Spider-Man's Early Encounter with Kingpin: A Pre-MCU Showdown

16 years ago, in an animated series called The Spectacular Spider-Man, there was almost a showdown between Spider-Man and The Kingpin. The show, which is highly regarded as one of the best Spider-Man animated series, only lasted two seasons. Despite featuring many of Spider-Man's famous enemies, The Kingpin was noticeably absent. Instead, Tombstone was portrayed as Spider-Man's main adversary in the mob boss role. However, the co-creator of the show, Greg Weisman, shared that this was not the original plan.

While The Kingpin, also known as Wilson Fisk, started off as one of Spider-Man's villains, he later became a major foe for Daredevil. Marvel brought both Daredevil and Kingpin to the screen in the 2015 Netflix series Daredevil. Recently, Kingpin made a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Hawkeye and the Echo miniseries, and he is set to be the main antagonist in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again storyline. As the MCU's Spider-Man has transitioned into a more street-level hero, it seems likely that a clash between Spider-Man and Kingpin will occur in either Spider-Man 4 or a future installment. The Spectacular Spider-Man series almost gave fans a taste of this epic showdown through several intense battles between the two characters.

Why Spectacular Spider-Man Couldn't Use Kingpin

Split images of Kingpin and Spider-Man in Marvel Comics - Why Spectacular Spider-Man Couldn't Use Kingpin

At that point, it was clear to us that Kingpin was off-limits.

According to Spectacular Spider-Man showrunner Greg Weisman, Kingpin was initially considered a Daredevil character during the production of the series. This decision made him "off-limits" for the show. It appears that this information was relatively recent, given that Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man had previously battled Kingpin in the Spider-Man 3 video game from the Raimi universe, just a year before Spectacular Spider-Man premiered. Additionally, some episode listings for Spectacular Spider-Man mentioned Kingpin instead of Tombstone, suggesting that the show had contemplated using Wilson Fisk. In the end, Spectacular's version of Tombstone is a blend of the Tombstone character from the comics and Kingpin, which helps to explain his rivalry with Spider-Man more effectively.

Why Tombstone Made More Sense Than Kingpin

Spider-Man faces off against Tombstone in The Spectacular Spider-Man. - Why Tombstone Made More Sense Than Kingpin

In Marvel's comics and adaptations, Kingpin and Spider-Man have clashed many times. Despite this, Kingpin lacks superpowers. He takes advantage of the fact that Spider-Man holds back in fights. Spider-Man can lift up to 10 tons but avoids using full force against human opponents, as it could be deadly. However, in J. Michael Straczynski’s “Back in Black” story arc, Spider-Man unleashes his rage and defeats Kingpin effortlessly.

On the other hand, Tombstone possesses superhuman strength and durability. This allows him to have intense battles with Spider-Man. Unlike Kingpin, Tombstone's superpowers make their fights more engaging. Peter struggles against Tombstone's strength without holding back his own superhuman abilities. In the Spectacular series, Spider-Man's clashes with Tombstone are more satisfying than those with Kingpin.

While Spider-Man and Kingpin may face off in the MCU, Kingpin's lack of superhuman powers might make the battle less thrilling. On the other hand, Tombstone's fights with Spider-Man are more intense and captivating due to his superhuman abilities.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing glimpse into the development of "The Spectacular Spider-Man" animated series, revealing the behind-the-scenes decision to exclude Kingpin as a primary antagonist. While the show's creators initially considered introducing the iconic villain, they ultimately opted for Tombstone due to Marvel's categorization of Kingpin as a Daredevil character. This decision aligns with the show's focus on Spider-Man's street-level adventures and the fact that Tombstone's superpowers make for more engaging battles.

The article also highlights the potential for a showdown between Spider-Man and Kingpin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it raises concerns about the potential lack of excitement in such a battle due to Kingpin's lack of superhuman abilities. In contrast, Tombstone's enhanced strength and durability make his fights with Spider-Man more thrilling. Ultimately, the article leaves readers anticipating the possibility of a memorable confrontation between the web-slinger and either Kingpin or Tombstone in future installments of the MCU.