Punisher Might Lift Mjolnir in Marvel Zombies: War Zone

Spoiler warning: This article discusses potential plot details from Marvel Zombies: War Zone #2-5.

Screen Rant is floating a wild theory about the Punisher: Frank Castle may end up lifting Mjolnir by the end of *Marvel Zombies: War Zone*. The evidence comes from the solicitation for issue #5, the final chapter of the five-issue miniseries, and its cover art.

The solicitation reads: "ONLY THE WORTHY CAN SURVIVE!" and teases a final showdown with a zombie Thor. Since zombified Thor is unworthy of Mjolnir, the hammer needs a new wielder. Screen Rant argues that Punisher, as the story's protagonist and one of the last survivors standing alongside Luke Cage, is the most likely candidate.

The Setup

The miniseries takes place on a quarantined Manhattan. Iron Man sealed the island with a dome to contain the Hunger, a horde of infected former Hand ninjas led by Gorgon. Even the Avengers and the Fantastic Four fled. Punisher is forced to fight his way through, teaming up with Luke Cage, Elektra, and others. By issue #5, only Punisher and Luke appear to remain, per the solicitation.

Screen Rant notes that Punisher's worthiness might come by process of elimination. In a world overrun by zombies, he may be the only living person left who is deemed "worthy" simply because his goal to stop the apocalypse is pure enough. That doesn't mean the regular Punisher is worthy in the traditional sense, but in this twisted reality, it might be enough.

"Logically, Punisher could outlast every other living soul who inhabits the dome," Screen Rant speculates.

Who Rules the Hunger?

The Hunger aren't mindless undead. They're infected soldiers who bleed green blood and follow Gorgon's orders. Screen Rant also points out that the main villain may not be Gorgon at all, but Kingpin, who is called Gorgon's "generous benefactor." That fits a Punisher story better than a zombie army.

When Does It Drop?

*Marvel Zombies: War Zone* #5 hits stores on January 6, 2027. Until then, we can only guess whether Frank Castle will prove himself worthy. It's a fun theory, and if it holds, Punisher might become only the second non-Thor to lift Mjolnir in Marvel Comics continuity.

• Frank Castle
• Marvel Comics
• Marvel Zombies: War Zone
• Mjolnir
• Punisher
• Thor