Warning! Spoilers ahead for Punisher #3
While there’s been some controversy surrounding the Punisher’s new role as leader of a ninja clan, Marvel is making great efforts to make it an inevitability by rewriting Frank Castle’s childhood. In the latest issue of Punisher’s new series, it’s being proven that Frank was troubled and disturbed long before he lost his wife and children. As such, it’s been revealed that young Frank was watched for years as he suffered from dark and foreboding dreams of his future.
Previously in Punisher from Jason Aaron, Jesús Saiz, and Paul Azaceta, Frank Castle joined the infamous ninja syndicate known as the Hand, a classic cabal of staple foes for Marvel Comics. While leading a group of villains would seem unthinkable for a merciless vigilante like Frank Castle’s Punisher, it’s revealed that he’s chosen to lead them in exchange for the resurrection of his family. Thus far, his wife Maria has already been brought back (though has no memory of her death). Furthermore, the Hand has agreed to follow Punisher’s every order, only killing those he deems worthy of his lethal brand of justice.
Now, Punisher #3 reveals Frank Castle’s childhood, specifically the first time he killed a man when he was only 10 years old. Unable to understand why a man was able to kill a couple in broad daylight with no repercussions or punishment, young Frank decided to take matters into his own hands. However, it’s also revealed that he had visions of red-armored ninja which only created further problems when he tried to share his dreams. As such, it seems as though leading the Hand was always Punisher’s destiny thanks to this new look at Frank’s past, effectively making his new reboot an inevitability in the Marvel Universe (while also giving Punisher a dark origin as a Captain America fan).
It’s unlikely that the division created by Punisher’s new reboot will be fully alleviated after this new issue. However, retroactively integrating Frank’s new ninja role into his origins at least makes it feel somewhat organic. After all, the idea that others would take notice of his brutal exploits across the span of his entire life does seem logical. After all, who better to become a Fist of the Beast (the worshipped demon of the Hand) than Frank Castle? While Daredevil once led the Hand as a vessel for the Beast, the Punisher makes much more sense (though he hasn’t been possessed just yet).
At the moment, the Hand is very much devoted to the Punisher and follows his every command, only killing those deserving of punishment. So long as that status quo remains, it’s likely that Frank will continue leading the ninja clan according to his destiny. Why wouldn’t he after the Hand has given him back his wife with his children to soon follow? However, one has to wonder what Frank will do when and if the Beast starts corrupting him for darker purposes as Punisher continues.
