Warning! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episodes 1 and 2.
The final scene ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 2 showcases The Punisher’s logo for the first time, only with a slightly different look and sported by an unusual figure.Daredevil: Born Again’s anticipated release dateis finally upon us, bringing the Man Without Fear back to the MCU in a solo story for the first time since Netflix’sDaredevilwas canceled in 2018. Theending ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 2makes it feel as though Matt Murdock has never left, providing a new story while remaining faithful to the Netflix series.
After ahuge death inDaredevil: Born Again’s opening, episode 2 throws Matt back into his lawyer lifestyle by having him represent Hector Ayala, a man accused of killing an NYPD cop during a fight. A new member ofDaredevil: Born Again’s cast of characters, Hector Ayala is a victim of dirty cops setting him up for an accidental death, leading Matt to defend his client by any means necessary. In the final moments ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 2, Matt is confronted by these cops, with one of them sporting a distinctly different version of The Punisher’s logo.
Daredevil: Born Again Introduces A New Punisher Logo
The Punisher Is Not Seen, But His Presence Is Hinted At
In the final scene ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 2, Matt protects the only witness, Nicky, who can exonerate Hector Ayala of the crimes he is accused of. One of the dirty cops involved in the initial shake-down and assault of the witness—and subsequently Hector—tries to get to Nicky also, leading Matt to feign ignorance as to where he is. This prompts the cop, Powell, to beat Matt alongside his companion, seemingly another dirty cop who wishes to frame Hector. As Powell holds Matt against a wall, The Punisher’s logo is visible, tattooed on his left wrist.
Interestingly, though, The Punisher’s logo is notably different. Despite Frank Castle being one of the fewreturning Marvel characters inDaredevil: Born Again, he is not present in the show’s premiere, with his logo being the only hint to his involvement in the story. However,rather than the typical skull logo associated with the antihero, Powell’s has a distinct difference: the symbolism of an American flag on the forehead. The logo is small, but it seems as though Powell’s tattoo combines The Punisher’s skull logo with iconography of the “Blue Lives Matter” movement.
The “Blue Lives Matter” group was formed as a countermovement against several groups, such as Black Lives Matter, to show solidarity with police officers. This movement has often been criticized and dubbed controversial, withDaredevil: Born Againshowing no hesitancy to seemingly tie to movement - or, at least, an MCU version of it - into the story. This is clearly being linked to The Punisher, though it could potentially have ties toDaredevil: Born Again’s new mayor, Fisk.
Why NYC’s Dirty Cops Have Taken On Punisher’s Logo
They See Frank Castle As A Stalwart Of Justice
Naturally, the burning question afterDaredevil: Born Againepisode 2 is why Powell, and likely other dirty cops in New York, are donning this altered version of The Punisher’s logo. The likely explanation is due to Frank’s moral code, with The Punisher renowned for being a vigilante who dishes out justice as he sees fit. Frank was no stranger to severely injuring and oftentimes killing anyone whom he deemed worthy of punishment for a variety of different crimes.
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Herein lies the connection between The Punisher andDaredevil: Born Again’s dirty cops. Evidently, various cops in the show are not afraid to circumvent the law to carry out the “justice” they think is warranted. Be it the numerous assaults of Hector Ayala - who also moonlights asDaredevil: Born Again’s White Tiger- while in police custody or the attempted murder of Nicky to cover up their set-up of Hector, some police officers in New York are being shown to take matters into their own hands. Of course,Daredevil: Born Againshows how wrong they are to do so.
This “justice” that Powell and his fellow dirty cops are committed to is not justice at all, but instead a way for them to punish who they want to punish…
The show makes it clear that Powell is in the wrong inDaredevil: Born Againand that Hector was simply trying to defend Nicky before one of the unannounced NYPD officers fell onto the subway tracks. This “justice” that Powell and his fellow dirty cops are committed to is not justice at all, but instead a way for them to punish who they want to punish without any of the ramifications. It is highly unlikely that Frank Castle will be okay with this, as his entire goal as The Punisher is to do what those who abide by the law cannot, especially the police.
In a way, these cops can be linked to Wilson Fisk. Although Fisk’s hold over the dirty cops of the NYPD is not shown to be part ofDaredevil: Born Again’s first two episodes after the former Kingpin insists he has turned a new leaf, the likes of Powell can certainly be seen as similar to New York’s newly elected mayor. After all, Fisk is still shown to use morally questionable tactics - like threatening someone’s family - to get what he wants as mayor. This aligns with cops using a symbol for punishment against any “illegality” in the name of justice.
The Real Life History Of Police Using Punisher’s Logo
Daredevil: Born Again Is Blending Fiction & Reality
Where the usage of the “Blue Lives Matter” iconography on The Punisher’s logo is concerned, this isDaredevil: Born Again’s way of blending the show with real-life events. In recent history, real police officers have been known to adopt a logo very similar to The Punisher’s. An article by theSwinburne University of Technologyexplored this, highlighting the various times an officer of the law has been shown to don the familiar skull symbol.
From a group of abusive rogue cops in Milwaukee in 2011 to individual officers wearing the skull in 2019 and 2020, this symbolism is certainly not constructed from fiction inDaredevil: Born Again. A very similar version of The Punisher’s logo seen in the Marvel TV show was actually used by police cruisers in Kentucky in 2017, with the skull being blended with the “Blue Lives Matter” flag. Naturally, these events all caused a great deal of criticism, especially given the controversy directed at the “Blue Lives Matter” movement over the years.
The response to this was as expected, with many deeming The Punisher an unfitting character for people of the law to idolize. As I have alluded to, The Punisher’s entire motivation is enacting the “justice” that the law cannot. While Frank Castle is certainly a character to root for at certain points, Marvel has never given any inclination that he is morally, unshakably correct in taking matters into his own hands. As such, the police being inspired by someone such as this is cause for controversy, which will likely be further explored in the MCU viaDaredevil: Born Again’s dirty cops of the NYPD.
