Major Marvel Villain Returns From the Dead in New Punisher Series

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The saying goes that a strong person can overcome anything, and Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, certainly demonstrates that. He’s faced countless challenges in comics, on TV, and in films and always survived. But it seems some villains are just as hard to get rid of. A major Marvel antagonist, who also appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has unexpectedly returned to life in the latest Punisher comic book.

The new Punisher comic, written by Benjamin Percy with art by José Luis Soares Pinto and Oren Junior, picks up right after the events of last year’s ‘Punisher: Red Band.’ Previously, Frank Castle was briefly manipulated by the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, through a brain implant. Fisk, seeking redemption after a supernatural experience with Daredevil, used Castle to target other crime leaders. But Castle realized he was being controlled and managed to remove the implant.

The new series begins with Frank struggling with amnesia – he’s lost all memory of his past, including how he acquired his deadly skills. Despite this, his desire for justice and to punish criminals is still strong. Hints of his former life surface when he rescues Micro, an old ally who was coerced into working for Wilson Fisk and controlling Frank.

The consequences of the recent conflict in ‘Punisher: Red Band’ are still being felt. Tombstone, who had taken over as the head of organized crime in Manhattan after Kingpin, is now in prison. He receives a visitor claiming to be his lawyer, but it’s actually an old enemy of Frank Castle – someone who surprisingly lived through a previous confrontation with the Punisher.

What villain returns in new Punisher series?

The man pretending to be a lawyer is actually Billy “Jigsaw” Russo. He says he decided he wanted to change his life and, as Jigsaw, forces Tombstone to give up control of his criminal organization, planning to take over as the city’s top crime boss.

Most people recognize Jigsaw as the character portrayed by Ben Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In that version of the story, Billy Russo and Frank Castle were close friends and fellow Marines. However, Russo later became involved in dangerous, unsanctioned operations and ultimately became the primary antagonist in the Punisher series.

Jigsaw also served as the primary antagonist in the movie Punisher: War Zone, portrayed by Dominic West. This version of the character closely followed the comic book origins, depicting him as a crime boss who received his signature scars while escaping from Frank Castle. He then united various gangs into a large force, intending to finally defeat The Punisher.

In the comics, Billy Russo was a handsome mob hitman nicknamed “Billy the Beaut.” He was hired to eliminate everyone connected to Frank Castle after the attack that killed Castle’s family. During his first confrontation with The Punisher (Frank Castle), Russo’s men were killed and Russo himself was thrown from a window, but left alive. This attack left Russo with severe facial scars, leading to his new alias, Jigsaw.

Jigsaw has usually been a secondary villain, often preoccupied with trying to eliminate The Punisher. But, having fought heroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Black Widow, he’s actually quite capable of becoming a major criminal leader. It’ll be compelling to see how this renewed conflict plays out in the upcoming Punisher comic book.

The Punisher #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.

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2026-02-25 17:37