Wednesday 9 December 2020

The Kingpin in the MC2

 

The Kingpin of Crime aka Wilson Fisk is a huge figure who casts a long shadow. That shadow still continues to hang over the first several years of the Spider-Girl series, the Darkdevil mini-series and across the very History of the MC2 in significant ways. Let’s explore how the fallen crime boss’ expansive influence continued to loom large over the MC2.

 


Even though he doesn’t appear, the after effects of Fisk’s reign as Kingpin are first obscurely referenced when we learn in What If #105 that Daredevil aka Matt Murdock had been killed. It all starts with the very first published MC2 story.

 


You’d be forgiven for thinking Mr Nobody is the main villain in Spider-Girl #1 but it’s clear by the issue’s end that Wilson Fisk is the man behind the curtain. Despite being in prison, The Kingpin continues to control organized crime. While it’s not overt, I’ve always found it interesting that Fisk’s organization seems to be taking an interest in Peter Parker.

 


Kingpin next orchestrates the attempted escape of the super criminal Crazy Eight from custody, using his employee Mr Nobody to both provide cover and deliver equipment and weaponry to Eight prior to his trial. The attempt is thwarted by Spider-Girl and her father Peter Parker in his civilian identity and Darkdevil delivers a warning to Fisk by teleporting into his prison cell (Spider-Girl #8). It appears Crazy Eight was either working for the Kingpin previously or paid for his services, but either way the two characters are now tied, as is Mr Nobody.

 


Wilson Fisk is a new trial in the courts for his release, represented by Murdock’s former law-partner and friend Foggy Nelson. He is visited in jail by Darkevil who warns Fisk that Kaine is out for revenge and plans to kill him, however Fisk is unconcerned. Kaine attempts to kill Fisk on the steps of the courthouse, only to be soundly beaten by Spider-Girl, but not before Kaine reveals to Nelson that Fisk is the one who ordered Matt Murdock’s death. This prompts Nelson to step down as Fisk’s lawyer and, though we don’t see how it played out, the trial does not result in Fisk’s release. Kaine is imprisoned next to Fisk in Ryker’s Island Prison (Spider-Girl #17).

 







Throughout the Darkdevil mini-series, The Kingpin acts as one of the primary antagonists. Fisk arranges for Kaine’s release from prison in order for the Scriers to assassinate him. Meanwhile, Wilson has also sent the Scriers to eliminate loose ends in his plot to steal the New York Mayoral Election and in the process putting his puppet politician in power. These loose ends include Darkdevil, who is targeted by the demonic Zarathos residing within the body of the Scrier Prime as he attempts to prevent The Kingpin’s plot. It’s also revealed via flashbacks that Kaine was formerly in Fisk’s employ until the fearless Daredevil sacrificed his own life to save the mercenary from Fisk’s firing line (Darkdevil #1-3).

 









Next, as a result of the rising threat of rival crime lord Canis, Wilson Fisk employs Crazy Eight alongside Mr Nobody to counter Eight’s brother Funny Face who works as Canis’ enforcer (Spider-Girl #36). However, due to the familial bond, Crazy Eight reaches out to Canis to ensure his brother is safe (Spider-Girl #39) which leads to Fisk ordering Mr Nobody to ‘alleviate any potential conflict’ (Spider-Girl #40). With Eight having warned Mr Nobody not to go after his little brother, a massive fight breaks out between Canis, the new Spider-Man, Crazy Eight, Funny Face and Mr Nobody. Just as Spider-Girl arrives and pushes the young Spider-Man out of the way, Mr Nobody’s bullets hit Crazy Eight, inadvertently killing him (Spider-Girl #40).

 








This incident proves to be a turning point in the gang war with Funny Face going rogue, breaking his mother Angel Face out of confinement. The pair go on a rampage against the smaller criminal organisations regardless of their loyalty to the Kingpin or Canis seeking revenge on those they held responsible for Eight’s death-Mr Nobody and Spider-Girl. With such a massive disruption to daily operations and heavy financial cost for both crime bosses, Fisk arranges a meeting with Canis (Spider-Girl #42).

