Film
Hans Gruber
Die Hard · 1988
The gentleman thief who rewrote the action movie antagonist
Threat index 75
Crime Lord · Comics
Kingpin
A crime boss who beat a superhero by hiring lawyers
Attribute scores
Power70
Intellect90
Menace84
Fear factor72
Cultural impact86
Charisma80
Editorial estimates on a 0–100 scale, calibrated against every other character in the index. Not official canon.
Who they are
Fisk is the most grounded major villain in superhero comics: no powers, no costume, just capital, patience and a body that is almost entirely muscle. His defining storyline does not involve a fight at all. He discovers Daredevil's identity and systematically destroys his home, his job, his finances and his reputation, which remains the cruelest thing any comic villain has done to a hero.
Defining traits
Enormous physical strength despite no powersTotal control of organized crimePolitical legitimacyAbsolute patienceGenuine love for his family
What makes them dangerous
He does not need to touch you. He owns your landlord, your bank and your precinct.
And what undoes them
His family. It is the one asset he will burn everything else to protect.
Things you might not know
- The storyline where he dismantles Daredevil's civilian life is routinely ranked among the best comic runs ever written.
- He is frequently drawn in white to make him the brightest object in a dark, street-level book.
- He has been elected Mayor of New York in mainline continuity.
Why number 9 in Comics
No powers at all, and his defining storyline involves destroying a hero's home, job, finances and reputation without a single fight.
If you like this villain
Film
Keyser Söze
The Usual Suspects · 1995
A rumor that turned out to be sitting in the interrogation room
Threat index 75
TV