10 Unpopular Comic Book Character Reboots (That Were Actually Perfect)

Though he's a very straightforward character on paper, the Punisher has been through a lot in his time. He's been a mercenary, a psychotic lunatic, he was even an angel who could manifest divine semi-automatics. But every comic fan can agree that his lowest point, both thematically, narrative-wise, and in terms of sales, was when he was reincarnated as Franken-Castle, the whip-stitched zombie version of himself.

As the story goes, Frank's endless crusade for punishment and vengeance is abruptly halted when he goes up against Daken, Wolverine's son. As Frank is a human man and Daken is an undying mutant demi-god, their battle ended with Frank lying in multiple parts of a room simultaneously. His vivisected corpse was collected by the vampire scientist Morbius who revives him as a Frankenstein monster to use as a shock trooper for the Legion of Monsters.

Obviously, fans mocked the sudden campy and ludicrous atmosphere one of Marvel's grittiest heroes had to endure. But they were very much missing the point.

Before Jon Bernthal turned him into a VA hero, The Punisher was always a cautionary character, meant to warn about the dangers of devoting oneself to blind vengeance. He is forced to live on the fringes of society, even ostracized from his fellow heroes, and though he has his supporters, his harsh attitude and violent ethics quickly drive away any friends he might make. Finally getting his comeuppance and being turned into an unholy abomination is just the culmination of his crusade.