Warning: this article contains full spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Episode 3! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out
Daredevil: Born Again is sure delivering some riveting superhero television, even if Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock seems absolutely determined not to put the red armor back on. Episode 3 serves as a tense, high-stakes legal drama, as Matt defends his client Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes) in court against charges of murdering an NYPD officer. That story takes a tragic turn in the end, as Hector is exonerated and freed only to be gunned down by a vigilante wearing the Punisher skull.
That twist ending raises a hugely important question. Was that actually Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle who killed Hector? What does it mean if The Punisher has suddenly started targeting costumed vigilantes? And where does the White Tiger storyline go from here? Let’s explore the big questions lingering after Episode 3’s dramatic cliffhanger.
Did The Punisher Kill White Tiger?
In Episode 3, Hector Ayala is put on trial for supposedly murdering an undercover police officer. While the truth is that Hector was simply trying to be a good samaritan in a situation gone horribly awry, Matt Murdock faces a steep uphill battle in convincing a jury of Hector’s innocence. Only by taking “a big swing” and outing Hector’s role as White Tiger does Matt manage to turn the tide in Hector’s favor.
Unfortunately, that act proves to be Hector’s undoing. Hector makes it clear he has no intention of giving up his nightly vigilante activities, despite the large target the trial has painted on his back. No sooner does Hector resume patrolling the streets than he’s gunned down, executioner-style, by a rogue figure wearing a bulletproof vest adorned with the iconic Punisher skull.
Again, the question here is whether that was actually Frank Castle who pulled the trigger. To date, Frank has mostly shied away from the superhuman side of the MCU, preferring to target ordinary criminals and corrupt officials. Targeting costumed vigilantes would definitely serve as a major shift in Frank’s methods and motivations.
That’s not to say that Punisher has never directed his wrath at costumed villains in the comics. Matt Fraction’s Punisher: War Journal is one notable example of a series where Frank grows fed up with the damage caused by the supervillains of the Marvel Universe and directs his wrath at men like Hate-Monger and Kraven the Hunter. But this explanation would require that Frank views White Tiger as a villain who evaded justice. Does The Punisher see White Tiger as a cop killer? Did Hector cross an unforgivable line in Frank’s eyes?
Historically, Marvel has never been that consistent when it comes to depicting Frank Castle’s opinion of the police. When it comes to military service members, it’s a different story. Frank holds a clear, fierce respect for those who risk their lives to serve…