Frank Castle/Karen Page
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Frank Castle/Karen Page |
| Alternative name(s): | Kastle |
| Gender category: | Het |
| Fandom: | Daredevil (TV series), Punisher (TV series) |
| Canonical?: | |
| Prevalence: | High |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
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Frank Castle/Karen Page is a het pairing from the Daredevil (TV series) and Punisher (TV series) fandoms.
Canon
Comics
TV Series
Frank Castle is determined to kill everyone associated with the shoot out that killed his family. Karen is caught up in one such attack at Metro General Hospital. She begins to investigate the Punisher, ending up at the address of an unidentified man who survived a gunshot wound to the head. Breaking into the house, she takes a picture of Frank Castle and his family.
When Frank is arrested, Karen encourages Nelson and Murdock to take his case. Frank is uncooperative, until Karen points out that they are the only people who cares about his murdered family, showing him the picture she took from his house. She is the only person who believes in him. After Frank is convicted, Wilson Fisk arranges his escape from prison. As the Blacksmith begins killing people associated with Frank and framing him for the murders, Castle seeks out Karen to protect her. Franks determination to kill the Blacksmith against Karen's wishes, seems to permanently end their friendship.
However, at the start of Punisher season 1, Frank seeks out Karen to help him find Micro. Karen admits she still cares for Frank, and he is once again willing to risk his life to save her.
Fandom
Comics
TV Series
Based on the number of works on Ao3, Frank/Karen is the most popular pairing in the Punisher (TV series) fandom [1] and the second most popular pairing in the Daredevil (TV series) fandom.[2] The gen pairing of these two characters is also common. They work well together in canon and are both, to some extent, morally ambiguous characters. Frank is only too willing to kill criminals, and Karen killed Wesley in seaosn 1, covering up his death and telling no one.
Common Storylines & Tropes
- Post Daredevil Season 2
- Post Punisher Season 1
- Hurt/Comfort works often involve Karen caring for a physically injured Punisher, or one character providing emotional comfort to the other.
- PTSD is common in works as Frank Castle is a veteran. Some works examine Karen's PTSD as a result of traumatic events in canon.
- Karen's mysterious past is referenced in a small number of fics.
Statistics
As of January 31, 2024, there are 2200 works tagged Frank Castle/Karen Page on AO3.
Fanworks
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fanfiction
- Heaven Sent the Saints Down (Hell Sent Them Up) by Ambrosia, But no, yes, the Punisher. In her apartment. Staring at her with an unfazed expression on his face. Even from the doorway, she can see the white skull painted on his chest-piece. And this is somehow so normal for her [...] '
- The Red Line by SheelaNaGig, You'd think it would be easy to avoid someone in a city of eight million people.'
- The Ghosts We Keep Within by irishcookie, She told Frank Castle that he is dead to her --- so it is almost fitting that his ghost haunts her.
- One Worth Knowing by Wynn, The message arrives in an innocuous envelope, a plain white one marked only with her name and the address of The Bulletin, the two scrawled on the front in thick black ink. Karen doesn’t even have to open it to know it’s from him, from Frank, though almost eight months have passed since she last saw him.
- ain't nothing but a monster by nighimpossible, “Is this okay?” she asks, the question just a murmur in the dark. “You’re already close enough to hurt me,” Frank says finally, after chewing on the thought for a long moment. “So hurt me.”
- in death's dream kingdom by therestlessbrook, Everyone is wrong about how the world ends—it isn’t with a bang or a whimper. Not with fire or ice. It ends in ash. (Or, Thanos snaps his fingers, and Frank and Karen survive in the aftermath.)
Fanvids
- karen & frank || devil side
- Karen Page & Frank Castle | Nightcall
- Frank Castle and Karen Page | alone and together
- Frank & Karen | Someone To Stay
Edits, Graphics & Gifsets
- initial meeting graphic by clintnatalias
- Season 1 hug gifset by thepunisher
- is it comfort or touch that you crave graphic by facinaoris
Fanart
Meta
Archives and Fannish Links
References
- ^ Works on Ao3 as of the 6/2/18, Frank Castle/Karen Page (448) Frank Castle & Karen Page (117) Frank Castle/Matt Murdock (44) Frank Castle/Reader (43) Frank Castle/Maria Castle (33) David "Micro" Lieberman/Sarah Lieberman (24) Frank Castle/Billy Russo (21) Frank Castle/Original Female Character(s) (15) Frank Castle/David "Micro" Lieberman (13) Frank Castle & Curtis Hoyle
- ^ Works on Ao3 as of 6/2/18, Matt Murdock/Franklin "Foggy" Nelson (1513) Frank Castle/Karen Page (882) Matt Murdock & Franklin "Foggy" Nelson (801) Frank Castle/Matt Murdock (370) Matt Murdock/Karen Page (342) Matt Murdock/Reader (275) Frank Castle & Karen Page (263) Matt Murdock/Claire Temple (238) Matt Murdock/Elektra Natchios (237) Matt Murdock & Franklin "Foggy" Nelson & Karen Page (84)