Marvel is setting up a violent new conflict for Deadpool. The setup features a familiar lethal anti-hero in a new crossover storyline who played a major role in the recent MCU hit, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Now, he is fighting Deadpool in a new comic story.
The character in question is Frank Castle, better known as the Punisher. Marvel is putting Deadpool and Castle on a collision course in Wade Wilson: Deadpool #8, which launches the four-part “Big Guns” arc on September 2, 2026.
According to Marvel’s official description, Deadpool gets “a new mission” and “a new vehicle,” only to find his target is Frank Castle himself. In the comics, a mysterious force manipulates both street-level heroes into hunting each other down. The high-stakes vendetta continues in Punisher #8, which is also set to hit comic stores later in September.
Benjamin Percy wrote Deadpool #8, with Geoff Shaw serving as penciler and cover artist. Notably, Marvel hasn’t confirmed any direct connection between “Big Guns” and the MCU. Still, the release timing has fans speculating about overlap, given that Brand New Day leans heavily into street-level Marvel storytelling.
What’s next for Jon Bernthal’s Punisher after Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Bernthal recently reprised his role as Punisher in Spider-Man 4 alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Sadie Sink. The movie also mentioned an unseen Staten Island incident where Peter Parker saved Castle’s life. However, the Punisher strongly denies needing Spidey’s help, leading to repeated arguments between the two. The film never showed what actually happened on Staten Island, making it another mystery to explore in future projects.
He also co-wrote and starred in the Disney+ special The Punisher: One Last Kill, which explored Castle’s mental state before joining the web-slinging adventure.
A recent report also claimed that he would appear in the MCU’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Sebastian Stan, and many more. Several rumors also suggested that Punisher’s arc will continue in Avengers: Secret Wars. However, Marvel has not confirmed either report of Bernthal’s involvement in upcoming Avengers titles.
