [2010] #1
FRANKEN-CASTLE [2010] #17-21 (numbering continued from PUNISHER [2009])
PUNISHER NOIR [2009-DIG]
PUNISHER: IN THE BLOOD [2011] #1-5
PUNISHER [2011] #1-16 (9th self-titled series from Greg Rucka; part of Marvel's Big Shot initiative)
SPACE: PUNISHER [2012] #1-4 (Punisher kills everything...in space)
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [2012] #1-5 (continuation of Rucka's PUNISHER [2011] series)
THUNDERBOLTS [2013] #1-32 (team member)
PUNISHER: NIGHTMARE [2013] #1-5 (weekly series event)
PUNISHER: THE TRIAL OF THE PUNISHER [2013] #1-2
PUNISHER [2014] #1-20 (10th self-titled series; All-New Marvel NOW! Relaunch)
DAREDEVIL/PUNISHER: SEVENTH CIRCLE [2016] #1-4
PUNISHER [2016] #1-17 (11th self-titled series; post-Secret Wars; continued with return a to Legacy numbering)
DOCTOR STRANGE/PUNISHER: MAGIC BULLETS [2017] #1-4
DEADPOOL VS. THE PUNISHER [2017] #1-5
PUNISHER: THE PLATOON [2017] #1-6
PUNISHER [2018] #218-228 (return to Legacy numbering as part of Marvel Legacy relaunch)
COSMIC GHOST RIDER [2018] #1-5 (alternate universe where Frank Castle became both Ghost Rider *and* Galactus' herald)
PUNISHER [2018B] #1- (12th self-titled series; post-Marvel Legacy)
WHAT IF? PUNISHER [2018] #1
PUNISHER 2099 [2020] #1 (2099 storyline event tie-in)
PUNISHER: SOVIET [2020] #1-6 (Garth Ennis mini-series)
REVENGE OF THE COSMIC GHOST RIDER [2020] #1-5

Selected Key Storylines

This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Punisher, any one of which can be a good place to get started or find something great. All of Garth Ennis' legendary run on the character is generally regarded as some of the best Punisher material.

1986	PUNISHER [1986] #1-5 (CIRCLE OF BLOOD (retroactive compilation name); the Punisher's first mini-series crowns him king of street-violence and moral ambiguity for a new generation of Marvel fans)
1994	PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994] #1-4 (Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning add layers of character depth in this expanded origin)
2000	PUNISHER [2000] #1-12 (WELCOME BACK, FRANK; Garth Ennis rejuvinates the Punisher for a new generation of fans with his PREACHER-esque storytelling style)
2002	PUNISHER [2001] #16-17 (VERTICAL CHALLENGE / AIM LOW; Garth Ennis' Marvel Knights-style Punisher serves Wolverine a smackdown with a shotgun to the face and a steamroller)
	WOLVERINE [1988] #186 (SEE YA ROUND, FRANKIE; continued from PUNISHER [2001] #16-17, Wolverine gives Punisher some payback)
2003	BORN [2003] #1-4 (Garth Ennis' superb psychological origin of the Punisher still has plenty of gore and violence)
2004	PUNISHER [2004] #1-6 (IN THE BEGINNING; Garth Ennis' third Punisher relaunch is a MAX series and dives to the core of the character...with a bang!)
2010	PUNISHERMAX [2010] #1-5 (KINGPIN; Jason Aaron's gripping relaunch is a worthy successor to Ennis' legendary run)
2011	PUNISHER [2011] #1-16 (THE EXCHANGE; Greg Rucka and Marco Chechetto's relaunch run hits all the most important character points in an action-thriller ride)
2016	PUNISHER [2016] #1-6 (ON THE ROAD; Becky Cloonan and Steve Dillon's gritty relaunch)
2017	DEADPOOL VS. THE PUNISHER [2017] #1-5 (the title of this one says it all, really)

Media Source Material

If you've enjoyed non-comic media for Punisher, this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. The Punisher has starred in three unrelated films and a Netflix television series that is part of the television arm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).WARNING: This section may contain spoilers!

