Origin
Microship, or David Linus Lieberman as was his true name, was a former weapons engineer. He was also especially skilled in the use of computers and technology. He became the Punisher’s sidekick for a long duration in the start of the Punisher’s career.
Creation
Microchip was created by Mike Baron and Klaus Janson and first appeared in The Punisher #4 (1987).
Major Story Arcs
In League with the Punisher
Originally Microchip was the guy that the Punisher would go to for new equipment and vans. However, after the death of his son he joins Frank Castle in his war on crime. In order to find and take down the Kingpin for the murder of his nephew, who was following in his steps as a hacker, David Linus Lieberman joined the Punisher in his fight against crime. Microchip’s skills are not limited to hacking, he is also an experienced cyber-investigator, can launder money, find hard to get ammunition and weaponry and training Castle in more specialized areas needed for missions.
Micro was never as cold as The Punisher. He even once started seeing a therapist so he could talk about his son, because he didn’t feel like he could confide in Frank. However the two would eventually be able to talk about it. Micro also helps keep the Punisher’s mind from going crazed and tries to get him to take breaks from his “war on crime”.
Helping or Betraying the Punisher
Eventually, Micro understood that the Punisher was losing his grip on his sanity and locked him up while he found a Navy-Seal named Carlos Cruz to take the Punisher’s place as a way to stop criminals, but not killing them anymore. In the meantime, Microchip tried to bring the Punisher back into sanity with psychological experiments.
Punisher eventually broke free of Micro’s holding-cell and was extremely angry with him, pointing his gun at him, thinking about killing him. It was at that precise moment that a Punisher enemy named Stone Cold bombed the wall they where standing at, seemingly killing Micro. After the Punisher killed Stone Cold, he started to wonder if he would really have killed Micro himself. Seeing him dead, the Punisher walked away never to return again.
Dark Reign
In the Punisher Dark Reign story arc, “Living in Darkness,” a mysterious hacker that is tracking the Punisher and his new sidekick Henry’s transmissions is shown to be Microchip. It is revealed that Microchip is alive again, seemingly resurrected from the dead by the Hood. Microchip’s motives seem to be driven by a promise made by the Hood to resurrect his son, Microchip Jr.
Punisher however does not stand for it. When Microchip kills SHIELD agent G.W. Bridge, the Punisher hunts down and tries to kill Microchip. He however failed to do so.
In the Blood Mini-series
The Punisher returns to New York City and vows to find Microchip and make him pay for murdering G.W. Bridge. While Microchip is captive in Jigsaw’s warehouse mansion, he is visited by Rampage, who is the Punisher’s old ally. Rampage explains his girlfriend was killed by the Punisher and swears to make him accountable, but his revenge failed.
When the Punisher is captured, Jigsaw allows him to kill Microchip by slashing his throat, killing him once more, but this time Punisher killed his old ally himself
Other Versions
Punisher Max
In the first The Punisher Max story arc, “In the Beginning,” it is revealed that Microchip is still alive and is aiding a CIA black ops unit in hunting Frank Castle down for assistance in finding and eliminating Osama Bin Laden. He catches Frank off guard and captures and interrogates him. When they are attacked by mobsters Micro helps the Punisher fight them off. Castle kills Micro with a shotgun blast to the head for his betrayal at the end of the story arc, in issue 6 of Punisher MAX.
Other Media
Television
Animated
Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1990s)
Called Chip in the episode, Return of the Green Goblin, Micro acts as an adviser the the deadly vigilante the Punisher and attempts to talk Frank into using non-lethal weapons.
Live Action
Daredevil (2016)
In the last episode of season two of Daredevil, Frank Castle retrieves a compact disk with the word “Micro” on it before burning his house down.
The Punisher (2017)
David Linus Lieberman, actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach playes a big support role.
Movies
The Punisher (2004)
Although not in this film, Micro was in earlier concepts and drafts by Michael France for the movie.
Punisher War Zone (2008)
Linus “Microchip” Lieberman, actor Wayne Knight played a big support role in this R rated Marvel Knight’s first film as Frank’s weapon dealer. Linus’s motives why to assist the Punisher on his “war on crime” are made clear through dialogue explaining he lost his son as well.
Games
The Punisher: The Ultimate Payback (1991 Gameboy/Arcade)
Not a big role but Micro makes a cameo on the continue screen to give Frank CPR and resume the game.
Spider-Man (2000 PSX/PC)
Not actually appearing on screen but he is heard talking to the Punisher as he is trying to snipe.
Punisher: No Mercy
For the first time Microchip is a playable character in this PSN game.