History Characters / ThePunisherMAXVillains

A character page belonging to the absolute [[WretchedHive worst of the worst]].

[[foldercontrol]]

!The Cesare Family
One of the most powerful and influential families in all of New York. Lately they've [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen fallen on hard times]] thank's to a certain [[Characters/ThePunisherMAXThePunisher vigilante's]] increasingly vicious attacks directed against them.

[[folder:"Don" Massimo Cesare]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2561510_massimo_cesare.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #1

A hundred year old godfather and head honcho of the Cesare Family, respected by all the families. On his 100th birthday, every crime family in America sends a representative to the party to pay tribute. That is until the Punisher decides to crash the party.

----
* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler:Courtesy of Frank Castle]]
* TheDon: Subverted; it's made clear early on that he is a "Don" in title only, with the other high ranking Lieutenants running things.
* PuppetKing: According to Frank, he's a "Don" in title only and spends most of his days shitting himself and having his diapers changed.
* SacrificialLamb: His sole purpose in the series is to be [[spoiler:shot and killed by the Punisher]]. Escalating Frank's increasingly violent war on crime.
* WeHardlyKnewYe: The most extreme example in the entire series. He get's all of ''two panels'' before [[spoiler:getting his head blown the fuck off by the Punisher]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jennifer Cesare]]

See the [[Characters/ThePunisherMAXAllies Allies]] page for details on her.
[[/folder]]

!Cavella's Crew

A stable of extremely ruthless and sadistic mobsters, whose violent methods resulted in them getting exiled to Boston. Now, in an act of desperation, the Cesare Crime Family has brought them back. In the hopes that they will help them deal with Frank Castle.

[[folder:General]]

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: While the other Capos in the Cesare Family take a much more business oriented approach to their villainy. Nicky and his boys are ''always'' evil. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis All. The. Frickin' Time.]] It's almost Deconstructed to a degree. As their extremely vicious ways of going about their business leads to them getting kicked out of New York and having to relocate in Boston.
* BadassCrew: By far the most dangerous and badass crew in the Cesare Crime Family. And quite possibly in all of New York.
* BerserkButton: They all seem to have one. But the most obvious way to collectively piss them off is to impersonate their Boston accents.
* CardCarryingVillain: An entire crew of em.
* TheMafia: More specifically one associated with the Cesare Crime Family. And by far the most ruthless crew in the Family.
* WakeUpCallBoss: They're the first criminal organization to pose a serious threat to the Punisher.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Nicky Cavella]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nickycavella.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Please, just call me Nicky."'']]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #2

--> ''"Fuck you, dad. An' fuck you, mom. Fuck you, Karen, you pointless bitch. Fuck you, Uncle Jimmy. Fuck you, Auntie Mo, you big fat fuckin' cunt. Fuck you, Kai, an' all your dead brats alongside you. Fuck you, Jackie. Fuck you, Don Massimo Cesare, you pussy-the Punisher did us all a favor when he blew your fuckin' old head off. Fuck you, Ink, an' fuck you, Pittsy. A lotta use you two pricks turned out to be. Fuck you, Castle. I ain't finished with you yet, not by a long way. And when I get to Heaven, I'll tell them fuck you too."''

The leader of his crew and also the most psychotic and immoral out of all of them. Previously he had been exiled by his fellow Capo's for his unnecessarily cruel tactics. Just recently he has been brought back into New York, to help them kill the Punisher. And he's made sure to bring along his "friends".

----
* ArmoredClosetGay: It's revealed in a very jarring way that he is this way with Rawlins.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Averted. Although he is the leader of an extremely ruthless Mafia crew. Combat wise, he's no more imposing than your average mook.
* BadassInANiceSuit: Wears a finely tailor made suit in all of his appearances.
* BadBoss: He treats his mooks like trash, considering them to be expendable, and not caring for their livelihoods. Of course this comes back to bite him in the ass ''hard'' when his boys, deciding that their no longer gonna take his shit anymore, abandon him. Leaving him to face the Punisher by himself.
* DependingOnTheArtist: When he first appeared, he was realistically drawn to resemble a man in his 40's. However when he reappeared a few arcs later. He looked noticeably younger and more boyish.
* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: Averted. It's eventually revealed that as a young boy, his aunt would routinely sexually abuse of him. This is treated as a ''very'' disturbing revelation and something that played a big role in making him the man he now is.
* TheDreaded: Subverted; he certainly seems to ''think'' he's this. But in reality the reason why the other Capo's don't want him around isn't because they think he's terrifying. They just find him and his tactics ''[[EvenEvilHasStandards revolting.]]''
* EnfantTerrible: He was like that since he was five.
* EvilerThanThou: Deconstructed, he seems to be under the assumption that the best way to make the other gangs fear them is to be the most psychotic capo possible. This backfires, as his methods result in him and his crew being exiled to Boston and also kicks off a gang war between the triads and Cesare Family. What's more is that both Frank and Rawlins can easily see past his false bravado and see him for the coward that he really is.
-->'''Rawlins:''' Waah, I'm a big badass [[spoiler: I killed my sister and my aunt]]. You talk in your sleep you little cunt.
* FauxAffablyEvil: He may come across as suave and graceful, but it's all a smokescreen meant to hide the true monster that he is.
* {{Fingore}}: When attempting to execute Frank at point blank range. Frank simply leaps forward before he can pull the trigger and bites several of his fingers off.
* FirstNameBasis: He always insist that people call him by his first name, as par of his FauxAffablyEvil act.
* HumiliationConga: So he urinates on the corpses of Frank's dead family, hoping that he'd be able to mess with Frank's head enough such that he and his men would be able to overcome him, during their eventual and inevitable confrontation. Instead, Frank slaughters ''hundreds'' of criminals on a nightly basis, promising to carve his way through the criminal underworld until the city would properly rebury his family. This leaves Cavella without backup outside of those already a part of his immediate crew. Eventually, ''they'' turn on him once they realize how much of a powerless coward he is, leaving him at the mercy of Frank. As if that isn't enough, Frank ''unintentionally'' gives Cavella [[spoiler:one of the most psychologically tormenting deaths of the whole series--dragging him out into a forest and shooting him, [[KarmicDeath much like how Cavella had done to his father in his youth]]. The ultimate kicker comes around when Cavella realizes Frank isn't going to torture or mutilate him--rather he's just gonna shoot him in his guts and leave him for dead. Castle even states that what Cavella did merely amounts to him getting "a little more pain than most," meaning Nicky never even really had the satisfaction of ''truly'' hurting [[TheDreaded the Punisher]].]]
* ImAHumanitarian: The man earned his reputation as follows: during a sit-down in a Chinese restaurant with an overconfident Triad boss named Joseph Kai, Kai is eating a dish and arrogantly telling Cavella that he and his crew won't back down in the face of the Cesare Family, claiming he has three strong sons backing him up. To which Cavella retorts with, "two strong sons", and informs him that he and his two henchmen had arrived early and replaced the kitchen staff, and that the boss' youngest son, "never made it home from school". It's then revealed what happened to the boys body. Cue the horrified expression on the Triad boss' [[IAteWhat face as he realizes what he just ate]].
* LeftForDead: At the end of ''Up is Down and Black is White'', Frank drags him far out into the woods [[spoiler:and shoots him low down in the stomach, leaving him there to die over a couple of days.]] It's confrimed in the next story that [[spoiler:Nicky's corpse was found some time later [[EyeScream with his eyes missing.]]]]
* PetTheDog: He orders Ink to spare the life of a potential elderly witness. Saying that "the poor old prick probably fought in a war or sumthin'." There was no tactical reason for doing this and leaving the old man alive could only be detrimental, so it's quite possibly the only time we ever get to see Nicky do something genuinely altruistic. Well... as much as "don't kill that person" can be considered as such.
* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler: Killed his parents and sister when he was a kid and framed his uncle so her aunt could take over the family.]]
* StrawNihilist: He freely admits to hating everyone in the whole world, and believes that when he dies he'll be able to tell ''God'' how much he hates Him.
* VillainousBreakdown: After losing the respect of his men, and being cornered by the Punisher. He breaks down ''spectacularly''. Being reduced to a sniveling, pants-wetting whimpering coward, begging for mercy.
* VillainousRescue: Ironically enough, his plan of breaking into the CIA's safehouse with the intent of killing Frank Castle results in him inadvertently saving Frank from being executed by the CIA themselves.
* WeHaveReserves: He ''tried'' to invoke this trope only to have it backfire ''spectacularly''.
* XanatosSpeedChess: In the first arc he is shown as being the ''master'' of this trope, however, in the second arc, after suffering from some ''serious BadassDecay'', he appears to have forgotten how to play this game.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Carmine "Pittsy" Gazzera]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/carmine_gazzera_earth_200111_in_punisher_vol_6_6.jpg]]

-> ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #2

--> ''"Let's fucking GO, you fuck!"''

One of the two bodyguards that Nicky brings along with him to New York. A foul tempered thug who possess an amazing level of strength and combat prowess than his appearance would have you believe. An extremely formidable fighter who is notable for being one of the few characters in the series who can go toe-to-toe with Frank and hold his own.

----
* AndShowItToYou: He boast that he'll rip out Frank's heart and show it to him. What's more, later on his fight with Frank shows that he ''meant it.'' He was trying to grab a fistful of entrails from Frank's gaping wound.
* BadassGrandpa: The guy looks like he's in his sixties but he's easily the most badass member in Nicky's crew. In fact at one point he comes damn near close to actually choking the ''life'' outta Frank. Had it not been for Microchip intervening, then he very likely would have killed Frank. The next time the two meet he's got Frank reeling. Prompting Frank to think fast or be beaten to death.
* BaitTheDog: In his final showdown with Frank, he successfully goads him into dropping his machine gun and take him on in a good old fashion fist fight.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: One of the few people in the series who can not only match Frank in a fight but actually gain the ''upper hand on him.'' As well as being the ''only'' character to illicit an OhCrap response from Frank.
* {{Determinator}}: A rare villainous example. Perfectly demonstrated when after having been [[spoiler:''impaled on a fence.'']] He still continues to try and come after Frank.
* DramaticDislocation: When Frank dislocates his fingers he put them back in place and yells at him to BringIt, that's what convince the Punisher he is in for a tough fight.
* GoodOldFisticuffs: Unlike his associates. He eschews guns, preferring to batter his opponents with his fist, or slice them up with a blade.
* GroinAttack: The little guy appears to be fond of these.
* HairTriggerTemper: His foul temper combined with his violent tendencies make him a very dangerous individual.
* HeManWomanHater: He shows shades of this from time to time. Most notably when he tried to batter a broad with a pole cue for no other reason than for the sin of being born the wrong gender.
* MadeOfIron: Quite possibly the most extreme example of this trope in the series. The man is beaten, stabbed, shot at, has his eyes gouged,his fingers broken and ends up getting [[spoiler:impaled on a ''friggin' steel fence.'' But does he let this faze him? ''Fuck no!'' Through sheer hatred and incredible strength of will. The little bastard '''keeps on going'''. It's only after he gets his face blown the fuck off by a shotgun slug that he finally succumbs to his wounds.]] Although not before freaking Frank the hell out by taking a few more steps in his direction.
--> '''Frank:''' Next steps a reflex. [Pittsy keeps on walking towards him.] It ''has to be.''
* MyDefenseNeedNotProtectMeForever: Frank realizes his punches aren't fazing Pittsy who just waits for him to run out of breath.
* TheNapoleon: The most overly agressive and moody of Nicky's crew. Not to mention the shortest.
* PintSizedPowerhouse: ''Dear lord is he ever.'' He's short, stout, and strong enough to nearly choke the life outta Frank.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He can be heard constantly spouting homophobic slurs like it's going outta style.
* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Normally he's the kinda guy who'd prefer to either beat his victims to death, or choke the life outta them. But on the rare occasions that he does use a firearm. He always makes sure that it's a shotgun.
* SirSwearsALot: Rivals Fury when it comes to profanity.
* SleevesAreForWimps: The moment he ditches his track suit and only wears a sleeveless tank top is the moment you know he's ready to start kicking some serious ass.
* WorthyOpponent: Begins to view Frank as this after their first fight together. And is just aching to get another shot at him, refusing to go to the hospital.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ink]]

[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ink_earth_200111_in_punisher_vol_6_2.jpg]]

-> ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #2

--> ''"Huh"''

Cavella's second bodyguard who is usually seen alongside Pittsy. A creepy, cross-eyed individual who rarely ever speaks, and much like his friend Pittsy, he is far more dangerous than he looks. Best demonstrated in the disturbing way he earned his nickname.

