10 Insane Alternate Superhero Origins You Won't Believe Exist
1. The Punisher: Vigilante, Killer...Geisha?
Marvel’s most bloodthirsty antihero is a lot of things: violent, scary, bad-ass, grim, gritty etc.
But a tickle torturing geisha, well, that’s not the most obvious application to Mr Castle. One of many bizarre Marvel figures stemming from the early noughties Marvel Mangaverse series, Frank Castle was reborn as Sosumi Brown. High school principal by day and crook spanking (literally) warrior by night, Brown’s motivation to fight crime goes all the way back to the tragic pogo stick related accident.
The booming Manga industry at the turn of the 21st century prompted Marvel to cash in by attempting an East meets West take on their heroes. Most of the results were downright weird at best and full of ill-placed Eastern stereotypes but Manga Punisher handily takes the cake. Nicknamed Tokyo’s Kinkiest Superhero, The Manga Punisher was the only figure in the series to be chock full of BDSM imagery and themes.
Exhibiting almost none of the traits that made the original character so popular and (in)famous, Sosumi Brown just about runs away with the award for the most unbelievable alternate take on a classic hero.