Punisher's Hardcore Reputation Is a Lie (And His Nemesis Proves It)
There's nothing the underworld fears more than the violent retribution doled out by the Punisher. Frank Castle's one-man war on crime has practically become legend in regards to his staggering number of kills. However, no matter how many criminals the Punisher takes out, one particular thorn in his side continues to get away, and it may be cheapening the message Frank is trying to send.
Created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr., and Ross Andru, the Punisher first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #129. Though initially appearing as an antagonist, Frank Castle became popular with fans, leading to his own series that helped flesh him out. After losing his wife and children to violence, Castle began a mission to exterminate crime wherever he could. As a vigilante, the Punisher's very name has become synonymous with death, with very few who encounter him living to tell the tale.
That said, some antagonists are hard to put down, even for someone as ruthless as the Punisher. Billy "The Beaut" Russo, aka Jigsaw, is the prime example. Once a handsome hitman, Russo's face was mutilated by Frank, who was looking to send a message to organized crime. This event haunts Frank to this day, as Jigsaw made it a personal mission to destroy the Punisher. For over forty years, Jigsaw has been involved in a number of plots either to implicate Frank in crimes or orchestrate his murder. And yet, despite Frank's vow to eliminate crime in all its forms, the Punisher has never been able to put this recurring foe down for good.
Anyone with a casual interest in the Punisher may be surprised to hear that he even has a foe that could be considered an archenemy. After all, Frank's legacy is built on the idea that he doesn't let crime go unpunished. And, granted, Castle has attempted to kill off Jigsaw several times. However, Jigsaw is a resilient villain and has beaten death more than once, despite a complete lack of superpowers. Sometimes it's due to supernatural elements, sometimes Frank prioritizes other targets and sometimes it's just his own sheer determination not to die. But even when Jigsaw has impersonated Punisher, threatened his allies, murdered innocents, and presided over the exact kind of criminal empire Frank was born to destroy, he always find a way to escape.
Either way, Jigsaw has more experience with the Punisher than most, and for someone like Frank, that undermines his credibility. The Punisher's mission can't conceivably eliminate crime for good, but he can work as a symbol of retribution. As long as the legend remains, Frank's existence can be a useful deterrent to would-be criminals. The fact that Punisher has an enemy out there who has lasted as long as Jigsaw tells other law-breakers that punishment can indeed be avoided, and drives home that Frank Castle is only a man.
Jigsaw wants nothing more than to destroy the Punisher, and while he's unlikely to ever triumph, his status as Frank's nemesis and opposite number means he'll likely always be around in Marvel Comics, chipping away at the Punisher's legend with every year he survives the allegedly deadly vigilante.