Punisher

Il Punitore (Francis "Frank" Castle, nato Castiglione) è un personaggio di fantasia che compare nei fumetti americani pubblicati dalla Marvel Comics. Il personaggio fu creato dallo sceneggiatore Gerry Conway e dai disegnatori John Romita Sr. e Ross Andru, con l'editore Stan Lee che approvò il nome. Il Punitore fece la sua prima apparizione in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (datato febbraio 1974).

Il personaggio è un vigilante italoamericano che impiega omicidi, rapimenti, estorsioni, coercizione, minacce di violenza e tortura nella sua campagna contro il crimine. Spinto dalla morte della moglie e dei due figli, uccisi dalla mafia per aver assistito a un omicidio a Central Park, a New York, il Punitore conduce una guerra solitaria contro la mafia e contro tutti i criminali, e impiega diverse armi da fuoco. Gli assassini della sua famiglia furono i primi a essere uccisi dal Punitore. Veterano di guerra e cecchino scout del Corpo dei Marine degli Stati Uniti, Castle è abile nel combattimento corpo a corpo, nella guerriglia e nel tiro di precisione.

La natura brutale del Punitore e la sua volontà di uccidere ne fecero un personaggio inedito nei fumetti americani mainstream quando debuttò nel 1974. Alla fine degli anni Ottanta, il Punitore faceva parte di un'ondata di antieroi psicologicamente turbati. All'apice della sua popolarità, il personaggio fu protagonista di quattro pubblicazioni mensili, tra cui The Punisher, The Punisher War Journal, The Punisher War Zone e The Punisher Armory. Nonostante le sue azioni violente e la sua natura oscura, il Punitore ha goduto di un certo successo mainstream in televisione, apparendo come ospite in Spider-Man: The Animated Series e in The Super Hero Squad Show, dove la rappresentazione della sua violenza fu attenuata per il pubblico familiare. Nei film, Dolph Lundgren ha interpretato il Punitore nel 1989, Thomas Jane nel 2004 e Ray Stevenson nel 2008. Jon Bernthal interpreta il personaggio nella seconda stagione di Marvel's Daredevil, come parte del Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bernthal ha ripreso il ruolo nella serie omonima The Punisher.

Abilità : 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

Razza : Human