Frank Castle is… the Punisher. And his mission to kill criminals goes way beyond revenge over the slaughter of his family. His one-man war on crime sometimes brings him into conflict with costumed heroes, but he’s at his most interesting when he’s just going after day-to-day criminals in the ultimate revenge fantasy.
This entry spotlights the Punisher’s earliest appearances alongside Spider-Man, before he branches out into other corners of the Marvel Universe; facing the likes of Daredevil, Moon Knight and even Doctor Doom. In the mid-80s, the Punisher was granted his own mini-series, which was quickly followed by his own ongoing titles. Before long, he had a second ongoing – Punisher War Journal – to meet demand!
As always, I’d like to thank the guys over at the Marvel Chronology Project which I use as a basis and then work out my own version of the Marvel Universe continuity.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔ are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read; remember, what’s “good” is subjective!
Chronology: All appearances of the Punisher from this period are included in chronological order, laying out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Did we miss something? Let us know!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- The Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #1
- The Punisher Annual #4 [1/4]
- The Punisher: Year One #1-4
- The Punisher: Bloodlines
- Amazing Spider-Man #129
- Marvels: Eye of the Camera #2
- Code of Honor #1
- Amazing Spider-Man #134-135
- The Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #2
- Giant-Size Spider-Man #4 [1/2]
- Marvel Preview #2 [1/2]
- Marvel Super-Action #1 [1/4]
- Amazing Spider-Man #161-162
- Amazing Spider-Man #174-175
- Marvels: Eye of the Camera #3
- Code of Honor #2
- Captain America #241
- Amazing Spider-Man #201-202
- Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 [1/4]
- Code of Honor #3
- Daredevil #181-184
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #78-79
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83
- The Punisher (1986) #1-5
- Code of Honor #4
- Amazing Spider-Man #284-285
- Amazing Spider-Man #288
- The Punisher (1987) #1-3
- The Punisher (1987) #4-7
- Marvel Graphic Novel #40: The Punisher – Assassin’s Guild
- Strange Tales (1987) #12 [1/2]
- Strange Tales (1987) #13 [1/2]
- Strange Tales (1987) #14 [1/2]
- The Punisher (1987) #8-9
- Spectacular Spider-Man #140-142
- The Punisher (1987) #10
- Daredevil #257
- The Punisher Annual (1988) #1 [1/3]
- ThePunisher (1987) #11-13
- Spectacular Spider-Man #143
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #1-3
- The Punisher (1987) #14-18
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #4-5
- The Punisher (1987) #19
- Power Pack #46
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #6-7
- The Punisher (1987) #21-23
- The Punisher Annual (1988) #2 [1/4]
- The Punisher Annual (1988) #2 [3/4]
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #8-9
- The Punisher (1987) #24-25
- The Punisher Annual (1988) #3 [1/5]
- The Punisher Annual (1988) #3 [2/5]
- The Punisher: Return to Big Nothing
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #10
- The Punisher (1987) #26-27
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #11
- Classic Punisher (1989) [3/3]
- Marvel Graphic Novel #51: The Punisher – Intruder
- The Punisher (1987) #28-29
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #12-13
- Damage Control (1989) #2, 4
- The Punisher (1987) #30-32
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #14-15
- Amazing Spider-Man #330-331
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #16
- The Punisher (1987) #33-34 (1990)
- The Punisher Annual (1990) #3 [4/5]
- Web of Spider-Man Annual #6 [2/4]
- Amazing Spider-Man #337 (1990)
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #17-19
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #20-24
- The Punisher: No Escape
- The Punisher: The Prize
- Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular #1 [6/9]
- Marvel Comics Presents #59 [4/4]
- Ghost Rider (1990) #5-6
- Marvel Graphic Novel #64 – The Punisher: Kingdom Gone
- The Punisher (1987) #35-40
- Marc Spector: Moon Knight #19-21
- The Punisher (1987) #41-42
- The Punisher War Journal (1988) #25-27
