The Punisher

In 2000, Marvel unleashed a gritty reinvention of the Punisher with a twelve-issue series written primarily by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Steve Dillon, bringing a darkly comic, street-level brutality to Frank Castle's one-man war on crime. Set in a grim New York, the story pits the vigilante against the eccentric Gnucci crime family, while introducing a memorable supporting cast including the weary Detective Martin Soap, the hapless Spacker Dave, and the formidable Lt. Molly von Richthofen. This run is essential for establishing the modern, no-nonsense tone of the character, blending visceral action with Ennis's signature dark humor.