The Punisher has been one of the darkest and most emotionally stunted characters in the MCU for years. Since Jon Bernthal’s first appearance as Frank Castle in ‘Daredevil’, his sole focus has been on revenge for the murder of his family.
However, now, Marvel might have just made one of the best creative decisions of all time for Frank Castle.
The MCU Finally Found A Smarter Way To Use The Punisher
‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’ sees Frank finally finish off the last of the criminals linked to his family’s death. That’s the end of his story, on paper. Instead, it turns out to be the beginning of a new one. ‘One Last Kill’ is interesting because it is the first time in the MCU that Frank is forced to go beyond personal revenge.
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In the final, harrowing episode of the special, Frank finally puts an end to Ma Gnucci, the last big name connected to his war. However, he decides not to take revenge but to save an innocent family caught in the crossfire.
It’s a very human moment for a character who is typically known for his rage and destruction. It’s not a weakness, Frank letting Ma go is evolution. The MCU’s Punisher is now apparently motivated by a desire to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy he endured.
That slight change alters the character going forward. He remains violent, ruthless, and terrifying to criminals, but his war is now bigger than he. After years of watching Frank stuck in that same emotional rut, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Why This Makes Punisher’s MCU Future More Exciting
It also makes Frank’s upcoming appearance in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ look a lot more natural. Frank isn’t trapped in his own revenge tale anymore and can now realistically meet other street-level heroes who are fighting to protect New York.
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That allows for an infinite number of possibilities. Suddenly, Marvel has a Punisher who can fit in with characters like Daredevil, Spider-Man, or even the returning Defenders without losing what makes him interesting.
‘One Last Kill’ is almost like Marvel trying to see if they can get the audience ready for a bigger future with Bernthal’s Frank Castle. And based on the number of layers added to the character, it’s most likely a yes.
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