PUNISHER READING ORDER: Frank Castle (1974-1989)

The next character to get a reading order spotlight (as voted for by the Marvel Comics Guide followers on Instagram) is Frank Castle... the Punisher. Frank's mission to kill criminals goes way beyond revenge over the slaughter of his family. His one-man war on crime sometimes brings him into conflict with other characters in the Marvel Universe, but he's at his most interesting when he's just killing day-to-day criminals in the ultimate revenge fantasy.

This first part spotlights the Punisher's earliest appearances alongside Spider-Man, before he branched out into other corners of the Marvel Universe; facing the likes of Daredevil, Moon Knight and Doctor Doom. In the mid-80s, he was granted his own mini-series, quickly followed by his own ongoing and a second ongoing to meet demand! I've also included his origin mini-series from the '90s, though I actually believe the Punisher's origin becomes less relevant over time.

As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at the Marvel Chronology Project which I use as a basis and then work out my own version of the Marvel Universe continuity. Those guys have done all the heavy lifting for me!

MCG Note:

• Issues in blue are worth reading, are major chapters the Punisher's history or may play a key part in the great Marvel tapestry.
• Issues in grey are part of the Punisher's chronology, stories of note that aren't essential or are no longer considered 'required reading'.

The 'Nam #67-69 (1992)
Although, strictly speaking, the 'Nam stories take place in an alternate universe (Earth-85101) due to the sliding time-scale of the Marvel Universe, the stories that feature Frank Castle may be considered a part of Earth-616 Frank's history.

Punisher Invaders the 'Nam #1 (1994) / Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #1 (1993)
Frank Castle's first meeting with Microchip.

The 'Nam #52-53 (1991)
Frank Castle first adopts his skull symbol on a suicide mission in Vietnam.

Punisher: Year One #1-4 (1994-1995)
When Frank Castle's family are caught in the crossfire of a gang war, he becomes the Punisher to avenge them and begin his war on crime; the Punisher makes a life-long enemy of Billy Russo by tearing up his face and turning him into Jigsaw.

Punisher: Bloodlines (1991)
The Punisher goes after the corrupt ruler of San Domingo.

Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)
First appearance of the Punisher (Frank Castle); the Punisher is hired by the Jackal to kill Spider-Man for his role in the Mechanic's death; the Punisher realises he's been tricked and vows to kill the Jackal.

Marvels: Eye of the Camera #2 (2009)

Cameo appearance.

Code of Honor #1 (1997)
Cameo appearance.

Amazing Spider-Man #134-135 (1974)

The Punisher comes gunning for Spider-Man again, believing him to be involved in a kidnapping; Spider-Man and the Punisher join forces to defeat the real culprit, the Tarantula.

Punisher: The Origin of Microchip #2(pp.9-22) (1993)

The Punisher recruits Microchip.

Giant-Size Spider-Man #4[1/2] (1975)

First appearance of the Punisher's Battle Van; the Punisher and Spider-Man join forces against Moses Magnum; Magnum appears to die in the conflict.

Marvel Preview #2[1/2] (1975)

First appearance of Maria Castle, Frank Castle Jr and Lisa Castle (in flashback); the Punisher's origin is revealed for the first time; a lengthy flashback sequence reveals the day that Frank Castle's family were caught in the crossfire of a shoot out between the Syndicate (aka, the Maggia) and the terrorist group the International Industrial Alliance.

Marvel Super-Action #1[1/4] (1976)

The Punisher hunts the Syndicate.

Amazing Spider-Man #161-162 (1976)

First appearance of Jigsaw; the Punisher's long-running feud with Jigsaw is revealed.

Amazing Spider-Man #174-175 (1977)

The Punisher joins forces with Spider-Man again when the Hitman kidnaps J Jonah Jameson; the Hitman is revealed to have fought with the Punisher in the Vietnam war.

Code of Honor #2 (1997)
New York cop, Jeffrey Piper, comes face to face with the Punisher.

