Warning: spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man #61 and Daredevil #28!
Throughout his many years as Marvel’s most infamous gangster and a villain to both Daredevil and Spider-Man, the Kingpin has proven himself a dangerous threat. Not only does Wilson Fisk have a vast amount of influence as a New York mobster, but he’s also more than capable of trading blows with many of the city’s heroes. In fact, the villain’s fighting prowess has made its way on-screen with a lethal beatdown on Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and several brutal confrontations in Netflix’s Daredevil series. But despite his physical strength, Kingpin’s true power comes from his deplorable mind and criminal connections, and now that he’s the mayor of New York City, he’s more powerful than ever.
Kingpin’s rise into the political sphere began during the Secret Empire event, when Manhattan was encased in a Darkforce dome, separating many, including Fisk, from the outside world. The villain took advantage of this situation, using his vast resources to help people survive, knowing they'd be grateful once the crisis passed. Fisk was quick to cash in on his popularity boost by announcing his candidacy for mayor of New York City. Unfortunately, this new position failed to make a more honest man of Kingpin, as while he divested himself of his monopoly on New York's organized crime, he continues to stay heavily involved with the city’s criminal underground. In fact, he’s even using his status to help crime flourish.
Nick Spencer, Patrick Gleason, and Edgar Delgado’s The Amazing Spider-Man #61 puts Fisk’s misdeeds as mayor on full display as he meets with several of New York’s greatest crime bosses. This gathering reveals that, thanks to Kingpin, crime within the city is going better than ever, even as it’s hidden from plain sight. He’s even managed to split his territory between his fellow ne’er-do-wells, allowing for each of them to share in the prosperity. Given the massive support that Kingpin is giving these criminals, they’re more than willing to assist him with his own needs. Utilizing this benefit, he calls upon those assembled to capture the reformed villain known as Boomerang. As an extra incentive, Fisk uses his authority to create a literal “Get Out of Jail Free” card to allow one lucky criminal to engage in their heinous acts completely unencumbered by the law.
Commanding almost every criminal in New York isn’t the only thing that Kingpin is up to, as he also makes an appearance in Daredevil #28, by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, and Marcio Menyz. Taking place in the aftermath of Knull’s invasion in King in Black, Fisk is becoming frustrated with his inability to protect his city. This anger is driven home further by the fact that Typhoid Mary, a villain for whom Fisk cares deeply, was hurt during the symbiote invasion. With so much rage building up, Kingpin decides to focus on the one thing that will help him feel in control: killing Daredevil. Luckily for him, Elektra has taken over the Man Without Fear’s mantle while Matt Murdock serves time in prison, meaning that Kingpin can channel his dark emotions into defeating two heroes.
Ultimately, being mayor gives Kingpin more power than ever and, since Knull’s invasion, he’s more driven than ever too. Adding this to the fact that Fisk now has all of New York’s crime bosses working as his henchmen means that he is going to be a huge threat for anyone that ends up in his crosshairs. It’s clear that Kingpin is abusing the system as mayor, but given his skills in manipulation, it will take a strong case to bring him down. Eventually, he may slip up, but until then, heroes like Daredevil and Spider-Man need to keep their guards up. Otherwise, Wilson Fisk may become unstoppable.