'Punisher': Through the years

First shots

The Crime: Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Romita Sr., the Punisher was inspired by a wave of popular tough guy heroes such as Dirty Harry and paperback sensation The Executioner. His first appearance, in Feb. 1974’s The Amazing Spider-Man #129, saw the Punisher being manipulated by the Jackal into believing Spidey was a criminal who needed to be taken out.

The Punishment: The first Punisher comic achieved cinematic infamy as a plot point for Adam Garcia’s comic-book collecting character in 2000’s “Coyote Ugly.”