- The Punisher (1987) #43
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| The Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #1 (pp.1-3, –21) (1993) Soldier Frank Castle passes boot camp and serves his first tour of duty in Southeast Asia; Frank finds out his closest friend, Roger Wong, has been running illegal arms deal… 1st appearance: Jan O’Reilly/Jan Frohike | |
| The Punisher Annual #4 [1/4] (p.1) (1991) After serving in the US Marine Corps, Frank Castle marries Maria Falconio; they have their first child, Lisa Castle; Frank accepts the Corps’ offer to run training seminars… | |
| The Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #1 (pp.22-23) (1993) David Linus Lieberman first meets Frank Castle, in Milwaukee, when Linus attempts to protest his draft notice; Linus doesn’t qualify. | |
| The Punisher Annual #4 [1/4] (pp.1-2) (1991) Frank Castle is informed he’ll be getting the Presidential Freedom Award; Frank Castle’s family are gunned down by mobsters in Central Park… | |
| ✔ | The Punisher: Year One #1 (1994) The Punisher: Year One #2 (pp.1-6) (1995) Frank Castle is found near-death by Daily Bugle news reporter Michael McTeer; Frank’s wife and two children – Lisa and Frank Castle Jr – didn’t survive; the Costa Family – just one part of the Maggia’s crime families – send hitmen to the hospital to finish Frank off, but he retaliates. |
| The Punisher Annual #4 [1/4] (p.3) (1991) The NYPD advise Frank Castle to leave the situation to the police. | |
| ✔ | The Punisher: Year One #2 (pp.6-22) (1995) The Punisher: Year One #3-4 (1995) Frank Castle descends into alcoholism; Michael McTeer interviews Frank to tell his story for the Bugle and tries to help him bring his family’s killers to justice; Howard Furniss is ordered to end the investigation into the Castle family’s murder, suggesting connections between the Costas and the NYPD; the Costa family kill McTeer and set an explosive trap at Frank’s home; Frank barely survives; he gathers weapons and wears a skull on his chest as a distraction and starts killing Costas; referring to himself as a ‘Punisher’, tracks down Costa hitman Billy ‘The Beaut’ Russo and throws him face-first through a window. |
| The Punisher: Bloodlines (1991) The Punisher heads to South America to track down drug lord and ruler of San Domingo, Captain Manuel Flores de Ortega, after Frank Castle’s friend, DEA agent Quincy Jefferson, is murdered. | |
| The Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #2 (p.8) (1993) The Punisher hunts down terrorists, drug lords and mobsters. | |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974) The Punisher is hired by the Jackal to kill Spider-Man for his role in the Mechanic‘s death; the Punisher realises he’s been tricked and vows to kill the Jackal. Note: This story is retold with new details in Spider-Man Versus The Punisher #1 (2000) 1st appearance: Mechanic, Punisher New Identity: Miles Warren as the Jackal |
| Marvels: Eye of the Camera #2 (p.22) (2009) Cameo appearance; the Punisher moves across a Manhattan rooftop. | |
| Code of Honor #1 (pp.38-43) (1997) Cameo appearance; NYPD cop Jeff Piper comes face-to-face with the Punisher. | |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #134-135 (1974) The Punisher comes gunning for Spider-Man again, believing him to be involved in a kidnapping; Spider-Man and the Punisher join forces to oppose the real culprit, the Tarantula. 1st appearance: Tarantula/Anton Miguel Rodriguez |
| The Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #2 (pp.11-22) (1993) As ‘Microman’, Linus Lieberman keeps tabs on his son; Micro is recruited by the Punisher to be his hacker after impressing him by obtaining valuable intel; Micro first meets his son, Louis Frohike, who tracks him down in New York. | |
