Punisher's Hyper-Violent Mind Scarring Origin Tale Explored - Story Unravels Hidden Beast Inside Him

Frank Castle is not the first comic book character to experience the loss of loved ones. In fact, this by itself is a recurring backstory several superheroes have had. Spiderman growing up without the warmth of parental love and watching Uncle Ben die, Batman’s parents being killed, Tony Stark’s parents being killed by The Winter Soldier, Reverse Flash killing Barry Allen’s mother, the destruction of Krypton, and so on have been a pivotal point for our favorite heroes to hop onto the bandwagon of justice and saving people. But, when it comes to Frank Castle, his loss has resulted in him seeking vengeance. And Ennis brilliantly dives into his psyche and exploits that, telling his readers how everything wasn’t sunshine and flowers in Frank’s mind even before his tragic loss.
In ‘Born’, Garth Ennis takes us to the origin before the origin. He shows us that something is not right with Frank in the first place and the incident with his family only acted as a trigger for the violence that was already embedded within him.

[@rhameseshamilton8045]

This depiction makes the most sense to me of his origin. It takes a different sort of person to be as violent and inhumane as Frank Castle. He was always a killer he just had that bad day that the Joker talks about.

[@damianprock1650]

But unlike the Joker, the Punisher knows who he kills

[@paulakroy2635]

Nah he didn’t have one bad day. He had multiple. He was at war, constantly forced to watch tons of tragedy. His friend got rape, his was abusive. And then when his family was killed that was the last thing tying him to his humanity

[@macrussell78]

The Max series were the first set of comics I truly owned that weren't just given to me by my dad or friends and I loved it. Even let my buds from highschools borrow a couple issues from time to time and they loved it.

[@MikefromTexas1]

One of my all-time favorite comic characters, let alone from Marvel.

[@damianstarks3338]

You read my mind here I like Frank castle too.

[@lenildocairespinheiro4729]

The Punisher is indeed awesome

[@MikefromTexas1]

@King KTB333 He's another favorite.😂

[@wolfdepp22]

Same.

[@damianprock1650]

Same here, he's my favorite of all the heroes made by Marvel

[@lindamagagula7476]

The Punisher is of my favorite Marvel Comics Characters. Damnnn he is a badass comic book Character 🔥🔥🔥😎😎🤟🤟

[@damianstarks3338]

You read my mind here I like the punisher too he is one of my favorite marvel comics characters too.

[@mosesmoorhouse]

I cannot tell if the narrator is a bot or not but that delivery is INSANE

[@ChamarM]

He talks like a sped up William Shatner

[@JustHereForTheDialogue]

It has to be a bot

[@basedfrosti]

@@JustHereForTheDialoguedoubtful. They have 1-2 other narrators and they sound fine.

[@JustHereForTheDialogue]

@@basedfrosti lol they have A LOT more than 1-2 because they are all just AI voices. How much you wanna bet I could find all these on some generic site?

[@danielwilliamson6180]

The Punisher is one of my favourite comic book characters. One of the greatest anti-heroes ever created and Frank Castle is a well written character. A former soldier turned cop who became the vigilante assassin known as The Punisher when the justice system failed him after his family were brutally slain by criminals. I believe Castle is suffering from PTSD and a psychological disorder. Frank Castle is a man who has lost everything and is now on a path of violent vengeance.

[@jayyy1677]

He was never a cop.

[@Royaldeath-trooper]

@@jayyy1677 to my knowledge he was only a cop FBI agent in the 2004 punisher movie

[@damianprock1650]

​@@jayyy1677 he was in Dolph Lundgren's take on the whole deal

[@damianprock1650]

​@@Royaldeath-trooper exactly, the one Punisher movie that actually does incorporate the Punisher's origin story into the main plot instead of it being in flashbacks, even giving us a perfunctory explanation on why he chose that skull as his insignia

[@johnryder1713]

He was born Francesco Castiglione, A Catholic Italian family first gen immigrants, and was a Seminarian who left the Priesthood as he didn't think it was right breakers of the 10 Commandments should go unpunished, when he appeared in Spiderman he was thought to be only a one shot character then he was so popular they decided to bring him back but it was 12 years before he got his own comic.

