THE PUNISHER

Yet another Marvel character who started off as a villain – notably a Spider-Man villain (although he was more of a goon when he first cameoed in Amazing Spider-Man) – before graduating to his own title and anti-hero status. The Punisher is now one of the most iconic characters in the entire Marvel stable.

A ’Nam vet driven by his family’s murder to punish all criminals by death, it’s perhaps not unsurprising that the dark, disillusioned ’70s was the decade that saw a brutal, uncompromising psychopath (for that’s what Castle is, no debate) become a fan favourite.

Although, truth be told, operating within the confines of the toothless main Marvel titles never sat well with The Punisher – in recent years, with the move to the MAX label, and Garth Ennis’ soon-to-finish installation as Punisher guru, the dark heart and psychology of Frank Castle has been fully explored, giving a new insight into this grimmest and most compelling of characters.

AKA: FRANK CASTLE

FIRST APPEARED IN AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #129 (1974)

CREATED BY GERRY CONWAY, ROSS ANDRU, JOHN ROMITA SR