The Punisher is a Marvel character that hasn’t been without scrutiny the past few years. Following the Las Vegas shooting in 2017 by Stephen Paddock, some were suggesting that Frank Castle is the equivalent of Marvel’s mass-shooter. Aside from that, some have suggested Marvel needs to sue law enforcement for using the famous skull symbol, as well as other groups that use it. Now, some are suggesting an even more extreme measure – getting rid of the character completely.
Following the events that unfolded yesterday at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. in what started as a protest from Donald Trump supporters, a tweet was sent out suggesting that Marvel either needs to aggressively enforce their trademark – or abandon the character completely.
“The seditionists that invaded the Capitol today wore a Punisher logo. I say @marvel
needs to either aggressively enforce their trademark so it isn’t printed everywhere or abandon the Punisher completely. You can’t allow your characters to be used by terrorists.”
The seditionists that invaded the Capitol today wore a Punisher logo. I say @marvel needs to either aggressively enforce their trademark so it isn’t printed everywhere or abandon the Punisher completely. You can’t allow your characters to be used by terrorists. pic.twitter.com/CLHv243N9u
— ComicTropes (@CTropes) January 7, 2021
There were some in agreement with the tweet, as you can see from a quick sample:
Yup. Time to put an end to that shit @Marvel @Disney https://t.co/O3dCbht2Ip
— BEN BISHOP (@BISHART) January 7, 2021
I’m in the latter camp. The Punisher needs to go away completely. Even Darkman is a goody-two-shoes compared to him, if anything for his self-awareness that he’s become a monster. https://t.co/nycajJppsg
— KevinCV #BlackLivesMatter (@GoldenTalesGeek) January 7, 2021
I agree tbh https://t.co/abuxkn7E0I
— ShilsWonderJedi ʬ⁸⁴ (@Shilskenobi22) January 7, 2021
The punisher LITERALLY goes around town MURDERING people. https://t.co/B8hYP417nu
— Young Wilbur the Third (@MitchBO49) January 7, 2021
Have him killed by Squirrel Girl. https://t.co/jPTRTDCbjt
— Brian LaBelle (@brianlabelle) January 7, 2021
No. Do not abandon the Punisher. What they can do is put out a comic making it clear where Frank stands on this…. oh, wait…. they’ve done that already. On second thought, maybe do eliminate Frank for a minute https://t.co/jP3yeG1fEj
— Josh “Thanos” Webb (@FightOnTwist) January 7, 2021
At this point, I wouldn’t be upset if Marvel just killed him off. https://t.co/c1EAkQFbDt
— Phil Spiderman (@Debaser77) January 7, 2021
Some were quick to point out that The Punisher would actually be against the people wearing the logo:
frank castle would have literally decimated all of these people wtf is this https://t.co/3AddbgtAca
— matt murdock’s trophy wife (@dandelionmurdck) January 7, 2021
It’s quite funny to me ’cause Frank would’ve killed this motherfucker right there on the spot. https://t.co/4mLx04QQyM
— Luci “Sus” Dracul (@LuciDracul) January 7, 2021
just want to point out, that frank castle would kill every single one of these fuckers https://t.co/ENjSuYowCi
— Darthpoopsie (@Darthpoopsie88) January 7, 2021
I’m pretty sure that the creator of the Punisher is totally against this. https://t.co/ysrOiiz2I8
— G P Podcast (@g_p_podcast) January 7, 2021
It’s a fucking character. Ppl will use their image however they want. Censoring artists now? GROW UP FUCK https://t.co/P8DpHgXN8v
— medusa (@medusa26938461) January 7, 2021
Whether or not Marvel actually decides to get rid of the character remains to be seen. If I were to guess, though, I’d guess that it probably isn’t going to happen. Some people may not like The Punisher or just not understand what Frank Castle actually stands for – but that doesn’t mean we need to get rid of the character completely as suggested.