As Black Lives Matter protests mounted over the summer, I argued that Marvel should put The Punisher to sleep because if one takes the character and contextualizes him against the past five years or so of current events, some hibernation for Frank Castle could only help matters. The Netflix show kinda didn’t know what to do with the guy amid ongoing mass shootings, and the TV show tried to move the ex-Marine beyond his core vigilante function (and extrajudicial ways) by softening him, which felt awkward at best. Yet law enforcement continues to misappropriate the antihero’s logo, which turned into a sloppy mess for the NYPD this past weekend (and this wasn’t even due to a Halloween costume, either, not that a costume-angle would have helped).
Here’s what happened, although a tweet-and-delete situation has occurred, so the NY Daily News has the details. Essentially, the NYPD’s 24th precinct tweeted out an image (which they later deleted) of two officers while praising them for arresting a robbery suspect. One officer was wearing a mask with The Punisher logo with an extra twist: the acronym DILLIGAF, meaning “Does It Look Like I Give a F*ck.”
The tweet has since been deleted. Here it is pic.twitter.com/MHpv4LwrvB
— Craig McCarthy (@createcraig) November 2, 2020
“After observing a traffic infraction, @NYPD24Pct’s PO Kite & PO Rodriguez conducted a car stop,” read the original tweet. “[w]hich led to a foot pursuit & an arrest. It turns out that the suspect was operating a stolen vehicle & wanted for a past robbery. Great work.” This praise (which has now been yanked from Twitter) led to some “yikes” from users.
Imagine there’s a disputed election, and far-right, pro-Trump extremists arrive in NYC. Whose side do you think this guy is on? pic.twitter.com/lukoelR718
— Boerum Hill Neighbors (@boerumhillnbrs) November 2, 2020
When asked for comment about the photo Monday, Punisher co-creator @gerryconway said, “Just quote me as audibly sighing.”https://t.co/dbWahgab5T
— John Annese (@JohnAnnese) November 3, 2020
Did you notice that officer on the right is wearing a mask with a logo for the Punisher (comic vigilante killer), the thin blue line and says Diligaf (acronym for do I look like I give a fuck) on it? Not a good look @nypdnews
— SpotNews.tv (@spotnews_tv) November 1, 2020
The NYPD has basically shrugged off criticism of officers using the Punisher symbol. You know who else likes it? white supremacists:https://t.co/PjkmOL4e8I
— Ashley THEE Ghoul (@AshleyAtTimes) November 2, 2020
Please hear this if you can- That punisher stuff is literally emblematic of what’s wrong with this picture.
Nice job getting a robber and car thief off the street— but next time do it without symbolism that says “I’m judge/jury/executioner.” Read the comic- he’s not a good cop.
— rowley (@DanceMomAndrew) November 2, 2020
Is that guy wearing a Punisher mask? This is why New Yorkers don’t trust the NYPD.
— Boerum Hill Neighbors (@boerumhillnbrs) November 2, 2020
Yep, not a great look, especially with the added acronym on the mask. To further complicate matters, Frank Castle’s not only an ex-Marine, but also a former NYPD cop in his Ultimate Marvel incarnation. The character’s co-creator, Gerry Conway, who brought Frank Castle and his logo (along with John Romita Sr.) to life nearly 50 years ago, has attempted to point out that Castle harbors distaste for cops and military members using the logo for their own ends. Also, Castle is a one-man killing machine, who acts as judge/jury/executioner, and you name it. The NYPD probably shouldn’t want officers to walk around wearing The Punisher’s logo on a mask.
This issue (of The Punisher #13, where Frank Castle tells his fanboy-cops to get lost) is sure looking relevant right about now. As noted, though, the 24th Precinct deleted the offending photo without explanation, so… end of story?
(Via NY Daily News)