Punisher

Der Punisher (Francis „Frank“ Castle, geboren als Castiglione) ist eine fiktive Figur, die in amerikanischen Comics des Verlags Marvel Comics auftritt. Die Figur wurde vom Autor Gerry Conway und den Zeichnern John Romita Sr. und Ross Andru erschaffen, wobei Verleger Stan Lee den Namen genehmigte. Der Punisher hatte seinen ersten Auftritt in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (Ausgabedatum Februar 1974).

Die Figur ist ein italoamerikanischer Selbstjustiz-Rächer, der in seinem Feldzug gegen das Verbrechen Mord, Entführung, Erpressung, Nötigung, Gewaltandrohungen und Folter einsetzt. Angetrieben vom Tod seiner Frau und seiner beiden Kinder, die von der Mafia getötet wurden, weil sie Zeugen eines Mordes im New Yorker Central Park geworden waren, führt der Punisher einen Ein-Mann-Krieg gegen die Mafia und alle Kriminellen und setzt verschiedene Schusswaffen ein. Die Mörder seiner Familie waren die Ersten, die der Punisher tötete. Als Kriegsveteran und Scharfschütze der United States Marine Corps ist Castle geschickt im Nahkampf, im Guerillakrieg und im Schießen.

Die brutale Art des Punisher und seine Bereitschaft zu töten machten ihn bei seinem Debüt 1974 zu einer neuartigen Figur in den amerikanischen Mainstream-Comics. Ende der 1980er-Jahre gehörte der Punisher zu einer Welle psychisch gestörter Antihelden. Auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Beliebtheit erschien die Figur in vier monatlichen Publikationen, darunter The Punisher, The Punisher War Journal, The Punisher War Zone und The Punisher Armory. Trotz seiner gewalttätigen Taten und seiner düsteren Natur hatte der Punisher auch mainstreamtauglichen Erfolg im Fernsehen, indem er Gastauftritte in Spider-Man: The Animated Series und The Super Hero Squad Show hatte, wo die Darstellung seiner Gewalt für ein familienfreundliches Publikum entschärft wurde. In Kinofilmen verkörperte Dolph Lundgren den Punisher 1989, Thomas Jane 2004 und Ray Stevenson 2008. Jon Bernthal spielt die Figur in der zweiten Staffel von Marvel's Daredevil als Teil des Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bernthal übernahm die Rolle später auch in der nach der Figur benannten Serie The Punisher.

Fähigkeiten : The Punisher is the recipient of multi-disciplinary military training from the United States Marine Corps, United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance. While a Marine, he also received training from the Airborne School and U.S. Navy SEALs as well as cross-training with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment during the Vietnam War. In addition, since beginning his work as the Punisher, Castle has used his military discipline and training techniques to update and expand his skills in areas that aid in his mission (disguise, acting, use of non-military weapons, etc.). From this training, Punisher is proficient in not only basic infantry skills, but in special operations, which includes the use and maintenance of specialized firearms and explosive ordnance. He is highly trained in infiltration into heavily guarded enemy territories and structures for the purpose of assassination, capture, and military intelligence. Also, he is trained in various forms of camouflage and stealth. He is also highly adept at hand-to-hand combat, and has been trained in multiple forms of martial arts such as Nash Ryu Jujutsu, Ninjutsu, Shorin-ryu Karate, Hwa Rang Do, and Chin Na. Both Nick Fury and Tony Stark have commented on how extraordinarily high his pain tolerance is. He does not take painkillers, as he feels that their benefit of dulling pain is not worth the side effects of drowsiness and slowed reflexes. He maintains multiple safehouses and vehicles around the greater New York City area as well as multiple forged identities and bank accounts (most of the funds and equipment aiding him in his work being taken from the criminals he hunts). The Punisher has a Kevlar uniform which protects him from most gunfire, though he can still suffer concussive injury or penetration from sufficient or repeated impacts. The white skull emblem on his chest is used both to intimidate his enemies and to lure their fire to the more heavily protected area of his armor. The design was supposedly taken from either a Vietcong sniper, or the demon Olivier. The Punisher has been using technology derived from super-villains and other costumed characters, such as the Green Goblin's pumpkin bombs, a modified Goblin Glider, and a Doctor Octopus tentacle that he can shrink down for easy storage via Pym Particles. Aside from his physical prowess, the Punisher also has complete control of his mind and consciousness, providing a strong resistance against psychic and telepathic powers that are used against him. When Letha and Lascivious try to control Punisher's mind, Punisher scoffs at their attempt, saying "It doesn't feel different from any other day".

Team : United States Marine Corps, Force Reconnaissance, Code Red, Heroes for Hire, Secret Defenders, Thunderbolts, Hydra

Spezies : Human