Summary
Few characters in the Marvel Universe are as brutal asThe Punisher– but even the Punisher believes thatVenomgoes way too far when it comes to fighting crime. Most Marvel heroes have come toloathe Frank Castle for his extreme approachto taking care of criminals, yet it was the Punisher who flinched at the symbiotic anti-hero’s methods.
Venom: Funeral Pyre#1 – written by Carl Potts, with art by Tom Lyle – features Punisher calling out Venom for his actions. In the issue, the two anti-heroes have a critical disagreement over the true meaning of the word “innocent.”
By the Punisher’s standard, Venom has “slaughtered numerous innocents,” making his attempts at heroism the futile gestures of a monsterin Frank Castle’s eyes. In a way, the exact same thing many other Marvel heroes might say about him, yet at the same time, the Punisher isn’t unjustified in his remarks, adding a layer of moral complexity to the exchange.
Venom’s Powers Are Giving Him Enough Firepower to Make Punisher Jealous
A version of Agent Venom likes using his symbiote to pull the trigger, which the Punisher would take advantage of if he were to ever have one.
Even The Punisher Thinks Venom Is Too Extreme In His Attempts To Be A Hero
Venom: Funeral Pyre#1 – Written By Carl Potts; Art By Tom Lyle, Richard Starkings, Hanna Milgrom Rubinstein, & Ed Lazellari
Despite Venom imagining himself as a protector of the innocent, what he actually defines as"the innocent” has always been a bit loose.
InVenom: Funeral Pyre, Venom is trying to save an undercover reporter who is stuck in the middle of a gang war. Matters are complicated when the Punisher arrives on the scene and starts slaughtering every gang member he comes across. Desperate to save the reporter, Venom proposes an alliance. Venom reasons that he and the Punisher are the same, that they’re both people willing to protect the innocent no matter what. Unfortunately,the Punisher viciously disagrees with Venom.Punisher points out that he would never kill innocents, for any reason, butVenom’s moral code hasn’t always been so strict.
The Punisher was inspired to become a killerof criminals after he witnessed his family being slaughtered during a gang war in the middle of a park. This moment not only inspired Punisher to become a killer who only targeted criminals, but it also made him refuse to kill an innocent person, for any reason. The Punisher has often gone out of his way to make sure innocent people are safe, but Venom’s track record hasn’t always been so clean. Despite Venom imagining himself as a protector of the innocent, what he actually defines as"the innocent" has always been a bit loose.
Venom
Venom is a symbiotic alien entity bonded with various human hosts, notably Eddie Brock and later Flash Thompson. It grants superhuman strength, agility, and a shape-shifting black costume. Initially a Spider-Man villain due to its origins, Venom evolved into an antihero, battling both villains and his own dark impulses. The character embodies themes of duality and redemption within the Marvel Universe.
Venom’s Definition Of “Innocent” Has Never Been Objective
He Is Judge, Jury, & Often Executioner
As an anti-hero, Venom has always meant well, and he truly wanted to protect innocent people, but he has not always been the most stable of characters.
Venom has always fancied himself as a lethal protector, someone who’ll use whatever force is necessary to protect those who need it. The problem is that Venom hasn’t always been clear about what he considers innocent. There’s no denying that Spider-Man is an amazing hero who has saved countless lives, but Venom doesn’t see it that way. It’s not that Venom simply wants to kill Spider-Man, it’s that Venom truly believes Spider-Man deserves to die. Venom’s desire to murder Spider-Man is proof that innocent people aren’t an objective thing for Venom, but simply who he views as innocent, which is far different from the Punisher’s view of things.
As an anti-hero, Venom has always meant well, and he truly wanted to protect innocent people, but he has not always been the most stable of characters. One moment best demonstrates this point: after Venom sees a homeless man, he robs a jewelry store and gives the jewels to the homeless man – leading to the man’s incarceration. This is the exact kind of thingPunisheris talking about, thateven whenVenomtries to help the innocent, he either kills people who annoy him or simply ends up making things far worse.
The Punisher
Cast
The Punisher stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, who first appeared on Netflix’sDaredevil. Frank is a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper veteran who is highly skilled in martial arts, stealth tactics, guerrilla warfare, and knows how to use a variety of weapons. The death of his wife and two children led him to take matters into his own hands, and he has been killing criminals indiscriminately ever since. Despite being beloved by fans,The Punisherwas canceled in early 2019. Thankfully for fans of Bernthal’s character, it was announced in 2023 that he would be joining the MCU by appearing inDaredevil: Born Again, starring Charlie Cox.