----
* CombatPragmatist: How does he deal with a Special Forces squad? By sneaking on top of the elevator that they are in and cutting the elevator cables. Causing them to fall to their gruesome deaths.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: The guy may look like a cross-eyed spas. But he is far more formidable than his eccentric appearance would have you believe.
* FamousLastWords: Appropriately enough the final word to come out of his mouth is a bemused, [[spoiler:"Huh".]]
* InformedAbility: According to Nicky he has a terrific sense of humor. Of course we the reader almost never get to see this, seeing as how he rarely says more than one word.
* NoNameGiven: He's real name is never revealed.
* ThePenIsMightier: He received his nickname by killing his first victim with a pen.
--> '''Larry:''' Stabbed him in the neck?
--> '''Nicky:''' Stabbed him in the eye. Just kept going 'till he hit brain.
* TheQuietOne: He rarely ever speaks. And when he does it's almost always a nonchalant "huh". Which he says whenever he agrees with something.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theresa Gazzera]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theresa_gazzera_earth_200111_in_punisher_vol_6_23.jpg]]

-> ''The Punisher'' Vol.7, #19

--> ''"You say that shit about my brother again and I'll glue ya' fuckin' dick shut!"''

Nicky's right hand women, and unbeknownst to him, his long time admirer. A vulgar and foul tempered women. She faithfully serves her boss with an almost religious like fervor

----
* AbhorrentAdmirer: While she isn't ''that'' bad looking, what really qualifies her for this trope is her attitude. Casually threatening to close peoples' penises shut, dropping {{Cluster F Bomb}}s at the drop of the hat, generally being a scary {{Jerkass}}. Like brother like sister. Nicky is very in denial when Rawlins points out Theresa has a crush on him, to boot.
* BerserkButton: ''Do not'' speak ill of her [[spoiler:late brother.]] Not unless you want her to mutilate your genitals.
* BrawnHilda: A ''very'' disturbing example of this trope.
* [[SirSwearsAlot Ms. Swears Alot]]: Much like her brother she has a very foul mouth. With a temper to match.
* TooDumbToLive: After feeling jilted by Nicky's rejections, goes into the Punisher's place without a gun in order to kill him in a blind rage. Even when she gets the drop on him, she doesn't even stab him correctly, instead non-fatally stabbing him so she can rant about how no one wants to touch her. All of this started because she thought that the best time to screw her boss was during a stake-out of the wounded Castle.
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: She bares a rather disturbing resemblance to her brother. The resemblance is so great that Roth initially mistakes her for her Pittsy. Causing him to flea in panic.
--> '''Roth:''' I thought it was him in a wig... Coming back to take my balls...
* {{Yandere}}: To her "man" Nicolas Cavella, and a very butch and ugly one as well.
[[/folder]]

!Other Italian Mobsters

[[folder:Larry Barrucci]]

-> '''Debut''': ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #2

A mid level gangster who had the ''[[SarcasmMode ingenious]]'' idea of bringing [[AxCrazy Nicolas]] [[TheSociopath Cavella]] back to New York, with the intention of helping out with the Punisher problem. Naturally this does not go down as well as he'd hope.

----
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anthony Pizzo]]

[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anthony_pizzo_earth_200111_from_punisher_vol_6_21_0001.jpg]]

-> '''Debut''': ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #19

A young and inexperienced gangster who becomes a Mafia captain due to the Punisher killing most of New York City's veteran mafiosi.

Like the other Mafiosi, the seriousness of the Punisher problem has led him and the others into contemplating the idea of handing over leadership to ''[[AxCrazy Nicolas Cavella]]''.

----
[[/folder]]

!The Irish Mob & Associates

[[folder:Finn Cooley]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/punisher_vol_6_11_textless.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''cheers'']]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #7

--> ''"There's only one way this is gonna be sorted out, an' it won't be a nice civil chat over a pint in the Kerry Castle. It'll be us, the Rats, the Westies an' that fucker Maginty, doin' our level best to butcher each other. Winner takes all."''

A hideously disfigure Irish terrorist, who was formerly affiliated with the IRA. That is until he had his faced blown off in a botched terrorist attack. He was soon arrested and disavowed by the IRA. Only to later be released as part of the Good Friday Agreement. Recently he and his nephew have come to New York to inherit the fortune of the recently deceased Irish mob boss Pops Nesbitt.

----
* BerserkButton: ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Do. Not. Try. Lecturing him. About. Bombs.]]'' Poor Morrison found that out the hard way.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: According to Brenda he would "fuck over his own first born if he thought there was five cents in it". Of course seeing as how we never ''see'' him betray anyone, then this comes across as an InformedAbility.
* FacialHorror: Hiss face was horribly injured when a bomb backfired on him. After he loses his plastic mask, he spends the rest of the story arc using bandages to keep it from just falling off his skull. Doesn’t help that Frank ends up tearing off a few chunks.
* InformedAbility: He constantly gets his {{Ax Crazy}} reputation hyped by other characters. But he's really one of the more level-headed and thoughtful villains of this GambitPileup; despite being rather cavalier about civilian casualties he was far less unbalanced than most of the other participants.
* MadBomber: His specialty. The arc kicks off when a bomb he planted to kill off the other factions in the gang war detonated early, killing dozens of civilians.
** When Punisher uses a stun grenade, He is the only one to see it coming and respond with a frag grenade of his own that succesfully knocks down Frank and nearly gets him killed.
* NightmareFace: He blew off the upper half of his face with one of his own bombs several years earlier, and in the first chapter is seen wearing a plastic mask to keep the remaining tissue from ''sliding off''. Frank shoots it off in the second chapter, so in the third, he has to keep it on with '''tape'''. In the final chapter, Frank '''''bites off one of his cheeks!'''''
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Much like the rest of his Irish peers. He frequently throws out racial slurs in casually conversation.
* TerroristWithoutACause: Subverted. He ''tried'' to continue on the IRA's legacy with another group, but even that group quickly kicked him out. Once they realized what a monster he really was.
* TooDumbToLive: Not only falling for Nesbitt's gambit like the others but at one points he starts yelling how sick he is to be everyone's "nigger" and goes on a racist rant in a restaurant in Manhattan, not spotting the 12 or so black persons in the place. His nephew says that they would probably have killed them if it wasn't from Cooley's face freaking them out.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Peter Cooley]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #7

--> ''"If we don't turn up the pressure soon. We may as well say the hell with' it an' hand the whole place over to the Brits!"''

Finn Cooley's younger nephew, and by far the most idealistic of all of Cooley's company.

----
* ColdBloodedTorture: Subverted. When he is taken prisoner, Yorkie gives Frank the order to make him talk by any means necessary. The panel then cuts away and we are treated to the sounds of Peter screaming. It's later revealed that all Frank did was rip off the bandages to his wounds, and that was enough to make him scream in agony.
* NervesOfSteel: Averted. He passes out immediately after Frank rips the bandages off his wounds. And the threat of ''real'' torture is enough to have him sell out his buddies.
* OhCrap: The expression on his face when he realizes his being held prisoner by the Punisher, and M16 agent, and the vengeful son of the man he murdered.
* WideEyedIdealist: A villainous example. The young man genuinely believes in the IRA, to an almost pitiful extent.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Michael Morrison]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #7

An American gunrunner of Irish descent and close associate of Finn Cooley.

----
* GoingNative: One of the many things about him that annoys Finn to no end. The other being his phony Irish accent.
* OnlySaneMan: He appears to be the most level headed of all the Irish gangsters in the arc. Being the only character to suggest leaving town the moment the Punisher gets involved. Too bad his buddies don't heed his warning.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Maginty]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/352621_42572_maginty_3.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #7

--> ''"They call me Maginty. And I'm the baddest nigger who ever came outta Dublin town."''

An Afro-Irish gangster. He is one of the four crime lords who is meant to inherit a share of Pops Nesbitt's fortune.

----
* BadassBoast: He introduces himself to Napper by referring to himself as one of the "baddest niggers" who ever walked out of Dulin, Ireland. And knowing his reputation, that's not an exaggeration.
* TheDreaded: He has by far the most intimidating reputation of all the Irish gangsters in New York. At one point all it takes is for one of the Westies to shout his name in panic, and pretty soon all of the Westies are dropping their guns and running for the hills.
* DreadlockWarrior
* GeniusBruiser: The most physically imposing of all the Irish gangsters. As well as the most intelligent.
* KickTheDog: Just as Napper was about to finish cutting up [[spoiler:Tommy Toner.]] He brings in Napper's grandson to see him in action. Scarring the poor child for life, and ruining any chance Napper may have had at a normal life.
* MacheteMayhem: Unlike the rest of his Irish brethren, he prefers his signature machete. Specifically to ''scalp'' his enemies.
* PhenotypeStereotype: Very much averted. He's a black Irishmen from Dublin.
* ScaryBlackMan: ''Oh yes.''
* TokenMinority: The only black character out of all the Irish gangsters.
* TooDumbToLive: Not only does he falls for Nesbitt's gambit like the others but Napper almost pulled a Houdini on him when he came back to the old man's apartment alone.
* WouldHurtAChild: When Napper blows off his proposal for a job. All it takes is for Napper to threaten to murder Napper's 8 year old grandson, and pretty soon the old man falls in line.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Napper French]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/264265_148402_napper_french.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #7

--> ''"Knew you wouldn't wanna miss one of Hell's Kitchen's legends in action."''

A retired elderly Irish gangster who use to specialize in cutting up dead bodies into so many pieces that the police could never find them all. For the last thirty years he has been living comfortably in retirement. That is until Maginty approaches him for one final job.