| ✔ | Giant-Size Spider-Man #4 [1/2] (1975) The Punisher and Spider-Man join forces when the Deterrence Research Corporation kidnap innocent civilians for their dubious experiments; the duo have a deadly final battle with theDRC’s owner, the super-powered Moses Magnum and his seismic abilities. 1st appearance: Deterrence Research Corporation, Moses Magnum, Punisher’s Battle Van |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Marvel Preview #2 [1/2] (1975) The Punisher’s origin is revealed for the first time; a lengthy flashback tells of the day that Frank Castle’s family were caught in the crossfire of a shoot out between the Syndicate (later revealed to be the Maggia) and the terrorist group the International Industrial Alliance. 1st appearance: Luis Allegre (unnamed), Frank Castle Jr. Lisa Castle, Maria Castle, Costa Family, Bruno Costa, Byron Hannigan (unnamed), Leon Kolsky (unnamed), Matt Skinner (unnamed) Identity revealed: The Punisher’s real name is Frank Castle |
| ✔ | Marvel Super-Action #1 [1/4] (1976) The Punisher hunts down the Costa Family, the mob members who murdered his own family. Identity revealed: Luis Allegre (named), ‘Frank Costa’, Byron Hannigan (named), Leon Kolsky (named), Detective John Laviano, Matt Skinner (named) |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #161-162 (1976) Nightcrawler and Spider-Man investigate a sniper who’s been targeting a circus in Coney Island; intent on clearing his name, the Punisher joins the hunt and believes Nightcrawler and Spidey tried to frame him; but Frank soon realises the true culprit is the mob hitman Jigsaw, a man he has a long-running feud with. 1st appearance: Jigsaw/William ‘Billy’ Russo, Marla Madison |
| Amazing Spider-Man #174 (1977) Amazing Spider-Man #175 (pp.1-15) (1977) Amazing Spider-Man #175 (pp.16-17) (1977) / Marvels: Eye of the Camera #3 (pp.20-22) (2009) The Punisher joins forces with Spider-Man again when the Hitman is hired by the Peoples Liberation Front to kidnap J Jonah Jameson; the Hitman is revealed to have fought with the Punisher in the Vietnam war. | |
| Code of Honor #2 (1997) New York cop, Jeffrey Piper, comes face to face with the Punisher. | |
| ✔ | Captain America #241 (1980) The Punisher and Captain America both go after the mob, but have an ideological clash (while this appears to be the first time the Punisher meets Steve Rogers, it’s revealed much later that the Punisher met someone else in the guise of Captain America while he served in Vietnam). |
| Amazing Spider-Man #201-202 (1980) Spider-Man and the Punisher go after drug-lord Lorenzo Jacobi in an effort to avenge the Punisher’s friend. | |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 [1/4] (1981) Spider-Man chases down the Punisher when he becomes responsible for the death of a young girl; the Punisher gets a chance to take out Doctor Octopus. |
| Code of Honor #3 (pp.16-18) (1997) The Punisher is apprehended by Officer Jeffrey Piper. | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #181-184 (1982) The Punisher escapes prison and goes after a Hell’s Kitchen drug-dealers, coming into conflict with Daredevil for the first time; Daredevil is forced to choose between shooting the Punisher to end his killing spree or letting him go. 1st appearance: Fisk Industries, Mr Spindle |
| Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #78-79 (1983) The Punisher manipulates Boomerang into helping him escape from prison. | |
| Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83 (1983) Boomerang is betrayed by the Punisher; behaving uncharacteristically, the Punisher switches the focus of his mission on bugs and jaywalkers; the Punisher is beaten unconscious by the Kingpin and apprehended by Spider-Man; after standing trial, the Punisher is institutionalised when a court decides he’s been driven insane. | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #1-5 (1986) It’s revealed that the Punisher was drugged during his last prison stay, which caused his erratic behaviour; the Punisher is released from prison by the Trust, but turns against them when he learns their true motives; the Trust hire Jigsaw to lead their Punishment Squad. 1st appearance: Jerome Gerty, Gregario, Tony Massera, Punishment Squad, the Trust |
| Code of Honor #4 (p.15) (1997) Cameo appearance; the Punisher continues his mission to kill criminals. | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #284-285, 288 (1987) A gang war brings the Punisher back to New York and into conflict with Spider-Man; he decides to set his sights on taking down the Kingpin. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| The Punisher #1-3 (1987) The Punisher takes on the Rockhouse Operation drug ring and white supremacist group the New American Revolution. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher #4-7 (1987-1988) With assistance from Microchip, the Punisher investigates cult leader, the Rev; Microchip Jr joins the Punisher’s crusade; the Punisher meets the Israeli intelligence agent Wild Rose when he uncovers a terrorist plot to irradiate part of New York City. 1st appearance: Cosa Nostra/The Mafia, Microchip/Microman/David Lieberman/‘Lowell Bartholomew Ori’, Microchip Jr/Louis Frohike, the Rev/Sammy Smith, Wild Rose/Rose Kugel | |
