The Punisher stands out for being one of the most violent and brutal shows in Marvel’s history, but surprisingly, it also made one villain’s comic book ending way less intense. Netflix’s Marvel shows existed outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which allowed them to be more flexible with how they approached the stories.
While the MCU tried to keep things generally appropriate for most audiences, Netflix opted to go dark with their depictions of Marvel heroes like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage. However, grittier than all of the others combined was Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, the murderous vigilante veteran with a penchant for violence.
The Punisher Season 2 Introduces A New Marvel Antagonist In The Form Of John Pilgrim
In The Punisher season 2, a new antagonist is pitted against Frank Castle. John Pilgrim was a former assassin, but when he found religion, he attempted to drastically alter the course of his life. However, due to manipulation by Anderson and Eliza Shultz, Pilgrim is forced to continue killing in order to protect his ill wife.
Pilgrim crosses paths with Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, and the two end up locked in battle throughout the season. This results in several intense encounters, and much brutality throughout season 2, building towards an epic final showdown.
John Pilgrim Appears To Be Drawn From A Marvel Comic Character
While John Pilgrim does not have a direct inspiration in the comics as far as a character who shares his name and his precise storyline, there is a comic book villain who appears to have a lot in common with Pilgrim, The Mennonite.
The Mennonite was a former assassin who finds religion and seeks to change his ways. However, he also returns to contract killing, and takes on a job to hunt down the Punisher. In fact, Mennonite even has an ill wife, just like Pilgrim.
However, the biggest difference between the two is perhaps the fact that the Mennonite opts to avoid using guns, choosing to instead use more manual weapons, and even his hands. This actually ties into the ending of his comic book story, which marks another major split between Mennonite and Pilgrim’s stories.
The Punisher Show Gives John Pilgrim A Notably Different Ending To His Comic Counterpart
In The Punisher, Castle commiserates with Pilgrim, due to both having lost their wives. He chooses to spare Pilgrim’s life, and Pilgrim leaves peacefully, ready to make some lasting changes. Considering how quick Castle is to usually pull the trigger, this is an interesting and unique development.
However, in the comics, Castle shows no such mercy. The Mennonite’s final battle sees him locked in close combat with Castle, before he chooses to break his rules and grab one of Castle’s guns. This results in the Mennonite receiving a powerful electric shock, as Frank booby-trapped his weapons.
With the Mennonite incapacitated, Frank chooses to get creative, and rather than shoot his attacker dead, he uses a large safe from nearby to brutally crush his head. Evidently, this is a far more gruesome ending than the one depicted in The Punisher season 2.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
