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In the MCU, Wilson Fisk often wears a white suit. But what is the thematic significance of such a vibrant and pure color when worn by the villain?
When Daredevil first premiered on Netflix, one of the most powerful portrayals came from Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin. But what made him so compelling was much more than his backstory or motivations. Each facet of the character was thought out, from his line delivery down to his wardrobe. Fisk is never shown in his classic white suit from the comics. In fact, that doesn’t appear until the show’s third season. Instead, the evolution into becoming the Kingpin takes a front seat in his story. But why exactly does the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Fisk wear white in the first place?
Like Daredevil, Fisk is first introduced as a shadow. But rather than defend Hell’s Kitchen, he believes the only way to save it is to control it. Unlike Murdock, he never gets his hands dirty. Instead, he works with various facets of crime, including trafficking, drugs and property. He’s so removed, he never even meets with his associates and has his assistant Wesley do business on his behalf. But as Daredevil makes waves, Fisk emerges, wearing black to represent his nefarious intents and unpredictability.
In the beginning, Fisk believes he can help the city by controlling it, and everything he does is to better it. But when certain members of the community begin to fight back, he finds it increasingly difficult to gain the control he desires. By the end of the first season, he finally understands that he isn’t a hero. Embracing his place as a man of ill intent, Fisk owns his dark colors and chooses to help New York City destroy itself. But rather than fight in the trenches like Daredevil, he prefers to stoke the flames of destruction from above it. By Season 3, he is still shown wearing darker suits, but his motivations are clear. But to gain the type of control he wants, he has to reinvent himself, introducing more white into his wardrobe.
With the love of Vanessa lifting him, Fisk decides to wear more white, symbolizing how love has made him feel reborn. However, what is even more evident is how the brighter colors only illuminate his darker half. By gaining more power through the FBI, he becomes more untouchable than ever before. But even more unsettling is the fact that he can do it with minimal threats. Now, he can entrap and manipulate officers like Ray Nadeem to do what he wants by preying on their noble intentions. So ultimately, while the white symbolizes positivity, it’s only a mask to hide that he’s the devil in disguise.
In the past, Daredevil would juxtapose the Kingpin’s “good intentions” by dressing as a devil. Rather than be a symbol of evil, Matt used his persona to signify the necessary violence and evil needed to keep the city safe. In contrast, Fisk’s white looked more false than ever before. When Matt lost his Daredevil suit, he returned to his old black attire. But even though he was no longer the devil, he still represented the dark shadow that followed Fisk. Now, when Matt fights him, dressed in white, it represents all of the evil and crime that Fisk has committed finally beating him into submission.
Fisk’s iconic white suit is integral to the character both visually and thematically. Even in his return in Hawkeye, he still wears white to show how he continues to be the devil in disguise. But as he dons a red Hawaiian shirt, his wardrobe proves that he isn’t afraid to get blood on his hands. Marvel’s street-level arena proves that to be a hero doesn’t always mean fighting fair. But to be a villain, sometimes it’s essential to look the part of a hero, ensnaring innocents into a violent web just as the Kingpin has.
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