The Weight of a Universe: Balancing Street-Level Crime with Cosmic Stakes

This tension isn’t new to comic book adaptations. Decades ago, readers of Marvel comics navigated a similar landscape, where personal stories unfolded against a backdrop of galactic conflicts. However, the sheer volume of content in the MCU demands a delicate balance. How do you maintain the gritty realism of a character like Daredevil when the fate of the multiverse hangs in the balance elsewhere?

Scardapane and his team appear to have embraced this challenge with a touch of self-awareness. In season 2, episode 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, Kingpin, contemplating his legacy, is asked how many worlds he would need to conquer to achieve ultimate satisfaction. His response – a simple, chilling “How many are there?” – wasn’t a plot point, but a carefully crafted Easter egg.

An Echo of History: Alexander the Great and the Allure of Infinite Conquest

“It’s a nod to a misquotation about Alexander the Great weeping because there were no more worlds to conquer,” Scardapane explained to Radio Times. The line, famously used in films like Die Hard, resonates with Kingpin’s character. It speaks to his boundless ambition and his relentless pursuit of power. But within the context of the MCU, it also acknowledges the existence of a multiverse.

The writers intentionally used the line to subtly acknowledge both Kingpin’s insatiable hunger and the show’s setting within a vast, interconnected universe. While the possibility of Kingpin expanding his empire beyond Earth remains purely speculative – executive producer Sana Amanat remained tight-lipped on the subject – the question itself is a fascinating one. Could the Kingpin of New York become a multiversal threat?

Typically, Wilson Fisk’s narrative is rooted in the criminal underworld, a world of power brokers and street-level violence. While 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse demonstrated his potential for adaptation into more expansive storylines, his core appeal lies in his grounded, human villainy.

For now, the idea of an “Avengers: Fisk’s Day” remains firmly in the realm of fan fiction. But the seed has been planted, and the question lingers: what would happen if Kingpin set his sights on more than just one city, one world?

What do you think? Could Kingpin realistically become a multiversal villain, and would you want to see it happen?

The complexities of balancing grounded storytelling with the expansive nature of the MCU are a constant challenge for Marvel’s creative teams. How can they ensure that characters like Daredevil and Kingpin remain compelling and relevant in a universe where anything is possible?

Frequently Asked Questions About Kingpin and the MCU Multiverse

• What is the significance of Kingpin asking “How many are there?” in Daredevil: Born Again?

  The line is a reference to a famous quote about Alexander the Great lamenting the lack of worlds to conquer, and serves as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the existence of the multiverse within the MCU.

• Does this suggest Kingpin will be venturing into other universes?

  Showrunner Dario Scardapane has stated that any potential expansion of Kingpin into other universes is “way above his pay grade,” leaving the possibility open but unconfirmed.

• How does Daredevil: Born Again balance street-level crime with the larger MCU?

  The show attempts to acknowledge its place within the larger universe through subtle references and nods, while still focusing on the grounded, gritty crime stories that define the character of Daredevil.

• Is Kingpin typically portrayed as a multiversal threat in Marvel comics?

  While Kingpin has been involved in storylines with broader implications, he is primarily known as a powerful crime lord operating within a single universe.

• Where can I stream Daredevil: Born Again?

  Daredevil: Born Again is available to stream exclusively on Disney+. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.