Marvel's The Punisher: 10 Reasons To Be Excited

by Ewan Paterson

1. A Whole New Phase

Netflix

The Punisher is the first fresh addition to the MCU leading on from Iron Fist and The Defenders, and if that's not cause enough for excitement, then, well, what is?

Even if you're not a fan of the character in the traditional sense (certainly, this writer has their own problems with him), Frank Castle's uniqueness cannot be disputed. He's not a hero, and nor should he be. What he is, however, is a very nuanced - sometimes misunderstood - antihero, and one that plays tremendously well to the strengths Marvel have already shown in their various Netflix series thus far.

His ascension to solo series superhero-dom marks a new chapter in the Netflix library - one that will, undoubtedly, pave the way for further adventures in the darker corners of the Marvel Universe. It's important to remember that, but seven years ago, the Punisher was privy to a box-office bomb, and that - much like Daredevil - a cinematic revival looked unlikely.

Well, here we are, and Frank's back better than ever. His return should, surely, reinvigorate the MCU's Netflix presence, but better yet, it could pave the way for other superhero revivals; Blade and Ghost Rider - despite the latter having received attention on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - are still waiting on a Netflix series.

The MCU can only get bigger, and if Punisher is the success we all surely hope it to be, then expect other Marvel properties to make the jump to the small screen. Frank Castle could, in this case, be leading the way once more.

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Are you excited for the Punisher? Feel like it has what it takes to save Netflix's not-so-Marvellous year? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

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Content Producer/Presenter

WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well. In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.