MCU Finally Nails The Punisher’s Comeback In Daredevil: Born Again After 6 Years Off-Screen!

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In a span of six years, I am thrilled that the first season of “Daredevil: Born Again” successfully achieved what was essential for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to get right regarding the Punisher upon his resurgence on television screens. The comeback of stars like Charlie Cox as Daredevil, Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, and Jon Bernthal as the Punisher has been a source of joy for many Marvel enthusiasts, given that it seemed these character revivals might have been improbable earlier in the franchise. What’s more, these characters have now been firmly established within the MCU timeline thanks to the narrative of “Daredevil: Born Again.

In Daredevil: Born Again, the series effectively rises to its main challenge – that of preserving the essence of the original Daredevil while aligning with other MCU shows. This balance has been achieved successfully, making it no wonder that the story also manages to portray The Punisher in a way that resonates with the spirit of the comics, despite the MCU’s past inclination towards toning down more adult-oriented elements of its source material.

Daredevil: Born Again’s Punisher Return Came After 6 Years Without Jon Bernthal’s Iteration Of The Character On-Screen

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the appearance of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” was quite surprising. However, it implied that Matt Murdock would appear on screen again before Frank Castle’s (Jon Bernthal’s Punisher) return. Instead, the Punisher had to wait for several more years, making his comeback in season 1, episode 4 of “Daredevil: Born Again.” Since his last appearance was at the end of “The Punisher” season 2, which came out in 2019, this means that the Punisher was absent from screens for approximately 6 years. During most of this period, it seemed as though he might never return again.

In essence, the narrative of “Daredevil: Born Again” aligns with the current era, as it is suggested that the Punisher has resurfaced in New York during an unseen interval and has discovered a fresh hideout. The encounter between Frank Castle and Matt Murdock underscores their ongoing disagreement about the role of a vigilante and where the boundary lies for meting out justice. This conflict serves to establish an essential aspect of the Punisher’s screen comeback in the MCU, which effectively mirrors his return on-screen later on.

Daredevil: Born Again’s Season 1 Proved The MCU Can Pull Off Punisher Fight Scenes As Well As The Original Series

In the fourth episode of Daredevil: Born Again season 1, it appeared as if The Punisher’s appearance was mainly for dialogue with Daredevil, leading some fans to wonder if they would miss out on the epic fight scenes they had hoped for in this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Given that Daredevil: Born Again primarily focuses on a temporarily retired vigilante and a spinoff for The Punisher has been confirmed, it seemed plausible that the first season might not have enough time to depict the character engaging in his signature combat.

Thankfully, the closing episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season 1 proved quite differently, as the Punisher rescued Daredevil in episode 9, leading to a confrontation against Mayor Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force and law enforcement officials who had adopted the Punisher’s symbol. This leads to some outstanding fight sequences, many of which rival both the original Daredevil and The Punisher series in terms of quality.

The collaboration between Daredevil and the Punisher in their joint battle mirrors their alliance in Daredevil season 2, featuring the Punisher launching an unexpected attack by firing through a window, and the underlying tension as they work together despite their ongoing conflict. The fight scene, illuminated sporadically by gunfire, resembles The Punisher season 1, episode 7, where Castle employed a smoke bomb to his advantage amidst an intense firefight in a military base, with both characters leveraging this concept effectively.

Nevertheless, the battle that most embodies The Punisher’s style occurs when Castle confronts Fisk’s Task Force later. This fight sequence encapsulates the brutal intensity and unrestrained violence characteristic of both The Punisher and Daredevil’s best Punisher fights, complete with graphically violent scenes such as Castle hurling an axe into someone’s skull. The relentless action and unbridled rage portrayed in this scene underscore the idea that despite a gap in on-screen appearances, The Punisher’s wrath has arguably grown stronger, making him a solitary warrior ready to engage an entire group single-handedly.

Daredevil: Born Again’s Punisher Fight Scenes Have Made Me Even More Excited For The Character’s Own Upcoming Spinoff

In “Daredevil: Born Again,” they take great care to stay true to the Punisher’s character as previously portrayed by Marvel, especially emphasizing his unrelenting ruthlessness. However, due to the main focus being on Daredevil and Kingpin, the series doesn’t delve deeply into the Punisher’s character. Despite this limitation, it’s remarkable that even in a limited capacity, the MCU show manages to give the Punisher his moments and contribute to the plot. This situation also underscores that the story for the Punisher wasn’t fully developed in this series.

It seems that the confirmation of a standalone Punisher Special Presentation in the MCU’s future presents an ideal situation, offering a chance to expand upon the impressive fight scenes and narrative foundation established earlier, while simultaneously placing Frank Castle at the center of attention for the upcoming project – something that wasn’t feasible during his tenure in Daredevil: Born Again. Considering the post-credits scene from season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again wraps up the series with Punisher breaking free, it appears that this Special Presentation may have a rich foundation for story development right off the bat.

Given the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s tendency to let the Punisher unleash fully during fights, even beyond them as demonstrated by the brutal post-credits scene in Daredevil: Born Again, the possibilities for his upcoming standalone series seem more promising than ever. Although Frank Castle had limited screen time after his return from hiatus, this suggests that the MCU might be ready to delve deeper into him and his unique brand of chaos. This development increases my anticipation for seeing more of the Punisher and his chaos in the future.

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2025-04-23 21:32