This post contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again Episode 9.
Summary
- Fisk's strength in Daredevil: Born Again isn't new; he showcased superhuman abilities in Netflix's Daredevil.
- Marvel fans speculate that Fisk may have obtained the Super Soldier Serum.
- Fisk's boosted strength in the MCU suggests he can rival heroes like Spider-Man.
Daredevil: Born Again delivered a powerful final episode for its first season, and audiences finally got to see the much-awaited team-up between Frank Castle and Daredevil. While The Punisher stepped onto the battlefield with the intention of killing every "Clown" he finds along the way, Matt wanted to take a less violent approach. Regardless, it was interesting to see the two conflicting ideologies acting as a single force against the Kingpin's army.
It is difficult to pull out a single most surprising moment from the episode, as there were so many. However, the most shocking moment in the final episode of Daredevil: Born Again was definitely Kingpin killing Gallo. Fans have seen Fisk's brutal approach to tackling his enemies before, but the manner in which he crushes Gallo's skull with his bare hands was something most never expected. The entire community was taken aback by Fisk's superhuman strength, which was awesome, for sure, but it also sparked a debate among fans. To be clear, no one is complaining about Fisk being this strong, but there are fans who wonder if Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin has always had such strength, or if the MCU has given a boost to the character.
6 Lingering Questions We Have After The End Of Daredevil: Born Again
From Daredevil's fate to the state of NYC, these are the most burning questions we have after watching the finale of Daredevil: Born Again.
Yes, Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin Was Incredibly Strong In Daredevil
The Man Has Always Been A Monster
It's understandable why fans are surprised by Fisk's superhuman strength in Daredevil: Born Again, as crushing a human skull with bare hands is no small feat. However, it's worth noting that Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin has always been surprisingly strong. D'Onofrio's Kingpin demonstrated his brute strength even before stepping into the MCU.
In Netflix's Daredevil, Fisk was able to overwhelm not one but two skilled individuals: Daredevil and Bullseye. Not only did he easily smash Daredevil through the walls, but Fisk also made a hole in the wall while trying to punch Bullseye. He easily lifted Bullseye off the ground and sent him flying like it was nothing. Matt is a trained fighter, and Fisk didn't lose his ground even after being punched several times. In the end, it was Fisk who decided to stop fighting after seeing Vanessa's face.
Fisk has always been confident in his strength, and he demonstrated that not only against Daredevil but also against Frank Castle. In Season 2 of Daredevil, Fisk threw punches at Frank like a monster. The man had just seen the Punisher single-handedly killing several inmates, but even then, Fisk asked the guards to untie Frank's hands. Fisk was confident that he could take on Frank if the latter decided to attack. If that's not all, in Season 1 of Daredevil, audiences also saw Fisk crushing a guy's head by smashing it with a car door multiple times. It doesn't take an expert to figure out that everything Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin did in Netflix's Daredevil required immense strength.
The MCU Version Of Wilson Fisk Feels Like A Superhuman
No Normal Human Can Survive After Being Shot In The Face
Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin has always been strong, but what the character demonstrated in Netflix's Daredevil was the strength of a powerlifter. The MCU version of the character, however, showcased the strength of a superhuman. In short, fans aren't wrong to think that the strength of MCU's Wilson Fisk isn't consistent with the Netflix version of the character.
Marvel fans believe that ever since the character stepped into the MCU, he has gotten much stronger. In Hawkeye, for instance, Fisk was seen pulling out a car door with his hands, and sending Kate Bishop flying with a simple punch. Kate shot the man with her arrows multiple times, but Fisk didn't even flinch. Not only that, but he also survived a close-proximity explosion from Kate's arrows.
"You....never stopped being Kingpin." - Commissioner Gallo to Wilson Fisk.
But the biggest example of Fisk's superhuman power was the fact that he survived after being shot in the face point-blank. He not only survived the bullet, but also managed to save his eye, which fans think would have been impossible for Netflix's Fisk to handle. And now, the character has given us one more demonstration of his boosted strength by crushing Phil Gallo's skull with his hands. Of course, it's the same Wilson Fisk that we saw in Netflix's Daredevil. The community isn't questioning the "canon" part, but fans believe that the MCU is slowly establishing Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin as a strong enough character to go against heroes like Spider-Man.
Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin now exists in the same universe as Tom Holland's Spider-Man, the same Spidey that has fought against Thanos. So, Fisk must have the strength of a superhuman to survive as a villain in a world where mighty heroes like the Avengers exist. However, the question remains: How would the MCU explain this sudden boost in Kingpin's strength? Marvel fans think that the Super Soldier Serum could be the answer.
Fisk Might Have Obtained The Black Market Super Soldier Serum
Several scientists in the MCU have attempted to recreate the Super Soldier Serum, and some were successful, like Doctor Wilfred Nagel. Nagel's version of the Serum played a significant role in the MCU, specifically in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier' s story. There were only about twenty vials of the Serum, and Marvel fans think that Wilson Fisk got his hands on one of the vials.
Fisk has deep connections in the criminal world, so it wouldn't have been difficult for him to get his hands on the Serum through the Power Broker. This hasn't been confirmed so far, but it makes sense if the MCU is taking this direction with Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin.
This One Daredevil: Born Again Decision Was A Huge Mistake
There is no doubt that it makes the wait for Daredevil: Born Again's second season much more excruciating.
Wilson Fisk was out of the picture for a long time, and fans think that he must have taken the Serum somewhere between the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Hawkeye. Nagel's version of the serum was known to boost strength without any visible changes in the user's body. However, it did have some psychological effects, as seen with John Walker — the serum amplified his anger issues. It couldn't have been a problem for Fisk, though, since he is a character who has always embraced his anger instead of feeling ashamed of it.
Daredevil: Born Again
- Release Date
- March 4, 2025
- Network
- Disney+
- Showrunner
- Chris Ord
- Directors
- Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
- Writers
- Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree
- Franchise(s)
- Daredevil, Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
-
Charlie CoxMatt Murdock / Daredevil -
Vincent D'OnofrioWilson Fisk
WHERE TO WATCH
After Charlie Cox's cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home and supporting role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Daredevil: Born Again gives Matt Murdock his first show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Daredevil: Born Again continues the story that started in Netflix's three-season Daredevil series and sees Wilson Fisk ascend to mayor of New York City.
- Story By
- chris ord
- Number of Episodes
- 9
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