----
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Since retiring from crime, he has become a genuinely kind old man. Yeah, just wait till your stupid enough to threaten his grandson. As Maginty learned.
* TheDreaded: Thanks to his many years as Nesbitt's go-to-butcher. He has earned this reputation among New York's criminal underworld. Apparently his rep was so strong that his legend is still remembered to this day.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: He genuinely loves his grandson with a passion. So much so that he is willing to work one last job in order to ensure his safety.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Toward Maginty, who wants to proves he is like all the O.G Irish mobster only for Napper to bring up that he is just as stupid as them.
* RetiredMonster: His lived the past thirty years of his life happily retired and spending time with his grand kids. That is until Maginty pays him a visit.
* WhyWontYouDie: Says this to [[spoiler:Tommy Toner]] after he gets tired of having to slice off bits and pieces of him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Polly]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #8

The ''de facto'' leader of the River Rats. And one of the four crime bosses who is meant to inherit a share of Nesbitt's fortune.

----

* DarkActionGirl: One of the first to appear in the series mind you.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Near the finale of the arc, her [[spoiler: brother is lying at her feet bleeding out. She goes over to him leading Eamon to believe she has come to his aid. Instead she just takes his ammo clips and leaves him to die.]] This exchange says it best.
--> '''Eamon:''' Always you an' me Polly...
--> '''Polly:''' Always ''me'' Eamon. Always me.
* TheLadette: She can drink and swear as good as any of her boys can.
* RapeAsBackstory: During a heated argument with her brother it's revealed that their father would come home drunk and sexually abuse of her when she was a kid.
* RuthlessModernPirates: Leader of the River Rats. A gang of pirates from Hell's Kitchen who primarily rob rich people on yachts. That is until they run into the Punisher...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Eamon]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #8

The second in command of the River Rats, and overprotective brother of Polly

* BerserkButton: ''Do not'' make any BrotherSisterIncest jokes in his presence. As he will respond by kicking your ass into the sea, and leaving you there for the fishes,
* TheDragon: To his sister Polly
* KnightTemplarBigBrother: See BerserkButton above.
* RuthlessModernPirates: Just like his sister, he to is a member of the River Rats. A pirate outfit who operate just outside of Hell's Kitchen.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Brenda Toner]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #9

--> ''"I'm runnin' the Westies now! An' if you don't like it than you can fuckin' eat me!"''

The hard-ass, take-no-shit-off-nobody wife of Tommy Toner, and one could say, the ''true'' leader of the Westies. She is the last of the four Crime lords who has the code to Pops Nesbitt's fortune.

----

* DarkActionGirl: The second one to be introduced in the series. And one of the more effective ones at that.
* DoesNotLikeMen: She very obviously hates men. Viewing them as little more than a pair of moronic stooges meant to be insulted and bossed around. Odds are she likely gained this view of men from her experiences with old man Nesbitt.
* TheIrishMob: The newly asserted leader of the Westies. An old-school Irish Mob outfit that has decades of lineage.
* IronLady: The moment her husband goes missing and is presumingly dead. She waste no time in asserting herself as the new leader of the Westies.
* NervesOfSteel: She shows a surprising amount of calm, even when being fired upon by Frank and Yorkie. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about her men. Who immediately break down and panic the moment the shit hits the fan.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: She is constantly heard spouting racial epithets directed at people of African descent. Referring to Maginty as a "jungle bunny''. What's more, the Westies as a whole are depicted as being extremely racist, and are said to have killed any person of color who dared coming to their neighborhood. For no other reason than because they were black.
* RapeAsBackstory: She was one of the ''many'' female victims who Nesbitt would frequently sexually abuse. Recalling all the times she had to feel his "sweaty claw" up her skirt.
* SirSwearsAlot: Seeing as how she's Irish and written by Garth Ennis. This was pretty much a given.
* SmokingIsCool: She is always seen chomping on a cigar.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pops Nesbitt]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nesbitt_earth_200111_punisher_vol_6_10_page_4.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #10

--> ''"Shower O' cunt's"''

An elderly recently deceased Irish Mob boss. Who has left behind ten million dollars to his heirs.

* CountryMatters: It's practically his catchphrase.
* DirtyOldMan: A truly ''vile'' example. He would repeatedly mentally and physically abuse of his younger relatives. And would ''sexually'' abuse of the female ones. Dirty old man indeed.
* TheDreaded: One of the main reasons behind why none of his relatives would ever retaliate against him for his abuse. Is because they were all scared shit-less of him. They were all aware of his reputation as a ruthless crime boss, and believed that he still had people who would be willing to kill for him.
* ThePatriarch: A very ''evil'' example of this trope if there ever was one.
* XanatosGambit: Overlapping with ThanatosGambit. He gave each of his inheritors a piece of a code that they would have to put together in order to get at his inheritance. After they almost kill each other trying to steal the other pieces of the code, they decide to call a truce. [[spoiler:When they all come together to collect, it's revealed that the secret location for his funds has no money in it at all. Just an explosive with the word "cunts" scrawled on to it.]]
[[/folder]]

!The Slavers

A vicious Romanian gang who run a number of brothels throughout New York where Eastern European abductees are forced into prostitution.

[[folder:General]]

* AHouseDivided: Cristu and Vera are totally against Tiberiu's bloodthirsty tendencies, which threatens to jeopardize their slave ring. Tiberiu in turn doesn't give a shit about repercussions. Cristu eventually decided to kill his father. However, Tiberiu survive an attempt on his life and quickly catches on to his son and Vera's betrayal.
* RedOniBlueOni: Cristu is levelheaded and at one point described as unemotional, his major concerns being profit margins and getting things done in the most efficient and least complicated way possible (why gouge someone's eyes out and break their neck when you can just shoot them?) Conversely, Tiberiu is a gleefully maniacal maniac for whom money is clearly only a bonus when it comes to the slave ring. Vera is somewhere in-between, as while it was clear that the business was her primary concern, at a few points it's implied that she does in fact take some perverse enjoyment out of fucking with the girls.
* RuthlessForeignGangsters: They're a group of ex-military war criminals from East Europe who bring a human trafficking ring into New York, and fall under Frank Castle's personal attention.
* TerribleTrio: The Punisher notes that Christu is the businessman, Tiberiu is the soldier, and Vera is "the one who makes it work."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tiberiu Bulat]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2063904_thepunisher27_20.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #26

--> ''"This will be an interesting man to kill..."''

Father of Cristu Bulat, and a veteran of the Yugoslav Wars. An extremely brutal and vicious war criminal turned human trafficker, who

----
* AxCrazy: By far the craziest and blood thirsty out of all of the Slavers.
* BadassGrandpa: A ''very evil and twisted one'', but a badass nonetheless.
* BerserkButton: Exploited by Frank, when the latter calls him a "coward" in Romanian. Tiberiu predictably flips out and charges at Frank in a blind rage. [[BaitTheDog Which is exactly what Frank wanted.]]
* BloodKnight: Unlike his two associates who take a business only approach to their slavery ring. He ''genuinely'' enjoys deriding sadistic pleasure from tormenting his captives.
* CardCarryingVillain: He's an evil sadistic old fuck and very proud of flaunting that fact. Showing no shame in his cruel ways.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: When a newscast brings up the Punisher killing dozens of criminals after his family's bones were dug up and pissed on, Tiberiu opines that Frank's actions sound like "[[DueToTheDead evidence of sanity]]" and further muses that he would personally "slaughter thousands" if his own wife's remains were ever desecrated in such a way.
* EvilCounterpart: To Frank. At one point Frank even refers to him as a "twisted old fuck who still thought he was a soldier". Amusingly Frank doesn't appear to realize the ''irony'' in this statement.
* ForTheEvulz: What he is ''all about''.
* FromCamouflageToCriminal: Before becoming an immoral human trafficker he was an immoral War criminal who fought alongside the Serbs in the Yugoslav Wars.
* KarmicDeath: In his introduction he snaps the neck of a defenseless chained up man who had no hope of fighting back. Later on Frank repays the favor by [[spoiler:chaining ''him up.'' Except instead of simply snapping his neck, he decides to burn him alive and film the whole thing.]]
* ObligatoryWarCrimeScene: You see his page image above that shows him firing away with that AK? Yeah, well, the complete image shows him executing an entire group of civilians, both adults ''and children''.
* OffingTheOffspring: Tiberiu clearly has this for his son after learning that Cristu planned to kill him for being a liability to their operation. However, Tiberiu was too late as Frank already got to him first.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: In his introduction he calls a chained up gangster a "little black boy", and continues to insult him with varies other racial slurs. It doesn't get much better from that point on. He did take part in genocide after all.
* RevolversAreJustBetter: When a pair of hoods sneak into his home at night, with the intention of killing him. He surprises them by turning the tables on em' and blowing they're brains out with a revolver.
* SociopathicSoldier: When we see the flashbacks to his time in the Yugoslav Wars, we get a first hand view of just how much of an evil bastard he was back then.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Cristu Bulat]]

[[quoteright:297:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cristu_bulat_earth_200111_punisher_vol_6_26.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #25

A Romanian criminal who specializes in brothels where Eastern European abductees are forced into prostitution. He is the son of notorious crime boss Tiberiu Bulat. However, he lacks his father's penchant for sadism and extreme violence. Intead, preferring to run his operation more like a legitimate business, eschewing Tiberiu's more ruthless tactics. This difference in business management causes no shortage of tension between he and his father.

----
* FromCamouflageToCriminal: He took part in the Yugoslav Wars alongside his father. However, unlike his old man, he discovered that there was far more money to be made in slavery than there was in genocide. And thus promptly switched careers.
* GuttedLikeAFish: [[spoiler:Cristu is drugged from eating his food by the Punisher and wakes up to find his guts cut open from his belly.]]
* KilledOffScreen: [[spoiler:Cristu is last seen looking in horror at his belly that had been gutted by the Punisher. According to Frank, he died from blood loss.]]
* LackOfEmpathy: He shows zero remorse about the whole slavery thing. Considering it to just be a source of revenue for him.
* NothingPersonal: His entire MO. He doesn't drug up prostitutes and force them into slaver for shits and giggles. It's just a business thing is all. No hard feelings.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: See NothingPersonal above.
* {{Patricide}}: When he realizes that his father couldn't control or care about his BloodKnight tendencies that would only jeopardize their prostitution ring, Cristu decide to kill him by tipping off some gangsters. However, Tiberiu is too much of a badass to die that easily.
* PragmaticVillainy: He visibly disapproves of the violent methods that his father uses to kill a pair of criminals. Not because he considers it immoral mind you, he simply finds using a handgun to be a more effective and less time consuming way of killing someone.
--> '''Tiberiu:''' I suppose you disapprove.
--> '''Cristu:''' There is an invention called a handgun father. Very efficient.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vera Konstantin]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4026685_verakonstantin.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #25

One of the three ring leaders behind the human trafficking operation, who uses her job as a corporate executive as cover for her real mode of business. Every bit as callous and cruel as her associates, she specializes in breaking the new abductees in a process she likes to call, "rape them to break them".

