DC just perfected its version of the MCU’s Kingpin a year before Daredevil: Born Again

Superman & Lois Season 4 has managed to perfect the DC show’s equivalent of the MCU kingpin a year before the Marvel character returns to screens in Daredevil: Born Again. Vincent D’Onofrio’s depiction of Kingpin is considered one of the best on-screen adaptations of a supervillain of all time, with Wilson Fisk feeling as human and believable as he is compassionate and furious. This is no doubt a big part of the reason why his version of Kingpin returned alongside Charlie Cox’s Daredevil in the MCU, since recasting would have been theoretically possible for both roles.

As such, comparisons between the MCU kingpin and other villains found in superhero media are not uncommon, as the engaging take on Fisk is a prime example of a quality superhero performance. Interestingly, DC has recently cemented a villain from another series as a tough equivalent of the MCU’s kingpin, though the pair haven’t seen many fan comparisons — likely due to the antagonist’s place in a live-action Superman show Which is less transparent. However, these Superman & Lois Season 4 cast is all the better for this edition.

Superman & Lois’ Lex Luthor is a DC version of the MCU’s Kingpin

Michael Cudlitz’ Luthor & Vincent D’Onofrio’s Fisk have some core similarities

Superman & Lois‘ version of Lex Luthor – played on the DC show by Michael Cudlitz, who viewers may also recognize as Abraham Ford from The Walking DeadOr as the voice of Red Rush in animated superhero shows Invincible – did Effectively established itself as the DC show’s version of Vincent D’Onofrio’s depiction of Kingpin. Just as Daredevil’s Wilson Fisk aims to project a veneer of calculated and business-focused politeness to hide a deep and profound inner rage, Luthor also has a polite outer layer that he uses to hide a deep layer of inner rage and evil.

The extent of their ruthlessness – and their ability to control others – is also made clear through their respective focal shows. in Superman & Lois In Season 3, Lex is shown basically breaking the prison system on a whim while serving his sentence, to the extent that he is able to use another inmate as a human chair while eating a fancy-looking meal as the rest of the prison line up and Waiting for him to give orders.

This has immediate and clear parallels with Kingpin’s own story in incarceration in DaredevilBecause the show’s story also put him in prison, and then saw him take over Riker-Eil from the inside. Although the stories are given different levels of focus – with Luthor’s being relatively short and Fisk’s taking on a more extended period of time – both work to show their respective villains as a force of nature in their own right, and a master of playing chess with Those around them to gain power over everyone in their area.

The couple both even have estranged daughter figures, with Superman & Lewis Lex is partly focused on trying to find his daughter Elizabeth – who seems to be hiding from him – and Echo Showing Kingpin’s somewhat twisted attempts to bring Maya Lopez back under his thumb after years of control over her as his adoptive child of sorts. Superman & Lois Hasn’t shown the dynamic between Lex and Elizabeth yet, but since she has abandoned contact with him and seemingly avoids giving him any way to contact her, it seems likely that this will also parallel the Marvel equivalent.

Superman and Lois season 4 proved the DC show’s Lex Luthor is truly ruthless

Lex Luthor has somehow only gotten more unhinged since season 3

While Superman & LoisSeason 3’s story has a direct parallel between the show’s Lex Luthor and the MCU’s Kingpin, it’s Season 4 that really underlines this The extent to which Luthor is willing to go in order as a result of his chorus against Lois Lane for his time in prison is immense. Luthor not only kills Superman because of his enmity towards the hero and Lois, but also steals his heart, and then decides to destroy the heart in front of Superman’s son after learning the familial connection between the two.

To top it all off, Lex makes sure to target Lois’ bond with her children specifically, leaving her a call where she’s forced to choose which of her children to save—and then tells Jordan that Lane chose Jonathan’s life over his, driving A wedge between mother and son. Season 4 has seen Luthor’s plans ramp up now that he has time to start executing schemes after being released from prison, and it’s clear that he handles those plans with intelligence and complete ruthlessness – an approach that also feels similar to seeing the machinations of the Kingpin .

Why Superman & Lois’ Lex Luthor as the MCU’s Kingpin Is Good for the Show

Superman & Lois’ latest main villain deserves to be as menacing as possible

Superman & Lois‘Specific depiction of Lex Luthor has not been universally well received, with some citing that they find the iteration of the character too crude to feel like the same figure from the comics. however, Using a more hardened take on Luthor makes sense in a universe where he’s a seasoned supervillain who’s been locked up planning what he’ll do when he gets out for 17 yearsEspecially, because everything because he should perform unexpected places and be a danger with the construction, would feel something loose.

On a different note, a version of Lex that is as intimidating as possible seems particularly smart since he is seemingly the ultimate main villain of Superman & Lois himself, thus placing a considerable amount of importance on his ability to seem dangerous. While taking on Lex Luthor isn’t the only way the show could have approached things, the combination of ​​a Lex Luthor who seems tough in every sense combined with Michael Cudlitz’ solid ability to channel the menacing kind of authority that Blends perfectly into Lex’s. The story seems to pay dividends for the final chapter of the DC series.

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