[@SuperOmnicronsj44]

Its interesting because Marvel had a hardcore genre with Punisher, Daredevil, which had Frank Miller. They even used the dichotomy of Spider-man who was happy go lucky to the darker Punisher character in Spider-Man. Great character and i hope they can salvage him.

[@damianprock1650]

Even once portraying Frank as a childhood friend of Matt's really ups the ante, much like how Johnny Depp was a childhood friend of my father's

[@johnryder1713]

People think too much about the Punisher that he epitomizes picking up a gun and attacking someone, than been the idea of Batman been an ordinary man who fights back when really thats all he was meant to be

[@MOMOFCJ6]

I think hes about the failure of justice

[@johnryder1713]

@@MOMOFCJ6 Good point, hence his leaving the Seminary to pursue his own justice, not leave it to God

[@VeridianHerald]

Not my favourite origin for the Punisher. Oh, "he was a maniac all along" detracts from any sort of nuance about the (over?) reaction to seeing the loved ones slaughtered. My personal preferences is more in the vein of Falling Down or the Brave One. The difference being that the anti-hero protagonist in Punisher has that special set of skills for fighting back and then taking the fight to their enemies. While an excellently written series, it just wasn't to my tastes. Mind you, the first Punisher (Spider-Man Villain), being a religious maniac who would execute people for traffic violations also wasn't terribly engaging for me either. Also, those were Water Buffalo, not Rhinos...

[@davidcarty7584]

The punisher isn't for you then because Frank castle was always meant to be a killing junkie that used the death of his family as excuse just so he go to war.

[@VeridianHerald]

@@davidcarty7584 I suppose you haven't read Marvel Knights, Welcome Home Frank, Barracuda, the Slavers, Widowmaker, or Welcome to Bayou?

[@davidcarty7584]

@@VeridianHerald and what about them

[@VeridianHerald]

@@davidcarty7584 Are you unfamiliar with them, or are you just selectively literate and can only read speech bubbles that agree with your slanted positions?

[@KurtMaxey]

@@VeridianHerald Spot on assessment of this series. I liked Garth Ennis' work on the monthly Punisher series better. Good writing, but not my cup of tea either.

[@JamesFromTexas]

The greatest comic book/movie/TV character of all time!

[@ScrumDelly]

Yes, that vital livestock, the Vietnamese rhino

[@davestevens2908]

Those...are not rhinos.

[@morbidone88]

Khorne cares not from where the blood flows, only that it does...

[@damianstarks3338]

One of my favorite marvel comics anti heroes plus I own the punisher born comic.

[@jakeen229]

I own all of them. I love the other comics but once you remove Frank from the world of super heros you can really make him shine. Also, BORN was just as good and the new Plantoon stuff that came out last year was damn good as well.

[@blackdragon6]

I actually think he works well again other heroes cause he can be contrasted against them. Without that context he's just another Charles Bronson.

[@jakeen229]

@@blackdragon6 I have to disagree on that one. Have you read any of the Max stuff? it's really well done.

[@blackdragon6]

@@jakeen229 I don't doubt that, my point is that he works really well being contrasted with heroes. Especially idealistic heroes. Unless we're talking wolverine.

[@daryusi9347]

I LOVE the Punisher & Red Hood so much ... they know how to deal with bad people in the way they need to be dealt with.

[@Swampthing86]

The Punisher is one of my favorites comic book characters. Here's my favorite comic book characters The Punisher Spawn Nightwing Swamp Thing Aquaman Shazam Hellboy Cyborg Hal Jordan/Green Lantern John Stewart/ Green Lantern Starfire Raven Beast Boy/Changling Jericho Blade John Constantine Captain America Iron Man Wolverine The Thing The Human Torch Mr. Fantastic The Invisible Girl/Woman Leonardo Donetello Michaelangelo Raphael Casey Jones Wonder Girl Wonder Woman Black Widow Star Lord Gamora Drax The Destroyer Rocket Raccoon Groot Mantis War Machine Bucky Barnes The Falcon Spider-Man Conan The Barbarian Master Splinter Deadshot Harley Quinn Captain Boomerang Bloodsport King Shark Lt. Colonel Rick Flagg The Polkadot Man The Ratcatcher 2

[@theapex560]

Good list.

