Part of what makes Frank Castle so beloved and compelling, whether on-screen or in comics, is his contrast with typical Marvel heroes and villains. Originally introduced as an enemy of Spider-Man, he first rose to popularity in the era of 80s action movies and revenge flicks, defined by tragedy, sporting no powers, and cleaning up the streets through stoic vigilante violence. He’s become the quintessential anti-hero under the comic giant’s umbrella, though more often than not, his heart is in the right place, and he fights for the side of good. This Friday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will even see Jon Bernthal‘s version of the Punisher joining forces with Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker, putting aside their differences for a greater good and cracking jokes along the way.
On the flip side, Marvel Comics is presenting another variant of Frank that’s entirely aligned with evil. The Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #3 hits store shelves today and sees Peter facing an assault on both sides by The Punisher and Mr. Negative. Billed as a new spin on the classic Brand New Day comic storyline that inspired the upcoming movie, the series has thus far followed the wall-crawler as he navigates one attack from villains after another after recovering the Lexicon, a powerful ledger extensively documenting New York’s criminal underground. For obvious reasons, all manner of crooks want the book, but so does Frank, given how well it could aid in his own vigilante efforts. Mr. Negative used that to his advantage and turns the Punisher into a full-on villain himself, who’s ready to squash the Spider for good rather than simply take the Lexicon.
A new preview shared today shows just how terrifying Frank can be when his military experience and years of training are used for evil. To illustrate how jarring it is, the first page offers a brief recap of his backstory, going from combat veteran to loving husband, and finally, a one-man war on crime who considers himself no hero, even if he often aligns with figures like Daredevil or Ghost Rider. The next page immediately contrasts that image when, as Robbie Robertson is walking down the street and pitching a Spider-Man story to The Daily Bugle’s owner Dexter Bennett, debris begins falling from a building Frank has opened fire on. He’s surprised to see the web-slinger still alive after a round of blasts from his Punisher-copter, but, luckily, Peter was able to reinforce the interior of the structure with lots of webs to shield himself and everyone inside. When he refuses to hand over the Lexicon, however, no amount of negotiating can stop Frank from escalating to firing missiles, determined to pick the book off of Spidey’s body in the rubble.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
‘Spectacular Spider-Man’ Sees Peter Trying to Save a Punisher Possessed
This version of Frank is far from the one Peter knows, and his appearance proves something more sinister has taken over. Instead of his iconic black suit with the white skull logo, all the color on The Punisher has been inverted, showing how the touch of Mr. Negative has corrupted him and turned his relentlessness against Spider-Man. Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day has wasted no time establishing how menacing he can be, as he’s already shot Peter’s friend at the police department, Yuri Watanabe, and now threatens to take down the entire D.B. building if it means grabbing the Lexicon. Spidey’s only hope, assuming he can get out alive, is that he found something worthwhile within the building that can help him get Frank back to his senses and remind him of who the Punisher really is. Long-time The Amazing Spider-Man scribe Dan Slott penned the story, with Marcus To handling the art and Phil Jimenez and Alex Sinclair providing the cover.
The Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #3 is now available in stores. Check out the new preview pages in the gallery above.
Release Date
July 31, 2026
Runtime
145 Minutes
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers
Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Producers
Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad
