While New York City is filled with Marvel Superheroes, it never stopped Wilson Fisk from realizing his personal ambitions. He’s one of the most powerful criminals, a man who took control of the Underworld by sheer intelligence and cunning abilities. With that said, you wouldn’t want to be in Fisk’s way on a bad day, as the man has extraordinary skill in hand-to-hand combat.
Introduced in the Marvel World in the ‘60s as a Spider-Man antagonist, Wilson Fisk came a long way from his debut, becoming Daredevil’s greatest enemy while still being a menace to reckon with for Spider-Man (and sometimes other superheroes). He rose to become one of the most powerful criminal leaders known as the Kingpin, but also a legitimate businessman and an ambitious political figure who succeeded in being elected as Mayor of New York. Over the years, he rose, fell, retired, made his comeback. And more than once, he made Matt Murdock’s life hell on Earth!
He’s also one of Marvel’s most iconic villains on the small screen, thanks to Vincent D’Onofrio’s portrayal of the character in Netflix’s Daredevil. He recently appeared in the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021), but most importantly will be in Daredevil: Born Again, Disney+’s follow-up to the Netflix series.
To learn more about The Kingpin or simply rediscover the most important stories featuring the character, follow our Essential Reading Order Guide for Wilson Fisk!
Essential Kingpin Comics Reading Order
Discover the creation and origins of the character: The Kingpin: The Origin Story of Wilson Fisk, Daredevil’s Archenemy
Introducing The Kingpin
Wilson Fisk’s Story in a few pages
At the start of 2024, Marvel released a Kingpin Infinity Comic, written by Rich Douek with art by Damian Couceiro, which quickly revisits Kingpin’s story up to the present. It’s a quick way to get familiar with the character (with some spoilers, naturally).
The First appearance of The Kingpin
Created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., the Kingpin was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #50 in 1967 as a mysterious figure aiming to take over the city and become the leader of a coalition of criminal gangs. His plan, however, was derailed by Spider-Man.
- Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #50-52
Collected in The Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Spider-Man No More
In the following years, Stan Lee continued developing the character, introducing his wife Vanessa and their son, Richard Fisk (both in issues #83-85). He even worked with Hydra for a time to achieve his ambitions for political power (Captain America #146-148). Some stories steered Fisk away from his criminal roots, but the character truly took shape when Frank Miller reinvented him as Daredevil’s greatest enemy…
The Re-introduction of Wilson Fisk – Daredevil vs. The Kingpin
The Kingpin we know today wouldn’t exist without Frank Miller’s classic Daredevil run—featured in our 50 Best Comics to Read. While Fisk’s strength was the main focus in his Spider-Man appearances, Miller elevated the character, establishing him as a more dangerous and insidious force in the world of organized crime. We invite you to read the complete run, but here is a list highlighting the best issues featuring Wilson Fisk:
- Daredevil #170-172 – The Kingpin is no B-list Spider-Man villain anymore! After retiring and leaving New York, Wilson Fisk, “humble dealer of spices” plans to give the district attorney evidence against his old crew. In retaliation, they kidnap his wife Vanessa, drawing him back into a violent gang war that escalates when Daredevil and Bullseye intervene for their own reasons.
- Daredevil #179-181 – The Kingpin recruits Elektra as his assassin.
- Daredevil: Love and War – As all that Wilson Fisk holds dear is placed in grave danger, the bitter rivalry between the Man Without Fear and the Kingpin of Crime takes a new turn
- Daredevil #226-233 (Born Again) – Following the events of Love and War, the Kingpin is determined to ruins Matt’s life piece by piece.
More Stories with the Kingpin
Now that you’ve been properly introduced to the ruthless and cunning Wilson Fisk, you can continue reading more stories featuring Marvel’s most notorious and influential crime lords, with stories released from 1990 to the present day!