The 1989 movie, THE PUNISHER, was directed by Mark Goldblatt and starred Dolph Lundgren as Frank Castle/Punisher. The film received mostly negative reviews, perhaps partly because it deviates from the comic book source material in substantive ways. While his family's unfortunate demise is unchanged, Castle is a cop instead of a military veteran in the film, and he never wears his trademark skull chest armor. The Punisher wages a one-man war on organized crime, but this is the character's generic modus operandi and could be sourced from any of dozens of storylines. The movie is perhaps best watched with a healthy appreciation for how fledgling the comic book movie industry was in the eighties.

The 2004 movie, THE PUNISHER, was directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and starred Thomas Jane as Frank Castle/Punisher. This reboot of the film franchise had the benefit of some strong, new comic book source material from which to draw. The movie leans heavily on PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994] #1-4 and its expanded origin story, especially the idea that the death of Frank's family was not merely an accident. This will be a trend with all future live-action portrayals of the Punisher's origin. The movie also channels PUNISHER [2000] #1-12 (aka WELCOME BACK, FRANK), Garth Ennis' rejuvenating relaunch of the comic character which brought more than a touch of his very dark humor, Preacher-esque storytelling style with it. Other movie scenes were drawn from the pages of the character's other early, iconic, secondary, ongoing series, such as PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [1988] and PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [1992]. John Travolta plays the role of the villain in the film, Howard Saint. This character has no analogous comic book character. The main villain from WELCOME BACK, FRANK is Ma Gnucci. Despite the increased ties to the comic book source material, the film still failed to achieve critical success and a planned sequel never materialized.

The 2008 movie, PUNISHER: WAR ZONE, was directed by Lexi Alexander and starred Ray Stevenson as Frank Castle/Punisher. Lions Gate's sequel morphed into another reboot of the Punisher film franchise. This entry begins with the origin of Jigsaw and centers on his attempt to get revenge on the Punisher. Jigsaw's first comic book appearance is AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #162, and he is a recurring comic book villain for Punisher and Spider-Man. This film draws even more from PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994] #1-4, especially the involvement of the Costa crime family and the origin of Jigsaw. The film also introduces the Punisher's armorer, Microchip. Microchip's first comic book appearance is PUNISHER [1987] #4. Another film character, NYPD detective Martin Soap, has comic book origins. Detective Soap first appeared in comics in PUNISHER [2000] #2 and would become the head of the Punisher Task Force. With this film, as with the previous films, many of the events seem familiar, but the storyline cannot be traced to any single, particular comic book story arc in full, instead drawing from many similar situations the Punisher has been in throughout his long publishing career.

Netflix introduced the Punisher/Frank Castle in their Daredevil television series. The Punisher was so popular, he spun out into his own solo series with two seasons in Netflix's television arm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Again, his origin is heavily influenced by PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994]. Microchip plays a large part in Season One. In comics, Microchip's origin is told in the PUNISHER: ORIGIN OF MICROCHIP [1993] mini-series, but it all pre-dates his meeting with Castle. As previously mentioned, Microchip's first comic book appearance is PUNISHER [1987] #4.

Jigsaw is 'created' at the close of Season One and becomes one of two major villains in Season Two of Netflix's Punisher television series. Season Two also introduces John Pilgrim. This television character is based on the Mennonite, who first appeared in comics in PUNISHERMAX [2010] #3. The equally devout comic book version goes a little further and avoids technology--including guns--but can be just as brutal with whatever he gets his hands on. In print, the Punisher kills the Mennonite after only a few appearances. The live-action version has a more lengthy and involved storyline. In the television series, the Punisher is protecting Amy Bendix from Pilgrim. Her first comic book appearance is PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [1992] #24. However, the live-action and comic book characters have completely different storylines and share nothing besides their name and the fact that the Punisher protects her.

