The Punisher might not be sporting his iconic skull logo anymore, but the symbol just showed up on the costume of the former Avenger, Ares. In Punisher #5, Frank Castle goes after the God of War, who has been trying to take down the new Fist of the Beast throughout the Marvel Comics series. However, when Ares attacks, it’s revealed that he has taken the Punisher’s former logo for himself, aiming to redeem it.
Ares is Marvel’s God of War, as the character has been both a villain and an antihero in his comic book adventures. Usually the foe of Thor and other gods, Ares became a member of the Mighty Avengers, where he tried to take on a more heroic path. However, he would eventually suit up on Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers, before Ares was brutally killed in a battle against the Sentry. However, after his resurrection, he would later be thrown directly in the path of the Punisher, who is now the Fist of the Beast and working alongside The Hand. Ares now leads the Apostles of War, a criminal organization and arms dealer dedicated to causing havoc via war across the world. Currently, Ares doesn’t believe Punisher should be the Fist of the Beast of the Hand and instead desires he worships him.
In Punisher #5 by Jason Aaron, Jesus Saiz, Paul Azaceta, Dave Stewart, and VC’s Cory Petit from Marvel Comics, Frank Castle returns to The Hand with his wife Maria, learning that the further she strays away from the citadel, the more his resurrected wife will suffer. Punisher tells the Archpriestess of The Hand that he will figure out a way to kill her for good after witnessing her kill the families of their servants. He immediately turns his attention to Ares and the Apostles of War, killing the former Avengers servants in horrifying fashion before revealing himself as wearing the Punisher skull logo.
Ares believes that Punisher is his lost child who has been corrupted by The Hand. By wearing the skull logo, the God of War somehow believes he can redeem the symbol and Frank Castle. He wants to remind Punisher, who he believes to be his greatest disciple, about the importance of war and his role in it. Taking on his logo is quite a bold way to prove it.
With the real-life implications of the Punisher’s logo being adapted by bad actors, it seems the comics are making a similar commentary about the symbol falling into the wrong hands. However, in this case, Ares is using in his own twisted way, as Punisher, like Marvel Comics themselves, will soon discover if it can be redeemed at all. Punisher #5 by Marvel Comics is in stores now.
