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WARNING: The following article contains mentions of sexual assault.
Back in 2015, fan-favorite Marvel Netflix shows Daredevil and Jessica Jones debuted their first seasons. Likewise, they introduced fans to their merciless antagonists, Wilson Fisk and Kevin Thompson, adopting the alter-egos “Kingpin” and “Kilgrave,” respectively. Both Vincent D’Onofrio (Kingpin) and David Tennant (Kilgrave) were praised for their imposing performances, but an age-old debate begs the question: who is the better Marvel Netflix villain?
Here is a breakdown of both Kingpin and Kilgrave, judging their abilities, weaknesses and overall degree of villainy to determine a clear victor.
Kilgrave Controls Minds
Jessica Jones‘ Kilgrave, also known as The Purple Man, emits an airborne virus that controls the minds of those that inhale it. He considers it to be a cluster of pheromones capable of affecting brain functions and forcing the unfortunate victim within range to relinquish their free will. His superpower is barely rivaled by any other character in the Marvel Universe, especially since his abilities are irresistible.
Furthermore, Kilgrave uses these powers for personal gain, including as a means of obtaining money, sexual favors and an arrogant assertion of his own will. Eventually, Kilgrave develops a complete lack of empathy for human needs, focusing entirely on his own desires and the pleasure he derives from inflicting pain.
Kingpin Breaks Bones
Daredevil‘s Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, is a powerful crime boss and ruler of the degenerate underworld. Contrary to what some may believe, almost all of Wilson’s body mass is muscle, not fat; his enormous size is comparable to that of a sumo wrestler. Fisk is by no means unintelligent, but he certainly relies on brawn over brains to get what he wants.
Kingpin is an expert hand-to-hand combatant and uses his might as a means of defense as much as attack. As such, he can fight superheroes like Daredevil without the fear of being seriously harmed. Enormous size and considerable strength notwithstanding, Kingpin is a genius strategist, capable of controlling gangs of dedicated thugs, assassins and petty criminals alike.
Kilgrave Can’t Control Everyone
An oversight to mind control is that not every person is susceptible to it, therefore rendering the ability useless. Kilgrave controls Jessica Jones for a significant portion of her life, so the constant exposure to his abilities enables her nervous system to adapt and develop a natural immunity to his powers.
Ultimately, this mishap is what leads to Kilgrave’s death, since Jessica is the one to do the honors. Moreover, his powers are nullified by those who have a different genetic makeup to humans, such as extra-terrestrials, deities or other non-human otherworldly beings. In addition to those with strong wills and the aforementioned exceptions, Kilgrave’s ability is ineffective on robots.
Kingpin Has Human Needs
It is an often forgotten fact that both Kilgrave and Kingpin are human. Wilson Fisk is commonly mistaken for a super-powered character, but his abilities are purely physical. He is human, albeit a freakishly strong one. Wilson Fisk’s greatest weakness is not a physical one, but rather his emotional bond with his wife, Vanessa Fisk. Such a deep connection humanizes him somewhat.
This weakness is exploited by Daredevil and Bullseye in Daredevil. When he meets Vanessa, their romantic involvement makes him careless and vulnerable. Before, he had no ties to anyone, but after encountering Vanessa, his enemies use Vanessa as a means to hurt, threaten or disarm him.
Kilgrave Is Remorseless
Among other things, such as homicide, kidnapping and stealing, Kilgrave is also notorious for repeatedly raping Jessica; Kilgrave had kept Jessica prisoner for months after their first encounter, wherein he used her superhuman strength to murder, steal and merely entertain him.
When Kilgrave was presumed dead, his actions had driven Jessica to the desperate point of alcoholism and given her PTSD. In Jessica Jones, when Kilgrave resurfaces, he kidnaps Hope Shlottman, an innocent teenage athlete from Omaha whom he rapes and forces to kill her own parents. Kilgrave has no qualms with harming children, encouraging substance abuse and authorizing murder.
Kingpin Is a Ruthless Crime Boss
As a truly unpleasant, mean-spirited and vicious man, Kingpin is as sadistic as he is reclusive. Fisk is a socially awkward mastermind willing to murder traitorous goons with his own bare hands. When audiences meet Fisk in Daredevil’s first season, he has already climbed the ranks to become the most intimidating member in his entourage of wrongdoers.
While Kingpin rules the criminal underworld, he is completely nameless, ruling the city from the darkness, and all his thugs are willing to kill themselves rather than rat him out. He has status, obedience and a tight fist around the throat of Hell’s Kitchen. Eventually, Kingpin controls all the crime families and even the FBI, whom he demeans by using them as his personal security.
Verdict: Kilgrave Was the Better Marvel Netflix Villain
There is no doubt that Kingpin is a ferocious adversary, but he succumbs to the predictable weakness of love, which becomes his Achilles heel. His tender heart leads to his defeat, and while it may be dishonorable to use Vanessa against him, all is fair in love and war.
On the other hand, Kilgrave is the best Marvel Netflix villain. Comparing strengths, weaknesses and the intensity of his iniquity, Kilgrave is the embodiment of evil. Not only has he committed horrific acts, but it takes some fortunate genetics and a prolonged period of exposure to overcome him — which is no easy feat.
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