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Published Jan 29, 2026, 3:30 PM EST
Shaun Corley is a Staff Writer for ScreenRant, a position he has held for five years. While he enjoys many types of comics and graphic novels, he has a particular interest in the licensed Star Trek titles.
Warning: contains spoilers for The Punisher #5!
Marvel just dropped a look ahead to Spider-Man’s next showdown in the MCU. Spider-Man swings back to the MCU in Brand New Day, releasing later this year. In addition to Spidey, fans can expect other major players from Peter’s life, including Tombstone and the Punisher, to play a role. Now, in The Punisher #5, the two villains clash.
The Punisher #5 was written by Benjamin Percy and drawn by Julius Ohta. The Punisher attacks Kingpin at his compound, while Tombstone leads a small group against Fisk. In the chaos, the Punisher seemingly kills Kingpin before Tombstone can get to him.
Tombstone then confronts the Punisher, and the two briefly fight before Frank slips away.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Returns Spidey to His Street-Level Roots
Tombstone Is One of Spider-Man's Most Feared Villains
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be the Wall-Crawler’s first MCU appearance in five years, after 2021’s No Way Home. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Brand New Day looks to be bucking the trend of the MCU Spider-Man films. Peter’s first three MCU outings were grand in scope, featuring multiverses and high-tech suits of Spider armor.
While these movies were well-received, they lost sight of Spider-Man’s “street level” nature. While Brand New Day’s plot is still under wraps, it is known the film will see Jon Berenthal return as the Punisher as well as introduce long-time Spider-Man foe Tombstone, played by Marvin Jones III, to the MCU.
With the announcement that Tombstone would be appearing in Brand New Day came renewed interest in the character. Tombstone, first appearing in 1988’s Web of Spider-Man #36, is an imposing sight, with his pale-gray skin and teeth he has filed to resemble fangs. If done properly, the MCU Tombstone could be one of its best villains.
Tombstone was created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk
A Fight Between the Punisher and Tombstone Promises to Be Epic, And Bloody
The Punisher's Exact Brand New Day Role is Still Under Wraps
Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases on July 31, but fans need not wait until then to see the Punisher and Tombstone throwdown. Their encounter with each other in The Punisher #5 is brief, only lasting a page, and Tombstone is ultimately taken into custody by the police, but it offers a tantalizing preview of what is to come.
With the secrecy surrounding Brand New Day’s plot, it is unknown what roles the Punisher and Tombstone will play, but a confrontation between them now feels inevitable. The massive, hulking Tombstone is one of the most feared members of the criminal underworld in the Marvel Universe, which will put him in the Punisher’s sights.
With the secrecy surrounding Brand New Day’s plot, it is unknown what roles the Punisher and Tombstone will play, but a confrontation between them now feels inevitable.
Although the Punisher and Tombstone only saw each other for a short while, the fleeting glimpses fans are given promise a bloody and brutal fight. Tombstone is larger than the Punisher, which would seem to give him an advantage. Yet the Punisher, with his superior combat skills and extensive arsenal, is more than a match for Tombstone.
Brand New Day Will Refresh the MCU's Spider-Man Franchise
The Movie Also Celebrates What Made Spider-Man Great
Custom image created by Evan D. MullicaneSpider-Man fans are excited about a more comics’ accurate take on the character’s mythos. His previous MCU features eschewed some of the initial elements that made Spider-Man a cool character, but that is changing with Brand New Day. The presence of Tombstone and the Punisher, who began life as a Spider-Man villain, are proof of this commitment to honoring the character’s roots.
The Punisher #5 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
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