[@hitmanmonaghan6633]

Great tastes, some characters I don’t know.

[@thewizardofodds6839]

It's hard to belive that the gangs and mafias can exist in a world of superheros

[@wadewilson8303]

I remember those issues. Think I still have them in a box with my other Punisher comics. I liked how it ended with that ambiguity of being Frank's fractured psyche or may it was Death talking to Frank.

[@maubee2112]

Those weren’t rhinos.

[@cesaralejandro7725]

I don’t blame frank for becoming an anti hero.

[@SiriusZiriux]

Why does Richard sound so Badass?

[@aye1972]

Semper Fi to Frank Castle

[@dr.strangelove.miguelaleja2825]

THIS IS MAY FAVORITE VIDEO

[@erikjimenez8671]

I wish we would have seen Frank castles origins as part of the Marvel cinematic universe, see his exploits in Vietnam, his family having their ill-fated journey in Central Park and see his one man war on crime throughout the decades. Leading to see a old man Frank Castle still going at it where even the most superpower villain to the small time gang banger is afraid of Frank because his exploits became stuff of urban legend.

[@ihatekpoop6229]

The Netflix punisher is part of the mcu

[@matthew_natividad]

@@ihatekpoop6229 a born Vers of his time Kandahar would be nice

[@jon471000]

. .. ... Those weren't rhinos

[@chengfu7063]

The Punisher is the best it's good for once to see a hero not be a wimp for a change and go out there and be a man

[@michaelspencer1315]

Yaks not Rhinos

[@cesaralejandro7725]

We need a real life punisher in the real world.

[@damianprock1650]

Exactly, with the cops becoming no better than the criminals they're supposed to catch, it's really needed

[@ivanraphaelarosa2369]

Congratulations on missing the point of The Punisher.

[@damianprock1650]

@@ivanraphaelarosa2369 what's that supposed to mean smart-ass?

[@ultrainferno.]

​@ivanraphaelarosa2369 doesn't matter, he still a cool character.

[@damianprock1650]

@@ultrainferno. yep

[@liammcsweeney2616]

Punisher is definitely my #1 favorite comic book hero

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

I love The Punisher, but I don't necessarily like this backstory. I prefer to think that Frank is just a great soldier looking forward to going home and being with his family.

[@ManWiThOutFEAR1982]

This narrator added his own speculation Frank is not presented as a maniac but there is something dark that wants to manipulate him. It's left up to interpretation but I believe it was the Grim Reaper.

[@dtill5322]

Frank Castle, Al Simmons and John J. Rambo are all ironically the same tragically heroic broken men. With a passion and talent for killing. Castle and Simmons back stories foreshadow their unfortunate inevitable future losses. Which carve them into becoming what they become.

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

@@dtill5322 I see that. But an aptitude for something doesn't mean that you have to like it. Liking the accomplishment of a job well done doesn't have to equate with a love for the killing. Then again, we may be having an argument that those fictional heroes/antiheroes have within themselves, not unlike what I imagine their real life counterparts have had.

[@dtill5322]

@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545 Well, maybe I used the wrong words or should elaborate on what I meant by passion. Maybe I should have worded it that they are highly talented/skilled soldier's of fortune. That excell highly off the charts in what they do best/specialize in. Which is combat, guerrilla warfare tactics, stealth, etc. One could state clearly that in the heat of them doing what they do best. Their character's showing that grim dark side going totally black and enjoying it much. However, I tend to see both sides of it. Their killing is often misunderstood by the critics who try to analyze their physche. Although, killing in any shape/form is not plausible and can be highly grotesque to some. When their character's inact voilence its necessary and isn't inflicted, meaningless. Just for their personal pleasures like some psychopath or deranged lunatic getting off on a rush. They've all expressed morality, a code, a conscience, and are remorseful. At some point, they've tried to turn away from the violence in their lives. Yet, it's continued to find them somehow. No matter how much they've wanted peace for themselves and a shot at a normal life. Tried it at least or had it, but tragedy/trouble has always found them. I think that's where some misunderstand character's like Punisher, Al Simmons, or Rambo. I agree with you 💯%. Their character's are relatable to real-life combat vet's and such. It's why I like them and wish they'd get better story archs. When it comes to movies that'll do the character's some justice.

