Spider-Man and Batman are all very well, but what about the comics fan who likes their protagonist a little less... goodie-goodie. Let's just say The Punisher doesn't feel the need to dress up as an animal of any kind, and he certainly never wears tights, much to the disappointment of his female fans. He does however get his own new Playstation Network game, which has been scheduled for release in early July.

As well as turning up in other Marvel titles, the vigilante with a less than robust respect for the conventions of law-abiding superheroics has already starred in a collection of his very own titles, which have always followed the comic series' aesthetic of shoot first, then shoot some more, and leave the questions for someone who is not busy blowing stuff up.

The Punisher: No Mercy doesn't look set to mess with this formula too much, presenting as an Unreal-engine based FPS with an emphasis on multiplayer mayhem. Several different solo and team modes allow up to eight contenders to get their gore on, as one of a range of Punisher friends and foes.

There's a single player mode if you get sick of blowing up real people, with a plot involving a partnership with the mercenary who puts the "fem" back in "femoral fracture", Silver Sable, and featuring an all-star round-up of villains including Jigsaw, Barracuda and Bushwacker. Adding to the authenticity of the game world is art from Marvel favourite Mike Deodato and neat little touches like character-specific taunts lifted straight from their comic adventures.

Tie-in titles are almost always a bit of a concern, but Zsolt Kigyossy, of developers ZEN Studios, is pretty confident:

"Our team has been working long hours to deliver a first-person shooter experience that will live up to the Punisher name ... With awesome characters, a customizable system, and fast-paced multiplayer action, No Mercy is breaking ground in the digital space. For comic and shooter fans alike, this is a must-have game for the summer.”

Or, you know, winter. The exact Australian release date is yet to be confirmed, along with pricing, but we should hopefully see The Punisher: No Mercy close to the US July 2nd launch, and at a price comparable to the USD $9.99