WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #61 by Nick Spencer, Patrick Gleason, Edgar Delgado & VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
The Kingpin, throughout his career, has taken inspiration from iconic crime movies. Wilson Fisk has often resembled famous crime bosses from classic films such as The Godfather. Kingpin's most recent plot holds striking similarities to the premise of 2006's Smokin' Aces.
Fisk's plans are unveiled in Amazing Spider-Man #61, the beginning of the "King's Ransom" story arc. During this issue, the Kingpin gathers a large group of New York's crime bosses together, declaring that he wants Fred Myers, aka Boomerang. Together, Myers and Spider-Man have gone around New York and collected pieces of the Lifeline Tablet.
Fisk desperately wants the tablet, and he's been pursuing Boomerang for its possession. Of course, when the Kingpin tells New York's crime bosses to get Boomerang, they want to know what's in it for them. At this point, Fisk entices his colleagues with a "get out of jail free card." Since Kingpin is the mayor of New York, this offer is legitimate. For anyone who captures Boomerang, they and their associates will receive full immunity from arrest or interrogation by the police. This entire premise sounds very familiar, as it resembles that of the film Smokin' Aces.
Kingpin is very much in the role of Primo Sparazza, played by Joseph Ruskin. Sparazza is an aging Las Vegas mob boss, who sets a bounty on Buddy "Aces" Israel, played by Jeremy Piven. Aces is a card shark and a magician who hasn't made the best reputation for himself. Boomerang is the clear stand-in for Aces, since they've both been targeted by powerful men who've sent a vast array of assassins against them.
Boomerang and Aces are both under the protection of people who want to see justice done. Spider-Man has a role that is virtually identical to that of FBI agent Richard Messner, played by Ryan Reynolds. In Messner's case, he needs the information that Aces has, and has offered immunity in exchange.
Similarly, Spider-Man is largely looking past Boomerang's crimes to keep the Lifeline Tablet out of Kingpin's hands. Along the way, it seems that both stories depict a messy and dangerous journey. Assassins target both Boomerang and Aces, likely leaving a trail of violence and death in their wake.
The comparison between "King's Ransom" and Smokin' Aces isn't perfect, however. For one thing, Spider-Man is a lot closer to Boomerang than Messner is to Aces. Peter Parker and Fred Myers live together, basically becoming friends after sharing a few adventures together. Spider-Man and Boomerang have worked together to keep the Lifeline Tablet out of Kingpin's hands, while Messner's FBI partner is killed while pursuing Aces.
Boomerang also isn't as much of a bad guy anymore, as opposed to Aces. It was revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #6, by Spencer, Humberto Ramos and Steve Lieber, that Fred received immunity for his past crimes by fighting Hydra during "Secret Empire." While he may not be perfect, it seems that Boomerang is at least trying to be better.
In Smokin' Aces, Sparazza is also revealed to be very different than he first appeared. In truth, Sparazza was an undercover FBI agent who was nearly killed by his own people, which turned him to a full-time mob boss. Conversely, Kingpin was a full-time mob boss who became the mayor.
Both of these villains are fought by morally righteous characters in the form of Messner and Spider-Man. After Messner learns of Sparazza's ties to the FBI, he resigns. Similarly, Spider-Man is essentially fighting his own government. Fighting the mayor of New York, the web-slinger is doing what he thinks is right, valuing morality over legality.
Yet the Kingpin and Sparazza both have hidden reasons for going after their respective targets. Sparazza is actually Aces' father, needing his heart as a donor. Meanwhile, the Kingpin needs the Lifeline Tablet to resurrect his wife, Vanessa. Both of these characters are ruthless criminals, but their goals are very human in nature. "King's Ransom" and Smokin' Aces aren't exactly the same, but they do hold some surprising similarities.
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