Rev (comics)

Rev
The Rev in The Punisher Vol. 2, #35 (July 1990) Art by Bill Reinhold
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Punisher Vol. 2, #4 (November 1987)
Created by	Mike Baron Klaus Janson
In-story information
Full name	Samuel Smith
Species	Human
Place of origin	Earth-616
Team affiliations	Church of the Saved
Partnerships	Jigsaw
Abilities	Healing

The Rev (Samuel Smith) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Mike Baron and Klaus Janson, the character made his first appearance in The Punisher Vol. 2, #4 (November 1987). He is an enemy of the Punisher.

The Rev was introduced in The Punisher Vol. 2, #4-5, and reappeared three years later in the same title, in a storyline that occurred in Issues #35 to #40. He also received a profile in Marvel Encyclopedia #5.

The character was based on Jim Jones, creator of the Peoples Temple.

Samuel "the Rev" Smith was born in Terre Haute and, despite being an atheist, attained recognition due to his faith healing, and blend of socialism and religious fervor, which led to him founding the Church of the Saved in Bedford–Stuyvesant. As his congregation (which consisted primarily of downtrodden minorities) grew, the Rev prepared to move out of the "fascist, racist United States" and into Dutch Guiana.

When an arms dealer refuses to sell to him, the Rev has the man killed, which prompts the Punisher to infiltrate the Church of the Saved. The Punisher's first mission as a member of the cult sees the Rev ordering him and two others to obtain a videotape in the possession of an unstable reporter, who intends to create a documentary about the Church of the Saved. The Punisher (who acquires the tape, and keeps it for himself) is fatally shot by the deranged journalist, but is healed by the Rev. Afterward, the Punisher watches the tape, which shows the Rev murdering a man who had tried to leave the Church.