Calvin Zabo and his gang of superbads just keeps getting more and more interesting. Joining Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on Tuesday is Francis Noche, played by Geo Corvera. Who is this guy? In the photo above, he's in the back with the long hair. In real life, Corvera is a stunt performer who has worked on several Marvel pictures. According to the previews for the episode, Noche's superpower is strength and, like Anna in Frozen, he prefers doors to be open. By that, I mean he breaks down doors. The name Francis Noche sounds more like a paperback romance novel character than a super-villain to me. It's so mysterious. Which is fitting, because we don't know anything about this new and dangerous character.
Some of the other characters on Zabo's "Index" have names that are in the Marvel Universe. David Angar and Karla Faye Gideon are characters in the comic books. It's such a vast resource, you would expect Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to take advantage of what they have. However, Wendell Levi and Francis Noche are original characters. At least, as far as we know. They could reveal themselves to be familiar Marvel characters later on, like with Skye and potentially Raina. There are a few Marvel characters with similar names. With an ability as generic as "strength," let's look at who Francis Noche could be before he joins Calvin Zabo's Lonely Hearts Club Band against S.H.I.E.L.D. on Tuesday night.
Ajax
Ajax has one other name in the comics, and it is Francis. He comes from the same government lab that created Marvel favorites Deadpool and Wolverine, the "Weapon X" program. Francis started off as an employee who was at odds with the future Deadpool when Wade Wilson was an inmate. Not only does Ajax have super strength and speed, but his nerves have been removed so that he has an enhanced ability to tolerate pain. The association with the government and desire for revenge makes him an excellent candidate for Francis Noche's true identity.
The Punisher
Another Marvel "Francis" is Francis Castiglione, also known as Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher. That character is more familiar, there are even a few movies about him. He seeks revenge for his murdered family and had to quit the priesthood because he had too strong a sense of justice to forgive others for their sins. He also has a bit of a criminal record. Frank Castle is a vigilante based in Queens who, mostly due to proximity, interacts with Spider-Man and Daredevil in the comics. Karla Faye Gideon, Francis Noche's ally on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., also has a Daredevil connection. He was a former Marine. If this is Francis Noche's identity, a former Marine might not be too happy to get wind of "terrorist organization" S.H.I.E.L.D. working in secret alongside the U.S. Military. However, The Punisher is not a bad guy, despite his menacing name. He just strikes me as the one vigilante who is kind of bad at his job, always gets caught, and ends up in jail instead of saving the day. I guess somebody has to take the fall.
Images: Justin Lubin/ABC; Marvel Comics; Giphy
