On paper,Spider-ManandThe Punishercould not be more different from each other. One, Frank Castle, is as stoic and serious as they come. The other, Spider-Man, uses insults and sarcasm to downplay any villain he crosses paths with. The former is stark raving mad, while the latter is immensely wholesome.
They seem to be on two completely different sides of the fence, but in reality,Spider-Man and The Punisher are more alike than most people think. There’s a reason whySpider-Man and Punisher have teamed up onscreenand on-panel so frequently. It’s because they share numerous (albeit subtle) personality traits, and even supporting characters who intersect in each other’s worlds.
8Spider-Man and The Punisher Are Considered Menaces of New York City
The Public Reaction Remains Mixed
New York City has a wide assortment of superheroes, but when it comes to the most divisive, these two take the cake.Forgotten Spider-Man villain J. Jonah Jamesonreally did a number on Spidey’s reputation by slandering him in The Daily Bugle on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Frank Castle’s methods have disturbed NYC’s citizens.
Of course, both heroes still have their supporters in spades, otherwise Peter wouldn’t be considered New York’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. That being said, both heroes fall on either side of the spectrum as someone who the average NYC citizen loves or hates, with no room for an in-between. New York’s relationship with these characters is complicated.
7Most Heroes Dislike Both Spider-Man and The Punisher
Superheroes Put Spider-Man and The Punisher Under the Same Scrutiny
Just as normal people can be divided over Spider-Man and The Punisher, so can their fellow heroes. The Punisher’s mixed reaction among heroes should come as no surprise when his existence as an anti-hero directly conflicts with many of the morals that certain superheroes hold, namely when it comes to killing.
Meanwhile,Spider-Man’s allies tend to hate himfor a variety of reasons. Some find him flaky, while others think he’s annoying. Everyone respects Spider-Man as"the best of us,“but the negative qualities of Peter Parker tend to seep through the mask enough to affect his superhero career as much as it does his personal life.
6The Punisher and Spider-Man Share the Same Allies
The Likes of Nick Fury and Wolverine are Important Connections for Both
While the list of detractors against the Punisher and Spider-Man is long, there are a handful of important supporting players for both heroes who intersect. For example, Peter has a close relationship with Nick Fury, who is even closer to his former running mate in the war, Frank Castle. Wolverine is close to both, too, even ifPunisher once brutally killed him.
Both of their S.H.I.E.L.D. friendships also extend to Black Widow, with Frank being a smidge closer to Natasha than Peter is. Meanwhile, both men have longstanding relationships within the X-Men, particularly sharing a kinship with mutants like Nightcrawler. Finally, Daredevil maintains a tight-knit bond with both men equally through crossovers and team-up events.
5Spider-Man and The Punisher Influence Others
Peter Parker’s Influence Created New Heroes, While Frank Inspires Cops
Those who hate the Punisher and Spider-Man would be happy to see their names on tombstones one day, but for those who adore them, the heroes can leave quite an impression. In more than one instance, Spider-Man has directly inspired a number of heroes in the Marvel Universe. The likes of Miles Morales and Spider-Woman wouldn’t exist without Peter.
Not all of these influences are positive, however, as Frank Castle has inspired police officers to adorn his logo. One ofthe misconceptions about The Punisherhas been surrounding his logo. He hates anyone who misreads his message as a call for justice. Frank likens himself to a dirtbag and thinks the same of anyone who doesn’t understand his mission.
4The Kingpin Remains a Thorn in Every Superhero’s Side
Spider-Man and Punisher Are Frequent Foils to Wilson Fisk
Although Kingpin is best known as Daredevil’s arch-nemesis, he eventually finds his way into every Marvel superhero’s rogues gallery. Especially during his run as the Mayor of New York City, Wilson Fisk’s impact on Marvel’s Universe is too prominent for any of its heroes to ignore him. Two of his most recurring enemies happen to be the Punisher and Spider-Man.
With most of the Punisher’s stories centering on him targeting the criminal underworld, it’s only natural for the literal Kingpin of the streets to often be his primary antagonist. Meanwhile, despite primarily being a Daredevil villain, Kingpin originally debuted in the pages ofThe Amazing Spider-Man, and thus remains a fixture of the webcrawler’s supervillain cast.
3Spider-Man and the Punisher Can Easily Go Evil One Day
It’s almost understandable why heroes and ordinary people are skeptical of Frank and Peter’s intentions, given that both men can easily turn bad at the drop of a hat. That shouldn’t be a surprise for someone like the Punisher, whose actions are borderline villainous as is, but it may come as more of a surprise for Spider-Man.
Spidey can be just as dangerous as Frank if provoked. When triggered into his most vengeful and violent state,Spider-Man pulls his Black suit outin hopes of unleashing full, unadulterated payback without remorse. Both men remain haunted by their past, and that past can easily compel them to a dark future if they let the feeling take over.
2Spider-Man and the Punisher are Defined By Their Guilt
Guilt Shaped the Hero’s Journey for NYC’s Most Complicated Figures
While most heroes feel called to action with the gifts that were once thrust upon them in their origin stories, the Punisher and Spider-Man both fell into their superhero careers through guilt. Peter Parker’s life is changed completely not by being bitten by a radioactive spider, but by a mistake that led to the death of his Uncle Ben.
Even whenSpider-Man fears he is beyond redemptionfor his sins, all of his mistakes push him into being a better hero. The same can be said for Frank Castle, who blames himself for the murder of his family. Both heroes think protecting the city is the best way to atone for not protecting their loved ones.
1Neither Spider-Man Nor The Punisher Allow Themselves to Be Happy
Misery is a Self-Afflicted Curse for Some Heroes
The guilt of both men not only extends to their sense of duty, but also to their pursuit of things outside their superhero careers. Both men have a habit of either struggling to maintain social lives and romance outside their costumes or self-sabotaging themselves to the point that they actively avoid the practice of either.
The Punisher consistently avoids pursuing lovers or trusting anyone long enough to call them a friend. On the flip side, Marvel made it a rule forSpider-Man to never be happy. It’s a challenge for two men whose self-flagellation forces them to focus solely on their mission.The PunisherandSpider-Manare especially connected by self-afflicted punishment.
