Punisher

First Appearance - Amazing Spider-Man #129

by Ross Andru, 1974

In the Punisher's first appearance, he's in league with the criminal mastermind known as the Jackal. The Jackal has convinced the Punisher that they share the same goal in destroying the criminal class of New York. The Jackal has also convinced the Punisher that Spider-Man is one of the masterminds of that criminal underclass and deserves to die for it.

The Punisher gets Spider-Man's attention by sniping at him with a concussion rifle. When Spider-Man swings down to the rooftop to capture him, the Punisher entangles Spider-Man with a titanium alloy cable. Spider-Man easily snaps the cable and begins pummeling the Punisher, but the Jackal lies in wait and ambushes Spider-Man with his electro-claws across the back before pushing a stunned Spider-Man off the rooftop. Thinking that Spider-Man died in the fall, the Jackal and Punisher return to the Jackal's hideout.

When the Punsher goes to see his armorer, he spots Spider-Man entering the gunstore. When the Punisher crashes in and finds his friend lying dead on the floor with Spider-Man standing over him, he naturally holds Spider-Man responsible for his friend's death. After subduing the Punisher, Spider-Man shows him the wounds on his dead friend, and points out that only the Jackal's claws would make wounds like that. Vowing revenge on the Jackal for his friend's death, the Punisher leaves quietly to go fight his lonely war against crime.