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

@@dtill5322 Amen. My problem with Punisher is that the Garth Ennis is considered the best/definitive Frank Castle. My issue with this is that his portrayal has Frank actually preferring the killing to having a stable home life.

[@lightschunk]

I always thought the black bubbles talking to Frank was death. He made a deal with death to keep sending others to their graves. Thats why he wears a skull on his chest.

[@jopiaspieder1184]

Great video

[@t0ttsmejellin954]

It would be great to do a wishmaster video

[@MarvelousVideos]

We already have on check it out!

[@t0ttsmejellin954]

@@MarvelousVideos thank you andrew divoff is my hero lol

[@el-kiote]

I believe the monologue was Mephisto, Frank made a deal with the devil.

[@dennislogan6781]

Herd of rhinos? Don't you mean water buffalos?

[@damianprock1650]

You mean like the secret society Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble are a part of?

[@dennislogan6781]

@@damianprock1650 That was the Royal Water Buffalos.

[@damianprock1650]

@@dennislogan6781 exactly

[@alexagaba284]

Good... Only beef is the rhinos..

[@olaf5929]

Meanwhile in the original comics Frank was simply cursed, because as soon as he broke out of his shell / liked somebody / got an intimate relationship that person is almost immediately killed by criminals / dies in a random act of violence or is hurt in some unrecoverable way. TBH I did not like "Born" because it stripped this from the character.

[@bulletchains8205]

i think it kinda retained that element tho, because doesn't Godwin die, and doesn't he open up to Godwin in the 2nd issue (or maybe its the 3rd, i just watched the video the issues blend together a bit lol) after he kills MacDonald, and he regrets it immediately. you can kinda see the, not so much cursed but, the "I don't wanna get close to people, aaaa, back away" ness from his character early on here, and when Godwin dies that might be the seed of his cursed arc where those closest to him always die

[@KohChinTong]

It's a herd of buffalos, not rhinos.

[@israelfields5721]

Very enjoyable

[@johnryder1713]

Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his compatriots drew the Skull on their uniforms and helmets so often the Iraqi militants thought it was some American national symbol, as he and the soldiers believed they were righting wrongs as Frank was, but in any war is there any right and wrong inflicted in the end?

[@jakeen229]

Dude was a Fraud

[@johnryder1713]

@@jakeen229 Dude was a hero who died under terrible circumstances, just trying to help people

[@jakeen229]

The only hero I know is a sandwich

[@johnryder1713]

@@jakeen229 Didn't know many myself, I guess you have to be your own, as the Punisher tried to be

[@TheLyingFigure]

There are many examples of people who were objectively the bad guy in history, Sadam and his sons were definitely some of them even without the WMDs

[@georgeclontd4984]

To get what he wanted. Frank gave up two things. His family. And his soul.

[@jayowens1072]

Jesus loves you and died for you because your a sinner who’s condemned to hell accept him and repent of your sins to get to heaven He’s the only way. I hope you have a good day or morning or afternoon where ever you may be and God bless you take care

[@ojar91]

I loved it, that is the punisher.

[@RAPEDBYBLACKS]

‘Herd of rhinos’

[@jasontodd8071]

I always thought the 'black monologue ' was Death herself.

[@hitmanmonaghan6633]

Garth pretty much says that in the special features of the graphic novel.

[@7thsonofa7thson80]

Water buffalo's not rhino's. Those look nothing like a rhino

[@markarnold2360]

I've always Loved THE PUNISHER simply because In this world of perceived etiquette, political BS masked as something honorable or noble, Frank faces both his demons and himself with the exact same visceral truthfulness every man faces............ eventually, and while It laughs at and/or scoffs at our belief that If we sever ourselves from any Inner Darkness we cannot admit to In a realistic mature way, that we somehow Magically are then freed from what one half of ALL of us are made of, THE PUNISHER SHATTERS THIS LIE WITH THE ONLY WEAPON IN IT'S OWN ARSENAL-THE COLD, INTIMIDATING TRUTH OF REALITY, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE DENY SEEING IT, IT WILL ALWAYS SEE US.