Key Issues

A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Punisher, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags. The issues listed in this section are predominantly non-variants (i.e. main covers). Punisher made several appearance in titles before getting his own, and every first meeting with all the other principal Marvel heroes is at least a curious--if not, significant--collectible event.

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AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129 (1st appearance of Punisher; 1st appearance of Jackal)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #134 (1st appearance of Tarantula; 2nd cameo appearance of Punisher)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #135 (2nd full appearance of Punisher)
GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-MAN [1974] #4 (3rd full appearance of Punisher)
MARVEL PREVIEW [1975-MAG] #2 (4th full appearance/origin of Punisher; 1st appearance of Dominic Fortune)
MARVEL SUPER ACTION [1976-MAG] #1 (5th full appearance of Punisher)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #162 (1st appearance of Jigsaw)
MARVEL TALES [1966] #106 (reprints AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #129 (1st appearance of Punisher))
CAPTAIN AMERICA [1968] #241 (1st appearance of Punisher (outside a Spider-Man title))
DAREDEVIL [1964] #181 (1st appearance of Punisher (in DAREDEVIL))
PUNISHER [1986] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER [1986] #2 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1986] #3 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1986] #4 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1986] #5 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1987] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER [1987] #4 (1st appearance of Microchip (David Lieberman))
PUNISHER [1987] #10 (appearance of Daredevil)
DAREDEVIL [1964] #257 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [1988] #1 (1st issue of this series)
GHOST RIDER [1990] #5 (1st Punisher vs. Ghost Rider)
GHOST RIDER [1990] #6 (2nd Punisher vs. Ghost Rider)
'NAM [1986] #52 (appearance of Punisher)
'NAM [1986] #53 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1987] #54 (1st appearance of Max (Punisher's Dog))
'NAM [1986] #67 (appearance of Punisher)
'NAM [1986] #68 (appearance of Punisher)
'NAM [1986] #69 (appearance of Punisher)
WHAT IF...? [1989] #44 (Venom/Punisher alternate reality)
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL [1988] #50 (1st preview appearance of Punisher 2099 (Frank Gallows))
VENOM: FUNERAL PYRE [1993] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [1992] #24 (1st appearance of Amy Bendix)
WHAT IF...? [1989] #58 (appearance of Punisher)
ARCHIE MEETS THE PUNISHER [1994] #1 (Archie/Punisher crossover)
PUNISHER MEETS ARCHIE [1994] #1 (Archie/Punisher crossover)
PUNISHER/BATMAN: DEADLY KNIGHTS [1994] (appearance of Batman; appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER: YEAR ONE [1994] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE [1992] #37 (origin of Max (Punisher's dog))
PUNISHER [1987] #102 (appearance of Bullseye)
PUNISHER KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE [1995] #1 (Garth Ennis' 1st work for Marvel)
ADVENTURES OF SPIDER-MAN [1996] #1 (1st issue of this series; appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [1998] #4 (bizarre, forgotten, alternate origin of Punisher)
PUNISHER [2000] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER VS. DAREDEVIL [2000] #1 (appearance of Daredevil)
DEADPOOL [1997] #54 (appearance of Punisher)
DEADPOOL [1997] #55 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [2001] #1 (1st issue of this series)
BORN [2003] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER [2004] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER: THE CELL [2005] #1 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER: THE CELL [2005] #1 (appearance of Punisher)
PUNISHER [2004] #31 (1st appearance of Barracuda)
PUNISHER [2009] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER NOIR [2009] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHERMAX [2010] #3 (1st appearance of Mennonite)
PUNISHER: THE TRIAL OF THE PUNISHER [2013] #1 (1st issue of this series)
PUNISHER [2016] #1 (1st issue of this series)
THANOS [2017] #13 (1st appearance of Cosmic Ghost Rider (Frank Castle); 1st appearance of King Thanos)
PUNISHER [2018] #218 (1st issue of this series)