With the possibility that Daredevil could return to the MCU soon, it might mean the Kingpin isn't far behind. Comic book fans know there is much more to the character than his appearances in the Netflix Daredevil series showed and his history could provide some insight into the future of the character on screen.
Kingpin makes a lot of sense in the MCU's immediate future since he originally started off as a major Spider-Man villain. His evil acts affected far more heroes than Peter Parker though, making him an ideal Big Bad for a number of major franchises that could develop in the next few years.
Based On Sydney Greenstreet
Comic fans may know Kingpin was co-created by legendary comic book writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita Sr. for The Amazing Spider-Man #50 in 1967. What they might no be aware of is that Romita Sr. based the supervillain's physical appearance on actor Sydney Greenstreet. Greenstreet was well known for roles in several iconic movies, including Casablanca. Greenstreet also played a role in the inspiration of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars. His Casablanca character informed early concept sketches of the character.
Father Of The Rose
Wilson Fisk's criminal behavior really began in his youth and he passed on his tendencies to his son, Richard Fisk. The child of the Kingpin and his wife Vanessa, Richard Fisk ultimately became the vigilante and killer known as The Rose. He was involved in a number of schemes and plots over the years, often directed against Spider-Man and sometimes his father. He went through various different identities in the comics, including the Schemer, the Supreme HYDRA, and the Blood Rose.
Abducting J. Jonah Jameson
The Kingpin first made his mark in the comics when he abducted J. Jonah Jameson to get him to stop publishing articles at The Daily Bugle about New York City's criminal underworld. The Kingpin was forming alliances with all the major crime families and groups to try and take advantage of the fact Spider-Man was absent at the moment. His plan ultimately backfired as Spider-Man returned from his sabbatical and brought down the Kingpin, beginning a long-running feud in the comics.
Attempted Reformation
Kingpin fought a few battles against other heroes in the early 70s, including Captain America, but before long he attempted to go legit. His reformation included leaving America to live in virtual exile with his wife and son. He also turned states' evidence on numerous former criminal associates. This came back to haunt him.
When those associates got revenge by appearing to kill his wife, Kingpin launched back into the criminal underworld. There, he found perhaps his greatest enemy in Daredevil. He quickly became one of Daredevil's coolest villains in the comics.
Employing Elektra
Kingpin became bound up in the life of Daredevil when he employed Matt Murdock's former love, Elektra, as his personal assassin. He wasn't aware of the connection between the two, but became instrumental in their story when the Kingpin sent Elektra to kill Foggy Nelson. Elektra didn't go through with it and instead wound up battling Bullseye, Kingpin's former assassin who broke out of prison to get his place back. In Daredevil #181, he kills Elektra, one of the most shocking deaths in Marvel Comics.
Born Again
The Kingpin's enmity toward Daredevil didn't end there. In the "Born Again" storyline that ran through issues #227-233 of Daredevil, written by Frank Miller and drawn by David Mazzucchelli, the Kingpin learns Daredevil's true identity. He then begins systematically tearing Murdock's life apart, going after his law license, his friends, and his family. The story would end tragically for all involved after Kingpin sent the mercenary Nuke into Hell's Kitchen, resulting in the deaths of many innocent civilians.
Gives The Black Cat Superpowers
So far in his screen appearances, the Kingpin is pretty grounded. In the comics, he's been at times more of the traditional supervillain. He actually gave the Black Cat, Felicia Hardy, superpowers in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #100 in 1985. He employed a number of scientists in his criminal organization to give Hardy her signature bad luck powers that lead to misfortune for anyone who tries to cross her. He would also be involved in the origin of other supervillains, like The Spot, one of the most laughable Spider-Man villains ever.
Almost Killing Aunt May
Though the Kingpin concerned himself with Daredevil for a long time, he never forgot Spider-Man. In one of the most shocking moments in comics, the Kingpin goes after Spider-Man and his agents mortally wound Aunt May. Kingpin learned Spider-Man's true identity with the rest of the world when he unmasked during the "Civil War" event.
Kingpin's actions would lead to one of the most controversial Spider-Man stories ever, "One More Day," in which Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson trade their marriage for the life of Aunt May to the Marvel supervillain Mephisto.
The Kingpin Without Fear
With the rise of the multiverse in the MCU, comic fans know there are many alternate reality versions of the Kingpin out there. One of the most fascinating is the Kingpin from Earth-65, who is an evil version of Matt Murdock. This is the world that Spider-Gwen, Gwen Stacy, originally hails from. This Kingpin is in fact a proxy for Wilson Fisk, who is in prison. He also deals in giving people superpowers and Gwen is trying to get hers back from him, after temporarily losing them.
The Obliterator Cane
Wilson Fisk needs little in the way of weapons thanks to his enormous strength and stamina, but he often uses the Obliterator Cane against his enemies. Seemingly an ordinary walking stick, the cane actually houses a number of dangerous weapons. These include a laser gun, sleeping gas, and a diamond-studded top that can be used in physical confrontations. The Kingpin doesn't rely on the can much, but did against The Big Man, a crime boss who tried to pull a gun on Wilson Fisk.