Captain America #241 (1980)

The Punisher and Captain America clash when they both go after the mob; while this is the first time the Punisher meets Steve Rogers and they differ over their ideologies, it's revealed much later that the Punisher met Captain America in Vietnam (though this is probably not Steve Rogers as he would've been frozen at that time) and his attitude to him is far more positive.

Amazing Spider-Man #201-202 (1980)
Spider-Man and the Punisher go after drug-lord Lorenzo Jacobi.

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15[1/4] (1981)

Spider-Man faces the Punisher as an enemy when he tries to kill Doctor Octopus; Spidey apprehends the Punisher.

Daredevil #181-184 (1982)

The Punisher escapes prison and goes after a Hell's Kitchen drug-dealers, coming into conflict with Daredevil for the first time; Daredevil is forced to shoot the Punisher to end his killing spree.

Code of Honor #3 (1997)

The Punisher is apprehended by Officer Jeffrey Piper.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #78-79 (1983)

The Punisher manipulates Boomerang into helping him escape from prison.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83 (1983)

Boomerang is betrayed by the Punisher despite him helping in his escape; behaving uncharacteristically, the Punisher shoots litter bugs and jaywalkers; the Punisher is beaten unconscious by the Kingpin and apprehended by Spider-Man; after standing trial, the Punisher is institutionalised when a court decides he's been driven insane. 

Punisher #1-5 (1986)

First appearance of the Trust and the Punishment Squad; it's revealed that the Punisher was drugged during his last prison stay, which caused his erratic behaviour; the Punisher is freed from prison by the Trust, but turns against them; the Trust hire Jigsaw to lead their Punishment Squad; the Punisher kills the Trust leaders and the Punishment Squad, but Jigsaw escapes.

Code of Honor #4 (1997)
Cameo appearance.

Amazing Spider-Man #284-285, 288 (1987)
A gang war brings the Punisher back to New York and into conflict with Spider-Man; he decides to set his sights on taking down the Kingpin during GANG WAR.

Punisher #1-7 (1987-1988)
First appearances of the Rev and Wild Rose; the Punisher hunts drug-dealers, a cult leader and Israeli terrorists.

Marvel Graphic Novel #40: The Punisher - Assassin's Guild (1988)
The Punisher leads a cult of assassins against a crime-lord.

Strange Tales #12-14 (1988)
The Punisher's war on the Kingpin leads to him teaming up with Cloak & Dagger and Power Pack against the sorcerer Mister Jip.

Punisher #8-9 (1988)
The Punisher hunts a killer on Wall Street.

Punisher #10
Daredevil #257
(1988)
Punisher's search for a man who kills by tainting medicine leads him into Daredevil's path for the second time during THE CREEP & THE BULLY.

Punisher Annual #1[1/3] (1988)
While taking out drug lords in Bolivia, the Punisher comes under fire from the High Evolutionary's Eliminators during THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Punisher #11-13 (1988)
First appearance of Conchita Ortiz; the Punisher breaks into prison to kill a cult leader.

Spectacular Spider-Man #140-143 (1988)
The Punisher goes after Tombstone and prepares for his confrontation with the Kingpin; he is eventually mentally controlled by the Persuader, but breaks free and kills him.

Punisher War Journal #1-3 (1988-1989)
First appearance of the Shadowmasters; in pursuit of Hector Montoya, the Punisher runs into Daredevil again.

Punisher #14-18 (1988-1989)
The Punisher takes his war straight to the Kingpin in a direct confrontation.

Punisher War Journal #4-5 (1989)First appearance of Sniper; the Punisher goes to expose corrupt US Senator, Ray Schoonover.

Punisher #19 (1989)
The Punisher travels to Australia to take out Spider Roque.

Power Pack #46 (1989)
Power Pack join forces with the Punisher again, along with private investigator Dakota North; the Punisher takes a different approach to 'punishing' thief Jerome Horwitz.

Punisher War Journal #6-7 (1989)
The Punisher meets and fights Wolverine for the first time when they both hunt poachers in Africa.