| Marvel Graphic Novel #40: The Punisher – Assassin’s Guild (1988) The Punisher risks betraying his own principles to lead a cult of assassins against an international crime-lord. | ||
| Strange Tales #12 [1/2] (1988) Strange Tales #13 [1/2] (1988) Strange Tales #14 [1/2] (1988) The Punisher begins his war on the Kingpin and finds unusual allies in Cloak & Dagger and Power Pack. 1st appearance: Detective Rebecca ‘Rusty’ Nales | TO TOPPLE THE KINGPIN | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #8-9 (1988) The Punisher hunts the Skid Row Slasher – a serial killer who preys on the homeless on Wall Street; the Punisher and Microchip suffer a devastating loss in their war on crime. | |
| Spectacular Spider-Man #140-142 (1988) The Punisher goes after the superhuman mob boss Tombstone after his murders Deputy District Attorney Harold Ullman; the Punisher battles Tombstone’s henchman the Persuader who mentally controls him and sends him after the Lobo Brothers. 1st appearance: Lobo Brothers (Carlos Lobo, Eduardo Lobo) | THE TOMBSTONE TESTAMENT TO TOPPLE THE KINGPIN | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #10 (1 – 6) (1988) Daredevil #257 (pp.1-5) (1988) The Punisher #10 (pp.7-16) (1988) The Punisher #10 (pp.16-17) / Daredevil #257 (pp.11-12) (1988) Daredevil #257 (pp.13-17) (1988) The Punisher #10 (18 – 20:3) (1988) Daredevil #257 (pp.18-20) (1988) The Punisher #10 (pp.21-22) (1988) Punisher’s search for a man who kills by tainting medicine leads him into Daredevil’s path for the second time. 1st appearance: Alfred Coppersmith | THE CREEP & THE BULLY |
| The Punisher Annual #1 [1/3] (1988) While taking out drug lords in Bolivia, the Punisher comes under fire from the High Evolutionary‘s Eliminators. | THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #11 (1988) The Punisher breaks a smuggling ring on the Mexican border. | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #12-13 (1988) Conchita Ortiz impresses the Punisher when he breaks into a prison to kill the leader of the Underground Liberation Army cult. 1st appearance: Conchita Ortiz | TO TOPPLE THE KINGPIN |
| Spectacular Spider-Man #143 (1988) The Punisher gets payback in a showdown with the Persuader and tells Spider-Man he’s preparing for his confrontation with the Kingpin. 1st appearance: Lobo Brothers (Carlos Lobo, Eduardo Lobo) | THE TOMBSTONE TESTAMENT TO TOPPLE THE KINGPIN | |
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #1-3 (1988-1989) In pursuit of murderous drug dealer Hector Montoya, the Punisher runs into Daredevil again and becomes the focus of his new neighbours. 1st appearance: Jason Hunt, Shadowmasters (Yuriko Ezaki, Phillip Richards, Rikichi) | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #14-18 (1988-1989) The Punisher makes new allies as his war on the Kingpin escalates; the Kingpin hires agents of his own to turn the tide, but that doesn;t stop the Punisher from invading Fisk Tower. 1st appearance: Vernon Brooks, George Tam Wong | TO TOPPLE THE KINGPIN |
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #4-5 (1989) The Punisher goes to expose corrupt US Senator, Ray Schoonover, only to become a target of the Sniper. 1st appearance: Sniper/Richard von Burian | |
| The Punisher #19 (1989) After taking out a major drug dealer, the Punisher travels to Australia on the trail of Spider Roque. | ||
| Power Pack #46 (1989) Power Pack join forces with the Punisher again to track down thief Jerome Horwitz; private investigator Dakota North; joins the crusade as the Punisher is forced to take a different approach due to Power Pack’s involvement. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #6-7 (1989) The Punisher meets and fights Wolverine for the first time when they both hunt poachers in Africa; Rikichi makes plans for the Punisher. | |
