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Marvel Comics Finds A New Use For The Punisher Skull Logo in Ultimates

Marvel Comics Finds A New Use For The Punisher Skull Logo in Ultimates #10 by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri (Spoilers)

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:30:08 -0600

Article Summary

Marvel's Ultimates #10 reimagines the controversial Punisher skull logo, sparking intrigue and debate.
The Red Skull movement in the comic mirrors real-world controversies associated with the Punisher emblem.
A twist in Ultimates highlights another iconic Nazi hunter and revisits themes of American identity and extremism.
Featuring Tony Stark, this issue examines the darker echoes of justice and identity across the Marvel Universe.

Spoilers for today's Ultimates #10… The Punisher skull logo has been a bit of a problem for Marvel for years now, being used by police, army, militia, white supremacist groups, QAnon events, and Hannity on Fox News, without a scintilla of suggestion that there may be some irony in that. The character's co-creator Gerry Conway has spoken out about its use by such groups and has tried to reclaim it. He started his own line of shirts designed by people of colour to take the symbol back, with proceeds going to Black Lives Matter-related charities. Marvel Comics has been fighting them in the courts when they've tried to trademark it, actors have criticised its use, police commissioners have also criticised their use, and comics creators have divided over its use. Marvel has even addressed this in the comics, with the Punisher threatening police who use his symbol. Then, the Punisher skull was spotted several times on backpacks and taken into the Capitol building on January 6th. So Marvel pulled back the Punisher further, changed his logo, and changed the Punisher (twice).

Today sees The Ultimates go up against The Red Skull movement. An American Nazi force who all use the Punisher Red Skull logo very close to that used by these groups. And not one used by Marvel Comics for a very long time.

And also lampshades some of the likely responses from certain parts of the internet.

And as they make their assault, the Punisher Red Skull logo is everywhere. But it's not the Punisher they find inside…

… but another famous Marvel Comics Nazi hunter, who has met his final fate and become a trophy.

While they have another traditional defender of the USA who may have been taking it a bit too far into fascist lines over the years, now appearing in the new Ultimate Universe in full skullish gear…

While Tony Stark keeps a look across the whole of the Ultimate Universe…

Well, at least he has the spine for it.

ULTIMATES #10
MARVEL COMICS
JAN250836
(W) Deniz Camp (A) Juan Frigeri (CA) Dike Ruan
NAMOR AND THE RED SKULL! Captain America and the Human Torch lead a team to recruit their old comrade – Namor! But they'll have to get through the Red Skull Gang first! RATED T+In Shops: Mar 05, 2025 SRP: $4.99

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