WARNING: SPOILERS FOR DAREDEVIL BELOW!
Daredevil is one of my favorite Marvel Heroes. He was such a unique character and the idea of super heroes still being human and still being vulnerable was explored in his character. I’ll admit, much of my love for the character was because of the amazing Netflix show Daredevil. But more than sparking more of my interest in Daredevil himself. The show made me actually like a villain I originally had no interest in. The show delved into his character in a way the comics had not often done. That villain was Wilson Fisk A.K.A. The Kingpin. On the show, Vincent D’Onofrio gives a phenomenal performance as Fisk.
In the comics, Fisk had a bad childhood. He was thought of as unpopular thanks to being overweight. As a result, bullies at his school began to target him. As a result of his abnormal childhood, Fisk began to use others to get what he wanted. He became obsessed with being at the top of the food chain. He committed his first murder when he was twelve. After this, he decided that strength was the only thing that would get him ahead in life. He began to take up body building to increase his strength. He also stole books to build his knowledge. He became increasingly better at politics and eventually began to take over several gangs within the city. He earned the title “The Kingpin of Crime” as only a teenager. He was recruited by Don Rigolette, a prominent mob boss in New York City, to be Rigolette’s right-hand-man. This however did not last, as Fisk soon killed Rigolette to take his organization. After Fisk grew his army, reputation, and wealth, Fisk disguised his criminal actions by pretending to be a simple spice dealer within the city. He then met and married his wife, Vanessa. The two had a child named Richard Fisk, but when Richard’s father became abusive and angry, Vanessa sent Richard to a school in Europe. It was there that Richard faked his own death to escape the Fisk family. Fisk later killed the mobster Willie Lincoln A.K.A. Crazy Horse and adopted Lincoln’s daughter, Maya Lopez. Fisk later sent her to a special school. He then founded Damage Control alongside Tony Stark and Anne-Marie Hoag. Tony and Fisk both dropped out of the program, leaving Hoag in charge. Fisk has had several run-ins with superheroes because of his secret actions, but is often back on the streets in a matter of days. The two heroes he has run-ins with most often are Daredevil and Spider-Man.
In Daredevil, Wilson spent his childhood in a home with a caring mother and an abusive father. Fisk’s father, Bill Fisk, ran for a seat in the Hell’s Kitchen City Council. He lost the campaign to his rival and became angrier and crueler. Wilson’s neighbor, Bernie Walker, began to kick down the Fisk campaign signs before beating Wilson. When Bill learned of this, Bill beat Bernie to the ground with a bat and ordered Wilson to kick him on the ground. Wilson followed these orders and kicked Bernie several times. Bill began to beat Wilson’s mother savagely while Wilson was forced to listen and stare at a blank wall. One night, Wilson decided to save his mother and crushed Bill’s skull with a hammer. Wilson and his Mother then disposed of the body in a river. Wilson kept his father’s cuff-links as a reminder. Fisk moved to somewhere in Asia, but returned years later and became a powerful crime boss. He met Vanessa Marianna at the Scene Contempo Gallery while staring at a white painting that resembled the wall he stared at as his mother was beaten. Fisk then bought the painting and eventually asked Vanessa on a date. Fisk continued his criminal actions despite The Masked Man (Daredevil) attacking his operations. Due to the complex nature of the show, I will not reveal much about the plot. What I will reveal is that Fisk is a brutal man who uses excessive force when killing those who get in his way. He is also unafraid to get his hands dirty as much of the executions on the show he carries out himself. The only people he truly cares for are his assistant James Wesley, his mother, and of course Vanessa. Fisk believes that, despite the criminal nature of his business, he is doing the right thing. He is extremely quick to anger and extremely strong.
D’Onofrio’s performance as the Kingpin was incredible and I would definitely recommend Daredevil for any who haven’t seen it. I was so excited to see him return in season two and I would love to have him return either in Defenders, Daredevil, or somewhere else in the MCU.
(Wilson Fisk is property of Marvel Comics Publications)
The Comic Unknowns 