| The Punisher #20 (1989) The Las Vegas mob come under attack from the Punisher. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher #21-23 (1989) The Punisher’s investigation into rigged boxing matches takes him in another direction when Iris Green tries to assassinate him; Frank follows Iris’ trail to the dubious Ninja Training Camp in Kansas. 1st appearance: Iris Green, Saracen/Muzzafar Lambert, Katherine Yakamoto | SHADOWMASTERS |
| ✔ | The Punisher Annual #2 [1/4] (1989) Moon Knight and the Punisher team up to investigate a drug-fuelled den of Serpent People run by the Viper. | ATLANTIS ATTACKS |
| The Punisher Annual #2 [3/4] (1989) The Punisher runs through his fighting techniques with Microchip. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #8-9 (1989) The Punisher #24-25 (1989) The Shadowmasters‘ war with the Sunrise Society attracts the attention of the Punisher and Black Widow; the Punisher gets a surprising job offer when he and the Shadowmasters follow Iris Green’s trail from Japan to Washington. 1st appearance: Damage/Jaime Ortiz, Manzo, Hatsu Yakamoto | SHADOWMASTERS |
| The Punisher Annual #3 [1/5] (1990) The Punisher’s assault on Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) has disastrous results for scientist George Prufrock who is transformed into the hideous Lifeform. 1st appearance: Lifeform/George Prufrock | LIFEFORM | |
| The Punisher Annual #3 [2/5] (1990) The Punisher shares more fighting techniques with Microchip. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher: Return to Big Nothing (1989) The Punisher hunts Sergeant Cleve Gorman, one of his old US Army acquaintances who’s taken to drug-smuggling and gun-running. | |
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #10 (1989) The Punisher has a rematch with Sniper when he tries to steal an Apache anti-tank helicopter. | |
| The Punisher #26-27 (1989) The Punisher’s efforts to expose corruption in the US Government lead to him stealing an experimental Navy sub. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #11 (1989) The Punisher discovers the Boot Camp Shock Incarceration Program. | |
| Classic Punisher [3/3] (1989) The Punisher gets into a kite battle in the park. | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Graphic Novel #51: The Punisher – Intruder (1989) The Punisher goes after US Navy pilot-turned-drug dealer, Colonel Ross Whittacker. | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #28-29 (1989-1990) Doctor Doom tries to prove to the Kingpin that the Punisher is easy to kill; Doom’s plan backfires as Frank heads to Latveria where he faces the other Doctor Doom, Kristoff Vernard. and narrowly avoids a run-in with the Avengers and Freedom Force. | ACTS OF VENGEANCE |
| Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9 (1989) Moon Knight and his sidekick Midnight join forces with the Punisher when Flag-Smasher and ULTIMATUM take advantage of the chaos caused by the villains’ war against the heroes. | ACTS OF VENGEANCE | |
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #12-13 (1989-1990) Bushwacker is sent by the Prime Movers to kill the Punisher. | ACTS OF VENGEANCE |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Damage Control #2, 4 (1990) The Punisher investigates Robin Chapel of Damage Control. 1st appearance: Ray Lippert | ACTS OF VENGEANCE | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #30-32 (1990) Frank’s search for the Bayside Butcher leads him to a surprising suspect; the Punisher infiltrates the biker gang Satan’s Lords who appear to be involved in drug-trafficking. | |
| The Punisher War Journal #14-15 (1990) Spider-Man tries to convince the Punisher to show mercy when they take on a group of Neo-Nazis. | ||
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #330-331 (1990) Spider-Man and the Punisher both on the trail of the same drug operation run by Colonel Buchinsky; Spidey tries to keep the body count low. | |
| The Punisher War Journal #16 (1990) Swindling rancher Reese Kelleher becomes the Punisher’s next target. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher #33-34 (1990) Frank Castle’s entire operation is put at risk when he accidentally draws the attention of the mutant-hating cyborg gang known as the Reavers; the Punisher is forced to try out new technology to survive. 1st appearance: Punisher Exo-Armour | |
