Marvel Teases The Punisher's Next Opponent, And It's An MCU Icon

Published Oct 17, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Shaun Corley has been with ScreenRant for over 5 years, and is currently the Coordinator for PR and Outreach for the Comics Team. Warning: contains possible spoilers for The Punisher: Showdowns: Black Widow #1! Marvel has teased the Punisher’s next opponent, and it is an icon of the MCU. The Punisher’s violent quest to bring justice to the mean streets of the Marvel Universe has brought him into conflict with many of its heroes, ranging from Spider-Man to Wolverine to Daredevil, with many others in between. Many Marvel heroes despise the Punisher, which only adds heat to these fights. The Punisher’s blood-soaked rampage across the Marvel Universe began in the 1970s, at a period in America when many people feared a sudden rise in violent crime. Characters like the Punisher and Ghost Rider reflected a new comic book archetype: the anti-hero. These anti-heroes came down on the side of good, but their methods were often extreme, and put them at odds with more established heroes. Interestingly enough, the Punisher began as a villain before moving into anti-hero status. Marvel has now launched a new series, titled The Punisher: Showdowns. This series consists of one-shot stories that tell the secret history of the Punisher, detailing notable encounters with some of Marvel’s heaviest hitters, including Wolverine and the Winter Soldier. Each issue will be written by Tom Waltz and drawn by a different artist, and the book’s inaugural offerings pits Frank Castle against one of the MCU’s most popular heroes. The Punisher Is On A Collision Course With Black Widow How Did The Punisher And Black Widow First Meet? In a preview for The Punisher: Showdowns: Black Widow #1, written by Waltz and drawn by Greg Land, Frank is staking out a gang of Russian mobsters who are planning a hit. The Punisher opens fire on them, immediately taking one of the gangsters out. The Russian’s partner tackles the Punisher, pinning him to the ground and pointing a gun at his head. Suddenly, the Russian is given a jolt of electricity, and when the Punisher looks up, he is confronted by the Black Widow. The preview seems to indicate that Frank knows Black Widow: he lists off her affiliations, such as the Avengers, the KGB and SHIELD. Likewise, Black Widow seems to know the Punisher as well, calling him by his first name. The preview ends there, giving readers a tantalizing glimpse at what is to come in The Punisher: Showdowns: Black Widow #1. The Black Widow is only the first of many heroes the Punisher will cross paths with in Showdowns. The Black Widow is only the first of many heroes the Punisher will cross paths with in Showdowns. A future issue sees Frank run afoul of the Winter Soldier during the latter’s days as a Soviet assassin. Another one pits the Punisher against one of his most personal foes: Wolverine. Can Black Widow And The Punisher Work Together? The Black Widow has been a part of the Marvel Universe since the early 1960s. She broke into the mainstream thanks to Scarlett Johansson's portrayal of her in the MCU. Johansson brought much to the role, imbuing Black Widow with strength and empathy, making her a great role model for young girls. Black Widow’s success on the big-screen led to a steady stream of ongoing titles and appearances that only added fuel to the fire. Black Widow had gone from a minor, B-list character to the upper echelons of the Marvel Universe. And now the Punisher, who himself has appeared in the MCU, is set to take on the Black Widow. The two are working on the same case, which will inevitably lead to a clash over the best way to handle criminals. While Black Widow will use lethal force, it is only when it is necessary. Otherwise, she will not kill, despite being trained as an assassin. The Punisher, as fans know, has no such qualms, and Frank may spend much of the issue fighting Black Widow, maybe even more than his original targets. The Punisher: Showdowns: Black Widow #1 is on sale October 21 from Marvel Comics!