The Punisher has had an interesting couple of years. The last time readers saw Frank Castle was in Jason Aaron and Jesus Saiz’s 12-issue Punisher series that ran from 2022 to 2023. This series saw Frank Castle become a leader of the Hand, Marvel’s premiere clan of magical ninjas, his war on crime going in new, violent directions. This run was quite controversial with fans — the Punisher was played as more villainous than ever and there was retcon with his family that made the character look very, very bad — and it coincided with Marvel basically deciding shelve the Punisher for a while. Since then, the Punisher has been a pretty hot topic of conversation, thanks to the prevalence of people in the real world using his symbol in ways that completely misunderstand the character, and Marvel created a new version of the character, former SHIELD agent Joe Garrison. However, fans wanted Frank back and Marvel is about give that to them with the new The Punisher: Red Band series on September 10, 2025.
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Marvel announced writer Benjamin Percy was taking on the Punisher for the new Punisher series and Marvel’s Red Band books are the perfect home of the Punisher; much like the Marvel MAX line before it, the Red Band books are meant for mature readers, with all of the violence and bloodshed that implies. On top of that, the Punisher is about to play a role in the next Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Punisher has always been one of Marvel’s most popular character, and absence has definitely made the heart grow fonder. Now is the perfect time for the return of the Punisher, and ComicBook has an exclusive preview of the first issue The Punisher: Red Band: #1 but warning, viewer discretion is advised.
The Punisher: Red Band #1 Feels Exactly Like a Punisher Story Should Feel
There are plenty of superheroes out there who aren’t heroic, and the Punisher has always been at the top of that list. The Punisher doesn’t save lives in any way that we would recognize; he kills those he thinks are evil in order to make sure no one suffers like he has. The last time we saw the Punisher, he was in a very dark place. The power of the Hand had made him into a monster, and he was visited by the spirit of his dead wife, Maria, who revealed that she didn’t want him back then he made his way to the afterlife because of everything he’s done. He’d become worst than ever, allowing the beast awakened in him by the war to take control. He ended up imprisoned in the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the last time he was seen, he was helping children escape battles in WeirdWorld.
The Punisher: Red Band #1 opens up on a burning container ship. Frank Castle doesn’t know who he is or how he got there, but he’s surrounded by blood and carnage. He takes in his surroundings — the bodies, the blood, a 9mm Uzi with an empty clip — and finds bags of fentanyl. This is primo Punisher territory, and Percy is the perfect writer for the character. Percy has been writing characters like Wolverine, Ghost Rider, and Hellverine (Wolverine’s son Daken resurrected as a Ghost Rider), becoming Marvel’s go to guy for Marvel’s most violent characters. The art by Julius Ohta and Yen Nitro is perfect for the scene, bringing Percy’s script to violent, dirty life.
The Punisher Is Back to Drown Crime in Blood
The first few pages are outstanding. Why can’t the Punisher remember anything? Does he remember his time with the Hand and the powers he once had? How did he get out of the Sanctum Sanctorum and how did he learn about the boat? Percy, Ohta, and Nitro give readers a tour de force in these preview pages, ones that are exactly what you want from the Punisher. The Punisher: Red Band #1 is an exciting new chapter in the character’s story, and where it will go is anyone’s guess.
The Punisher: Red Band #1 is on sale on September 10 2025.
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Image courtesy of 2th Century Studios -
image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
