Several alert readers have emailed ICv2 about our story, X Force #116 To Be Non-Code.  In the story we quoted Marvel's assertion that this was the first mainstream Marvel Superhero comic to go without the Code's seal of approval since the 1970s.  Our readers immediately asked us, 'what about those Garth Ennis-penned Punisher books?  They weren't code approved, were they?'

 

Well, no they weren't, but, in its reply to ICv2's query, it became clear that the Punisher, though he does appear to have a superhuman ability to absorb punishment (as well as dish it out), is not technically a superhero in the eyes of Marvel comics, at least, and they ought to know.  Don't tell the NRA, but evidently it takes more than just big guns to make a superhero.