----
* BigNo: Her [[FamousLastWords last words]].
* DestinationDefenestration: Her death [[spoiler:in which Frank methodically throws Vera face first into reinforced glass until the window breaks.]]
* KarmicDeath; Her part in the operation was to break the captives using a method she liked to call: Rape them to break them. Which involved having the girls ''gang-raped for twenty-four hours straight''. In order to let them know that they were powerless to prevent anything from being done to them. When Frank finally gets a hold of her [[spoiler:he doesn't rape her, instead what he does is throw her face first into the shatterproof window multiple times until the window panel finally breaks, causing her to fall to her death.]] Frank even Lampshades this trope.
--> '''Frank:''' All that counts is that you can't stop me. I'm stronger than you, so I can do anything I want. Isn't that the way it works?
* PragmaticVillainy: Just like Cristu, the whole slavery thing is just a means to gain revenue. Nothing more. Of course that does not make it any less ''evil''.
[[/folder]]

!Dynaco Incorporated

A once 3nd rate energy company turned overnight success thanks to the efforts of mysterious philanthropist Harry Ebbing. A shady, amoral organization run by equally amoral corporate tycoons.

[[folder:Harry Ebbing]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

--> ''"Trouble with doing the right thing, Si: what you end with is the satisfaction of knowing you did the right thing. As opposed to what you were giving up, which was anything you wanted being just a phone call away."''

CEO of Dynaco Incorporated

----
* CorruptCorporateExecutive
* DrivenToSuicide
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Alice Ebbing]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

Wife of Harry Ebbing

----

* HiddenDepths: There's perhaps a little more to her than her husband might assume, what with her ultimately masterminding his overthrow through his protege, whom she has seduced.
* HoneyTrap: Gets Barracuda off his guard by blowing him.
* TrophyWife: And prideful of it.
* YourCheatingHeart: Quite casually seduces her husband's protege, and regularly sleeps around with strangers.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dermot O'Leary]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

Second-in command at Dynaco, and Harry's personal protege

----
* YourCheatingHeart: With his mentor's TrophyWife, no less

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Si Stephens]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

Former Dynaco employee who decided to blow the whistle on one of there scheme's after he felt they went too far.

----
* EveryoneHasStandards: Amoral corporate goon he may be the moment he hears of his bosses scheme to cut all the power in Miami he immediately backs out.
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: ''Dear lord does it ever''. The man was the sole member of his entire corporation with a conscience. And when he threatened to blow the whistle all he gets for his troubles is an endless series of grievous humiliations after another.
[[/folder]]

!The Five Wives
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2066246_punisher_v5_043_05.jpg]]
Four Mafiosi (and one gangbanger) wives all made widows by the Punisher and shut out from the rest of the mafia since women have no place in the organization other than being a wife of a member.

Left with little money compared to what they had when their husbands were alive and angered over their deaths, they have decided to take it upon themselves to do what a thousand other men have tried and failed to do. ''Kill the Punisher''.

[[folder:Annabella Gorrini]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/5101359_punisherv504307_1.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #43

-> ''"We're gonna do somethin' a thousand men already failed at: We're gonna kill the Punisher. May he burn in hell forever, the motherless, godless fuck."''

The oldest of the five widowed wives and also the ''de facto'' leader of the group.

* TaughtByExperience: Realizes that criminals [[BondVillainStupidity capturing Frank and putting him in deathtraps]] instead of [[JustShootHim just killing him as soon as they get the chance]] is why he keeps winning, and resolves not to make that mistake. [[SpannerInTheWorks And if it wasn't for Jennifer,]] it would've worked.
* TraumaCongaLine: She has the biggest bone to pick with Frank; his mafia massacre in the very first issue killed her grandfather, father, husband and two sons.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Barbara "Barbi" Barrucci]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

Wife of the late Larry Barrucci, one of the Cesare family capos who was slain in one of the earlier stories. And resident slut of the group.
----
* CallBack: Her late husband Larry appeared ''way'' back in the very first arc as a throw-away character.
* DontYouDarePityMe: When the rest of the wives learn of her illiteracy, they openly take pity on the poor girl. "Barbi", however is having ''none'' of their bullshit.
-->'''Lorraine''': Oh shit. Barbi, can you read?
-->'''Bonnie''': Oh, you ''poor thing''...!
-->'''Barbara''': Fuck you, Bonnie, I don't want your fucking pity! I'm dyslexic, not some goddamn ''cripple''!
* SexForServices: After her proven illiteracy threatens to make her a liability to the group. She finds ''other'' inventive ways to make herself useful.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Openly racist towards Shauna when they first meet.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Lorraine Zucca]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

Wife of the late capo Paul Zucca. She's one of the better educated members of the group.
----
* InformedAbility
* TheGenericGuy: She has close to zero characterization, and no special traits that separate her from the pack.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bonnie De Angelo]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2066149_punisher_046_04.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

The most naive member of the group who speaks in a very distinct and rather ''cute'' speech pattern.
----
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome
* PuppyDogEyes
* TokenGoodTeammate: Definitely the least villainous widow, she just wants revenge of Frank.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Shauna Toomey]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1327068_st.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

-> ''"My name is Shauna Toomey. My man was John James Toomey. Anyone got any more bullshit to say, they can suck my muthafuckin' dick."''

By far the most street savvy and lethal of all the widows.
----
* TheBrute: The muscle of the widows, and the most aggressive and violent.
* ScaryBlackWoman: See above.
* TokenMinority: The sole black widow of the group.
[[/folder]]

!Recurring Villains

[[folder:William Rawlins]]

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4064518_williamrawlins.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #13

--> ''"You tell that Ruskie son-of-a-bitch. Rawlins is my fucking name."''

An exceptionally vile and morally depraved {{CIA}} operative, who has participated in countless amounts of horrific covert operations throughout the years. He is without conscience, and will take any job as long as there's something in it for him.

----
* BadassLongcoat: Played with; although the coat he wears ''is'' badass. Himself however? Not [[DirtyCoward so much.]]
* BeardOfEvil: Just in case you need to be reminded that he's a bad guy.
* BoomerangBigot: He uses racial slurs when discussing Arabs and other Middle Easterners despite being half Arab on his mother's side.
* ButtMonkey: It starts with an eye being gouged out, and escalates from there.
* CatchPhrase: "Rawlins. Rawlins is my fucking name." Unfortunately, this bites him in the ass ''hard'' when he tells this to [[TheDreaded General Zakharov.]]
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He has this ''bad''. He'll fuck over anyone he's working with (or sleeping with) to get ahead or save his own ass.
* CowerPower
* DepravedBisexual: He uses sex as a means of furthering his own agendas, be it with a man or woman.
* DirtyCoward: Catch him with his guard down and he becomes nothing but a sniveling, pathetic coward who'd sell out his own mother to lengthen his own life a few more minutes.
* EyepatchOfPower: After having his eye ripped out by the Punisher. He begins wearing an eyepatch not unlike the one worn by Nick Fury.
* EyeScream: Frank cut out his eye while torturing him for information about Project Barbarossa.
* [[spoiler: FamousLastWords:]] [[spoiler:"Oh no."]]
* ItsAllAboutMe: And ''how''!!
* JerkAss: Loud, obnoxious, and insulting to everyone he meets, even if they're his bosses.
* KickTheDog: He intentionally left O'Brien stranded in Afghanistan during a CIA operation years ago. Worse yet, they were married at the time. She was routinely raped and abused by her Taliban captors before escaping. In the present day, Rawlins actually mocks O'Brien for her experiences as a prisoner, referring to her as the "bukkake queen of Kabul."
* [[spoiler: KilledOffscreen:]] [[spoiler: Frank corners him in a bathroom at the Kabul International airport and cuts off half of his right arm. The very last panel of the story is of Rawlins bleeding on the floor and very afraid of what Frank has in store for him. We're never shown or told how Frank actually finished him off, but it was no doubt a very unpleasant death.]]
* ManipulativeBastard
* NothingPersonal: This is his go-to excuse whenever he wants something from someone with a grudge against him. He tries to make Zakharov ignore his role in the Moscow terrorist attacks by saying this.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: In order for us to get a glimpse of just how depraved he is, his first appearance has him dropping all sorts of of vile racial epithets directed at Arabs. Referring to them as "towelheads, sand niggers, and camel jockeys".
* PragmaticVillainy: When sent to whack the Punisher, he very sensibly tries to snipe him, rather than try and go one-on one; it would have worked but then his ex-wife (who's still understandably ''pissed'' at him for kicking her out of a helicopter into the hands of the Taliban) shows up...
* ShadowArchetype: To Nick Fury. Cemented at the end of Up Is Down when he loses his eye.
* SmugSnake: So much so that he can't help but crack wise even as [[EyeScream Frank rips out his eye.]] It would almost be badass if he wasn't such a pathetic coward.
* StealthInsult: At one point he refers to Nicky's henchmen as his "Elite Republican Guard". Knowing that the reference would fly right over there heads.
* WouldHurtAChild: After [[spoiler: cutting the throat of one of Zakharov's men]], he steals his wallet and notices a picture of the man's son. He tells him that he'll look up his family and then rape and murder the young man ForTheEvulz. It's possible that this was simply a malicious taunt, but given Rawlins's track record, it's not entirely out of the question for him. [[spoiler: Thankfully, Rawlins never makes it out of Afghanistan]].
* VillainsWantMercy: When Frank finally caught up to him and cutting his right hand off with a kukri, Rawlins begs to have O'Brien here to possibly vouch him, which almost certainly wouldn't have worked as he abandoned her. [[spoiler:Frank simply replies that O'Brien is dead.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Man of Stone]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mospun.jpg]]

-> '''AKA:''' General Nikolai Alexandrovich Zakharov
-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #15

--> ''"After all these years, the Cold War may yet be turning hot."''

A brutal Russian Army general who participated in the Soviet-Afghan war and was responsible for numerous atrocities. These ranged from; genocide of civilians, pillaging of villages, and even [[MoralEventHorizon infant homicide]]. These atrocities earned him the nickname, "Man of Stone". Due to the lack of emotion he expressed when committing these heinous acts. However, thanks to his connections in the Russian government, he was able to escape being jailed, and his actions where quickly covered up.

Recently he has been assigned by the Russian government to prevent the theft of a secret super virus they have been concocting.

