8 Lethal Assassins Who Could Team With The Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Following the confirmation that Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as the Punisher alongside Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, reports suggest a Black female character will be joining the cast as a sidekick. While Marvel hasn’t officially confirmed this, the rumor comes from a source within Marvel Studios.

If this turns out to be true, it would be a surprising turn of events. The Punisher is known as a lone operator, so anyone working with him would likely be comfortable with lethal force. Considering that, we might see some strong contenders emerge in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day storyline.

Misty Knight May Return To Help Punisher

Misty Knight has already appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through *Luke Cage*, and that show is still considered part of the official MCU timeline. With *Daredevil: Born Again* bringing back Jessica Jones, another key character from that era, it suggests we might see more characters from the *Luke Cage* universe return to the MCU. Misty Knight, in particular, could be one of them. The last time we saw her, she was considering leaving the police force to become a vigilante, which could potentially connect her story with the Punisher’s.

While Misty Knight is usually a leading hero and not a sidekick, she does team up with Colleen Wing to fight crime in Marvel comics. Unlike the Punisher, who often uses deadly force, Misty Knight generally prefers to subdue and capture criminals. However, the Punisher might be able to convince her to adopt his methods, or at the very least, she could use her contacts within the police and the criminal world to help him with information.

Tilda Johnson Could Be Returning As Nighthawk

Tilda Johnson, a character from the *Luke Cage* series, might be a good match for the Punisher’s approach. She proved she’s willing to kill – even her own mother – to deal with criminals. Plus, she resents Luke Cage, as her mother left the title of Harlem’s Kingpin to him. This conflict could lead to an interesting partnership if she decided to team up with the Punisher against Cage. However, without knowing if Luke Cage will be involved, this scenario is unlikely.

In Marvel Comics, Johnson’s character has a compelling journey, evolving from the villain Dr. Nightshade into the more virtuous Nighmask. The Punisher, known for his morally ambiguous actions, could be a good fit alongside Johnson, especially if Castle clashes with other members of the Defenders, like Luke Cage.

Lady Bullseye Pledges Allegiance To The Punisher In Marvel Comics

The exact details haven’t been announced yet, but the project is expected in 2026. If it comes out before July 31st – the release date of *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* – it could pave the way for a new version of the villain Bullseye, specifically Lady Bullseye. Like the original Bullseye, she’s a dangerous assassin in Marvel Comics. Eventually, she joins forces with the Punisher when he becomes the leader of the Hand organization.

In Marvel comics, Lady Bullseye is originally from Japan. However, the MCU often changes character origins or replaces them with similar ones, so this isn’t a major concern. Having Lady Bullseye team up with the Punisher – especially if he takes over the Hand and revives it – could create a compelling storyline. This is even more interesting because the MCU’s version of the Hand features a more diverse group of people than the comic books.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Could Give Ghost The Spotlight She Deserves

Ava Starr, also known as Ghost, recently reappeared and was well-received by both critics and fans. Despite having a remarkably helpful skillset, she hasn’t gotten as much attention as some other team members. Now living in New York as part of the New Avengers, Ghost and her team will be ready to respond to any trouble that arises, potentially impacting the events of *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*.

While Ghost is emerging as a new superhero, working with the violent Punisher seems like an odd fit. However, her background as a trained assassin, both before and during her time with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, means she’s skilled at eliminating dangerous individuals. The upcoming *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* could be a great opportunity to explore this contrast by showing Ghost secretly operating as a deadly vigilante while also working as a hero alongside Spider-Man.

Spider-Woman Was Originally An Assassin

As Peter Parker begins his fourth individual adventure in *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, many fans are wondering if it will introduce a new hero. The most popular idea is that we’ll eventually see Miles Morales, but Spider-Woman is also a strong contender. If *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* does tell Spider-Woman’s origin story, her past as an assassin would create an interesting dynamic alongside the Punisher’s violent methods of fighting crime.

In Marvel comics, Jessica Drew gains spider-powers from a special serum and initially works as an assassin for the villainous organization HYDRA. Now that HYDRA is gone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the story could be changed to have the future Spider-Woman take on a similar assassin role, but this time at the request of the Punisher. He could then guide her towards becoming a true superhero, starting by using tough, and even deadly, methods to fight crime in New York City.

Finesse Could Continue Taskmaster’s Legacy

Honestly, as a fan, I was really disappointed with what happened to Taskmaster in *Thunderbolts*. It felt like his storyline got shortchanged, especially compared to Ghost’s. And the way they just killed off Olga Kurylenko’s character, Antonia Dreykov, felt so abrupt! I think Marvel could fix this by introducing Finesse. In the comics, she’s Taskmaster’s daughter and can copy abilities just like him. It would be a great way to keep that legacy going, and it fits with what Marvel’s doing with a new generation of heroes, like Ms. Marvel. It would give them another young character to build around, and honestly, give Taskmaster’s story some much-needed closure.

As a fan, I’ve been thinking about who could really complement the Punisher, and I think Finesse would be a great addition. Frank Castle usually wins by just overwhelming enemies with guns, but Finesse could be amazing in a fight up close. He’s got skills that remind me of Daredevil, but here’s the thing – unlike Daredevil, Finesse seems like he’d be a little more flexible when it comes to morals. That could actually make him work *with* the Punisher, since Frank isn’t afraid to use lethal force. It’s an interesting dynamic to imagine!

Lynn Michaels Is An Obscure Sidekick From The 1990s

Lynn Michaels is a long-time ally of the Punisher, driven by similar goals. She started as a police officer with the NYPD, but grew frustrated with the system. Eventually, she joined forces with the Punisher to take down a dangerous criminal and a group of assassins. Though their partnership didn’t last long – the Punisher was presumed dead – Michaels continued his work, even adopting a similar skull-themed vest as a symbol.

Choosing a relatively unknown character like Michaels as the Punisher’s sidekick in *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* makes sense. Given the film already has a large cast – and if the current rumors are true – it would be hard to justify adding a major new character to work with Frank Castle, especially when the story is supposed to focus on Spider-Man.

Rachel Cole-Alves Is The Most Likely Candidate

Rachel Cole-Alves, also known as Rachel Cole, is a strong candidate to become the Punisher’s partner in the *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* storyline. She connects with Frank Castle after both lose their families to the criminal group, the Exchange, and realize they share a common enemy. Having previously served in the Marines, Cole teams up with the Punisher for a series of violent encounters, often proving to be even more ruthless than he is.

What really sets Cole apart as a strong candidate is a storyline from Marvel Comics involving Daredevil and Spider-Man. While details are still emerging, if Rachel Cole-Alves joins the cast, the show could be adapting the “Omega Effect” comic book arc. This storyline features Punisher, Rachel, Daredevil, and Spider-Man working together to keep a dangerous device called the “Omega Drive” out of the wrong hands, and that may be where the show’s plot is going.

2025-10-20 05:45