| The Punisher Annual #3 [4/5] (1990) The Punisher experiences a nightmare in which the Kingpin is the ruler of Hell. | ||
| Web of Spider-Man Annual #6 [2/4] (1990) May Parker and Mary-Jane Watson-Parker are first-hand witnessed to the Punisher’s violent tendencies when he takes on a terrorist unit intent on causing chaos at a mall. | ||
| Amazing Spider-Man #337 (1990) Punisher cameo; Frank Castle is seen walking down the street with Wolverine (though they could be lookalikes!) | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #17-19 (1990) The Punisher and Microchip go after Hawaiian drug-dealers when Micro’s niece is caught in their crosshairs. | |
| The Punisher War Journal #20-24 (1990) A mission goes awry, leaving the Punisher pinned down by the French Foreign Legion; the Punisher tackles pirates and drug cartels on his travels. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher: No Escape (1990) USAgent joins forces with the Punisher against the Maggia who hire Paladin to fend them off. | |
| The Punisher: The Prize (1990) A suit of Iron Man armour is stolen by arms-dealer Raymond Gonzales, making himself a target of the Punisher. | ||
| Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular #1 [6/9] (1990) The Impossible Man almost gets the Punisher killed when he pranks the vigilante in the middle of a firefight with a street gang. | ||
| Marvel Comics Presents #59 [4/4] (1990) A nine-year-old boy shows explores a neighbourhood warehouse and finds himself in a shoot-out between the Punisher and Mr Ling’s gang. | ||
| ✔ | Ghost Rider #5-6 (1990) The new Ghost Rider seeks vengeance against ULTIMATUM who are also the Punisher’s next target; the two anti-heroes battle it out before turning their attention to Flag-Smasher. | |
| ✔ | Marvel Graphic Novel #64 – The Punisher: Kingdom Gone (1990) The Punisher follows crime boss Hamilton ‘Bo’ Greaves when he escapes America and returns to Puerto Salvaje where he seeks protection from the US Marines. | |
| ✔ | The Punisher #35-40 (1990) Jigsaw returns and allies himself with cult leader, the Rev; the Punisher fights his way through a gang war until he faces the deadly duos benefactor who’s way out of Frank’s league as they appear to have made a deal with the Devil… 1st appearance: Joy Adams | |
| ✔ | Marc Spector: Moon Knight #19-21 (1990) A new Secret Empire rises and the Punisher, Moon Knight and Spider-Man stand ready to oppose them; Moon Knight’s sidekick, Midnight, proves he’s not up to facing a threat of this level. | |
| The Punisher #41-42 (1990) The Waterboys’ attempt to have their revenge on New York City may not survive contact with the Punisher; Frank goes on to unearth the truth about a military school run by Colonel Herbert Fedenia with sinister secrets behind its doors. | ||
| ✔ | The Punisher War Journal #25-27 (1990-1991) Frank Castle and Micro head to Italy to seek revenge on the criminal Bessucho Family for killing a number of the Punisher’s own family, the Castigliones; the Bessuchos hire Saracen to defend them from the Punisher. 1st appearance: Don Elio Bessucho | |
| The Punisher #43 (1990) Frank heads to Mexico to take on the Cartels. |
More Punisher reading order entries to follow:
- THE PUNISHER, 1991-1993: War Zone
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Punisher: Year One | Punisher: Year One #1-4 |
| Punisher: Back To The War Omnibus | Amazing Spider-Man #129, 134-135, 161-162, 174-175, 201-202, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 Giant-Size Spider-Man #4 Marvel Preview #2 Marvel Super Action #1 Captain America #241 Daredevil #182-184 Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83 Punisher (1986) #1-5 |
| Punisher Epic Collection: Circle of Blood (vol.2) | Daredevil #257 Punisher (1986) #1-5, Punisher (1987) #1-10 Punisher: Assassin’s Guild |
| Punisher Epic Collection: Kingpin Rules (vol.3) | Punisher #11-25 Punisher Annual #1-2 |
| Punisher Epic Collection: Return to Big Nothing (vol.4) | Classic Punisher Marvel Graphic Novel #51: The Punisher – Intruder Marvel Graphic Novel #64 – The Punisher: Kingdom Gone Marvel Preview #2 Marvel Super Action #1 Punisher #26-34 Punisher Annual #3 Punisher: Return to Big Nothing |