----
* BaitTheDog: In his first appearance, while there's some whispering of his reputation and he does use the WeHaveReserves trope (though he WAS trying to dislodge terrorists from a nuclear silo), Zakharov in the end did stop a nuclear confrontation and showed way more patience with TheStarscream than he had a right to. Later, when we see him again, we find out just [[MoralEventHorizon how he fought in in Afghanistan.]]
* BaldOfEvil: Much like''another'' famed Punisher villain.
* BloodKnight: He's as addicted to war as Frank and Nick Fury and while he doesn't want to face nuclear annihilation he does want to expose the American involvement in the events of "Mother Russia" as a means to go to war again.
* {{Expy}}: He's basically The Kingpin meets Col. Kurtz.
* [[spoiler: FaceDeathWithDignity: One of the very few villains who plays this trope perfectly straight.]]
* GeneralRipper The man practically wrote the book on this trope. He was at his worst during the Soviet-Afghan War, were his monstrous actions earned him the nickname: "The Man Of Stone". His various atrocities include [[spoiler:gathering up entire villages and forcing them off the ledge of a cliff, to callously murdering an infant while her mother screams in horror.]] In fact his actions were so bad that the [[EvenEvilHasStandards Soviets had him fired for his actions]].
-->'''Major Yeremin''': Zakharov was in Kabul throughout the eighties. He did things that -- Well, suffice it to say that if he'd been left to his own devices, we'd still have Afghanistan. It's just that there wouldn't be much of Afghanistan worth having.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: How he rationalizes the numerous atrocities he committed in Afghanistan. He felt that only by resorting to the brutal methods that he did could the war be won and the people of Afghanistan could live in peace as a Communist nation.
* KickTheDog: Everything he did, he did in the name of the glory of Russia... except behead that journalist who wrote an unflattering book about him, that was personal.
* [[spoiler:LastRequest]]: He ask [[spoiler:Frank]] to find and kill Rawlins because he would continue to make the world worst "this way and forever."
* MeaningfulName: His "Man of Stone" nickname came about when he stood on a cliff while Afghan resistance fighters were hidden on the other side. He rounded up the civilians and had them killed, even throwing a baby over the cliff. The Afghans lost it and started shooting, letting the Soviet helicopters move in and eliminate them. Zakharov didn't budge an inch while they were shooting.
* MercyKill: After [[spoiler:Rawlins throws him out of a helicopter, paralyzing him, Frank bashes his head in with a stone.]]
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: The country HE wants though, not what Russia eventually became.
* MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong: He refers to Frank as a Russian who just happened to be born American.
* TheDreaded: Even to his own people.
* PetTheDog: A very minor one, but he [[spoiler: comforts one of his dying subordinates when Frank shows up to finish him off.]]
--> '''Zakharov''': Be strong, Captain. What is there to be afraid of? He is only Death.
* TheUnfettered: They call him "The Man of Stone" for a reason.
* RenegadeRussian: A low-key example. Its unlikely he'd ever openly move against the Russian government, but he despises The New Russia and its government, considering them traitors who threw away the sacrifices made for the Soviet Union and whored out the country for profit.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: He claimed that the atrocities he committed during the Soviet-Afghan War were done in an attempt to end the war and instill peace in the country. By carrying out such horrific acts, the enemy would become demoralized and surrender, thus ensuring that Afghanistan could become a prosperous Communist country.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He views himself as this. He justifies his crossing of the MoralEventHorizon in Afghanistan by claiming it would have brought peace sooner if the Mujaheddin could accept that the territory was now Soviet.
* WorthyOpponent: His attitude towards Frank Castle.
-->'''Nikolai''': That was no American. It was a Russian who was born there by mistake.
* WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler: During the Afghanistan wars, he personally threw a ''baby'' off a cliff]]
* WhyWereBummedCommunismFell: He makes no secret about his loathing for the New Russia and it government. Occasionally going off on a tangent about the "glory days" of the Soviet Union.
--> '''Russian General:''' Sound like ''somebody'' misses the Cold War.
--> '''Zakharov:''' I miss executing people out of hand, General.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Barracuda]]

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-barracudapunisher_2531.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:250:'''''Run'''''. ''Run while your legs are still attached.'']]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #31

--> ''"I'm Barracuda. Thing most muthafukers find out a little too late.''

A monstrous mercenary hired by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt businessman]] Ebbing to eliminate the Punisher and stop him from interfering in his criminal plans.

Very little is known about Barracuda's early life. Even his real name remains a mystery. What is known is that he was raised in Boca Raton, Florida, as the eldest of his siblings. His [[AbusiveParents father]], who happened to be a violent alcoholic, would often abuse the young Barracuda, at one point going as far as to [[KickTheDog hold his hand over a burning stove while telling him to "be as hard as the motherfucking world itself"]].

Sometime afterwards, a young 'Cuda got into a fight at his elementary school during which he [[EyeScream gouged the eyes out of his opponent]]; as a result, he was sent to a juvenile detention center. There, he castrated a would-be rapist. His actions caused him to be noticed by an Army Special Forces Colonel, who was impressed by the young man's ruthlessness and lack of morality, and recruited him as part of a special program to recruit troubled youths at a young age for military purposes. It was here that Barracuda was given full Special Forces training, as well as an excellent education. Grooming him to become the monster that he is today.

----
* AbusiveParents: His mother is never mentioned, but we get the audio version of a flashback while he's passed out in Frank's trunk, where we find out that Barracuda's dad was insanely abusive, and Barracuda spent most of his life looking for the bastard. He failed, and has spent his life ever since taking out his anger at the world.
* AffablyEvil: Genuinely friendly, optimistic and happy 99% of the time. Will kill you without blinking.
** FauxAffablyEvil: Very much shown to be this instead during his appearance in ''Comicbook/FuryMyWarGoneBy'', him even lampshading that he is going to turn on the "Barracuda charm" in order to try and get Fury to finish the investigation quickly.
* AlternateSelf: While he appears to have no counterpart in the main 616 Universe, alternate versions of Barracuda do appear in ''ComicBook/PunisherNoir'', ''ComicBook/SpacePunisher'', and ''Eminem[=/=]The Punisher''.
* AxCrazy: He ''thoroughly'' enjoys his acts of extreme, sadistic bloodshed and slaughter, to the point that he makes other members on this page look fairly well off by comparison.
* BoisterousBruiser: Always optimistic and cheerful even when killing people. His response after Frank [[spoiler: smashes the fingers off his right hand and sticks a knife in his eye]]?
-->'''Barracuda''': Oh, it is ''on'' now, motherfucker. It is ''on''.
* BondVillainStupidity: He lampshades this in ThePunisher[=/=]Music/{{Eminem}} crossover
* BreakoutCharacter: Survived multiple encounters with Punisher and had his own [[Comicbook/ThePunisherPresentsBarracuda spin-off miniseries]].
* CatchPhrase: "I'm Barracuda. Thing most muthafuckers find out a little too late."
* ChainsawGood: In ''ComicBook/FuryMyWarGoneBy'', it is revealed that during his time doing wet-work in Nicaragua, one of his favorite methods of executing members of the government was via ''chainsaw''.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: An even ''greater'' example than Frank Castle. He possess freakish amounts of strength, is able to withstand ungodly amounts of punishment, and has overpowered The Punisher on more than one occasion. Suffice it to say, thanks to his near superhuman levels of strength, he wouldn't seem out of place in a superhero story.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He will betray anyone if he thinks it will benefit him.
* ElitesAreMoreGlamorous: He used to be a Green Beret and held the rank of Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army.
* {{Expy}}: WordOfGod says he was inspired by the folk character Stack O' Lee, specifically the version in Nick Cave's "Stagger Lee". 'Cuda sings a few verses of it in #55.
* EyeScream: Loses an eye in the first few minutes of his first skirmish with Frank. It doesnt even slow him down.
** In a flashback, we see him deal with a schoolyard bully by ''gouging out the young man's eyes''. This results in him being sent off to a juvenile detention center.
* {{Foil}}: Ennis wrote him specifically to be the Punisher's. Like Frank, Barracuda was trained as an elite commando, honed his skills in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, and [[ShellShockedVeteran lost a great deal of his humanity]] there. Once they returned home, he found he couldn't re-adjust to civilian life. But where Castle lost his family and found his war on crime, Barracuda signed on for another tour of duty, this time in UsefulNotes/{{Nicaragua}}, where the corruption gave him the chance to go completely wild; Frank hides his basic human decency and warmth behind a cold and humorless exterior, while Barracuda hides his psychopathy behind a humorous grin.
-->'''George Hatherly''': Hey, if you can make money from narcotics and use your war for cover-why not use that to pay for your war? And you know what you get then? You get Barracuda.
* FreudianExcuse: His father abused him, and claimed he did it to "toughen him up". [[GoneHorriblyRight He succeeded.]]
* FromCamouflageToCriminal: Went from being a trained Green Beret to a full time Mercenary.
* GeniusBruiser: He has shown exceptional cunning and intelligence several times. He's basically a smarter version of the Russian.
** It's shown in ''Comicbook/FuryMyWarGoneBy'' that he led a CIA drug operation during his time in the military and managed to make [[spoiler: Fury]] powerless to do anything about it.
* CoolCar: He drives a badass Ford Mustang in ''Long Cold Dark''.
* GoldTooth: He has a row of four in his upper gums and a row of three in his lower gums, which collectively have the words "FUCK YOU" engraved on them. Unfortunately, he loses the last two to Frank, leading a guy being introduced to him asking what "fucky" means.
* GlassEye: He gets one after losing it to Frank.
* ImAHumanitarian: At one point, he recounts a tale of while on a mission in Africa he engaged in ''cannibalism'' to prove his masculinity to an African warlord.
--> '''Barracuda''': After we took down his brother for him, on accounta some ol' family bullshit, chiefy had the muthafucka ''cooked for dinner''... Turned him into a kinda jambalaya-looking thing, all of the rice an' shit. Whole tribe had to take a taste.
* ItsRainingMen: Along with his Special Forces training, he was also given HALO and LALO jump training.
* KickTheDog: You already know he's a piece of work, but when his second arc opens with him [[spoiler: killing Yorkie, Frank's old SAS war buddy]], it rather reaffirms the point.
** In ''Comicbook/FuryMyWarGoneBy'' he is responsible for the [[spoiler: ObligatoryWarCrimeScene of him having had a village burned down for seemingly no real reason, worst part being him cutting open a pregnant woman's stomach and stomping on the baby. Later he kicks the dead baby at Hatherly (TheIdealist), making him completely lose faith in the military and end up dying feeling all he did was pointless.]]
* LaughablyEvil: He has no moral standards whatsoever, but his unfailing friendliness and his hilarious pattern of speaking make him a joy to see.
* MacheteMayhem: One of his favorite weapons. Put to good use back in his days as a black ops agent in Nicaragua.
* MadeOfIron: Holy shit ''YES''. Let's see, loses an eye and most of his fingers during his first fight with Frank, which barely phases him. Has his head bashed in with a metal pipe, thrown to the sharks and shot point blank range, and ends up surviving. Shot several times in the chest, had his nose crushed with a pair of pliers, tortured for 45 minutes with electric shocks to his testicles, has ''BOTH ARMS CHOPPED OFF WITH AN AXE'' and Frank still has to blow his head apart with an AK-47 to put him down for good.
* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: He takes Frank chopping off his fingers and stabbing his eye in stride. Which is not to say that he's not sore about it.
* MoreDakka: His weapon of choice is a M60 machine gun.
* NoKillLikeOverkill: Frank finally overcomes him by [[spoiler: working on him with a fire-ax, burying it in his chest, then unloading an AK-47 into his head, practically disintegrating it]].
-->'''Frank''': Barracuda was dead when you shot him to bits and shot the bits and burned them. Anything less just left that nagging doubt.
* OnlyInItForTheMoney: To a large degree, but revenge is also a ''huge'' motivator for him. But most of the time, it's money and he'll do just about anything for it. He will also do just about anything ''to you'' if you don't pay him. "I kill a motherfucker, I expect to get paid. I kill a whole ''buncha'' of motherfuckers, I expect to get paid on time, not still be waiting for my money a week later.'' The person he was speaking to ending up getting fed to a Great White Shark.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: To the point that the government's files on him just call him "Barracuda", with no indication that it's an alias.
* PetTheDog: During his [[Comicbook/ThePunisherPresentsBarracuda spin-off miniseries]], Barracuda seemed to display ''truly genuine'' fondness and concern for Oswald, the hemophiliac son of the mob boss who hired him. This went way beyond what would have been necessary for the role he wanted Oswald to play in the complex scheme he developed. He nicknamed Oswald "Hemo", enjoyed talking to and spending time with him, encouraged him to be more assertive and outgoing, and did not hesitate to risk his life to save Oswald during a gunfight, being wounded in the process. After this, Oswald sincerely thanked Barracuda for saving him. Unfortunately, Barracuda petted the dog a little too hard. When he gave Oswald a friendly slap on the back, it resulted in massive bleeding that killed him. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Barracuda was not happy about this.]]
* PlotArmor: The only reason why he survives the end of his first arc; Frank has him dead to rights and inexplicably shoots him in the chest, instead of in the head like he usually does.
* PragmaticVillainy: During the ''Comicbook/FuryMyWarGoneBy'' story arc featuring him, [[spoiler: he lets Fury live]] because his death would bring more attention to their CIA-sponsored Drug operation.
* RealMenWearPink: He'd much rather listen to sappy love songs than gangster rap.
* ScaryBlackMan: He's 7 feet tall. He's a former Special Forces soldier. He's incredibly violent, sadistic and an all around sociopath. Yeah, he's pretty scary. What's more he appears to be aware of his reputation and uses it to scare the crap out of [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Dermot & Si.]]
--> '''Barracuda:''' Yeah I could use some white boy pussy. They do.
--> '''Dermot & Si:''' O_O
--> '''Barracuda:''' [[AffablyEvil Nah I'm just fuckin' with ya'll!]]
* ShaggyDogStory: In his [[Comicbook/ThePunisherPresentsBarracuda spin-off miniseries]], after all the trouble to [[spoiler:get rid of both Luna and Big Chris, Barracuda momentarily forgets about Oswald's haemophilia and thoughtlessly slaps his back, causing him to bleed to death in seconds]].
* SlasherSmile: His ''default'' expression. In fact he rarely if ever goes a single panel without breaking out one of these at least ''once''. Heck just look at the image above!
* SociopathicSoldier: Used to be a Type 2 as shown in ''Comicbook/FuryMyWarGoneBy''.
* VillainousBreakdown: As the HannibalLecture and FreudianExcuse catch up to him at the worst possible moment, Barracuda completely loses his wits and sense of fear, turning into a blood-crazed lunatic.
* WorthyOpponent: He obviously begins to view Castle this way, after the latter managed to outsmart him in their previous encounter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Eight Generals]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/generalspunisher.jpg]]