 




Canis meets face to face with Fisk at Ryker’s and the two men discuss a truce. Fisk reveals he has terminated Mr Nobody’s employment and cut all ties, leaving the gunman to be captured by the combined efforts of Darkdevil, the young Spider-Man and a temporarily back in action Peter Parker as the original Spider-Man. Having reached a truce and made concessions to Canis, Fisk remains confident he will win with patience in due time. Meanwhile, Spider-Girl convinces the Faces to leave New York and cease their destructive rampage, mostly out of sense of guilt for the death of Crazy Eight (Spider-Girl #43).

 



This truce remains in place until the ‘Marked for Death’ storyline, where it appears both Canis and Kingpin are targeted for assassination. With bombs being set off at Canis’ mansion and the Ryker’s Island Prison, along with several other lower-level crime bosses being killed, it appears the hit is being orchestrated by a South American crime lord known as the Black Tarantula. Wilson Fisk is left in critical condition and a visiting Darkdevil goes missing following the bombing, but Canis is left unscathed thanks to the intervention Spider-Girl. Soon after, Spider-Girl is also targeted when a bomb goes off in her secret hideout, nearly claiming her friend and ally Normie Osborn (Spider-Girl #61).

 






Spider-Girl learns that one of the suspects, Mr Nobody, remains in prison and shortly afterwards encounters other former criminals who should also be behind bars while following up on a tip from Canis (Spider-Girl #62). Requiring emergency surgery, Fisk lays unconscious on the operating table and has visions of his deceased son and wife, Richard and Vanessa who urge him to renounce his criminal ways. Fisk dies at 6:47 PM as the medical team are unable to stabilize him (Spider-Girl #63). His death is confirmed the following issue in Spider-Girl #64 and with it, the reign of the Kingpin of Crime comes to an end. Fisk never learns that Canis was the mastermind behind the takeover plot that killed him (Spider-Girl #66).

 







Even after his death, The Kingpin’s imposing legacy persists. A stolen DVD belonging to Wilson Fisk which was believed to contain a list of all his contacts and every government official who was ever on his payroll becomes the focus of a new war on the streets, this time with the Hobgoblin, Black Tarantula and other crime lords all vying for its possession (Amazing Spider-Girl #1-6, #13-18).

 


I should have done this post two years ago when Kingpin was everywhere: Daredevil Season 3, the Spider-Man PS4 game and the Into the Spider-Verse movie. Oh well!

 

Until I go bald, pack on the muscle and rule a criminal empire from prison, I remain

 

frogoat



Sunday 6 December 2020

The Prowler in the MC2

 

While I haven’t had the opportunity to play the new Spider-Man: Miles Morales, I thought it might be a nice idea to take a look at the most well-known of Miles’ rogues gallery, The Prowler. As Aaron Davis didn’t exist during the publication history of the MC2, I’ll be detailing the sparce information we have on the original Prowler, Hobie Brown in the MC2.

 


This is going to be super quick! Unless I’m mistaken the only mention we have of Hobie Brown’s alter ego is in Amazing Spider-Girl #4 where the television celebrity Bounty Hunter Julius ‘Mad Dog’ Rassitano notes he is using ‘The Prowler’s steel-tipped claw’ along with various other gadgets formerly belonging to different super villains.

 


However, it should be noted that Julius also admits later on that much of his equipment and gadgets come from his television program’s prop department. I say most because he does also appear to possess some genuine articles, such as confiscating the retractable legs of Stilt-Man when he captured the villain or purchasing the suction-grippers of The Beetle on eBay (Amazing Spider-Girl #5).

 





It’s unknown what the status of Hobie Brown is in the MC2’s present-day, but the appearance of his alter ego’s gauntlet gadgets does leave the potential for a future appearance someday should the MC2 ever grace the comics world again.

 

Until I develop my own battle suit and clawed gauntlets only to become the second most recognizable version of the identity I originated, I remain

 

frogoat