Marvel's violent anti-hero Punisher's new special comeback left critics shaken

The Punisher is back, and critics, who have shared first reactions, are praising the Marvel anti-hero's violent stirrings.

ScreenRant states The Punisher: One Last Kill is "the most adult thing yet from Marvel Studios". It's Frank at his lowest, Jon Bernthal giving it his all, with some haunting sequences."

Collider echoed the same energy as the outlet, praising Jon Bernthal's portrayal of The Punisher.

"The special is a heavy, introspective look at where Frank's head is as of late, and while it does retread some narrative beats that the Netflix run handled well, what Jon and Reinaldo Marcus Green have done here is really special."

MovieWeb's early reaction adds that One Last Kill "feels less like we’re watching Frank Castle from the outside and more like we’re trapped inside his head; the war, the trauma, the rage, and the violence all close in around him."

In The Mary Sue, Berthanl's performance is described as "gory" and a "fascinating character study of Frank Castle's continued grief". It's violent as all hell but a pretty cool setup for where Frank is heading."

Comic Book Movie calls the MCU special "a relentless, no-holds-barred exploration of grief and PTSD and an ultra-violent, pitch-perfect take on the Punisher".

The Direct's initial reaction read, "The story isn't overly complicated; it brings drama, action, and intensity from start to finish, continuing Frank's story after we last saw him in Born Again with him on a scary new mission."

The Punisher: One Last Kill will premiere on Disney+ on May 12.