-> '''AKA:''' Generals Bobby van Abst, Bradley Landers, Don Kent, Jake Farmington, Joe Vraciu, John Archer, Kurt Perino, and Paul Vertraeus
-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #13

----
* ArmchairMilitary: Both Frank and Fury note none of them have ever seen combat. This does not stop them from trying to tell [[ColonelBadass Colonel George Howe]], who is [[spoiler: tasked with capturing Frank]], how to do his job.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The all use their position and contacts to service their own interests.
* NeverLiveItDown: Invoked. The general who'd come up with the terrorist plot after getting his face wrecked by Nick Fury. Characters in the story (especially Rawlins) repeatedly bring up his humiliating beating and he reacts predictably in each case (i.e. sniveling).
* NoNameGiven: Their names aren't all that relevant to the story, and only in the tenth arc is the ringleader named; [[spoiler:Kurt Perino]]. The tape Rawlins was forced to make in the fourth arc names the other seven as well; [[spoiler:Jake Farmington, Bobby Van Abst, John Archer, Paul Vertraeus, Joe Vraciu, Bradley Landers and Don Kent.]] All {{Fictional Counterpart}}s Ennis had a beef with.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Perino refers to Howe after a phone call with him as "He's wonderful, isn't he? Almost white". Later, when Howe already had doubts about the whole operation, calling him a "fucking stupid black fuck" when he reported Frank had escaped was ''not'' the best choice.
* [[spoiler: PrettyLittleHeadshots: How they meet their end. Eight bullets for eight targets - Frank does not mess about]].
* SmugSnake: A cabal of them.
[[/folder]]

!Other Criminals & Psychopaths

[[folder:The Heavy/[[spoiler:Jigsaw]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Click [[labelnote:here]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jigsmax.jpg[[/labelnote]] to see his true identity]]

-> '''AKA:''' [[spoiler:Billy Russo]]
-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher: Frank Castle Max'' Vol. 1, #61

--> ''"Just him and me. We got a lot of lost time to make up for."''

----
* ArchEnemy: It's implied that he and the Punisher have a history similar to their counterparts; Frank [[DramaticPause pauses]] when he is told who the head of the cartel is, and later he and the Heavy give each other {{Death Glare}}s from afar before their showdown.
* BadBoss: When he finds out a drug dealer has led Frank to his hideout, he immediately slugs the guy in the throat with a roll of change. His associates gun down a meth-head who did the same.
* CanonCharacterAllAlong: [[spoiler: He's the MAX version of Jigsaw.]]
* TheFaceless: Wears a gas mask that conceals his face before his identity is revealed.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: This is [[spoiler:''Jigsaw'']] we're talking about.
* {{Jerkass}}: Big time. His drug dealing and use of slave labor aside, he's also surly and foul-mouthed to his partners-in-crime.
* OnlySaneMan: While no less depraved, obnoxious, or evil than most MAX villains, the Heavy is certainly saner. He has no real psychotic traits or sexual perversions (though he does at one point try to sexually assault a defiant worker) of any kind.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: ''Very'' racist and misogynistic, referring to Mexican women as "spic bitches," "coozes," and "whores" nearly every time he opens his mouth.
* SirSwearsALot: Even more so than most MAX characters, which is saying something.
* WalkingSpoiler: He's the only MAX villain who isn't really at the forefront of his story, and for good reason.
* WouldHitAGirl: Kidnaps women/girls and works them to death in his meth lab.
** WouldHurtAChild: Some of the girls are only ''fifteen''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Geautreauxs]]

-> '''AKA:''' Big Daddy, Earl, Junior, Little Sister, and Roy
-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher: Frank Castle Max'' Vol. 1, #71

----
* AxCrazy: All of them.
* BigBad: Big Daddy.
* BondVillainStupidity: They had Frank at their mercy. Instead of just killing him they decided to tie him up and throw a party. Three guesses how it ended for them.
* CannibalClan: Their whole schtick.
* ConservationOfNinjitsu: The Punisher against a bunch of inbred hicks: he kicks their asses. The Punisher against one big inbred hick: he gets his ass kicked.
* TheDragon: Earl, the aforementioned big hick, who also knows how to fight.
* {{Expy}}: Junior is more or less [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]] [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] [[Franchise/TheTexasChainsawMassacre Leatherface]].
* EatTheEvidence: They feed some of their victims to their pet alligators.
* FarmersDaughter: Who acts as a HoneyTrap.
* HillbillyHorrors: It's their whole shtick.
* ImplacableMan: Earl soundly trashes Frank in hand-to-hand fight. Later he wrestles a gigantic alligator ''for fun''.
* PickyPeopleEater: Big Daddy decides against eating a black mobster because it 'turns my guts sour'.
* VillainousValor: When Frank begins to mow them down, he is surprised to find out they ''don't'' run away from gunfire. They are [[DisabilitySuperpower too crazy for that]].
-->'''Frank:''' You can usual count on normal people to run from gunfire. These aren't ''normal'' people.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Don Rigoletto]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/don_rigoletto_earth_200111_3.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''Punisher Max'' Vol. 1, #1

-> ''"Gentlemen, either the Punisher dies, or '''''we do'''''"''

A high level mob boss who has decided to gather the other Dons who make up the heads of the major crime families in New York, and have them band together to devise a plan meant to kill the Punisher once and for all.

----
* AscendedExtra: His counterpart in mainline Marvel was a PosthumousCharacter whose only appearances were in brief flashbacks in a handful of Daredevil and Spider-Man stories.
* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler:How he is ultimately killed by Fisk.]]
* TheDon: One of the more powerful Don's in New York's criminal underworld.
* EyepatchOfPower: To complete his evil mafioso image.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: His dialog is laden with all matter of racial slurs. He refers to the Irish as "micks", calls blacks "niggers", and overall shows not a care in the world for tolerance.
* SadisticChoice: Gives one of these to [[spoiler:Fisk]] after discovering his plot to overthrow him. See WouldHurtAChild below.
* WouldHurtAChild. Invoked in the most brutal way imaginable. [[spoiler:After discovering Fisk's plan to betray him. He and his henchmen go to where Fisk's family are and have them held hostage. Holding Wilson's son at knife point while his wife handcuffed. When Fisk arrives Rigoletto threatens to slit the boys throat unless Fisk drops his gun. This backfires ''horribly''. As Fisk, in a inhumanly cruel act, simply ignores Rigoletto's demand, choosing instead to kill his him and his men, which in turn causes Rigoletto to kill Fisk's son as a final "screw you" to Fisk, before inevitably being killed himself.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Mennonite]]

[[quoteright:317:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1226071_mennonite.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''Punisher Max'' Vol. 1, #3

----
* AlasPoorVillain: Quite possibly the ''only'' antagonist in the series to illicit this response from the reader. [[spoiler:In his final moments he begs his sickly wife for forgiveness while shedding a tear.]]
* AntiVillain: By far the least evil of all the antagonist that Frank has faced.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: ''Dear lord yes''. Not only is the man big and amazingly strong, but he's also extremely durable. See MadeOfIron down below.
* DoesntLikeGuns: Ever since converting to Christianity he refuses to use firearms. Instead, preferring to use the "tools" that his religion allows
* HammerTime: When ambushing the Punisher, he makes sure to come at him with an enormous sledgehammer that proves extremely effective.
* ImplacableMan: He comes damn near close to actually ''killing'' Frank by virtue of being extremely durable.
* MadeOfIron: For an Amish farmer the man is one seriously tough S.O.B. In his fight with Frank, he takes a boot knife to the knee, face, and [[GroinAttack family jewels]], gets tased, hit with a chain wrapped fist, and he still keeps coming after Frank. Even after getting [[spoiler:blown up by a claymore the guy is still alive. It took getting electrified by a security system, and having his face crushed by a metal safe, to finally kill him]].
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: When he returns to do one last job for Don Rigoletto, he insist that he only be referred to as "the Mennonite". As he refuses to let anyone soil his Christian born name.
* RealMenLoveJesus: ''Oh yes they do''.
* ReligiousBruiser: A man of the cloth and a vicious bruiser.
* RetiredBadass: Before settling down as a simple Amish farmer, he was once a ruthless hitman for the mob, revered in the underworld for his brutality.
* RockBeatsLaser: In his battle with the Punisher, he eschews firearms in favor of more "unconventional weaponry". Namely, a sledgehammer, an axe, and his chariot of horses. No ''really''. True to this trope, both men appear to be evenly matched, and on more than occasion Mennonite was able to gain the upper hand in battle.
* ThatManIsDead: When confronting his old boss Rigoletto, he insist that: "you ain't hiring the man I usedto be. 'Cause I ain't that man anymore".
* WeHardlyKnewYe: He's a curious example. He shows up fairly late in the first arc, yet is given a fairly deep backstory, complete with a compelling reason to go after the Punisher (i.e: he decides to do one last job for the mob because he needs the money to pay for a good doctor who can treat his dying wife). Yet despite all this setup he appears in only three issues before [[spoiler:being killed by the Punisher.]]
[[/folder]]

!Kingpin's Syndicate

[[folder:Kingpin]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wilson_fisk_earth_200111_from_punishermax_vol_1_5_page_22.jpg]]

-> '''AKA:''' [[ComicBook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]]
-> '''Debut:''' ''Punisher MAX'' Vol. 1, #1

--> ''"When I was a kid, I had a dog. A ragged little mut. Don't know the breed. Found him in an alley out back of a peep-o-rama on 8th Avenue. Somebody'd burned out one of his eyes with a cigarette. I named him Bronco Nagurski. I snuck him into my room, hid him from my dad. Stole food for him from the Puerto Ricans down the hall. I had him for three weeks before he pissed on the rug. My dad found him, kicked the shit out of him while I watched, then threw him out the same window my mom jumped from the year before. Once the dog was dead, the old man came after me. Looking back now, I'm glad that happened when it did. I was 8 years old, but that was the last time I ever let myself cry... The last time I ever knew fear."''

