Review: Marvel Legends Punisher from Daredevil: Born Again
- Mephitsu
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
"I'll tell you what I think, Red."
The original Punisher figure from the original Daredevil series on Netflix was a 2017 release and part of the Marvel Knights wave that combined figures from the Netflix shows and comic book figures, as well as a Man-Thing Build-a-Figure. Despite two standalone Punisher series, there were no other releases of John Bernthal’s Frank Castle and the 2017 release, like most of the Netflix figures, saw its price shoot upward on the after-market, where it now appears so very infrequently.
After an 8-year wait, we can now finally add a new Punisher to our Marvel live-action display thanks to Castle’s appearance in the 2025 return of Daredevil in the Disney+ Daredevil: Born Again series. The new Punisher figure is part of a two-figure release for Born Again that also includes Daredevil himself.
These are general releases, arriving in the UK in late October 2025. The packaging for the wave follows the set dimensions and the squared-off box of all the Hasbro Collector lines. While this appears plain black initially, the base design is embedded with images of New York and Hell’s Kitchen and is very much in keeping with the show's dark and gritty visuals. The Daredevil: Born Again logo is front and centre on the bottom rail under the window, and this will be the first release to be badged under the Marvel Television banner.
The side panels both carry an impactful black and white illustration of Frank in his Punisher vest. This covers the right-hand side almost entirely apart from a small header and the Marvel Legends logo. It is reduced on the left to sit under the wrap-around of the figure window, and the Marvel Legends logo moves to the top. The back of the box repeats the image for a third time alongside the single paragraph background text that simply positions the origin of the Marvel Television Frank Castle and his transition to the Punisher. It makes no direct reference to any plot points or key scenes in Born Again. The figure is set against a cardback that is also coloured in a way that contrasts with the figure, while Daredevil’s backing card is a grey colour, Frank’s is red to contrast with his predominantly black suit. Like the box, this cardback includes embedded imagery of a Hell’s Kitchen Tenement building.
Frank is designed around the Daredevil: Born Again finale, when he dons his Punisher gear to team up with Daredevil. This is a black combat suit, so nearly all the parts are cast in base black with the details then applied over the top. The paintwork, of course, includes the faded Punisher skull on the vest, which looks brilliant.
There are also some small paint apps around a combat belt, which houses a couple of holsters and spare ammo clips and some of these are picked out in grey. Despite sculpted detail around the clasps and buckles of the vest and the belt, these are left unpainted. The final detail on the suit is the patch on the right shoulder with a decal skull design.
The headsculpt is excellent, capturing Bernthal’s solemn look as Punisher, including the furrowed brow. Face printing brings out the facial details, including around the sides and back of the hair, where there is a gradient shaved style before the longer hair on top. Despite the mess Frank gets into on screen, the decision has been taken to keep this figure clean, and there is no battle damage brusing or cuts included.
Looking at the 2017 release alongside the new version, you can see the progression of the Legends line over the years, with the 2025 version having much more accurate proportions, a more natural stance through the enhanced articulation, and a definitely better head sculpt and overall facial likenesses.
vs 2017 Marvel Knights Wave Release (right)
Articulation on The Punisher is all pinless, and we have a total count of 22 to work with. The head uses two joints at the base and top of the neck, making the head very expressive in its movement allowing Frank to look up, down, to the sides, or with his head cocked. The legs are double-jointed at the knee, allowing the figure to kneel and sit, while a robust set of ankle rockers keep him stable once posed in either neutral or more action-oriented poses with or without the included weaponry.
Those weapons start with a combat knife that can be stored in a holster around the rear of the figure. The knife itself is cast in matt black with a grey handle that includes ridged grip detail. Two gripping hands are included with Punisher, so there are both right and left options for holding the knife and the other two weapons.
The second of which is a handgun with an extended magazine. Like the knife, this is cast in black with the mag section painted grey. Again, there is a holstering option on Punisher’s belt, and again this can be held in either right or left gripping hands with both hands inclusive of a flexible trigger finger.
The third weapon is the axe wielded by Frank. This is the largest of the weapons and is also black plastic with a sculpt that includes a wrapped handle that is then painted in grey. This one has no storage option, but also fits into either of the two gripping hands for wielding against the Punisher’s enemies.
The upper torso articulation is perfectly suited to any of the three weapons with double-jointed elbows that can fold the lower arm almost back onto the upper arm, butterfly shoulder joints and a second standard shoulder joint to extend the arm outward and upward. I did find this final shoulder joint is a bit harder to manouver from inside the butterfly connection, and once raised, it is equally as difficult to lower back down again.
While there is a basic waist swivel, movement on this is limited, so most of the upper body movement is delivered by the torso ball joint in the central connection just under the ribs. This allows quite an extensive lean backwards, but less forward movement than might be expected when Frank is fighting and gets into those hand-to-hand combat poses. Fist fighting as an option for display is available thanks to an included right hand in a closed clenched fist, but there is no left hand companion. Instead, the final hand option is an open grip left hand that is shaped to either hold an opponent by the neck or to cup a larger weapon like a shotgun or a rifle.
Assault Rifle not included. Posed using the accessory from the 2017 release
If this left hand was originally for a larger firearm, then you can see how well it would work when you borrow the 2017 Punisher assault rifle and use it on this figure. The articulation then supports multiple positions, including being able to have the weapon raised and with Frank looking down the sights, ready to fire.
In summary, the new 2025 Punisher, while a long-time coming, is a triumph of a release. It looks the part, reflective of those final scenes in Daredevil: Born Again, where Punisher teams up with ‘Red’ to battle the AVTF. While there are some very minor details left unpainted on the costume, the key elements are done beautifully, with the chest emblem mirroring the onscreen look, including the hand-painted design and fading over the numerous battles. The headsculpt is on par with recent MCU releases like the Fantastic Four and captures Bernthal’s likeness really well. The accessories all work and play their part, as do the supporting additional hands, although he is perhaps a shotgun or a rifle short of being absolutely standout.
Well done Hasbro! While we had to wait for the release, the wait was worth it and he and Daredevil look fantastic together and are in perfect keeping with the other MCU releases, particularly the most recent figures from Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America, Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four. Here’s to more to come… particularly a Muse and a new Kingpin, please.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...