Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: The Comic Book Fight Club

PUNISHER versus KINGPIN

Face Off (Marvel)
Where: Punisher #18 When: April 1989
Why: Mike Baron How: Whilce Portacio & Scott Williams

The Story So Far...
Investigating gun & drug running gangs at Malcolm Shabazz High School draws The Punisher into a web of crime that leads from the schoolyard all the way to the very top of the illegal empire overseen by The Kingpin of Crime - Wilson Fisk!

The Punisher's intervention begins a game of cat & mouse as his allies come under fire from The Kingpin's hired muscle and assassins. When one of his closest allies is killed -- The Punisher vows to follow through on her final wish to bring Wilson Fisk to justice. So begins the plot to disrupt The Kingpin's operations and infiltrate his skyscraper fortress for a final showdown!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Kingpin 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Draw 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Punisher 2 (Average)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Punisher 2 (Average)
Fighting: Kingpin 5 (Martial Arts)
Energy: Punisher 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Draw 22 (Champion)

It's an interesting proposition. As The Punisher: Frank Castle is a one-man army against the sprawling criminal underbelly that took the lives of his wife and children. His methods are uncompromising and lethal, making use of a seemingly endless armory of munitions in his efforts to extinguish any & all crime.

Wilson Fisk lords over much of the criminal activity in New York as its Kingpin -- making him a natural target. His death won't end organized crime in New York City, but at least deals a hefty blow through a vast portfolio of illegal operations.

Of course, killing The Kingpin is no mean feat. Many men on both sides of justice have likely tried, but in addition to a vast network of henchmen and assassins, including Bullseye and Typhoid Mary, he is also himself a proficient hand-to-hand combatant, marshalling incredible skill and muscle, beneath a rotund facade that might lead some to mistakenly assume he's merely overweight, or out of shape.

Although defeated in both instances, we've seen The Kingpin handily hold his own against the super-powered Spider-Man, and the ninja horde of The Hand.

Off the page -- we know the biggest problem for this match-up is The Punisher's intent to kill an enduring icon of Marvel Comics.

War Journal diehards might feel otherwise, but eliminating The Kingpin just isn't a good outcome for the publishing giant, or fans of his villainy. So, the question becomes - does that prevent The Punisher earning a non-lethal victory?

I'm inclined to think there are any number of ways Punisher might execute the win without executing Wilson Fisk. The Kingpin can survive quite a lot, and one way this might play out is a spray of gunfire that appears lethal, but is ultimately survived through Fisk's iron will, and immediate access to top medical attention.

As much as the gloves are on - this is still a more grounded depiction of Punisher. He won't be wielding supernatural weapons like he did against Rhino, or stolen sci-fi tech as he did against The Hood's Syndicate. Which actually means Kingpin might be looking like a good prospect here.

Frank Castle's military training and personal dedication mean he's a very effective hand-to-hand combatant, but against Kingpin's arch-rival Daredevil, he was simply outclassed. DD had the advantage in Daredevil #257, and took care of him soundly in Daredevil (Vol.2) #65. Kingpin might just do the same.

The Tape: Draw Ranking: Punisher (#81)

What Went Down...

Awaiting a helicopter from Atlantic City to assist with his crisis-stricken money laundering operation; The Kingpin is alerted to the helo's arrival -- only to be met with the face of The Punisher on his rooftop security system. The last image he'll see, as the closed circuit monitoring is rendered inoperable.

The Kingpin is surprised by his opponent's moxie, but grateful for the convenience of The Punisher coming directly to him. He knows there is no other course but to dispatch of the militant vigilante personally.

Punisher and Microchip breach the 53rd floor of the building, shooting their way through a small group of opposition with machine gun fire. A successful tactical entry that allows them to plant a controlled explosive charge on the floor -- blasting an opening to The Kingpin's counting room & personal quarters below!

Microchip deploys gas into the suite, but Kingpin's inner sanctum has been fortified and outfitted with contingencies for any number of infiltration outcomes. 

A gas mask is conveniently stowed in a desk drawer at arm's length, protecting Kingpin from the fog that claims his unprotected collaborators.

Punisher & Microchip can't see through the cloud of gas, but have expertly timed each step of their incursion. They're expecting everyone to be knocked out cold, but Frank's a little keen. Microchip adds another five seconds for success, counting for an additional ten before the gas is inert. Their calculations are moot.

