One of The Punisher’s oldest and most ruthless enemies made the jump to part-time hero when he adopted the title of the mercenary Paladin.
There are few things worse in the Marvel universe than crossing the Punisher. The ex-military vigilante fights crime with a ruthless and uncompromising efficiency that gives no quarter to those that prey on the innocent. But there are a few villains who have managed to keep their lives despite their many run-ins with the Punisher. The disfigured mobster Jigsaw has been one of the Punisher’s oldest and most dangerous enemies. In The Punisher #14 by Mathew Rosenberg, Szymon Kudranski, and Antonio Fabela Jigsaw takes on the mantle of anti-hero by order of the super-villain Baron Zemo.
Following the events of Secret Empire, the Punisher is apprehended by Nick Fury. Fury hands the Punisher over to Baron Zemo who is ready to enact revenge on the Punisher for his attacks on the worldwide terrorist organization Hydra. Jigsaw, an operative for Zemo, accompanies the two as they travel to the criminal island nation of Bagalia where the Punisher is to be publicly executed. After countless furious battles and firefights, The Punisher escapes Bagalia, with Zemo trailing close behind.
The shared destination of both the Punisher and Zemo is New York City. Kingpin, supreme criminal mastermind, is currently acting as mayor of the great city and he, like Zemo, holds no love for the Punisher. Learning the the Punisher returned to New York with him, Zemo gains an audience with Kingpin and tells him of the Punisher’s survival. The two super villains formulate a plan to kill the Punisher once and for all: Hydra agents will masquerade as SWAT officers and sweep the city, flushing the Punisher out and killing him in cold blood.
To doubly ensure the elimination of the Punisher, Zemo also hatches another plan parallel to Kingpin’s: the reformation of the Thunderbolts, the team of various villains pretending to be heroes. Unknown to Kingpin, the mobster Jigsaw was also able to return to New York from Bagalia. Continuing to work alongside Zemo, Jigsaw masqueraded as the enigmatic mercenary Paladin, who has existed for years working for and against various heroes and villains, his identity never known.
With the forces of both Hydra and the Thunderbolts after him, the Punisher reluctantly accepts the help of Black Widow, Night Thrasher, and Moon Knight. The two groups engage in combat, but before either can claim a solid victory, Jigsaw escapes alongside Baron Zemo.
Despite being thrown onto a speeding train, being shot in the head, and being severely wounded by the Punisher, Jigsaw is a villain who just won’t stay down. While some villains manage to tone down their criminal activity over years of constant failure, or even turn over a new leaf entirely, Jigsaw has maintained a constant level of evil throughout his criminal career.
Aside from his brief stint as Paladin, Jigsaw has always operated under his own name without a mask. He was able to make another escape from his battle with the Punisher under the cover of the ensuing chaos around them, but it’s only a matter of time before he and the Punisher are in each other’s cross-hairs once again.
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