The Punisher

In 1986, Marvel launched a five-issue limited series that redefined its most brutal vigilante, with Steven Grant and Jo Duffy scripting a gritty, urban crime saga brought to life by the stark pencils of Mike Zeck, John Beatty, and Mike Vosburg. This foundational run stripped Frank Castle of superhero trappings, planting him firmly in a morally gray world of organized crime and relentless, one-man warfare. It established the tone for decades of Punisher stories to come, proving that a character operating outside the law could anchor a compelling, standalone series.