 ROUNDUPS CENTRAL |  | ['WORD ON THE STREET'] PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL | | Take a look into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files for Wizard Universe's weekly round-up of Marvel's street-level superheroes | | | By Lee Rodriguez | | Posted 7/02/2008 | |  | | ![['WORD ON THE STREET'] PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL](http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/wizarduniverse_2057_429812014) (EDITOR'S NOTE: With the Initiative now an established part of the Marvel Universe, keeping tabs on street-level heroes is something that calls for expert surveillance. For run-downs on the books featuring these constantly crusading alleyway adventurers, check back weekly as Lee Rodriguez brings you a run down on Captain America, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist, Moon Knight and Punisher War Journal.)
This week's surveillance report: Punisher War Journal | |  S.H.I.E.L.D. File FC21974
Name: Frank Castle (born Francis Castiglione)
Code Name: The Punisher
Other Known Aliases: Big Nothing, Major Bateman, Ted Bishop, Cliff Callador, Castigo, Chaloner, Fred D'Amato, Eastman, Charles Fort, Frank Loomis, McRook, Melchior, Joe Rainey, Frank Rook, Richard Rook, Tony Knowlen Ross, Francis Stronghold, Johnny Tower, Dmitri Velikoff, Frankie Villa, Yousoufian; numerous others
Known Associates: Stuart Clarke, Linus "Microchip" Lieberman (deceased) (Note: Aside from the occasional forced alliance, such as with Captain America's “Secret Avengers” during the superhuman Civil War, Castle usually works alone.)
Status: Unregistered Combatant
Powers and Abilities: Castle's family was slain in a gangland shooting. Castle has no enhanced powers or abilities, but was driven mad with grief and became a one-man army against crime, preferring lethal attacks to incarceration. Castle is a trained marine, an excellent hand-to-hand fighter, weapons master, demolitions expert, master tactician, and has an extremely high tolerance for pain. Aside from conventional weaponry, Castle has also been known to employ “trick” or “gimmick” weapons and vehicles (such as the “Battle Van”) designed by Microchip (and later, Stuart Clarke). Though completely human, Castle is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
For more background files on the Punisher, click here.
Recent Unregistered Activity:
• Several months ago, on the day that Captain America died, the Punisher was involved in a standoff between Bushwhacker (who was actually backed by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent G.W. Bridge) and a young man who wanted to be a police officer named Ian. Ian poses as a community service officer out of a genuine love for the police force and what they do for the community.
• Many years ago, Billy Russo was a hitter for the Costa crime family. The Castles would eventually be killed in the crossfire of a Costa family gunfight. After Frank Castle became the Punisher and started systematically eliminating the Costa's, Russo was charged with killing Castle. Instead, Russo was thrown face-first through a plate glass window, leaving his face horribly scarred. Taking on the name "Jigsaw," Russo is one of few men to face Castle repeatedly and live.
• In the weeks following the standoff with Bushwhacker, Ian was treated by a psychiatrist to deal with his post traumatic stress. Rather than getting the treatment he needed, Ian was pushed into a darker mental state, now identifying more with the Punisher and his way of operating more than the police he'd held in such high regard his entire life. This subconscious suggestion came from Ian's psychiatrist, who is actually in league with Jigsaw and brainwashing Ian under Russo's instructions for reasons unknown.
• Jigsaw and his cohorts have successfully framed Castle for the murders of innocents and police officers. On top of that, there is an open bounty on his head with the most aggressive hunters being the Hand, now led by Lady Gorgon. To top it all off, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent G.W. Bridge is on the scene, but he knows the allegations against Castle are false, so his true intentions are currently unclear.
Current Activity:
• Just before Lady Gorgon can deliver the killing blow and bring Castle into the Hand via their mystical ceremonies, G.W. Bridge's team (Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Domino, and Silver Sable) intervene, allowing Castle to escape.
• Lady Gorgon catches up to Castle all-too quickly due to his many fresh bleeding wounds. He's saved again at the last minute by Silver Sable while Domino and Fontaine dispatch the Hand's other Jonin on the scene. Castle is quick to return the favor (despite his better judgement) and kills gorgon before she can kill Silver Sable. Immediately thereafter, the two exchange words, but our surveillance was unable to recover that conversation.
• Castle once again escapes, this time to the subway, and manages to slink on to a train, but soon passes out. When he comes to, he finds himself alone with Ian. After a fight Castle has no real chance of winning (again due to his massive blood loss) leaves him yet again moments from death (this time via decapitation from a subway car's automatic doors), a S.H.I.E.L.D. team eliminates Ian and places Castle under arrest.
Surveillance photos and recordings:
Broken Pieces: Billy Russo is an unusual case in that he has survived numerous encounters with the Punisher. Providing Castle can survive his physical rehabilitation and escape S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, Russo may soon find Castle's patience at an end.
Conflicted Actions: If there is one man alive capable of deceiving a psychic, it must be Frank Castle.
Damaged Goods: It looks like Jigsaw's brainwashing is complete. Ian is nowhere near the man he used to be, and has been driven into a murderous rage, lashing out for some deeper seeded reasons, by the Punisher's mere presence. He's like Pavlov's dog in combat boots.
Eye of the Tiger: The serial killing vigilante known as the Punisher has finally been brought to justice. Maybe it's the blood loss, but he doesn't seem too upset by it. This situation certainly warrants close monitoring.
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