Universe
Marvel Universe
Real Name
Frank Castle (born Castiglione)
Aliases
Big Nothing, Major Bateman, Ted Bishop, Cliff Callador, Castigo, Chaloner, Fred D'Amato, Eastman, Charles Fort, Frank Loomis, McRook, Melchior, Joe Rainey, Frank Rook, Richard Rook, Tony Knowlen Ross, Francis Stronghold, Johnny Tower, Dmitri Velikoff, Frankie Villa, Yousoufian; numerous others
Identity
Publicly known
Occupation
Vigilante; former Special Forces instructor, U.S. Marine
Citizenship
U.S.A. with a criminal record, listed in Marine records as a deserter
Place of Birth
Queens, New York
Known Relatives
Maria Elizabeth Castle (wife, deceased), Lisa Barbara Castle (daughter, deceased), Frank David Castle (a.k.a. Frank Jr., son, deceased), Mario Lorenzo Castiglione (father, deceased), Louisa Castiglione (mother, deceased), Fredo and Rocco Castiglione (paternal uncles, deceased)
Group Affiliation
None; Formerly Secret Avengers, Daredevil's Unnamed Super-Hero Team, Green Berets, U.S. Marine Corps
Education
Extensive military training, partial priesthood training
Height
6'1"
Weight
200 lbs.
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Black
Powers
None
Abilities
Punisher is the recipient of multi-disciplinary military training from the U.S. Marine Corps. While a Marine, he also received training from the U.S. Army and Navy. From this training, Punisher is proficient in not only basic infantry skills, but in special operations, which includes the use and maintenance of specialized firearms and explosive ordnance. He is highly trained in infiltration into heavily-guarded enemy territories and structures for the purpose of assassination, captures, and military intelligence. Also, he is trained in various forms of camouflage and stealth. From his airborne training, Punisher is able to pack and maintain his own parachute rigs, as well as professionally control his landings, in daylight and at night. From his Navy UDT training, Punisher is well-skilled in extended underwater operations, including demolitions. He is skilled with a great many types of explosives, ranging from simple dynamite to plastique to improvised explosives. His hand-to-hand combat skills are more then sufficient to allow him to incapacitate and kill men much stronger than he is, as well as to deal with groups of armed and unarmed enemies, killing them all without weapons if he deems it necessary. He is also extremely deadly in knife training, preferring the knife he learned to fight with in the USMC: the ka-bar. Additionally, he is a preternaturally-precise marksman. He is thoroughly trained and experienced in unconventional ("guerilla") warfare. He is an armorer, a gunsmith, and an expert in field medicine.
Weapons
The Punisher's ever-changing arsenal of weaponry includes various automatic and semi-automatic rifles, and an array of handguns, fragmentation and tear gas grenades, other explosives, and combat knives. A personal favorite is his ballistic knife, which can launch its blade with lethal force. He commonly uses M16 .223 caliber automatic rifles, Sterling Mark 6 9mm, semi-automatic rifles, 9mm Browning Llama automatic pistols, .45 caliber automatic frame rechambered for 9mm. ammunition, .223 caliber Derringers, and Gerber Mark II combat knives.
Paraphernalia
The Punisher has a Kevlar uniform which protects him from most gunfire, though he can still suffer concussive injury or penetration from sufficient or repeated impacts.
First Appearance
Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)
Origin
Marvel Preview #2 (1975); Marvel Super Action #1 (1976); Punisher: Year One #1-4 (1994-1995); Nam #52 (1991)
Significant Issues
Fought Hitman (Amazing Spider-Man #174-175, 1977); drugged by Jigsaw, defeated by Kingpin (Spectacular Spider-Man #78, 81-83, 1983); encountered Trust (Punisher #1-5, 1986); adopted Max (Punisher War Zone #37, 1995); face scarred by Jigsaw, repaired by Brewer (Punisher #54-59, 1991-1992); took out Carbone family, faced assassins of Rosalie Carbone (Punisher War Zone #1-12, 1992-1993); opposed first Chunnel plot (Punisher #65-70, 1992); exploded mobster building, believed dead while active in Laastekist (Punisher #86-88/Punisher War Journal #62-64/Punisher War Zone #24-25, 1994); fought Microchip and Stonecold, captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Punisher #102-104/Punisher War Journal #79-80/Punisher War Zone #41, 1995); driven mad by Spook, assassinated Fury LMD (Double Edge: Alpha Omega, 1995); worked with Geraci crime family (Punisher #1-10, 1995-1996); fought Ersatz Mutant Liberation Front, lost memory (Punisher #12-16, 1996-1997); agent of angels against Olivier (Punisher #1-4, 1998-1999); took out Gnuccis and Vigilante Squad (Punisher #1-12, 2000-2001); opposed Kreigkopf and Russian (Punisher #1-5, 2001); fought mercanaries of Monastery Hill (Punisher #33-37, 2003-2004); fought Nicky Cavella and CIA, slew Microchip (Punisher #1-6, 2004)