Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Needs A New Kind of Villain (& Kingpin Is Perfect)

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Tom Holland's Spider-Man Needs A New Kind of Villain (& Kingpin Is Perfect)

Key Takeaways

  • Spider-Man’s next villain should be Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, bringing a new dynamic to Peter Parker’s character development.
  • Fisk’s influence and power will test Spider-Man in ways previous villains have not, setting up for an epic showdown in NYC.
  • The potential battle between Spider-Man and Kingpin will force Peter to confront the darkest aspects of humanity while facing an ordinary man with immense influence.

As a longtime Marvel fan who’s seen my fair share of Spider-Man iterations, I wholeheartedly believe that Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, should be the next villain to challenge Tom Holland’s Spidey. The MCU has given us an exceptional portrayal of Peter Parker, from his chaotic teenage life to his heroic adventures alongside the Avengers. But with great power comes great responsibility, and facing a formidable foe like Kingpin will test Peter in ways Green Goblin never could.

Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spider-Man within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has undeniably been marked by an eventful teenage journey. Initiated into a broader circle of superheroes by Tony Stark during the events of Captain America: Civil War in the MCU, the character who had long been under Sony’s control transitioned to becoming an Avenger, contributing significantly to defeating Thanos and his forces across both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. However, prior to and following these monumental events, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man embarked on a sequence of personal missions within his own Spider-Man films that shaped his character and endeared him to audiences as an integral part of the MCU.

Absolutely! It’s an intriguing idea that Wilson Fisk could be the upcoming adversary for Spider-Man. While some are familiar with Fisk from Vincent D’Onofrio’s portrayals in series like Daredevil, Hawkeye, and Echo within the MCU, long-time Marvel aficionados know that Kingpin of Crime has a rich history with Spider-Man in the comics, serving as recurring foes as Fisk maintains his grip on New York City’s criminal underworld. With Peter Parker’s identity now forgotten by all and his isolated circumstances compelling him to embody Spider-Man more fully, introducing a chilling, formidable gangster like Fisk as the next antagonist would be an excellent method to enhance Tom Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker in the upcoming Spider-Man movie.

Peter Parker and Wilson Fisk in the MCU Thus Far

So far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, both characters have experienced quite an adventurous journey. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man initially got involved when Tony Stark recruited him to assist in capturing Captain America during the hero conflict known as the Civil War. Under Iron Man’s tutelage, he discovered what it truly meant to be a hero. Subsequently, he thwarted the criminal activities of the Vulture and his group of arms manufacturers. However, things took a dramatic turn when Peter was catapulted into space, where he aided Tony Stark in battling Thanos. Unfortunately, Thanos ultimately prevailed, causing Peter and half the universe to vanish.

After the Avengers restored everyone who had vanished due to the Blip, five years later, Peter found himself back at school, reunited with his friends Ned and MJ. However, his peaceful life was disrupted when a string of incidents linked to Mysterio took over during summer break. Upon returning home, he shockingly discovered that his secret identity as Spider-Man had been exposed to the public. A misfired spell intended to conceal his identity, performed with Doctor Strange, inadvertently drew villains from other Spider-realms into his world. This resulted in the arrival of menacing figures like the Green Goblin (portrayed by Willem Dafoe), causing a personal tragedy and compelling him to wipe Peter Parker’s identity from the memories of his loved ones, to prevent a catastrophic multiverse collision.

In parallel, Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, has had an equally thrilling journey in the MCU. His storyline kicked off in ‘Daredevil’, where he was portrayed as a powerful businessman leading a criminal organization within New York City alongside other mob bosses. A complex character with a tragic past, young Wilson was compelled to take his abusive father’s life, which set him on a path of power-seeking while also pursuing romance with Vanessa. However, his ambitions collided with the vigilante efforts of Matt Murdock (Daredevil), resulting in a bitter struggle that eventually led to Kingpin’s incarceration. The combined efforts of Daredevil, along with Matt’s legal partners Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, played a significant role in his imprisonment.

In the years that passed, Matt returned with ambitions to regain his footing, as The Hand’s attempt to annihilate New York fell short. However, this return of Matt would set off a chain reaction, targeting Fisk’s reputation as an upstanding businessman again. This escalated into a fierce confrontation involving Matt, Fisk, and the latest antagonist, Bullseye. Despite the mystery surrounding Fisk during the Blip and the ensuing years, Hawkeye exposed that Fisk was in control of the Tracksuit Mafia, a group Clint Barton tackled while serving as The Ronin during the Blip. Additionally, it was disclosed that Fisk had been instrumental in raising Maya, who became one of his toughest enforcers and was treated like a daughter by him. However, when it was exposed that Fisk had orchestrated her father’s demise, Maya retaliated by shooting Fisk; fortunately for Fisk, he managed to survive.

Pursuing Maya to her residence, Fisk sought to enlist her aid for his venture and manage its affairs. However, her refusal infuriated him, leading him to try and ruin her family. Yet, Echo employed her recently-acquired powers to force Fisk to confront his childhood trauma with his father, intending to eliminate the darkness within him. Disturbed by this encounter, Fisk decided to abandon his criminal life in New York and pursue a political career instead.

Spider-Man vs Kingpin

Tom Holland's Spider-Man Needs A New Kind of Villain (& Kingpin Is Perfect)

It appears that a confrontation between Spider-Man and Kingpin seems unavoidable. Our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has settled down in his own modest NYC apartment, determined to resume his role as a helpful hero. However, if Fisk manages to become the Mayor of New York City, a showdown between him and the vigilante heroes seems imminent. Regardless of the events unfolding in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, Fisk is poised to regain influence over New York’s operations, which will eventually clash with a more resolute Spider-Man.

Previous villains have challenged Peter Parker in unique ways; Green Goblin, notably in the last movie, embodied both the perils and the obligations that come with being a hero, as well as the plight of those who cannot help themselves. Kingpin, on the other hand, is a different kind of antagonist – a man without superpowers, but possessing immense influence and true power instead. As Daredevil can confirm, such power can turn even the most corrupt officials against Spider-Man, compelling him to grapple with the very depths of human corruption. With political ambitions looming, Kingpin will push Peter not just against an ordinary man, but against the collective will of the people as he gains more control over the city. Kingpin’s chilling presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes him a formidable adversary for Peter Parker in a potential future Spider-Man film.

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2024-09-17 19:04