What If#10(1990)

The story opens with the Castle family enjoying a picnic in Central Park, which is interrupted by a rain squall and the family elects to go home. Bruno Costa, Skinner and Kolsky (the three murderers in the original) are hiding in the bushes and fear they will be exposed, but in this storyline, one of the trio convinces the other two to stay hidden, as murdering civilians will bring untold heat on them that they do not need. As such, the wife and kids are not murdered by mobsters and the family returns home as planned. That night, Frank tells his wife how even during the darkest days of the Vietnam War that he could always depend on his fellow Marines for teamwork and esprit de corps, and that he has been accepted to the police academy as that is the best civilian job he knows that has like dedication. The Watcher continues his tale by saying "Several months later, Frank Castle became a full-fledged member of the constabulatory of New York City", where he is now known as Patrolman Castle. He is partnered with a more experienced cop, Officer McGuire, who shows him some of the underground activities alongside their route. One of their first stops is a donut shop where they are picking up coffee for the day, but Patrolman Castle is taken aback when the owner asks if he is here to collect the payment. Officer McGuire explains that many members of the NYPD collect kickbacks in exchange for not being bothersome to rackets such as blackmail, union extortion, prostitution, heroin, et cetera. Later, a video arcade is robbed, but this is thwarted by Spider-Man, who has plastered the robber with a net and ready for Patrolman Castle to book. Refusing to turn a blind eye to corruption, Frank tried to bring evidence of his colleague's crimes to his captain, not realizing his superior officer was just as corrupt. As he collected evidence against crooked police and judges, his captain decided it was necessary to silence him, sending a team of assassins to murder Frank in his sleep. Frank survived the attack, but his family was not so fortunate. Traumatized by their murders, Frank faked his death and adopted the identity of the Punisher – inspired by a superhero costume his son had designed before his death. Striking from the shadows, he began killing the crooked police he'd been collecting evidence against, while sending his evidence to the Daily Bugle and other newspapers. With the press reporting on the corruption of the men he was targeting, he enjoyed public support – but Frank's life as anything other than the Punisher was over.