The Punisher skull logo has been adopted by the police and their supporters despite the character being a vigilante working outside of the law. The extrajudicial handling of crime seems to be the draw with the symbol blended with the “Blue Lives Matter” coloring and displayed in support. The symbol has been seen sported by police recently and has a long history within the police. Disney and Marvel have done nothing to curtail the use of the symbol as it’s been coopted and proliferated online and in the real world.
The Punisher debuted in 1974 and was created by Gerry Conway, John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru. The character debuted as a villain targeting Spider-Man and over the years has generally evolved into an anti-hero though his exact depiction has varied. Conway has been vocal against the use of the symbol by the police and others and is currently attempting to take the symbol back.
For too long, symbols associated with a character I co-created have been co-opted by forces of oppression and to intimidate black Americans. This character and symbol was never intended as a symbol of oppression. This is a symbol of a systematic failure of equal justice. It’s time to claim this symbol for the cause of equal justice and Black Lives Matter.
–Gerry Conway
Currently, over $24,000 has been raised for the organiztion through four designs and over 1,800 shirts sold.
You can get an awesome shirt now for a good cause and help “take back” the Punisher from those who clearly don’t understand the character.