A massive hand smashes through the floor beneath them and grabs Microchip by the ankle -- swinging him down to the 52nd level and into a nearby wall!

The Kingpin hits a button to activate a ventilation fan -- clearing the literal fog of war to invite The Punisher to a man-on-man confrontation. He keeps his right foot planted on Microchip's back, threatening to end the hacker's life. He could do it too.

Punisher drops through the hole and lands in The Kingpin's private quarters.

The hulking Kingpin clutches Microchip's skull in his massive, meaty hands, manipulating the hostage onto one knee. He orders Punisher to drop his gun, and presumes rumors of the vigilante losing his edge must be true when he complies.

Punisher rightly presumes Fisk will need to keep Microchip alive to undo the virus wrecking havoc with his financing systems. Kingpin tosses the hacker aside and readies to meet his opponent's advance, toying with his affection for allies lost.

Punisher draws a knife from the back of his belt, but the massive Kingpin is more agile than he seems! He narrowly avoids the swing of the blade, grabbing hold of Punisher's left wrist within his massive hand -- taking control of the weapon!

He chides the vigilante for his reliance upon hardware -- tightening his grip and shaking the knife loose from The Punisher's hand!

Punisher desperately throws his head back -- headbutting Kingpin in face!

He slips his wrist loose and stomps on Kingpin's left foot, using the leeway to draw another knife from his holster!

He throws his left elbow back into The Kingpin's face, twisting his body around to swing the knife towards its massive fleshy target -- but again The Kingpin moves faster than the attack! He grabs the wrist and delivers a brutal right hand!

The Punisher sails through the air -- launched by the incredible punch!

Kingpin follows his grounded prey -- delivering a swift kick to his mid-section!

"You're like a terrier chasing a lion. But what will you do when you catch the lion? I will tell you. You will die."

The Kingpin manhandles his winded foe, grabbing him by the leg and throat with the promise of death.

The Punisher is as good as finished, but a sudden burst of gunfire fills the room and distracts the Kingpin from his foul business.

Vernon Brooks -- a school teacher and collaborator in the break-in -- has gone against orders to linger in case of a situation like this. He knew The Punisher wouldn't negotiate. He knows killing The Kingpin will only lead the streets to run red with blood as new powers vie for the vacuum of power.

Kingpin warns that if he's shot he'll snap The Punisher's neck. Frank tells his compadre to do it anyway, but Vernon Brooks has seen enough bloodshed. He wants to prevent any more. They agree to a 24 hour truce. It's over.

The Hammer...

School teacher with a gun, Vernon Brooks, successfully extracts The Punisher and Microchip, but it's a non-lethal end to a foregone conclusion: Kingpin had the vigilante dead to rights. We'll call Brooks an assist and be on our way.

There's probably an unfortunate observation to be made here about the state of gun control in the United States, and enthusiast's deranged fantasy for addressing the prolific phenomenon of school shootings. Ugly stuff I'd just as soon move away from. I'd rather reminisce about my own relatively carefree childhood.

I don't remember if I was looking up at this issue when I went wide-eyed at the wall of weekly comics cascading down racks at the local newsagency. 1989 was one of the first years I was regularly engaging with comics, and while I think I might've absorbed Kingpin's existence through 60s Spider-Man and pop culture osmosis -- I'm not so sure the combination with Punisher would've been appealing at that young age. The skull logo was cool, but he was still just a guy with guns.

Sure, I liked The Phantom, but a guy with an ammo box just didn't seem exciting to a pup getting to grips with a world of amazing super-powers, and colourful costumes. It took Erik Larsen and palling around with Spidey to get me at all intrigued by the sense of danger that surrounded the character.

Here in 2024 things are a little different. The Punisher is actually one of the titles I'm most anticipating for the exciting release of the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection!

It's out now on digital platforms for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, but I'm holding out for a disc copy in November. Then I'll be gratefully diving in to all those wonderful fighting games I haven't played in about twenty or so years! A collection I've been hoping would happen for a long time now, given the secondary market is a little pricier than I'm willing to invest in, and I never had the pleasure of actually owning those games. Just arcades and rentals.