----
* ArchEnemy: Becomes this to the Punisher at the end of the "Kingpin" arc.
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The head of a major crime syndicate, and definitely one of the more lethal characters in the series.
* BadassInANiceSuit: Where's a crime white tailor made suit at all times.
* BaldOfEvil: Just like his main stream counterpart.
* BastardUnderstudy: He started off as this to Don Rigoletto. Learning everything he needed to from him, served as his bodyguard and then [[spoiler:killed him and took over his criminal empire.]]
* BigBad: Unlike the other antagonist in the series. Fisk is notable for not being another one-off villain, or side villain, but ''the'' villain.
* BodyguardBetrayal: How he became the Kingpin in the first place -- by [[spoiler:betraying the Don he was supposed to be body guarding and usurping his position.]]
* BullyingADragon: In one issue we see him revisiting his old home, all the while musing as to where the Punisher may be hiding. Only to soon harassed by a pair of hoodlums who now occupy his old house. Cut forward to the next page and we see the hoods laying in a pile of their own blood.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Despite what he looks like, he is NOT obese, his body is nearly pure muscle, and his strength is as close to human perfection as you can get. That fact that he is able to go toe-to-toe with [[TheDreaded Frank Castle]] pretty much tells you all you need to know.
* TheDon: He inherits this titled after successfully [[spoiler:betraying and killing his old boss.]]
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His own selfishness dwarfed his love for his son, and he eventually admits to himself that really, ItsAllAboutMe. Still, he was apparently unable to bring himself to have his own wife executed, as his response to her turning on and trying to kill him was to merely kick her out of their home.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ruthless crime lord he may be, he is nonetheless shocked when he finds out that [[spoiler:Bullseye had three different families [[MoralEventHorizon kidnapped and murdered.]]]] He's so shocked, that he fires him upon discovering this.
* FatBastard: Subverted. Although he is an incredibly huge person, this is because his muscles are so huge they make him look fat.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: Went from being a meek chubby child, who was routinely abused by his father to being a street hood who was [[spoiler:raped in prison]] to the crime Kingpin of New York.
* GeniusBruiser: Much like Frank, he is every bit as intelligent as he is strong.
* GildedCage: After he becomes, The Kingpin, he refuses to leave his tower out of fear of the Punisher. In the last arc, he reflects on the fact that even though he supposedly owns the city, he's basically become a prisoner in his own home.
* HugeGuyTinyGirl: He's this with his more demure and slim wife Vanessa. And later on with [[spoiler:Elektra]].
* {{Hypocrite}}: He is disgusted and disturbed by Bullseye's action, even though his own really aren't that much better. Of course, Fisk tortured and killed to eliminate loose ends or because he personally believed that the victims somehow deserved it because they (or someone who associated with them) had somehow slighted him. Bullseye, on the other, terrorized and slaughtered completely random suburban families for no real reason other than his own psychosis.
* IOwnThisTown: Deconstructed. Although he does own most of the criminal activity in New York, his refusal to leave his tower out of fear of being killed by the Punisher has effectively made him a prisoner in his own home.
* ItsPersonal: Normally he likes to keep a very business oriented approach to his illegal pursuits, but that all changes the moment Frank [[spoiler:digs up the remains of his eight year old son]], in an effort to piss him off.
* KingpinInHisGym: The beginning of issue #17 shows him working out in a gym alongside his fellow henchmen.
* LargeAndInCharge: Literally. He's 6'7 and weighs around 400 pounds.
* ManInWhite: After becoming the Kingpin of New York he is never seen without his signature cream white suit.
* PrisonRape: While serving his time in prison, he was gang-raped by five men and spent three weeks in the infirmary as a result of the vicious assault. [[RapeAndRevenge He eventually get's them back though]].
* SelfMadeMan: Manage to go from being a battered child to the crime lord of New York, without anyone's help.
* SelfMadeOrphan: After having to endure years of abuse from his monster of a father, he finally got his revenge by slipping a pair of drugs into his beer. Drugs that would leave him paralyzed, but still allow him to see and feel everything. Once this was done, he pulled out a bag filled with some of the hungriest, dirtiest Rats he could gather. And then proceeded to have the rats [[CruelAndUnusualDeath eat his father's face.]]
* StoutStrength: See CharlesAtlasSuperpower above.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vanessa Fisk]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vanessa_fisk_earth_200111_from_punisher_max_vol_1_5_page_21.jpg]]

-> '''Debut''': ''Punisher MAX'' Vol. 1, #1

Wilson Fisk's loving wife and mother of his child. Notable for being one of the the few people that Fisk appears to have any [[MoralityPet affection for]].

----
* MoralityPet: For her husband Fisk.
* SkunkStripe: The signature white stripe across her hair extends to this version as well.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bullseye]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shelton_pendergrass_earth_200111_0.jpg]]

-> '''AKA:''' Shelton Pendergrass
-> '''Debut''': ''Punisher MAX'' Vol. 1, #5

--> ''"Dear God, it's me... Bullseye. We never spoke much before, so maybe it's a little awkward for me to be calling you up now, but this seems to me like a special occasion. Today is the greatest day of my life. Or at least it will be soon. If you played any part in things unfolding the way they have, God, well I do most sincerely thank you. And I ask only one little favor... This horrible reckoning of brutality and vengeance and the most depraved sort of violent shenanigans imaginable... Please just make it last."''

Little is known about the early life of Shelton Pendergrass. At one point, he was in the army, serving as a military lawyer, but never once fired a gun. In 2005 however, he began a career as an assassin, taking the name "Bullseye" and refusing to answer to his real name, and making a reputation for himself for never failing to kill his target, no matter who they were. He is also ''[[AxCrazy extremely]]'' [[AxCrazy deranged]], claiming he needed to completely [[ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim know his targets before he could kill them]]. Recently he has been brought in by Wilson Fisk to help him get rid of a certain pesky vigilante.

----
* AdaptationNameChange: Most Bullseye's are named Lester. This one is Shelton Pendergrass.
* AxCrazy: Most MAX villains are depraved sociopaths, but Bullseye is genuinely ''insane''.
* BaldOfEvil: A clean shaven chrome dome, and by far the most psychotically evil of all the characters.
* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler:He get's his brains blown out by Frank while laying on a hospital bed]].
* BunnyEarsLawyer: The man is a sadistic, perverse, psychotically deranged, ''genuinely'' insane madman... ''but'', he is also one of the greatest assassin's in the world. And thus, continues getting a steady amount of employment despite his blatant mental instability.
* TheCuckoolanderWasRight: He insists that once he studies Frank enough, he'll know everything about him. He even says that he can hear his dreams if he sleeps in a bed Frank has used. For most of the story it seems to be just more evidence of how insane he is. [[spoiler: But in the end, not only is he able to pinpoint every one of Frank's safehouses in New York City, he's able to repeat to Frank the last words he said to his wife]].
* TheDeterminator: He takes pride in the fact that once he accepts a job, he will see it through no matter what; nothing short of his own death or his employer personally firing him can make him break a contract.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Even cheerier than Barracuda, he's a friendly, smiley psychopath who commits mass murder as though it's eating cereal. [[LiteralMetaphor Then he eats his victim's cereal.]]
* FreudianExcuse: It's vaguely implied that he had an [[AbusiveParents Abusive Father]].
* GoOutWithASmile: After being [[spoiler:left in a comatose]] at the end of his introductory arc, Frank later pays him a visit in the hospital and [[spoiler:shoots him through the bullseye tattoo in his head]]. The next panel shows not only the bullet wound but also Bullseye... with the most calm and serene ''smile'' on his face.
* GunsAkimbo: In his second fight with Frank, he dual wields a pair of pistols.
* ImplacableMan: Unlike his [[Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} mainstream]] counterpart, he does not have superhuman accuracy. His name instead refers to the fact he always gets his target.
* InLoveWithYourCarnage: Thinks Frank is the greatest thing ever, and is so happy he gets a chance to try and kill him.
* MadHatter: Utterly insane, and fully aware of it.
-->'''Kingpin''': [[YoureInsane You're a madman]].
-->'''Bullseye''': I ''kill'' people for a living. What did you expect?
* MysteriousPast: He was originally a lawyer for the army. Kingpin isn't able to find out how he got from that to the mercenary he is now.
* NotWearingTights: Just like Frank, he eschews his traditional spandex in favor of a more practical casual outfit.
* PermaStubble: He eventually grows one of these as his quest to get inside Frank's head intensifies.
* PetTheDog: As Vanessa Fisk is being kicked out by her husband, Bullseye takes her aside and advises her to abandon her plans for revenge, and to try to move on, lest she become a monster like him. This leads to Bullseye going off on a tangent about how his life has devolved into nothing but severe neurosis that he keeps at bay through killing, which is the only thing that makes him feel functional and alive.
--> '''Bullseye:''' I'm glad we had this talk.
* ProfessionalKiller: A very, ''very'' perversely psychotic example.
* TheProfiler: After some [[BunnyEarsLawyer unique]] investigations, he manages to get inside Frank's head perfectly.
* PsychoForHire: Perhaps the biggest example in the MAX series, [[DarkerAndEdgier which is saying something]].
* SilentWhisper: As his fight with The Punisher nears it's end. Bullseye whispers ''[[ArmorPiercingQuestion something]]'' into his ear. Frank's reaction implies Bullseye was [[TheCuckoolanderWasRight spot on]] in guessing what the last thing Frank's wife ever said to him was. It's revealed 5 issues later, but if you get a magnifying glass you can see Bullseye said "[[spoiler:I want a divorce]]".
* TheSociopath: Even more so than the mainstream version.
* StraightEdgeEvil: Is not a fan of smoking, unlike his Earth-616 counterpart.
* RealityEnsues: During his introduction, he threatens to kill a man with a toothpick. He flicks it at his face...and it bounces off his forehead.
-->'''Bullseye''': Don't be stupid. I can't kill you with a toothpick. ''[pulls gun]'' But I can with this.
* TisOnlyABulletInTheBrain: None that we see for ourselves, but he has what appears to be three separate bullet wound scars on his head.
* ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim: Bullseye takes this about as far as realistically feasible. He studies every place in the city where Frank has killed someone, he wears his clothes and sleeps in his safehouses, and he interrogates Frank's associates to find out every minor detail about him that he can. [[spoiler: He even kidnaps families and rearranges the tragedy that Frank went through so that he can fully understand his motivation]]. It works, for the most part, he succeeds in successfully getting into Franks head, though the actual basic emotions eluded him.
* TheUnfettered: Taken UpToEleven. '''''He never had any feathers to begin with'''''.
* VillainousCrush: His obsession with Frank comes uncomfortably close to bordering on this. What with him wearing Frank's old close and sleeping naked on his bed.
* WorthyOpponent: It's obvious that he begins viewing Frank this way. However this is largely one sided as it's clear that Frank ''does not'' reciprocate the sentiment.
* YoureInsane: Fisk's response to him after he discovers ''how'' he went about conducting his "investigation".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Elektra]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/elektra_earth_200111.jpg]]

-> '''Debut''': ''Punisher Max'' Vol. 1, #17

A mysterious and extremely lethal assassin from a secret organization, hired by Wilson Fisk in order to ensure his survival.

