Highlights
- Frank Castle's survival of the Blip raises intriguing questions about his post-event motivations and actions.
- The Punisher's vigilante activities continue after the Blip, hinting at the character's resilience and persistence.
- The Marvel Cinematic Universe's exploration of post-Blip narratives offers rich storytelling opportunities for characters like the Punisher.
A Marvel fan theory speculates on why the ruthless antihero Frank Castle managed to survive the Blip in The Punisher Season 2.
In the climactic events of Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos successfully collected all six Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers, causing the Blip that wiped out half of all life in the universe. This event had far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the main characters in the Avengers films but also the wider MCU, with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Eternals all addressing the aftermath. However, a recent fan theory suggests that one particular character also managed to survive the Blip.
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The theory, proposed by Reddit user u/Luke_Oasis, points out a detail from the Netflix series The Punisher. According to the post, the epilogue of the show's second season takes place in August 2018, several months after the Blip occurred in May of the same year. This implies that not only did the Punisher survive the event, but also that this specific scene is the only one in the Netflix Marvel shows that is set after the Blip. In the epilogue, Frank Castle is shown to be continuing his vigilante activities, targeting criminals and seeking justice in his own brutal way. The revelation that it is potentially set after the Blip raises questions about how it may have affected his motivations and actions going forward.
The Punisher starred Jon Bernthal as Frank, a former Marine who becomes a vigilante after his family is murdered by criminals. The series explored his intense and violent journey as he sought to avenge his loved ones and bring justice to the streets of New York City. Alongside Bernthal, the cast included Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman (Micro), Ben Barnes as Billy Russo (Jigsaw), Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani, and Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page. Fans are eagerly anticipating Bernthal's return in the upcoming Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again. In recent behind-the-scenes images from the set, he can be seen reuniting with his former co-stars, his face bearing the trademark scrapes, blood, and bruises that have become synonymous with the character's brutal and uncompromising approach to justice.
The Blip's impact on the MCU was far-reaching, with several other notable characters confirmed to have survived the event. Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, played a significant role in the aftermath of the Blip. Having lost his entire family to Thanos' snap, Barton embarked on a dark and violent path as the vigilante Ronin, seeking to eliminate criminal organizations worldwide. His journey of grief, redemption, and the struggle to move forward was explored in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, showcasing the personal toll the event had on the characters left behind. As the franchise continues to expand and integrate characters from various properties, the exploration of how different individuals coped with the aftermath of the Blip offers a wealth of narrative possibilities. Daredevil: Born Again series presents an opportunity to delve deeper into the Punisher's post-Blip journey, as well as his interactions with other survivors and the challenges they face in a world forever changed by Thanos' actions.
The Punisher is currently streaming on Disney Plus.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
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Focusing on street-level characters will greatly benefit the MCU going forward.
Source: u/Luke_Oasis
