MCU
Daredevil: Born Again denounces a serious police problem in the United States related to The Punisher
The new Daredevil series on Disney+ dares to directly address a serious problem with some American law enforcement agencies and forces that are appropriating the image of the Punisher by distorting its meaning.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ is taking Disney+ by storm thanks to its combination of personal drama and superheroic action, all set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jon Bernthal’s return as the Punisher has not only helped raise the stakes for the series, but also shines a spotlight on a troubling reality in America: corrupt police officers who, “inspired” by Frank Castle, decide to take the law into their own hands, even going so far as to use his recognizable skull and crossbones emblem.
When fiction becomes reality: the disturbing link between the Punisher and police brutality in the U.S
For years, the Punisher’s skull symbol has been adopted by certain sectors of law enforcement in the United States, sparking a controversy that has only intensified. Some police officers have used this emblem as a statement of intent, fostering a “war on crime” mentality that distracts them from their true role and brings them closer to the figure of a vigilante who takes the law into his own hands.
However, this interpretation completely distorts the nature of the character, as Frank Castle is neither a hero nor a role model, but a man broken by tragedy who operates outside the law without answering to anyone. In fact, he has on many occasions expressed his absolute contempt for institutions, especially those that prey on the weak and defenseless from a position of power.
Gerry Conway, creator of The Punisher, has on several occasions condemned the use of the skull and crossbones emblem by police and military forces. In an interview with Forbes, he made it clear that Castle represents the very distrust of institutions that have failed citizens, so he finds it ironic and absurd that the police and military would adopt his symbol as a kind of “badge of authority”. For Conway, the appropriation of the logo by law enforcement is a serious mistake that misrepresents the character’s message, turning it into an emblem of oppression rather than a warning against corruption.
The Punisher himself has also criticized this appropriation in the comics, going so far as to confront law enforcement officers who idolize him. In ‘The Punisher #13′ (2019), when several police officers express their admiration for him and show him the skull symbol on their cars, Castle destroys one of these stickers, making it clear to them that they should not follow his example. Marvel has also tried to distance itself from this phenomenon, modifying the iconic skull in some recent stories and making it clear that the Punisher does not represent an ideal of justice, but of unbridled vengeance.
Up until its fourth episode, the most recent at the time of this writing, ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ has taken small but clear steps in this direction, showing corrupt New York cops who take the law into their own hands using the skull insignia in tattoos and graffiti. All indications are that the show will gradually introduce this theme and explore it in depth later on. The presence of Jon Bernthal, as well as a mention of his “fans” in a conversation between Frank Castle and Matt Murdock in the series, suggests that this conflict may become more relevant in the coming chapters, addressing more directly the relationship between the anti-hero and the cops who appropriate his image without really understanding its meaning.
The connection between the Punisher and certain sectors of the American police force is an example of how fiction can be misinterpreted and used for purposes contrary to the original message. With his arrival in the MCU, Frank Castle will gain unprecedented visibility, making it all the more necessary that ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ not only explores this real issue, but does so with a clear and critical stance. The show has the opportunity and the responsibility to dismantle the false myth of the anti-hero turned symbol of justice by making it clear that Castle is not a role model, but the raw portrait of a broken man and the extremes to which he will go to “do justice” when he has been abandoned and betrayed by the institutions.
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