Kingpin: Surveying the Kingdom

Long has Wilson Fisk stood above Manhattan and observed the heroes, the villains, the petty criminals, and the everyday citizens. Long has he watched and considered and passed judgment on them all.

Now, thanks to his representative, KINGPIN writer Matthew Rosenberg, we can learn the Kingpin of Crime’s opinions about some of the most famous individuals of the Marvel Universe who have ever been a thorn in his side in advance of the first issue of his ongoing series coming February 8.

Daredevil
“Daredevil is Wilson Fisk’s most persistent nuisance,” Rosenberg confirms. “He is that unreachable itch. On his more generous days Fisk might admit that Daredevil is almost a worthy adversary, but more often than not he is just another of the many obstacles that truly great men must overcome. Someday Wilson Fisk will kill Daredevil and that is the last time he will ever think of the Man Without Fear.”

Punisher
“A true sociopath, but at least he is a man with conviction,” points out the writer. “History is written by people who understand that some things are more important than the rule of law. The person willing to do whatever needs to get done will usually win out. It is reasons not rules which make us stronger. Unfortunately for Frank, his lack of respect for the rule of law is coupled with a true lack of reason. There are a lot of things that should drive a person, revenge is one of the [pettier].”

Spider-Man
“A ridiculous clown,” dismisses Rosenberg. “Next question.”

Echo
“Tragic,” the writer states. “Echo was a beautiful and gifted girl, as close to family as you can get. What happened to her father was tragic and Fisk did everything he could to prepare Echo for the real world. But sometimes people just go astray. Becoming a vigilante is not what anyone wants to see happen to the people they care about.”

The Hand
“Fisk has a lot of respect for the Hand,” reveals Rosenberg. “It would be dangerous to not. Their discipline, their traditions, their skills are all beyond admirable. Obviously the world would be better off with a lot fewer ninja in it, but it is foolish to think the Hand will be going anywhere any time soon. And when an adversary is so steeped in tradition and ritual, there is something comforting in that. They are reliable.”

HYDRA
“Wilson Fisk has no time for terror or political ideologues,” the writer argues. “They are men who would rather see the world burn than see it not reflect their own beliefs. They are naive. But, they are also a very smart organization run by men of means. While it can’t be denied that they are wasting everyone’s time with their silly wars, they are also useful people to know. They have power, influence, and money, and that should always be respected. They just lack vision. And that can be exploited. Carefully.”

Richard Fisk
“There is something inherently tragic about the relationship between a father and a son,” posits Rosenberg. “The father wants a better life for his son, and the son knows one day he will replace his father in the world. Wilson Fisk would have gladly given everything for his son, if only his son hadn’t tried to take it from him. Richard is a character ripped from Greek tragedy, he is a cautionary tale of why one shouldn’t love too much. And Richard Fisk isn’t half the man his father is.”

Black Cat
“Felicia used to be a charming and eccentric nuisance,” Rosenberg recalls. “But too much time with Spider-Man, too much time not understanding that she was a punchline, has given her delusions of grandeur. She is a bit player who’d love to see herself thrust into the spotlight. She is far more likely to wind up in a grave if she continues to play in a world she wasn’t meant for.”

Elektra
“Elektra is another case of how we want the world for our children and they always let us down,” asserts the writer. “She is talented and smart, ruthless and meticulous. But she lets matters of the heart come into play in a world that has no room for emotions. She could be one of the greats. She could be someone to truly fear in this world. Instead she’s a pincushion.”

Turk
“A good employee is a reliable one,” Rosenberg says. “Turk is a bit of a fool, a hopeless opportunist, and often a desperate man. But in that, there is reliability. Fisk can trust Turk to look out for himself above all others, and because of that he can be used to great effect. Turk’s sense of self-preservation is astounding; he is the cockroach of the New York underworld.”

Matthew Rosenberg continues to open up Wilson Fisk’s world in KINGPIN #1, coming February 8!