| Punisher Epic Collection: Jigsaw Puzzle (vol.5) | Punisher #35-48 Punisher Annual #4 Punisher: No Escape Punisher: The Prize |
| Punisher War Journal by Carl Potts and Jim Lee | Punisher Annual #2 Punisher War Journal #1-19 |
| Punisher: Shadowmasters | Punisher #24-25 Punisher War Journal #1-3, 8-9 Shadowmasters #1-4 |
| Punisher: Circle of Blood | Punisher (1986) #1-5 |
| Punisher: Return to Big Nothing (2019) | Marvel Graphic Novel #51: The Punisher – Intruder Punisher: Assassin’s Guild Punisher: Return to Big Nothing |
| The Punisher Invades the ‘Nam (2018) | The ‘Nam #52-53, 67-69, Punisher Invades the ‘Nam: Final Invasion #1 Punisher War Journal #52-53 Punisher War Zone #26-30 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Man-Wolf at Midnight (vol.8) Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol.4 | Amazing Spider-Man #129, 134-135 |
| Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man vol.13 Punisher: The Movie | Amazing Spider-Man #129 |
| Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man vol.14 | Amazing Spider-Man #134-135 |
| Giant-Size Marvel Omnibus Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up vol.4 | GIant-Size Spider-Man #1 |
| Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Spider-Man or Spider-Clone? (vol.9) | Amazing Spider-Man #161-162 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Captain America vol.13 | Captain America #241 |
| Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man vol.21 Marvel Universe by Frank Miller Omnibus Sensational Spider-Man (1989) | Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 |
| Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson vol.2 | Daredevil #181-184 |
| Daredevil vs Bullseye Marvel 75th Anniversary Omnibus Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.16 | Daredevil #181 |
| Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller vol.2 | Daredevil #181-182 |
| Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller vol.3 | Daredevil #183-184 |
| Daredevil and the Punisher: Child’s Play Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol.17 | Daredevil #182-184 |
| Punisher vs Daredevil (2000) | Daredevil #183-184, 257 |
| Daredevil Epic Collection: A Touch of Typhoid (vol.13) Daredevil by Nocenti & Romita Jr Omnibus vol.1 | Daredevil #257 Punisher #10 |
| Marvel Legends: Daredevil – Typhoid Mary | Daredevil #257 |
| Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Cosmic Adventures (vol.20) Spider-Man by David Michelinie & Erik Larsen Spider-Man: Venom Returns | Amazing Spider-Man #330-331 |
| Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Classic vol.1 Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch Omnibus vol.1 Ghost Rider Epic Collection: Vengeance Reborn (vol.6) Ghost Rider: Resurrected | Ghost Rider #5-6 |
| Act of Vengeance Crossovers Omnibus Acts of Vengeance: Marvel Universe | Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9 Punisher #28-29 Punisher War Journal #12-13 |
| Marc Spector: Moon Knight Omnibus vol.1 Moon Knight Epic Collection: The Trial of Marc Spector (vol.5) | Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9, 19-21 |
Notable alternate universe versions of the Punisher from this time period:
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| What If? #2 (1989) Earth-8982: Diverging from the BORN AGAIN storyline, Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, is driven mad by the damage done to his life by the Kingpin; Daredevil tries to convince the Punisher to kill him. | |
| ✔ | The ‘Nam #52-53 (1991) The ‘Nam #67-69 (1992) Punisher Invades the ‘Nam: Final Invasion #1 (1994) Earth-85101: During the Vietnam War, sniper Frank Castle earns the nickname ‘The Punisher’; this was originally intended to the Punisher of the mainstream Marvel Universe, but was later retconned. |
| What If? #10 (1990) Earth-90200: Frank Castle and his family survive the mob war in Central Park; Frank joins the NYPD where he’s faced with so much corruption and decides to confront it; the corrupt Captain John Carmody orders Frank and his family to be assassinated to cover his precinct’s tracks; Frank’;’s family die, but he begins a one-mar war as the Punisher. |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide, 2025
Leave a Reply