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Marvel is putting the Punisher on the Avengers... and that might be a problem

The Avengers have always drawn a line. The Punisher exists to cross it. But something's gotta give, it seems.

Avengers arc 2 teaser excerpt — Image credit: Chip Zdarsky (Marvel Comics) / Popverse

News by Jules Chin Greene, Staff Writer

Additional contributions by Chris Arrant

Published on Thu Jul 23 2026

Is the Punisher fit for the Avengers?

Or is the better question.... are the Avengers fit for the Punisher?

Avengers arc 2 teaser — Image credit: Chip Zdarsky (Marvel Comics)

The Punisher is set to be a major part of Marvel Comics' upcoming Avengers relaunch, as revealed during the Avengers: Armageddon panel at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2026. "First you avenge, then you punish" along with a slightly redesigned version of the Punisher logo with a crack in it. At the bottom is the Chip Zdarsky-redesigned Avengers logo, along with a subtitle saying 'The Red Line - 2027.' Assumedly, 'The Red Line' would be the name of the second arc of Zdarsky's upcoming Avengers run. When this teaser was sent out to press, the filename says as such, with it being 'AvengersArc2-Teaser.jpg'.

“Basically the second arc not to spoil too much, will involve the Punisher, who I got to write a little bit on Daredevil,” says Zdarsky during the panel.

So what are the Avengers avenging and now punishing? The central conceit of this upcoming Avengers relaunch is that the as-yet-still-unrevealed events of Avengers: Armageddon will lead to Earth being "broken" and "dramatically transformed", and a roughshod new group of Avengers has a new mission: "Now, Earth itself needs to be avenged!"

Marvel is holding back on who is/are the culprits of this massive calamity to Marvel's Earth, but I would wager whoever did it is the one(s) that need to be punished. The big complication in that is that whatever happens to lead to this turns public sentiment against the Avengers themselves, so maybe the Avengers are the ones that need to be punished...?

The Punisher has a complicated history with the Avengers. At times they've tolerated him, at times they've hunted him down. Captain America recruited him during Civil War, only to kick him out just as fast for killing two supercriminals who were on the verge of joining their depleted ranks.

Avengers #1 launches November 7, and this second arc 'Red Line' is anticipated to begin sometime in early 2027.

Want more? Make sure you've read our list of all the best Marvel Comics stories of all time.

About Comic-Con International: San Diego

Comic-Con is the premier event for all things comics and related popular art, including movies, television, gaming, interactive multimedia, and so much more! Enjoy cosplay galore and take part in unique programming, exclusive previews, and presentations, not to mention the expansive and diverse Exhibit Hall featuring merchandise and displays representing all fandoms.

Dates

Jul 22 - Jul 26

Location

San Diego, California
USA

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Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.