- Captain America # 372-378 (Streets of Poison) – The Kingpin feud with the Red Skull for control of NYC’s drug trade. By Mark Gruenwald and Ron Lim. Collected in Captain America Epic Collection: Streets of Poison.
- Daredevil #297-300 (Last Rites) – A follow-up to Born Again, Matt Murdock decides to take down Wilson Fisk once and for all by dismantling the Kingpin’s criminal empire. By D.G. Chichester with art by Lee Weeks. Collected in Daredevil Epic Collection Vol. 15: Last Rites.
- Daredevil Vol 2 #9-15 (Parts Of A Hole) – It is recommended to read Guardian Devil (#6-7) before this story from David Mack and Joe Quesada. Matt Murdock encounters Maya/Echo, a young woman raised by Wilson Fisk who has told her that Daredevil was responsible for her father’s death. Collected in Daredevil Vol.2: Parts of a Hole.
- Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #4 – While this story doesn’t directly feature Spider-Man, the actions of the web slinger has responsible for the events told from the perspective of one of Kingpin’s employees. After the latter messes up, he has to endure the torturous wait before being punished. By Greg Rucka and Eduardo Risso. Collected in Spider-Man’s Tangled Web Omnibus
- Daredevil (1998) #26-31 (Underboss) – Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s run on Daredevil started with a bang, or to be more specific a contract on the Kingpin and Matt Murdock? What is the connection between the underbosses’ uprising and the contract on DD’s life? Collected in Daredevil Modern Era Epic Collection: Underboss
- Spider-Man #539-543 (Back in Black) – In the aftermath of Civil War, Peter Parker dons his black suit again and seek revenge on Wilson Fisk after Aun May is critically injured by a sniper hired the Kingpin hired. Collected in The Amazing Spider-Man by J. Michael Straczynski Omnibus Vol. 2.
- Daredevil (Vol. 2) #116-119, #500 (Return of the King) – Nearly two years ago, the Kingpin left America to try to build a new life and find a new purpose for himself. But when Lady Bullseye and the Hand come calling, killing Marta and her two kids, the Kingpin is reborn. By Ed Brubaker and David Aja. Collected in Daredevil: Return of the King.
- Civil War II: Kingpin – Set during Civil War II, Wilson Fisk takes advantages of the chaos to seize the opportunity to rebuild his criminal empire. Collected in Civil War II: Kingpin.
- Kingpin (2017) #1-5 – Wilson Fisk is building an all-new empire! In an effort to convince the world he’s changed, he hires journalist Sarah Dewey to write his biography. Written by Matthew Rosenberg with art by Marc Laming. Collected in Kingpin: Born Against.
- Daredevil #595-600 (Mayor Fisk) – New York City has fallen to Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin: Daredevil’s greatest and deadliest adversary is now the city’s newly elected mayor! And the stage is set for their most unbelievable showdown yet orchestrated by Charles Soule and Stefano Landini. Collected in Daredevil: Back in Black Vol. 6: Mayor Fisk.
- Devil’s Reign – This event is the culmination of the first part of Chip Zdarsky’s run placing Daredevil and other Marvel superheroes face to face with the mayor of the biggest city in America, Wilson Fisk. Collected in Devil’s Reign.
Out-of the Main Continuity Stories with Wilson Fisk
Not all great stories are part of Earth 616! Following are various tales set in alternate realities, offering great moments to The Kingpin!
- Ultimate Spider-Man #8-12 (Learning Curve) – Driven by a desire for revenge, Spider-Man sets out to take down Wilson Fisk, the infamous Kingpin of Crime, who employed the man who killed Peter’s beloved Uncle Ben. By Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Badgley. Collected in Ultimate Spider-Man Vol.2: Learning Curve
- PunisherMAX (2009) #1-22 – Wilson Fisk is Frank Castle’s main antagonist in Jason Aaron’s run on Punisher Max, with art from Steve Dillon. Collected in Punisher MAX: The Complete Collection Vol. 7.
Check out our Complete Daredevil Reading Order Guide.