Frank Castle, known as the Punisher, embodies the archetype of a tormented antihero, stripped of his humanity following the brutal murder of his family. In a chilling turn of events, Marvel has subjected him to suffering that rivals his tragic past. Punisher, a character who has faced excruciating injuries and even met death—only to rise again—now encounters a torment unlike any he’s previously endured.
In the gripping Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1, crafted by the talented team of Charles Soule, Steve McNiven, and Clayton Cowles, readers are thrust into a dystopian future marred by warfare—where many heroes have lost their abilities and lives. Yet, among the chaos, Punisher’s fate stands out as particularly grim. He finds himself at the mercy of a sadistic gang lord, enduring unspeakable horrors: his limbs severed, his iconic symbol carved into his flesh, and his body riddled with scars from being used as human target practice.
The mastermind behind Punisher’s monstrous imprisonment is hinted to be none other than Bullseye, the notoriously lethal foe of Daredevil. Currently, Bullseye leads a band of mercenaries who have unleashed chaos by detonating a bomb in New York City. In an unexpected twist, the explosion grants the long-abandoned powers back to an elder Daredevil, igniting a flicker of hope for Punisher’s potential rescue.
Punisher: A Captive in Bullseye’s Nightmarish Dominion
The Deadliest Man Alive Faces His Greatest Adversity
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell unfolds in an alternate universe ravaged by a cataclysmic conflict, where New York lies in shambles. Matt Murdock strives to uphold his father’s legacy by managing a soup kitchen, though his superhuman abilities remain dormant. However, the recent bombing, which returns Daredevil’s powers, leads him to take charge of a young girl identified by Captain America as crucial to unraveling a deeper mystery. Following Captain America’s fall in battle, the terrorists recover his shield, delivering it to their leader—a pale assassin afflicted with severe tremors, who continues to imprison the Punisher.
Historically, although Bullseye is primarily associated with Daredevil, he has frequently crossed paths with Punisher. In the past, Bullseye was the one who killed him in the celebrated Punisher MAX storyline, and they even headlined their own series, Punisher vs. Bullseye, in 2005. It seems logical that in a landscape where many heroes have been stripped of their powers, Bullseye would finally seek vengeance against the lethal vigilante. The agony reflected in Frank’s appearance resonates with his previous transformation into Franken-Castle, when he was resurrected as a zombie; however, the grotesque portrayal in this narrative is devoid of humor, presenting only the stark reality of his suffering.
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell boldly enters the ranks of Marvel’s bleakest potential narratives. The depicted brutality endured by the Punisher underscores the grim tone of this series. It is clear that if there’s any possibility, Daredevil must strive to liberate Punisher from the clutches of his captor, as Frank Castle does not deserve such a grim fate.