Killing his villains and criminals, at least to those readers that are frustrated when the straighter capes won't. At least that's what I think draws fandom to the Punisher in particular.
edited 6th Oct '16 3:33:54 PM by VeryMelon
That's part of it, yes, but I'd say other aspects are even more important and influential. To enumerate:
The Punisher's methods are consistent with his mentality. His statement is that when legal systems are inadequate - or unwilling - to deal with violent criminals, a more primal approach is required. And because he doesn't lug a porta-prison with him, the lethal solution is the only viable approach. To contrast, most all other capes ultimately defer to a system that they know is corrupt, making it look like they're just in it for kicks. Mind you, hospitalizing criminals forces doctors to handle them instead of more deserving patients - next time Batman boasts about not killing, but instead breaking ribs and shattering clavicles, think of every paramedic and nurse he puts in danger by having them deal with lunatics that are also improbably skilled escape artists.
The Punisher's villains are relatable. In lieu of a designated rogues gallery, the Punisher handles gangsters, serial killers, drug dealers, and terrorists that may be nameless extras story-wise, but are far closer to heart than unrealistically insane fetishists or supernatural behemoths. Conspiracy theories notwithstanding, nobody in reality feels threatened by mad scientists or evil aliens, so there's nothing meaningful in watching them get beat up in fiction. But rapists and human traffickers - that's something everyone would like to see defeated.
The Punisher's means are empowering. While supernatural abilities and expensive gadgets are nice to dream of, they lack the inherent egalitarian aspect of a mass-produced firearm, a good old-fashioned slug-thrower, a point-and-click solution that can turn mice into men. The idea that all you need to combat evil is a pair of Colts is one that resonates much more strongly than the fantasy of inborn superpowers that make one a special snowflake. But because modern superhero stories are based on nothing but the idea of capes as special snowflakes - to the point the big two films this year were all about discussing ignoring the matter of them being accountable to civil authorities - a simple good guy with a gun will always be despised for dispelling that fantasy.
All in all, the Punisher is the superhero brought back to basics. He's The Shadow for the modern age, The Phantom for the urban jungle. And unlike all capes who are presented as "inspiring" chiefly among the pages of their own books, he actually has that effect in real life
. Don't call him judge, jury, and executioner. God will judge his enemies. The Punisher simply arranges the meeting.
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There's already a four-page long thread in OTC about this exact same question.
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And I'll bet there's a Punisher topic where this question could also have been asked.
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This question might had been asked before but what is the appeal of The Punisher? I am asking this because I had been reading The Punisher vs Marvel Universe anthology as well as the first volume of the Punisher's MAX series and The Punisher seems to be a very interesting character to explroe the themes of revenge and vigilantism.
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