| Joan |  Why do you kill them? Bad people, I mean.  |
| Frank Castle | I hate them. |
| Joan | Oh. I thought it might be because you wanted to make the world safe for good people. |
Appearing in "Desperate Measures"
Featured Characters:
- ⏴ Punisher (Frank Castle) ⏵ (Main story and flashback) (Impersonates John Smith)
Supporting Characters:
- Joan
- Spacker Dave
- NYPD
- Detective Martin Soap
- Lieutenant Molly von Richthofen
- Captain (Mentioned)
- Commissioner (Mentioned)
Antagonists:
- Gnucci Crime Family
- Ma Gnucci (Main story and flashback)
- Benny (Death)
- Billy (Death)
- Carlo Gnucci (Only in flashback)
- Russian (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Kevin
- Backalley Doctor
- Polar Bears (Only in flashback)
- Bravo Force (First appearance)
- Yakuza (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Mott Street
- Punisher's Apartment Building
- Gnucci Mansion
- Lucky's Bar
- Empire State Building (Only in flashback)
- Mott Street
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York
- Kazakhstan
- Russian's House
- United States of America
Items:
- IV Bags
- Heart Monitor
- Telephone
- Cellphone
- Pliers
- Rope
- Address Book
- Purse
- Glasses of Beer
- Cigarette
- Lighter
- Newspaper
- Ballistic Knife
- Guns
- Bottle of Whiskey
- Medical Supplies
- Kevlar Vest
- Flamethrower (Only in flashback)
- Binoculars
- Toilet
- Axe
Synopsis for "Desperate Measures"
The Punisher lies on his blood-soaked bed, slowly dying from his gunshot wounds and broken body. Joan tells Frank that Spacker Dave is being tortured in the other room by Ma Gnucci’s men to force him to tell where the Punisher is. The gangsters rip out his face rings. Frank manages to get to the room and stabs the man who answers his door knock. He uses a spring-loaded knife on the other one. Punisher pays an alcoholic mob doctor to remove his bullets, refusing anesthetic, biting on a bullet instead. The doctor also fixes up Spacker Dave’s face. In Kazakhstan Bravo Force soldiers enter a small house “the Russian” is in but he wastes all but one, telling him to go back to his bosses and warn them not to come for him again. He then gets a call from Ma Gnucci wanting his assistance. He happily accepts.