----
* AdaptationalSexuality: She went from being ''Daredevil's old flame to being in a relationship with [[spoiler:Vanessa Fisk]]
* AdaptationalVillainy: Whereas her mainstream counterpart usually fell came across as a morally ambiguous. Here, she is ''genuinely'' evil.
* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Despite her slim frame, she's able to not only able to match Frank blow for blow in a fight but actually ''overpower him''.
* DarkActionGirl: Coinciding with her AdaptationalVillainy.
* HimeCut: A rare western example.
* LightningBruiser: Not only is she swift and nimble, but also capable of dishing out great amounts of damage.
* {{Ninja}}: Naturally.
* RaceLift: Went from being a Greek white woman who happened to dress like a ninja to a Japanese woman.
* StockNinjaWeaponry: As one would expect.
** [[SaiGuy Sai Girl]]: Her WeaponOfChoice.
[[/folder]]

* GenreSavvy: Realizes that criminals [[BondVillainStupidity capturing Frank and putting him in deathtraps]] instead of [[JustShootHim just killing him as soon as they get the chance]] is why he keeps winning, and resolves not to make that mistake. [[SpannerInTheWorks And if it wasn't for Jennifer,]] it would've worked.

* BondVillainStupidity: He lampshades this in {{The Punisher}}/{{Eminem}} crossover

* {{Expy}}: Junior is more or less [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]] [[XMeetsY meets]] [[Franchise/TheTexasChainsawMassacre Leatherface]].

!The Irish Mob & Associates

[[folder:Finn Cooley]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/punisher_vol_6_11_textless.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''cheers'']]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #7

--> ''"There's only one way this is gonna be sorted out, an' it won't be a nice civil chat over a pint in the Kerry Castle. It'll be us, the Rats, the Westies an' that fucker Maginty, doin' our level best to butcher each other. Winner takes all."''

A hideously disfigure Irish terrorist, who was formerly affiliated with the IRA. That is until he had his faced blown off in a botched terrorist attack. He was soon arrested and disavowed by the IRA. Only to later be released as part of the Good Friday Agreement. Recently he and his nephew have come to New York to inherit the fortune of the recently deceased Irish mob boss Pops Nesbitt.

* BerserkButton: ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Do. Not. Try. Lecturing him. About. Bombs.]]'' Poor Morrison found that out the hard way.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: According to Brenda he would "fuck over his own first born if he thought there was five cents in it". Of course seeing as how we never ''see'' him betray anyone, then this comes across as an InformedAbility.
* FacialHorror: Hiss face was horribly injured when a bomb backfired on him. After he loses his plastic mask, he spends the rest of the story arc using bandages to keep it from just falling off his skull. Doesn’t help that Frank ends up tearing off a few chunks.
* InformedAbility: He constantly gets his {{Ax Crazy}} reputation hyped by other characters. But he's really one of the more level-headed and thoughtful villains of this GambitPileup; despite being rather cavalier about civilian casualties he was far less unbalanced than most of the other participants.
* MadBomber: His specialty. The arc kicks off when a bomb he planted to kill off the other factions in the gang war detonated early, killing dozens of civilians.
** When Punisher uses a stun grenade, He is the only one to see it coming and respond with a frag grenade of his own that succesfully knocks down Frank and nearly gets him killed.
* NightmareFace: He blew off the upper half of his face with one of his own bombs several years earlier, and in the first chapter is seen wearing a plastic mask to keep the remaining tissue from ''sliding off''. Frank shoots it off in the second chapter, so in the third, he has to keep it on with '''tape'''. In the final chapter, Frank '''''bites off one of his cheeks!'''''
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Much like the rest of his Irish peers. He frequently throws out racial slurs in casually conversation.
* TerroristWithoutACause: Subverted. He ''tried'' to continue on the IRA's legacy with another group, but even that group quickly kicked him out. Once they realized what a monster he really was.
* TooDumbToLive: Not only falling for Nesbitt's gambit like the others but at one points he starts yelling how sick he is to be everyone's "nigger" and goes on a racist rant in a restaurant in Manhattan, not spotting the 12 or so black persons in the place. His nephew says that they would probably have killed them if it wasn't from Cooley's face freaking them out.

[[folder:Peter Cooley]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7, #7

--> ''"If we don't turn up the pressure soon. We may as well say the hell with' it an' hand the whole place over to the Brits!"''

Finn Cooley's younger nephew, and by far the most idealistic of all of Cooley's company.

* ColdBloodedTorture: Subverted. When he is taken prisoner, Yorkie gives Frank the order to make him talk by any means necessary. The panel then cuts away and we are treated to the sounds of Peter screaming. It's later revealed that all Frank did was rip off the bandages to his wounds, and that was enough to make him scream in agony.
* NervesOfSteel: Averted. He passes out immediately after Frank rips the bandages off his wounds. And the threat of ''real'' torture is enough to have him sell out his buddies.
* OhCrap: The expression on his face when he realizes his being held prisoner by the Punisher, and M16 agent, and the vengeful son of the man he murdered.
* WideEyedIdealist: A villainous example. The young man genuinely believes in the IRA, to an almost pitiful extent.

[[folder:Michael Morrison]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #7

An American gunrunner of Irish descent and close associate of Finn Cooley.

* GoingNative: One of the many things about him that annoys Finn to no end. The other being his phony Irish accent.
* OnlySaneMan: He appears to be the most level headed of all the Irish gangsters in the arc. Being the only character to suggest leaving town the moment the Punisher gets involved. Too bad his buddies don't heed his warning.

[[folder:Maginty]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/352621_42572_maginty_3.jpg]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #7

--> ''"They call me Maginty. And I'm the baddest nigger who ever came outta Dublin town."''

An Afro-Irish gangster. He is one of the four crime lords who is meant to inherit a share of Pops Nesbitt's fortune.

* BadassBoast: He introduces himself to Napper by referring to himself as one of the "baddest niggers" who ever walked out of Dulin, Ireland. And knowing his reputation, that's not an exaggeration.
* TheDreaded: He has by far the most intimidating reputation of all the Irish gangsters in New York. At one point all it takes is for one of the Westies to shout his name in panic, and pretty soon all of the Westies are dropping their guns and running for the hills.
* DreadlockWarrior
* GeniusBruiser: The most physically imposing of all the Irish gangsters. As well as the most intelligent.
* KickTheDog: Just as Napper was about to finish cutting up [[spoiler:Tommy Toner.]] He brings in Napper's grandson to see him in action. Scarring the poor child for life, and ruining any chance Napper may have had at a normal life.
* MacheteMayhem: Unlike the rest of his Irish brethren, he prefers his signature machete. Specifically to ''scalp'' his enemies.
* PhenotypeStereotype: Very much averted. He's a black Irishmen from Dublin.
* ScaryBlackMan: ''Oh yes.''
* TokenMinority: The only black character out of all the Irish gangsters.
* TooDumbToLive: Not only does he falls for Nesbitt's gambit like the others but Napper almost pulled a Houdini on him when he came back to the old man's apartment alone.
* WouldHurtAChild: When Napper blows off his proposal for a job. All it takes is for Napper to threaten to murder Napper's 8 year old grandson, and pretty soon the old man falls in line.

[[folder:Napper French]]

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/264265_148402_napper_french.jpg]]

--> ''"Knew you wouldn't wanna miss one of Hell's Kitchen's legends in action."''

A retired elderly Irish gangster who use to specialize in cutting up dead bodies into so many pieces that the police could never find them all. For the last thirty years he has been living comfortably in retirement. That is until Maginty approaches him for one final job.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Since retiring from crime, he has become a genuinely kind old man. Yeah, just wait till your stupid enough to threaten his grandson. As Maginty learned.
* TheDreaded: Thanks to his many years as Nesbitt's go-to-butcher. He has earned this reputation among New York's criminal underworld. Apparently his rep was so strong that his legend is still remembered to this day.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: He genuinely loves his grandson with a passion. So much so that he is willing to work one last job in order to ensure his safety.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Toward Maginty, who wants to proves he is like all the O.G Irish mobster only for Napper to bring up that he is just as stupid as them.
* RetiredMonster: His lived the past thirty years of his life happily retired and spending time with his grand kids. That is until Maginty pays him a visit.
* WhyWontYouDie: Says this to [[spoiler:Tommy Toner]] after he gets tired of having to slice off bits and pieces of him.

[[folder:Polly]]

-> '''Debut:''' ''The Punisher'' Vol. 7 #8

The ''de facto'' leader of the River Rats. And one of the four crime bosses who is meant to inherit a share of Nesbitt's fortune.

* DarkActionGirl: One of the first to appear in the series mind you.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Near the finale of the arc, her [[spoiler: brother is lying at her feet bleeding out. She goes over to him leading Eamon to believe she has come to his aid. Instead she just takes his ammo clips and leaves him to die.]] This exchange says it best.
--> '''Eamon:''' Always you an' me Polly...
--> '''Polly:''' Always ''me'' Eamon. Always me.
* TheLadette: She can drink and swear as good as any of her boys can.
* RapeAsBackstory: During a heated argument with her brother it's revealed that their father would come home drunk and sexually abuse of her when she was a kid.
* RuthlessModernPirates: Leader of the River Rats. A gang of pirates from Hell's Kitchen who primarily rob rich people on yachts. That is until they run into the Punisher...

[[folder:Eamon]]

Four Mafiosi (and one gangbanger) wives widowed by the Punisher. Each with a score that can only be settled in blood.

-> '''Debut:''' ''Punisher MAX'' Vol. 1, #5

-> '''Debut:''' ''Punisher Max'' Vol. 1, #17