This fan theory about The Punisher surviving the blip could change how we view the snap

A typical fan theory is that Frank Castle (The Punisher) survived Thanos' first snap, which is termed the Blip, three months after the Blip occurred in May 2018, based on the chronology of The Punisher Season 2 epilogue, which runs August 2018.

If this is true, it offers up new narrative possibilities for street-level MCU heroes and suggests that even brutal antiheroes may survive, altering our perspective on Snap's unpredictability. Marvel Studios has not publicly verified whether Castle is a Blip; hence, the idea remains untested but has many consequences for the motivations of the characters and the general continuity from Netflix to the MCU.

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Fan theory about The Punisher surviving the blip: more details

Starting in 2018 with Thanos's use of the Infinity Gauntlet to erase half of reality, the Blip, also known as the Snap or the Decimation, lasted until 2023 when Hulk employed a second snap to reverse the impact. According to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, the Blip occurred in May 2018; hence, anything that occurs after that date is deemed to have occurred after the snap.

In the Season 2 epilogue of Netflix's The Punisher, Frank Castle is seen working in August 2018, three months after the Blip. This implies he was never dusted. A long GameRant piece claims this timing challenges the idea that the Snap's unpredictability impacted all street-level vigilantes.

Castle's continuous war on crime during worldwide instability aggravates his suffering if he remains active throughout the Blip, adding to his misery from losing half the planet on top of his family. When he returns, injured from battle but unrelenting, this capacity to live may shed light on his even more unpredictable wants in Daredevil: Born Again.

The concept emphasizes Snap's neutrality: anti-heroes might live as well as heroes. It criticizes the notion that only "good guys" were spared and suggests that Marvel can explore the conflicts of morally ambiguous people during the five years of upheaval. This nuance can help spectators to sympathize more with survivors like Castle, who have had more challenges after survival.

Marvel Studios has not officially verified Frank Castle's Blip status. Recent reports indicate that, even if Daredevil: Born Again implies he survives, fans are anxiously awaiting formal acknowledgment.

Based on the August 2018 Season 2 epilogue scenario, the fan theory that The Punisher survived the Blip offers a provocative reading of the Snap's randomness and raises fresh stakes for Castle's mission.

Though Marvel has not verified this survival, the idea rings with bigger debates over which people lived the Blip and how it affected their lives. Should future Marvel Cinematic Universe movies explore Castle's unbroken vigilante fight, it may improve the narrative fabric after Snap and alter our view of heroes and anti-heroes following Thanos' terrible act.

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Divya Burman is a journalist at Primetimer 

She has completed her graduation in English Literature, which fuelled her interest in writing. A curious learner, Divya isn't scared to move out of her comfort zone and reviews her work from a critical point of view.

Divya has multiple years of work experience, including at companies like TechWhoop and Vimana. She also worked as a programme facilitator at MyCaptain.

Divya is also fond of research and keeping herself up to date on the latest trends in the world of fashion. In her free time, she indulges in music and reading and loves to watch films.