Warning: SPOILERS for Punisher #7The band of criminal ninjas known as the Hand. Unfortunately, that's not the only change to the Punisher, and in Punisher #7, Castle uses a weapon ill-suited for a man obsessed with a war on crime.
In current comics continuity, the Punisher is no longer the lone operative he once was. Hand-picked by the High Priestess of the Hand, Frank Castle is now known as the "High Slayer", and commands an army of loyal ninjas. He's cast aside his trademark skull logo and guns in favor of a horned symbol on his chest (representing the Beast of the Hand) and carries a sword into battle instead of firearms. The Punisher is only doing this because the Hand has the technology and magic to resurrect his dead wife - but if he runs from the Hand's compound or if Maria Castle stops taking regular doses of a mysterious potion, she dies once more.
In Punisher #7, written by Jason Aaron, Jesus Saiz and Paul Azaceta, Daredevil finally corners the Punisher at the compound of the Hand. The two fight and Matt Murdock can immediately see that Frank Castle has changed; not only is he vehemently defending the criminals with whom he works, he's also using a sword. "This has gone way past you playing a part and swinging a sword. Swinging it rather badly, I might add." The fight continues until Punisher unleashes his superpowers and immediately overpowers Daredevil.
Even Daredevil Knows Punisher Has Gone Too Far
The fact that Punisher has superpowers at all is quite alarming, but Daredevil is more interested in the sword. Matt Murdock was trained by ninjas and knows his way around similar weapons, but the Punisher almost always uses guns as his standard armament. To see Frank Castle depart from his methods in such a drastic fashion is naturally shocking - for Daredevil and Punisher fans alike. Many are dissatisfied with Punisher's new direction, particularly the fact that Frank is actively working alongside criminals without guns or his signature skull logo.
At the end of the issue, Punisher stuns Daredevil and fans alike by flying into the air, grabbing Daredevil by the throat. These powers were granted to him by the mysterious Beast, held by the Hand - but they can be taken away at a moment's notice, or so the Hand has insinuated before. The Punisher's new direction is almost certainly not permanent, and Daredevil (and fans alike) will rejoice when Frank has returned to his old self, discarding his affiliation with the Hand and his sword alike.
