The Punisher Turns 50 | SIDEBAR FOREVER

Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher debuted in February 1974 in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #129. Almost 50 years to the month, we celebrate Castle as a figure, not just within comics, but one who has also been adapted to film, TV, and animation. On the pod, we discuss Don Pendleton's The Executioner who was the original inspiration for The Punisher, actors who have portrayed the character like Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane, and Jon Bernthal, and how in modern day, The Punisher’s iconic skull symbol has been co-opted by far right groups. We also chop up other antiheroes and "likeable" villains in popular culture such as Harry Callahan, Walter White, Arya Stark, and Deadpool.