Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Episode 6. Since Vincent D’Onofrio took on the role of Wilson Fisk in 2015’s Daredevil, Vanessa Marianna ( Ayelet Zurer ) has consistently been his greatest vulnerability. Throughout the original three-season series leading to the reboot with Daredevil: Born Again, Fisk’s motivations were deeply intertwined with his love for her. This connection drove him to step into the public eye in Season 1, seize control of the prison in Season 2, and manipulate the FBI in Season 3 for a reunion with Vanessa. Ultimately, Fisk integrated Vanessa into his criminal operations, ensuring her safety and fulfilling her desires as a testament to his love.

Even after a fallout with his surrogate daughter, Maya Lopez ( Alaqua Cox ), audiences witnessed Fisk’s relentless efforts to regain Vanessa’s affection. Despite his new role as Mayor of New York City distancing them from their criminal past, Fisk is eager to mend their relationship. He seeks help through couples counseling and resorts to violence by confronting the man Vanessa had an affair with, Adam ( Lou Taylor Pucci ). This behavior has its roots in comic history, where Fisk’s obsession with Vanessa is well-documented.

Exploring Vanessa and Wilson’s Relationship in Marvel Comics

Their initial meeting in the comics was notably darker, with Fisk exhibiting obsessive and protective tendencies toward Vanessa since her teenage years. In Daredevil: Love and War, crafted by Frank Miller and artist Bill Sienkiewicz, their contrasting backgrounds and significant age difference lead to a complex bond, culminating in marriage at a questionable age. As their relationship progressed, Vanessa grew to resent Fisk’s criminal lifestyle, feeling neglected. Eventually, she learns to manipulate Fisk’s affection, using it to influence him, including threats of divorce to achieve her goals, such as sparing Spider-Man’s life and even sharing secrets with his enemy, Matt Murdock. While their love is profound, it is undeniably toxic.

In Daredevil #180, also penned by Miller, Vanessa’s disappearance and presumed death prompt a rescue by Daredevil. He returns her to Fisk in exchange for eliminating a corrupt mayoral candidate, which Fisk agrees to readily. His obsession with Vanessa made her a frequent target for kidnapping and assassination attempts, compelling him to hire an impersonator for her safety. Even when resurrected by the Hand to challenge Fisk, he opts for negotiation over conflict. Fisk’s commitment to protecting Vanessa is unwavering, regardless of the cost.

Vanessa is not the only woman Wilson Fisk becomes infatuated with in the comics, as he marries the mutant Typhoid Mary in Chip Zdarsky’s acclaimed comic series focused on the Man Without Fear. Initially serving as Fisk’s bodyguard, their professional relationship blossoms into romance. When Mary’s mental state deteriorates, he allows her to step back for recovery. However, when Bullseye threatens them, she insists on returning to her role, and successfully protects Fisk, leading to their engagement.

As they prepare for Fisk’s potential presidential run, chaos ensues due to his actions as mayor and his anti-vigilante stance. Despite setbacks from the city’s heroes, Fisk chooses a quieter life with Mary, a choice he never made for Vanessa. They find refuge on Krakoa, a mutant-only island nation, until it is attacked, causing Mary to vanish. When she returns, they resume their lives in New York, with Fisk aiding the mutant resistance out of love for her.

Implications of Fisk’s Marriage for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

Regardless of his partner, Fisk’s primary weakness remains his emotions. In Daredevil: Born Again, there is a notable contrast between the comic and Zurer’s portrayal—while the comic version despises Fisk’s criminal activities, the live-action Vanessa seems to embrace them. With her deeper understanding of the criminal underworld, she is positioned to leverage Fisk’s love more effectively than her comic counterpart. Vanessa has already taken control of his illegal enterprises, establishing herself as a formidable figure. Fisk consistently capitulates to Vanessa’s wishes, often to his own detriment. The pressing question remains whether Vanessa’s new ambitions will allow her to dominate an already unstable Wilson Fisk, who is attempting to carve out a new future. Fisk has never opposed Vanessa before, and it seems unlikely he will start now.

New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again are released on Tuesdays on Disney+.

Collider Source: https://collider.com/daredevil-born-again-wilson-fisk-vanessa-wife-marvel-comics/ Stay up to date with new movie news, watch the latest movie trailers & get trusted reviews of upcoming movies & more from the team at Collider.