Punisher #20 (1989)
The Las Vegas mob come under attack from the Punisher.

Punisher #21-23 (1989)
The Punisher's investigation into the criminal activities of Iris Green lead him to a dubious Ninja Training Camp during SHADOWMASTERS.

Punisher Annual #2[1/4] (1989)
Moon Knight and the Punisher team up to investigate a drug-fuelled den of Serpent People run by the Viper during ATLANTIS ATTACKS.

Punisher Annual #2[3/4] (1989)
The Punisher runs through his fighting techniques with Microchip.

Punisher War Journal #8-9 (1989)
First appearance of Damage; the Shadowmasters' war with the Sunrise Society attracts the attention of the Punisher and Black Widow during SHADOWMASTERS.

Punisher #24-25 (1989)
The Punisher gets a surprising job offer as he and the Shadowmasters follow Iris Green's trail from Japan to Washington during SHADOWMASTERS.

Punisher Annual #3[1/5] (1990)
The Punisher's attack's AIM as one of their employees is transformed into the Lifeform during LIFEFORM.

Punisher Annual #3[2/5] (1990)
The Punisher shares more fighting techniques with Microchip.

Punisher: Return to Big Nothing (1989)
The Punisher hunts one of his old acquaintances from his time in the army.

Punisher War Journal #10 (1989)
The Punisher has a rematch with Sniper.

Punisher #26-27 (1989)
The Punisher's efforts to expose corruption in the government lead to him stealing an experimental US Navy sub.

Punisher War Journal #11 (1989)
The Punisher discovers a Boot Camp shock incarceration programme. 

Classic Punisher (1989)
The Punisher gets into a kite battle in the park.

Marvel Graphic Novel #51: The Punisher - Intruder (1989)
The Punisher goes after a US Navy pilot-turned-drug dealer.

Punisher #28-29 (1989-1990)
Doctor Doom tries to prove to the Kingpin that the Punisher is easy to kill; Doom's plan backfires as Frank heads to Latveria where he faces the other Doctor Doom (Kristoff Vernard) during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9 (1989)
Moon Knight and the Punisher discover Flag-Smasher and ULTIMATUM are taking advantage of the chaos caused by the villains' war against the heroes during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

Punisher War Journal #12-13 (1989-1990)
Bushwacker is sent by the Prime Movers to kill the Punisher during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

Damage Control #2, 4 (1990)
The Punisher investigates Robin Chapel during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

Punisher Annual #4[1/4] (1991)
The Punisher's origin is retold with new details.

Spider-Man vs Punisher #1 (2000)
The Punisher's first clash with Spider-Man is retold, explaining his apparent role as a hired killer.

Marvels: Eye of the Camera #3 (2009)
The Punisher's confrontation with Spider-Man and the Hitman is told from a different perspective.

What If #58 (1994)
In an alternate universe (Earth-58942), the Punisher kills Spider-Man when they first cross paths. 

[PUNISHER READING ORDER: Frank Castle (1990-1993)]

Punisher: Back To The War Omnibus
Collects Amazing Spider-Man #129, 134-135, 161-162, 174-175 and 201-202, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15, Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, Marvel Preview #2, Marvel Super Action #1, Captain America #241, Daredevil #182-184, Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83 and Punisher (1986) #1-5.

Punisher Epic Collection vol.2: Circle of Blood
Collects Daredevil #257, Punisher (1986) #1-5, Punisher (1987) #1-10 and Punisher: Assassin's Guild.

Punisher Epic Collection vol.3: Kingpin Rules
Collects Punisher #11-25 and Punisher Annual #1-2.

Punisher War Journal by Carl Potts and Jim Lee
Includes Punisher War Journal #1-13 and part of Punisher Annual #2.

Punisher: Shadowmasters
Includes Punisher #24-25 and Punisher War Journal #1-3 and 8-9.

Punisher: Circle of Blood
Collects Punisher (1986) #1-5.

Punisher: Year One
Collects Punisher: Year One #1-4.