Punisher

Everyone loves a good odd couple, but Marvel Comics might have come up with the ultimate embodiment of the tried and tested trope, as this December, Doctor Strange and The Punisher team-up in their own miniseries. Doctor Strange/Punisher: Magic Bullets #1 by John Barber, Andrea Broccardo & Jason Muhr throws the two fan-favorites up against a mystical mafia, and Marvel has provided us with a first look at the debut issue.

On October 30th 1973, Marvel Comics published The Amazing Spider-Man #129, and introduced readers to Frank Castle, The Punisher. Although originally portrayed as an antagonist, The Punisher proved a breakout character for the publisher like few others, and helped launch the enduring popularity of anti-heroes in superhero comics.

The initial lack of announced cast for Marvel’s Netflix Punisher spinoff made it unusual that production had begun, but now that Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle is firmly back in the habit, more fresh faces are announced for the Defender side-series. Both Bates Motel’s Jaime Ray Newman and 11.22.63 sharpshooter Daniel Webber have joined the cast in supporting roles, along with two others.

Steve Dillon, well known to comics fans the world over for his work on two continents and across many decades, passed away on October 22, 2016. Writer Charlotte Finn pays tribute to an extraordinary artist.

Marvel and Jon Bernthal officially confirmed that The Punisher had gotten to work on the streets of New York, though you’d never known it by the newest set photos. Even as Frank Castle has been sporting a different look, it looks like Marvel’s violent anti-hero has found a much more constructive line of work.

Among the hierarchy of Marvel Netflix news from New York Comic-Con, The Punisher confirming details that set photographers have known for days ranks lower, but nonetheless appreciated. Not only is production confirmed begun, but Daredevil star Deborah Ann Woll has a larger role than we thought.

Jon Bernthal got tongues wagging with reports that Netflix’s Punisher spinoff had already started filming, and now Marvel is finally backing it up. Not only do we know for sure that 2017 will see the Punisher’s return, but also three major additions to the Netflix cast.

We’re still not entirely clear on how The Punisher managed to start filming without any real casting announcements, or where Marvel’s gun-toting antihero might fit in The Defenders, but a bit of crossover is to be expected. Just as Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle emerged from Daredevil, the spinoff series returns the favor in a new set photo appearance.

The timeline of Marvel’s post-Luke Cage Netflix series remains somewhat unclear, a prospect made more confusing by recent reports that Jon Bernthal would soon start filming his Punisher spinoff. Now, new set photos claim filming is already underway, which could put a premiere sometime in the next year.

Considering how wide the gulf between Marvel’s TV and movie branches has become, it’s surprising that neither Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. nor Netflix’s Defenders have attempted TV solidarity with an earnest crossover. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but there’s mounting evidence that could point toward Jon Bernthal punishing ABC’s Agents sometime in the near future.