Every corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with villains and cosmic threats that, more often than not, require the combined might of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. But what if a certain skull-clad vigilante, known for his unique approach to justice, were to suddenly appear in some of these pivotal moments? Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, operates on a different moral plane, and his methods rarely involve witty banter or strategic retreats. With his military training, tactical genius, and unwavering resolve to eliminate those he deems irredeemable, many a Marvel movie would likely grind to a swift, brutal halt.
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With Frank set to make his first big screen appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the future for MCU villains just got a lot darker. Let’s explore seven Marvel movies that would send almost immediately if Frank Castle were to enter the fray.
1 & 2) Avengers: Infinity War / Avengers: Endgame
The cataclysmic events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame hinged on Thanos’ meticulous plan to collect the Infinity Stones and wipe out half of all life in the universe. However, if Frank Castle had been part of the team from the outset, the Mad Titan’s genocidal ambitions would have been met with a very different kind of resistance. The Punisher wouldn’t waste time strategizing or debating the ethics of sacrificing one for the many. His singular focus would be on eliminating the threat. He’d identify Thanos as the primary orchestrator of evil and would relentlessly pursue him, utilizing any and all means necessary to neutralize him before he could gather even a fraction of the Infinity Stones.
Frank Castle’s tactical prowess and willingness to use lethal force would make him a terrifying wild card in the cosmic chess match. He wouldn’t engage in prolonged battles or allow Thanos to monologue. Instead, he would exploit any weakness, launch surprise attacks, and have “gone for the head” when Thor failed to do so. While the Avengers wrestled with the moral complexities of their choices, Frank would simply see a clear-cut mission: stop the mass murderer. This unwavering focus and brutal efficiency would undoubtedly disrupt Thanos’ carefully laid plans, potentially preventing the snap entirely and thus negating the need for the epic, universe-spanning results seen in Avengers: Endgame.
3) Spider-Man: Homecoming
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker grapples with the Vulture, Adrian Toomes (played by Michael Keaton), a resourceful scavenger who weaponizes Chitauri technology. Spider-Man, still finding his footing as a hero, prioritizes saving lives and bringing villains to justice through traditional means. While that is a central part of who he is as a character, this method leads to extended fights that result in widespread collateral damage.
Enter the Punisher. Frank Castle’s assessment of Toomes’ illegal arms dealing and endangerment of innocent lives would be swift and conclusive. There would be no drawn-out aerial battles or moral dilemmas about rehabilitating a misguided criminal. Vulture’s advanced flight suit would certainly pose a challenge, but Frank’s military training, knowledge of weaponry, and experience in urban warfare would quickly come into play. He would exploit environmental weaknesses, use tactical diversions, and ultimately aim to incapacitate or kill Toomes before he could cause harm or escalate his operations. Spider-Man’s heroics always involve preventing fatalities, but Frank’s method would guarantee a much swifter and more definitive end to the Vulture’s reign of terror, likely sparing countless citizens from the fallout of Toomes’ schemes.
4) Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger introduces us to Steve Rogers, a scrawny but courageous individual who becomes the super soldier we know. He relies on his enhanced abilities and a strong ethical code to combat the Red Skull and HYDRA. However, Frank Castle operates on a different kind of “super-soldier serum”— sheer, unadulterated willpower and a disregard for anything but ending evil. Frank doesn’t need superhuman strength or an indestructible shield to take down a Nazi leader; he just needs a target and a means to reach them.
The Punisher’s relentless pursuit of justice would see him infiltrating HYDRA facilities with brutal efficiency. Red Skull’s scientific experiments and grand schemes for world domination would be met with an immediate, lethal response. Frank’s combat skills, honed in countless real-world conflicts, including warfare, would allow him to bypass or decimate HYDRA’s forces to directly confront Red Skull. Steve’s physical transformation and the ideological battle would be cut short as Frank would simply execute the villain, potentially even tracking down and eliminating Adolf Hitler himself if the opportunity arose.
5) Thunderbolts*
In Thunderbolts*, a group of complex not-quite-heroes including Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, Ghost, Taskmaster, and Red Guardian are sent on a mission by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, only to discover they were set up to be eliminated. During this desperate escape where they are joined by Bucky Barnes, they encounter Bob, an amnesiac man who is revealed to be the proto-Sentry— a living weapon from a superhuman project. Bob has uncontrollable power and a destructive alter ego called the Void, which is an embodiment of his trauma and insecurities. The team’s journey becomes about understanding Bob on an emotional level and helping him control his powers to prevent catastrophic destruction as the Void threatens New York City.
The Punisher’s reaction to the events of Thunderbolts* would be drastically different. Upon encountering Bob/Sentry/the Void on the streets of New York, Frank Castle would immediately identify him not as a misguided soul to be helped, but as an uncontrollable and immensely dangerous threat to countless innocent lives. His objective would be singular: neutralize the Void before the devastation could spread. While the Thunderbolts attempt to reach Bob’s consciousness and help him, Frank would focus on a definitive, lethal solution instead of trying to connect with him. Regardless of Bob’s tragic backstory, the Punisher would see only the potential for an apocalyptic event and would use every tactical advantage and lethal force at his disposal to ensure the Void is stopped permanently, ending the film’s central conflict and cutting Bob’s redemption short.
6) Guardians of the Galaxy
In Guardians of the Galaxy, the fate of the galaxy hinges on a dance-off and the power of friendship to defeat Ronan the Accuser. While Peter Quill’s unconventional tactics eventually work, the galaxy breathes a collective sigh of relief. If Frank Castle somehow made his way to space, however, the climactic confrontation would play out very differently. There would be no chase for the orb, no witty banter, and certainly no impromptu dance-offs. The Punisher’s approach to Ronan would be direct and unflinching.
He would prioritize incapacitating or killing the Kree fanatic, using any available weaponry or tactical advantage. His military background would allow him to assess Ronan’s weaknesses and exploit them without hesitation. The idea of using a dance-off to distract a genocidal maniac would be utterly ridiculous and frankly, despicable, to Frank. His focus would be on ending the threat as quickly as possible, ensuring Ronan’s reign of terror concludes not with a dramatic performance, but with a fatal blow, thus saving Xandar without the need for celestial hand holding.
7) The Avengers
Loki, the God of Mischief, thrives on deception, manipulation, and intricate schemes to achieve his goals, often playing psychological games with enemies and allies alike. In The Avengers, he manipulates his way into leading an alien invasion on Earth to seize power. Loki’s skills lie in his cunning and his ability to sow chaos. However, his tricks and illusions would be largely useless against Frank Castle. While Loki is a god and the Avengers have a Hulk, Frank has a gun.
The Punisher wouldn’t be swayed by Loki’s illusions or grandstanding. He wouldn’t engage in philosophical debates or be tricked by shape-shifting. He would immediately clock Loki as a dangerous and manipulative enemy causing brainwashing and death. Frank’s immediate response to a sudden wormhole over Avengers Tower would be to find the source of the destruction and end it without prejudice. A well-placed bullet, or perhaps a series of them, would swiftly put an end to Loki’s schemes before he could truly establish his foothold or manipulate anyone. The God of Mischief would quickly learn that for all his divine power, he’s not invulnerable to a determined man with a firearm and an uncompromising sense of justice.
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Image courtesy of 2th Century Studios -
image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
