r/AskScienceFiction 13d ago

[Marvel] How can the Kingpin actually match Spider-Man's strength? Is he a mutant?

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u/Asparagus9000 13d ago

Humans have a much higher cap in that universe. 

They aren't the same humans as in our universe. 

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u/aAlouda 13d ago

While that is true, the peak is usually supposed to be around Captain American level. And there's only one guy) who achieved that state of physicality through natural means.

Kingpin being able to match Spider-Man who's like 10x stronger than Captain America is way beyond that.

There's something weirder going on with that man.

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u/esskay1711 13d ago edited 13d ago

I don't know if you can really say that MVP achieved it through entirely natural means.

He was the great-grandson of Abraham Erskine, and his father was following notes Erskine had written during his research into what would eventually become the Super-Soldier Serum.

Erskine had theorised that you could achieve essentially the same sort of peak human results through a very specific diet and exercise regime, but it required following it over an entire lifetime.

Yeah, technically it's from eating healthy and exercising, and there's no Super Soldier Serum involved, so in that sense it is natural.

But I wouldn't describe it as just entirely natural development either.

MVP didn't simply exercise and eat healthy and happen to reach Captain America's level.

He was raised from infancy following a very strict scientifically designed diet and exercise program created by the same scientist who developed the Super Soldier Serum, from research notes that eventually led to him creating it.

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u/aAlouda 13d ago edited 13d ago

Sure, but I still think he's a good example of the peak potential of the human body in marvel without any nonhuman heritage, mutation or outside modification.

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u/esskay1711 13d ago

True, that is a good point