Marvel's The Punisher Season 2: 10 Reasons To Be Excited

The Punisher isn't the easiest character to adapt - as uneven attempts in two previous movies showed. However, the Marvel/Netflix Universe has excelled at giving us versions of classic Marvel characters which really do justice to the source material while also working in the more modern and realistic setting of the shows and Jon Bernthal's casting as Frank Castle may just be their biggest achievement.

He immediately proved he had the look, the physicality and, crucially, the range to play The Punisher to perfection. Because Castle is no dead-eyed killing machine. He's a damaged man, a desperate man, but still a man with honour who just wants justice - even if his own brand of justice isn't to most people's tastes.

Bernthal manages to convey all of that - often in just a look or subtle movement - as well as bringing moments of dry humour to the role as well as a convincing vulnerability. These aspects are vital as The Punisher can be problematic, especially in the modern climate where gun violence and the role of the police and security services are hotly debated.

The actor makes the character someone we can root for, someone we know is good at heart even as he does unspeakable things in the service of justice. The flip side of course is that, this is still a comic book character and shouldn't be looked at completely seriously - and Bernthal's version of Frank Castle is everything a longtime fan could hope for: unrelenting, unforgiving, expert in weaponry, absolutely crushing in hand-to-hand combat and seriously cool-looking when he dons the iconic skull armour.