Warning: SPOILERS for Punisher #12

It's official: revisiting the Punisher's origin story and resurrecting his wife Maria, Frank Castle says farewell to his skull, weapons, and bloody crusade - which is probably what Marvel wanted all along.

Punisher #12, by Jason Aaron, Jesùs Saiz, Paul Azaceta, and Matt Hollingsworth, marks the conclusion of the most recent ongoing series starring Frank Castle as the protagonist, with a story aptly titled "Punisher no More". After the Punisher is captured by the Avengers, he is waiting for his judgment in a cell in Dr. Strange's Sanctum. Frank is visited by the heroes one by one, but they all fail in making him feel even a shred of remorse. However, when Maria finally tells Frank that she was going to divorce him before she was killed and that she completely rejects everything he did "in her name", the Punisher is finally broken. Frank summons the last remnants of the Beast's power and turns the demonic flames on himself, in what looks like a fiery suicide.

The Punisher's Most Controversial Series Ends By Getting Rid Of The Character Forever

This Punisher series was surrounded by controversies since its beginning. It was Marvel's attempt to salvage its most controversial character after the Punisher's skull logo had risen to prominence in recent years for being co-opted by several groups that the House of Ideas did not want to be associated with. This is why the Punisher was given a new logo and role as the "Fist of the Beast", the chosen High Slayer of the cult of assassins known as the Hand, renouncing the use of firearms but not his brutal, murderous crusade against crime. However, it's clear from the conclusion of this story that Marvel's purpose was never to "redeem" the Punisher but to get rid of him completely.

Even if Frank is not really dead - the epilogue reveals he ends up in Weirdworld - it's clear that the Punisher as a character will not appear again in Marvel Comics for a long time, possibly forever. Frank is now taking care of the orphans in this strange dimension, trying to keep them safe from war, not to take part in it. When they ask for his name, his answer is "Call me Frank", which is even more meaningful than Doctor Strange's statement that "the Punisher is no more". While other characters called "Punisher" could appear in the future, they will simply recycle this moniker, while free from the label of "murderous, gun-wielding psychopath that takes justice in his own hands" that Marvel doesn't want to be associated with.

Punisher Was A 12-Issue Farewell To Marvel's Most Controversial Character

Many fans who reacted negatively to the premise of this new series were soon roped in by a beautiful, compelling exploration of Frank Castle's past and the deepest psychological analysis of the character that was seen in years. However, this final issue makes it clear that Marvel, or at least the author, really does not like the Punisher. Maria's judgment is clear and irrevocable: Frank's crusade was foolish, he never pursued justice, and not even revenge. Everything he wanted was an excuse to let loose his murderous instincts. This is a complete rewriting of the character, as it takes away the element that made Frank relatable (being motivated by the grief and anguish of losing his loved ones, something that can happen to everyone) to make him completely irredeemable.

Surely, the epilogue shows that even Frank Castle can heal, but only after he lets go of everything that made him the Punisher - a very sophisticated form of character assassination. This series, then, could very well be a long and elaborate farewell to the Punisher, a character created to be controversial but that Marvel Comics clearly no longer wants to be associated with in this day and age where the imperative is staying as far away from controversy as possible.

Punisher #12 is available now from Marvel Comics.