MCU Theory Explains Kingpin’s Superhuman Strength & Durability

The MCU's version of Kingpin seemed to demonstrate superhuman abilities, which could be explained thanks to one Marvel theory. After a previous stint on Netflix's Daredevil series, Vincent D'Onofrio reprised his role of Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, in Hawkeye on Disney+. In Marvel Comics, Fisk is a worthy adversary for the likes of Daredevil and Spider-Man, but his MCU debut saw him pitted against Clint Barton and his protégé, Kate Bishop, with a few upgrades since his Netflix tenure. D'Onofrio is set to make his next appearances in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again, cementing himself as a powerful threat for the MCU's street-level heroes.

While he was teased throughout the Phase 4 series, Kingpin didn't make his official debut until the season finale of Hawkeye, but D'Onofrio brought the same intimidating presence to the role that made him so memorable in Marvel Television's Daredevil. Hawkeye introduced a familial connection for Fisk with Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo, but also showed that Fisk had acquired some remarkable abilities, allowing him to withstand an arrow to the chest, getting hit by a car, being blown up by Kate Bishop, and being shot by Lopez. His acquisition of this superhuman level of strength and durability hasn't yet been explained, but Marvel Comics could provide the answer.

What Is Marvel’s Mutant Growth Hormone?

A new theory from MCU's super soldier serum that has played a prominent role since Captain America: The First Avenger, which gifted permanent abilities to heroes and villains alike, including the likes of Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, John Walker, and Karli Morgenthau.

MGH has posed many problems for Marvel Comics' heroes, especially when the drug is used to replicate the powers of some of the most popular of Earth's heroes, including Thor, Cyclops, and Daredevil. Doctor Strange even used MGH after his car accident to try and ease the pain in his hands. So far, the MCU's mutant introduction has been slow and steady, with Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, and Namor already being revealed to be mutants, and Professor X making a cameo appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so the debut of MGH would help to accelerate the MCU's introduction of mutants in Phases 5 and 6.

MGH Could Have Given Kingpin His Enhanced Strength In Hawkeye

In Marvel Comics, Wilson Fisk was known to have access to MGH long before he became the infamous crime boss, establishing him as one of the earliest s of the controversial drug. This provides the perfect connection to Kingpin in the MCU and Mutant Growth Hormone, as it's entirely possible that he would have access to the drug even before the existence of mutants is common knowledge in the world of the MCU. Kingpin's use of MGH would certainly gift him the enhanced strength, stamina, and durability that was demonstrated in Hawkeye's series finale, so this could be developed further in MCU projects.

Even though Kate Bishop was able to defeat Kingpin using her trick arrows and intellect, Fisk's size and power made him an almost unbeatable opponent physically. This will become hugely important in the lead up to the Disney+ releases of Echo and Daredevil: Born Again, especially since the MCU's Kingpin seems to be far more powerful than his Netflix counterpart, so Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, will have a major challenge taking him down. Kingpin's potential use of MGH could be setting him up to be a long-running threat for the MCU's street-level heroes, he'll be incredibly hard to beat.

Kingpin’s MGH Can Set Up Captain America: New World Order

eli bradley in the falcon and the winter soldier

The MCU's Phase 5 needs to show more connectivity, as the lack of a clear through-line was one of Phase 4's biggest criticisms. The introduction of Mutant Growth Hormone could be one way to create common themes in Phase 5, since the drug's increasing popularity among criminal networks, and even aspiring superheroes, means it can fit neatly into practically any MCU project. The Reddit theory suggests that, along with Kingpin already using MGH in Hawkeye and his appearances, MGH could also link to Captain America: New World Order, Sam Wilson's first solo adventure as the MCU's new Captain America.

This can happen with the help of Eli Bradley, Isaiah Bradley's grandson who debuted alongside his super soldier grandfather in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In Marvel Comics, since he didn't inherit any superhuman abilities from his grandfather, Eli uses MGH to become the superhero known as Patriot, and becomes a member of the Young Avengers, though lied to his teammates, stating that his grandfather had given him a blood transfusion. This could become an important storyline in Captain America: New World Order, which could officially debut MGH and open the MCU's most high-profile heroes eyes to the existence of mutants.

MCU Could Debut The Beast Thanks To MGH

hank mccoy aka the beast in marvel comics

If Marvel Studios were to confirm that Kingpin's superhuman abilities in the MCU come from his use of MGH, this could create the perfect opportunity to introduce one of the most recognizable X-Men to the MCU. In Marvel Comics, an early version of MGH is developed by Dr. Henry "Hank" McCoy while working at the Brand Corporation, after spending time at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Isolating the hormonal extract that created mutations, Hank injected himself with the serum, which enhanced his abilities and turned him into the blue-furred Beast, a permanent transformation after he forgot to take the antidote after an hour, a process seen during X-Men: First Class.

The Beast's MCU debut would mark the first appearance by a major X-Men character, helping to lay the foundations for the official team-up of the MCU's X-Men, though this probably won't happen until the Multiverse Saga wraps up with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. For now, the potential existence of MGH provides a subtle tease of the MCU's mutants and X-Men, and also answers the burning questions about where Kingpin got his enhanced strength from in Hawkeye. His next appearances in the MCU's Phase 5 can provide a more concrete explanation.