Of course, in the case of the 1993 Punisher scrolling beat 'em up -- it's a chance to get my hands on a game I never got the opportunity to play!

Their work was always to a very high standard and that made these some of the best Marvel games ever released. I'd only ever read about The Punisher, and although a tad drier than their X-Men and Marvel Super Heroes titles -- Capcom were fantastic for drawing their inspirations directly from comic books -- and it was clear they were sourcing directly from this period that I'm so fond of.

The licensing habits of Japan in the late eighties and early nineties are really quite intriguing, and perhaps as an outsider to the United States myself, I share in their enthusiasm for that era's urban decay, and grimy action movie aesthetic.

1989 felt like another age by the time 1993 rolled around, so it's intriguing they sourced most of their inspirations for the brawler from that era's issues. I wonder if Marvel had any hand in guiding them towards the more fantastical characters who crossed Frank Castle's path during the period, or if somebody was just a fan. Perhaps the existence of the 1990 NES game elevated the period in their minds.

The '93 game delivers Bushwacker, Bonebreaker, Jigsaw, and even a non-descript robot that was actually Doctor Doom's handiwork when it appeared during the Acts of Vengeance crossover. Good stuff for a video game. A bit more interesting than your run of the mill gun-toting guy in jeans.

If you've been around the site over the years, you know my affection for that villain-swapping storyline, and I rather like the idea of finally getting a chance to [re]visit some of those interesting issues. Of course, I couldn't help but skip right to the game's final boss -- the big bad behind the brawling action!

Punisher and his allies are on the hunt for The Kingpin for a handful of scattered issues before they get to the showdown in Punisher #18. As noted in The Tape: it presents the difficult scenario of a villain Frank Castle can't blow to bits by the end. So how do you handle it? The outcome isn't illogical, but a little unsatisfying.

It's cool that Kingpin got the better of Frank in the fight. I enjoy The Kingpin as a proficient martial arts enthusiast, and I also like to think of Punisher as a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, but a step behind the masters.

What bothers me is his belated arrival at the mutual conclusion that Kingpin is the lesser of evils. A criminal overlord whose demise would open up a vacuum of even greater evil that would impact the kinds of ordinary citizens that perished after joining his crusade, to say nothing of his wife and children.

It's not that it's a bad argument. It's just that my mind always goes straight to that very thought when it comes to a Kingpin endgame, and Punisher has already been presented with the notion throughout the issue, including the earliest planning stages of the assault on Kingpin's tower. That he comes to agree with it only after losing the fight just doesn't ring true. Especially given his motivation to follow through on the wishes of one of his fallen comrades from the prior issue - Conchita Ortiz. A name wielded by Kingpin in spite.

I suppose it speaks to a softening of the character, who had failed to fully consider the consequences of his vigilantism during Frank Miller's Daredevil, and the brilliant Ann Nocenti/John Romita Jr follow-up, which this series crossed over with. Punisher was now a star of his own successful series. A lead character in a mainline Marvel Comics title long before he was segregated into imprints like MAX and allowed to indulge in the most single-mindedly deranged interpretations.

I ultimately prefer this version of the character. The restraints of occasionally going up against iconic villains may risk leaving him feeling a tad toothless, but it's worth propping him up with big names every so often, indulging in the superhero excess of it all. There are certainly worse things for the character than adhering to a moral code - or finding he can't solve all his problems with a gun.

It sure doesn't hurt anything that Whilce Portacio is on pencils with frequent-Jim Lee inker Scott Williams. Like the characterization of Castle, this is a softer style for Portacio, not quite as deep in its shadows and quirks. I like that more abrasive Portacio of his later nineties work, but he's still a great hand throughout these early Punisher issues. It makes me reevaluate my childhood disinterest!

Should we come back to check out more of this now-classic Punisher? If you think so, perhaps you would like to consider becoming a supporter on Patreon. Your patronage will go a long way to helping me out and keeping these updates a little bit more regular than they have been lately. I'd sure appreciate it!

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 fights and ranked more than 1,000 characters! You can find them all for free by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of battles in order of publisher, series, and issue -- or by hitting links to your favourite topics found throughout each entry.

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Winner: The Kingpin
#455 (+617) Kingpin
#88 (-7) Punisher
#1043 (-124) Microchip
#666 (new) Vernon Brooks [+1 assist]