First appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #129, The Punisher is the alter ego of military veteran Frank Castle, who wages a one-man war against crime after his wife and children are killed during a shootout by rival mob outfits. The character's belief in killing criminals rather than apprehending them frequently puts him at odds with Marvel's traditional heroes.
The action drama centers on a highly decorated Marine sniper living in exile who is coaxed back into action after learning of a plot to kill the president. Ultimately double-crossed and framed for the attempt, he goes on the run to track the real killer and find out who exactly set him up, and why.
The series follows the exploits of Lucy Spiller, an executive editor at two tabloid magazines. Lucy possesses the power to manipulate the lives of celebrities through the articles she prints in the magazine.
"Third Watch" tells the stories of the members of the 55 Squad - the police, firefighters and paramedics who work the "third watch" between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. - the finest and the bravest who protect and serve the citizens of New York.