Wilson Fisk, known also as the Kingpin, is the secondary antagonist of Marvel's Spider-Man and a minor antagonist in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. He is a notorious crime boss with an extensive criminal empire, whose influence throughout New York City runs deep. Fisk's company, Fisk Construction, and his art auction house are prominent in the city and used for money laundering for his empire. His headquarters, Fisk Tower, is usually located in Manhattan.
Fisk was a major adversary of Spider-Man for eight years until the vigilante defeated him and ensured he was arrested. Upon arrest, Fisk warned that his arrest would create a power vacuum in the criminal underworld that other rival gangs would fight to fill. His warning consequently happened. While behind bars, Fisk had his men try to secure his release. He also attempted to re-establish a presence in the city, harming businesses in Harlem to drive down property prices so he could gain control over them.
History[]
Early history[]
Fisk Tower, the seat of Wilson Fisk's criminal empire.
Fisk was born in 1970.[a] At some point, he rose to power, gaining control over most of the city. His control included influence over the city's police, judges, and the city council.[1]
Publicly, Fisk was a legitimate businessman with his Fisk Construction and his art house. However, his art was used to launder money to buy stolen goods,[2] and his Fisk Construction sites were involved with drug cartels, money laundering, counterfeit money, and selling illegal exotic weapons.[3] At one point, when Fisk began illegally importing artifacts, he bought the local harbor and laid off the old staff, including Mary Jane Watson's father, to avoid police detecting his criminal actions. He is also implied to have been a closet drug user, according to a conversation between criminals during a narcotics sale.[2]
At an unknown time, Fisk was approached by Norman Osborn to construct a facility for Project GR-27's production.[4] Fisk agreed to build the facility but later learned about the nature of GR-27. Referring to the serum as "Pandora's box," Fisk kept a file on his discoveries hidden in a Nioh statue,[2] along with invoices from Osborn's personal account to Fisk Construction,[4] hinting that he intended to blackmail Osborn should the mayor ever threaten his position.
Fisk was the nemesis of Spider-Man, who is also known as Peter Parker. Their first battle occurred around 2010,[b] when Spider-Man put one of Fisk's enforcers away, causing Fisk to hold a grudge for years.[1] Parker fought him for the next eight years,[6] alongside police captain Yuriko Watanabe. On one occasion, Fisk nearly killed Peter by cutting him open with a katana.[2]
Officer Jefferson Davis also investigated the Wilson Fisk case for several years.[7][8] At some point, Fisk hired Aaron Davis, the Prowler.[9]
Hostile Takeover[]
Marvel's Spider-Man[]
Fisk battling Spider-Man in the prologue.
In 2018,[10] during "Clearing the Way" and "The Main Event", Spider-Man assisted the police in capturing Fisk at Fisk Tower, despite Yuri's initial reluctance because of the skill of Fisk's lawyers.[6] Spider-Man thwarted Fisk's attempt to wipe his data servers of incriminating evidence and fought him in his office in a showdown leading to his defeat.[11] Fisk was sent to the Raft,[12] but ominously warned Spider-Man that he was the one keeping order in New York and that Spider-Man would wish for him back within one month.[11]
Fisk's absence inspired Martin Li to lead the Inner Demons to seize Fisk's territory and weapons,[10] and later caused the almost wiped-out Maggia to stage a comeback.[13] It also led the police short staffed given how many officers were put away for being on Fisk's payroll, forcing Mayor Osborn to hire Sable International.[14] Meanwhile, Fisk still managed to control his empire from prison, as criminal activities continued to take place at his businesses.[3] During "Straw, Meet Camel", Spider-Man briefly cooperated with Fisk by protecting his workers at Midtown's construction site from the Demons in exchange for information about them, though Fisk gave vague answers after doing so.[15] In "Error: File Not Found", Fisk attacked the police department to have evidence against him deleted, only for Spider-Man to stop them.[16]
Miles Morales[]
Fisk's construction sites, as well as the abandoned Fisk Tower (scheduled for demolition in the new year[17], were taken over by the Underground. Although, one construction site at Midtown is still safe under the control a new company.[18] From his cell, Fisk had men sabotage communities in Harlem, including the nearby F.E.A.S.T. shelter and local businesses. Miles Morales' Spider-Man thwarted his efforts and in "We've Got a Lead!", uncovered his base of operations. Fisk mocked Miles as a pretender and not a true Spider-Man, promising revenge before Miles shut down his servers. Fisk's men then attacked the holiday party in C.J. Walker Park, though Miles stopped the attack.[19]
Marvel's Spider-Man 2[]
10 months later, the original Hell's Kitchen's Fisk Tower, which had been demolished in the new year,[17] became the Baxter Building, though Fisk did re-purchase the twin towers at Midtown. Kraven's henchmen also show a profile for the Kingpin when suggesting he hunt for new prey in New York.
