<p>The Punisher has always been a complicated Marvel antihero: a man whose creator imagined him as a reaction to the failures of government at home and in the Vietnam War. So why is the Punisher’s trademark dripping skull insignia — a menacing image used throughout history to denote imminent death — being painted on police vehicles, adopted by members of the military, and donned by white supremacists?</p><p>This episode of <a href="https://www.wbur.org/endlessthread/2021/10/29/memes-punisher">Endless Thread</a> explores the story of The Punisher’s symbol<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/oro4e7/found_in_the_wild_how_i_feel_about_the/"> as a meme</a>, and looks at how well we understand its origins, its use today, and whether its creator — or Marvel — can take it back.</p>
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