The Elite

A darkly compelling figure born from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's gritty Modern Age reinvention of Marvel's most uncompromising corner, The Elite made their debut in The Punisher #5 in 2000 and carved out a memorable niche in one of comics' most brutal sandboxes. Over a surprisingly long footprint stretching nearly two decades, this character keeps genuinely dangerous company — sharing pages with Frank Castle himself, the unforgettable Ma Gnucci, and the hapless Detective Martin Soap, among others. Ten appearances may sound modest, but in the Ennis Punisher world, every panel counts, and showing up in the celebrated Marvel Knights run is a badge of honor for any character worth their ink.