[@soulreaver1983]

🙂👍👍👍👍👍

[@zakman6471]

Happy the net flix series came out, he killed everyone like he should. Just punish

[@DarknessUnresolved]

Not a single reference to Punisher: Warzone, tisk tisk...

[@judsongaiden9878]

0:44 Extract that stock, greenhorn! Yeah, yeah. He wouldn't have had time to, but the stock should have already been extracted for use by whoever had that MP7 before him. Only in the realm of fiction are folding or collapsible stocks left in their storage position. 2:49 Notice how he turns that G36 cockeyed for no reason. When John Wick did it, there was a reason for it. In Wick's case, his rifle (not a G36, but this is a universal principle regarding combination sights that are set up this way) was set up with combination sights - a magnified optic on top and close-range backup sights offset 45° to the right (which is a right-handed configuration). Video games have that nowadays. Examples include but are not limited to "(No) Escape from Tarkov(sky)" and Borderlands 3. 4:15 Only in the realm of fiction are soldiers (or in this case, Marines) depicted wearing helmets with the chinstrap unfastened. More typically for the era, the strap was fastened at the back of the helmet. There's a treatise on exactly this sort of thing and one of its points was that the chinstrap should never be left dangling. 4:27 Only in the realm of fiction are hand grenades depicted being worn like that. Hand grenades are never worn loosely or sloppily. They're packed neatly in pouches. 4:35 Death Battle: Frank Castle versus Bob Barnes 5:32 Unfold that ladder sight, greenhorn! 5:38 Those skimpy 20-round mags! Why did it take our country so long to figure out that 30 rounds should be the bare minimum?! The opposing force had already figured that out two decades prior! 6:24 A general would never be seen wearing a helmet with an unfastened chinstrap. How the heck (hell) do they glance over these details?! 7:38 Being a Marine, he wouldn't have referred to himself as a "soldier." 8:04 I don't see any maggots. I see a centipede and something that vaguely resembles a caterpillar (or beetle grub), but no maggots. 8:37 Why would a right-hander have a belt of 7.62x51mm ammo (for an M-60) slung over his shoulder in left-handed configuration? 9:40 "Points the sniper at her?" Who wrote that line?! He's clearly using a sidearm right there. The illustration makes it look kinda like a SIG, but given the time and place, it should be an M1911. Also, that was clearly a mercy killing. And rape should be grounds for time in the brig, a dishonorable discharge, and possibly military prison. 15:25 Check that chicken-wing, greenhorn! 16:48 "In your head, in your head, they're still fightiiiing..."

[@ericokonkwo7771]

Imagine if the Punisher and Daredevil were forced to work together to take on Batman and the Red Hood in the Ultimate No Hold Barred Showdown!

[@olaf5929]

Since Disney is supposedly buying DC this year that could happen, as they own Marvel already.

[@johnotto-wl2yh]

Nah team-up is better 👍🏽

[@list3058]

Hahaha, you say "...Hyper-Violent...", then show Thomas Jane's emo Punisher. Lundgren's is the best with "...War Zone" being a close and actual hyper-violent runner-up.

[@darksaintxvi6914]

Ennis made a fuckin masterpiece in punisher max. Start to end. Fuckin amazing run. Best punisher hands down. I want another max punisher run

[@alphatrion100]

The movie was cool. Really like the actor. He was in deep blue sea. Dont even know his name

[@muscles_glasses]

Thomas Jane, he was also in the movie version of The Mist.

[@damianprock1650]

​@@muscles_glasses and was in *the Predator,* don't forget that

[@dilipbhattacharyabhattacha9996]

I almost felt petty for you guys the new generation the punisher you know from comet book and TV series is not even closer to the real story The real punisher was Dolph landgren from 1989

[@damianprock1650]

Nah, the one true Punisher has to be Thomas Jane since his origin story was the catalyst for the movie's main plot instead of it being shown in flashbacks

[@johnotto-wl2yh]

Ray Stevenson was the The Punisher

[@damianprock1650]

@@johnotto-wl2yh he was also Volstag the Enormous in the Thor movies

[@pedrogabrielduarte4544]

First