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
Fisk's appearance can be described in one word as "imposing." He towers over most people and has the weight of over two average men. In his normal business attire, he generally wears a dark suit with a lapel and striped tie.
During her first-ever meeting with Fisk as a junior reporter, Mary Jane Watson described it as "standing next to a creature out of folklore or from another world," labeling him as "tall, broad, and built on a more massive scale than anybody [she'd] ever seen." His colossal stature is further exemplified by how, when shaking his hand, she felt like a child shaking a troll's hand.[20]
Personality[]
Fisk is ruthless, calculating, cruel, and composed. He values order and control, maintaining a calm demeanor, that is only cracked when losing his temper in frustration.[11] Fisk shows disdain for both Spider-Men, viewing them as beneath him,[19][11] but values them as threats. His ability to control much of New York City,[1] his backup plans of keeping blackmail material on allies,[4] and multiple diverse sources of revenue[3] speak both to his cunning and to his relentlessness. Fisk also displays an affinity for high art and culture.[2]
Though Fisk is motivated by power and control, he shows a level of concern for New York City. While running his criminal empire, Fisk kept worse criminals at bay. His frustration with Spider-Man's takedown of him came from his inability to do so once put away, revealing he cared more for the city's well being than his impending incarceration.[11] When making a deal with Spider-Man, Fisk prioritized the protection of his employees,[15] showing some concern for them also. However, Fisk's criminal activities involved illicit weapons and drug trades,[3] suggesting this concern was limited.
Abilities[]
Fisk has a large, overweight muscular frame, making him incredibly strong and resilient. During his battle with Spider-Man, he could use his bare hands to break stone, cave in steep pipes, and hurl men through brick walls. He also withstood concrete that Spider-Man threw at him and survived falling from several stories.[11] Despite his frame, Fisk's agility and dexterity have also been honed by years of training.[1]
Fisk's main strength, however, is as a formidable strategist. His influence allowed him to control many of New York's police, councilmen, and judges, at one point meaning one of his enforcers after being put in jail was released within a few hours.[1] His strategies involve destroying evidence that can be used against him,[11][16] keeping blackmail material on high-ranking officials such as Mayor Osborn,[4] and diversifying sources of illicit revenue.[3]
Hideouts[]
Fisk owns several construction sites that his men use to keep his rackets running following his arrest. After the mission Fisk Hideout, Spider-Man can take these bases down to win Base Tokens. Each hideout will have several waves of Fisk's henchmen to defeat, as well as different sets of bonus objectives to complete for extra Base Tokens. The overall goal is to clear the area of enemies.
There are a total of six "Fisk Hideouts" around the city. Taking down all six prompts a phone call from Fisk himself, who warns Spider-Man that his actions will have consequences, before leaving him a cryptic warning: “My memory’s long, my reach is longer.”
| Location | Bonus objectives | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | Perform 10 Finishers Web 5 enemies to walls |
Up to x3 
|
| Financial District | Perform 10 Perfect Dodges Stealth Takedown 3 Snipers |
Up to x3
|
| Harlem | Disarm 5 enemies Perform 10 Air Launch attacks |
Up to x3
|
| Upper East Side | Perform 3 Perch Takedowns Knock or throw 5 enemies off the building |
Up to x3
|
| Upper West Side | Perform 3 Stealth Takedowns Throw 10 objects |
Up to x3
|
| Upper West Side | Perform a 20 hit combo Hit 3 enemies with scaffolding |
Up to x3
|
Original appearance[]
Kingpin's first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #50 (July 1967).
Notes[]
Annotations[]
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Marvel's Spider-Man menu § "Wilson Fisk / Kingpin"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Don't Touch the Art"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Fisk Hideouts"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Spider-Hack"
- ↑ Marvel's Spider-Man menu § "Peter Parker / Spider-Man"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Clearing the Way"
- ↑ Miles Morales menu § "Jefferson Davis"
- ↑ Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Wheels within Wheels"
- ↑ Miles Morales script § "Sound Samples"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Hidden Agenda"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "The Main Event"
- ↑ Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Keeping the Peace"
- ↑ Marvel's Spider-Man script § "The Maria"
- ↑ Marvel's Spider-Man menu § "Silver Sable"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Straw, Meet Camel"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Marvel's Spider-Man script § "Error: File Not Found"
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Miles Morales script § "Fisk Tower"
- ↑ Miles Morales script § "Underground Undercover"
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Miles Morales script § "We've Got a Lead!"
- ↑ Marvel's Spider-Man: Hostile Takeover Chapter 16
References[]
- Video games
- Insomniac Games (2018). Marvel's Spider-Man [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 4.
- Insomniac Games (2020). Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 5.
- Insomniac Games (2023). Marvel's Spider-Man 2 [Game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 5.