The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought fans a plethora of projects since 2008's Iron Man. While the main attraction has largely been the movies in the advancing of the collective story, there have been several TV projects as well. Going forward on Disney+, the TV shows will not just be set in the MCU, but also be part of the films' "phases."
The top villain has obviously been Thanos. His role was massive and was written and acted well, but some might not typically think about Kingpin from Netflix's Daredevil being the best MCU villain. Here are five reasons why each of them is tops.
Kingpin: A More Grounded Antagonist
It is understandable that a lot of the appeal comes from larger-than-life and supernatural settings and characters. However, it can be equally, or even more, compelling when you present a supervillain that is shockingly grounded in reality.
Kingpin achieves that as being the most powerful mob boss in Hell's Kitchen, perhaps in New York, who has a painfully tight stranglehold on the city. This, thanks also to the acting and writing, allows for some intimate and real stories that feel more daunting.
Thanos: Universe-Wide Threat And Scale
Going back to the point of having gargantuan threats being a big appeal, Thanos definitely has the advantage. His threat is on literal universe-wide scales. Thanos' very existence along with his intentions threaten the very lives of trillions and more across the MCU.
He fully accomplished, for a period of time, his execution of a mass culling of half of all life in the universe. Thanos is an objectively grander threat in terms of scope and, while Kingpin is an excellent villain, he cannot compare to the former on sheer scale.
Kingpin: The More Powerful Acting Performance
Josh Brolin also did a great job in portraying Thanos, but in terms of raw acting performance, Vincent D'Onofrio put up an utterly jaw-dropping and powerful act across all three seasons on Daredevil. This is particularly so in seasons one and three, where he served as the primary antagonist.
Not only did they make D'Onofrio look the part, but he injected an incredible dose of passion and power in each of his scenes. Every scene with Kingpin gave off a clear atmosphere of danger and uncertainty; not knowing if, when, and how he was going to lash out. His interactions with Daredevil always felt like either or both could be killed.
Thanos: He Essentially Brought The End Of Key Avengers
Another point in favor of Thanos and his overall impact in the MCU is that, by the end of his full arc, he brought the end of some key Avengers. Taking a step back, you can argue his initial victory in Infinity War was enough to convince people on this point.
But by the end of Endgame, two important figures had their superhero careers ended. Captain America effectively retired after the defeat of Thanos and returning Mjolnir and the Infinity Stones. Meanwhile, Iron Man died in defeating Thanos. Despite losing in the end, having this kind of impact is significant.
Kingpin: His Dynamic With Matt Murdock/Daredevil
This entry has to do with both Kingpin and how he simultaneously brings out the most compelling qualities in Matt Murdock and Daredevil. Wilson Fisk/Kingpin has the most powerful and enthralling connection and dynamic with the superhero of this particular project.
Part of the reason goes back to the resonant acting (by both D'Onofrio and Charlie Cox as Daredevil) and also because the deep-rooted hatred between these two characters feels so painfully personal. Their scenes together bring out the most intense moments in the show and the whole MCU.
Thanos: An Incredible Buildup And Payoff
In terms of overall buildup, Thanos has this hands down as this villain has been hyped since The Avengers in 2012. Since then, fans have been eagerly watching for bits and pieces of scenes giving a very gradual look at how exactly big the threat Thanos and his intentions are, how close he is to his goal, what his goals even are, as well as what they could mean for the Avengers down the line.
What resulted in the two-part story of 2018's Infinity War and 2019's Endgame was an astounding spectacle that gave the MCU the biggest scope in terms of uniting of characters for a goal greater than themselves. This translated in an incredible payoff leaving fans swimming in emotions.
Kingpin: He Forces Incredible Character Development On Daredevil
This point speaks beyond just their on-screen relationship/dynamic. Kingpin is such a powerfully-written character that he forces intense character development on Matt Murdock even when they're physically away from each other.
Despite Murdock being a vigilante, he's dedicated to his morals. But the more Fisk interferes with the lives of innocents in his city, especially including his, the more those morals are challenged as he gradually descends into darkness and seriously considers murder to solve his vendetta with Fisk.
Thanos: The Essence Of A Comic Book Villain
At the end of the day, there are going to be fans of comic books and their film counterparts that deeply desire to see villains who are larger-than-life in a way that is beyond comprehension in the real world. While villains like Kingpin are excellent and provide a refreshing change of pace, plenty thrive off of seeing big-screen adaptations of characters like Thanos.
In that case, Thanos is the pinnacle of a great comic book villain in the MCU. He embodies the supernatural traits that can literally only be imagined.
Kingpin: An Intense, Brutal Backstory
When talking about depth and backstory of a villain, Wilson Fisk arguably has the most compelling and disturbing lore and makes him a more enthralling character because of it. He had a dark childhood in being raised by an abusive father who beat him and his mother viciously.
This had such an effect on young Fisk mentally that he finally broke and brutally murdered his father in a fit of rage with a hammer. There was nothing held back in showing fans Fisk's past. It gives a wonderfully explicit view into how this man descended to the dark depths he's in.
Thanos: He's Convinced He's The Hero
Part of what makes a villain so compelling is when they're deeply convinced that they're actually the true hero of this story. Thanos is just that as he truly believes that he is the one in the right and everyone else in his way just doesn't understand or know any better.
He believes he's the one who can truly bring the salvation the universe needs. Thanos recognized the biggest problems plaguing the universe's planets: poverty, famine, etc. and wanted to do something about it. This drove him to attain insurmountable power and even killed his own daughter to do this, all in the name of peace. Obviously, he's an extremist and he's in the wrong, but his motives make him so convincing as a villain.