Alternate versions of the Punisher

In addition to his mainstream incarnation, the Punisher has also been depicted in other fictional universes, in which the character's history, circumstances and behavior vary from the mainstream setting. In some stories, another character besides Frank Castle serves as the Punisher.

Frank Castle

Alternative versions of the Punisher have appeared for over three decades. The earliest examples of those alternative versions can be found within the monthly What If series. Using existing Marvel stories as a starting point, the series examined scenarios in which, for example, Frank Castle's family has not died or he had killed Daredevil in their first encounter. Other "what if" stories looked at his adventures as a new Captain America or as an agent of SHIELD. Garth Ennis wrote a one-off special entitled The Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe where Frank Castle kills every superhero and supervillain in the Marvel Universe.

The Punisher also featured in a number of more extended looks at alternative universes and lives such as the Age of Apocalypse's Frank Castle was a man who fled [...] to become a monk.

A Man Called Frank written by Chuck Dixon was a western themed take on the character. Castle is a cowboy during the time of the American Old West who is out for revenge to the criminals who killed his family.

In the mini-series Powerless Castle is on trial for the [...] of the killer of his family, a [...] he didn't commit. His attorney is Matt Murdock who is not Daredevil in this reality and convinced that Wilson Fisk is behind the whole setup.

Marvel Zombies

In the alternate universe Marvel Zombies continuity, the Punisher meets Ash Williams in the crossover arc Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness before himself being infected and becoming a zombie.

House of M

In the alternate universe House of M, Castle appears as a media vigilante nicknamed the "Punisher" and is recruited after his arrest by John Proudstar to join and be the other human in the strikeforce known as the Brotherhood.

Ultimate Universe

In the alternate universe Ultimate Marvel imprint, the Punisher is not a Vietnam War veteran, but an ex-NYPD police officer, whose family was killed by corrupt police officers who knew Frank was going to expose them. The Punisher also appears in the Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #6-8, followed by Ultimate Spider-Man #61, and then re-appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 in which he kills a corrupt cop named Jeanne De Wolfe.

Other Punishers

The Marvel 2099 universe follows the story of Public Eye police officer, Jake Gallows, after the [...] of his mother, brother and sister-in-law. Gallows comes across Frank Castle's war journal in the Public Eye archives, and took the mantle as the new Punisher. He is named Ministry of Punishment in the Doctor Doom's 2099 Government. He is joined by Polly, a lab-bred humanoid who becomes his partner.

Marvel Knights Punisher 2099, another take on the year 2099, featured Cassondra Castle who goes by the alias of Cossandra Natchios. She is the daughter of Frank Castle and Elektra Natchios and has a son named Franklin. When she is diagnosed with cancer, Cossandra sets out to teach her son everything he needs to know to become the next Punisher. Upon her death, Franklin chooses not to take over, allowing the Punisher title to end with his mother.

In the alternate universe Marvel Mangaverse continuity, Sosumi Brown is Tokyo's Punisher, who fights the crime family of Skang Kee Ho. That family uses an Oni (Japanese demon) named Oni Yew to try and stop her, but her sister, Hashi Brown, finds out AbOUT her secret. In the process, she obtains a cursed weapon which she uses to slay the Oni and save her sister.

An issue of What if features Wolverine becoming the Punisher during the 1920's.

See also

• List of The Punisher comics