MARVEL HAS A POPULARITY PROBLEM WITH one of its B-list characters: the Punisher, aka Frank Castle, a troubled ex-Marine turned vigilante who metes out lethal justice to the corrupt and criminal ("The people I kill need killing"). Right now, he's too popular with the wrong people. Among the MAGA hats, Don't Tread on Me Flags and Trump 2024 banners on display during the January 6 invasion of the Capitol, were also logos and images belonging to various comic book characters. One of the most popular was the Punisher's signature white-on-black skull emblem, which cropped up on patches, shirts and flags. Some were on officially licensed Marvel merchandise, some on copyright-infringing knock-offs.
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