THE SINS OF THE FATHER
Chapter VII

The Man Without Fear continues the story begun in Framed, deepening the alliance between Spider-Man and Daredevil. Where the first part was about survival and solidarity, this second chapter is about truth — the unmasking of corruption, the exposure of legacy, and the recognition of what it means to fight without fear.

The Kingpin’s empire is revealed not as a singular reign of crime, but as a generational inheritance, with Richard Fisk entangled in his father’s shadow. Spider-Man and Daredevil confront not only the machinery of corruption but the weight of legacy itself — the truth that crime is perpetuated across generations, and that breaking it requires courage beyond the mask.

The partnership between Spider-Man and Daredevil is tested and affirmed. Daredevil’s duality as Matt Murdock, lawyer and vigilante, becomes central: he fights in the courtroom and on the streets, embodying the struggle for justice in every sphere. Spider-Man, framed and vilified, finds in Daredevil not just an ally but a mirror — another man who bears the burden of misunderstanding, yet continues to fight.

Daredevil’s title, The Man Without Fear, is not simply a name but a philosophy. His presence reminds Spider-Man that heroism is not the absence of danger, but the refusal to yield to it. Together, they prove that truth can endure even against dynasties of crime, and that solidarity between heroes can break the chains of corruption.

Spider-Man and Daredevil escape the exploding complex, with Spider-Man recovering the data disc that could clear his name. Daredevil reveals Wilson Fisk as the Kingpin behind the conspiracy, but federal agents force them to split and flee.

At Crime Central, Richard Fisk shows his father footage of Spider-Man downloading evidence. Kingpin, fearing exposure, blames Smythe and sends Chameleon to the hospital after hearing of Aunt May’s collapse. Meanwhile, Matt Murdock unknowingly hands the disc to Agent Choi, who betrays him to Richard. Detective Terri Lee grows suspicious, sensing Peter has been framed.

Peter visits Aunt May, but Chameleon — disguised as Anna Watson — kidnaps him and Mary Jane, delivering them to Richard, who prepares to suffocate them. At the same time, Kingpin recounts his own rise to power, revealing he murdered his father to claim his empire.

Peter and Mary Jane are saved from the chamber by Daredevil and Detective Lee. Choi and Richard are arrested, though Chameleon escapes. Spider-Man and Daredevil pursue him to Crime Central, where Daredevil battles Kingpin while Spider-Man fights his men. Kingpin slips away, but the heroes recover the disc, proving Peter’s innocence.

In court, Richard Fisk, Susan Choi, and the Chameleon are found guilty. Richard is pressed to name accomplices, while Daredevil and Spider-Man part ways. Daredevil entrusts New York’s fight against Kingpin to Spider-Man, as he and Murdock head to Washington to pursue justice through the law.

ROGUE’S GALLERY

RICHARD FISK

Richard Fisk, son of Wilson Fisk — the Kingpin of Crime — grew up in the shadow of his father’s empire. Unlike his father, Richard initially sought legitimacy, rejecting the corruption that defined the Fisk name. Yet his life became a cycle of rebellion and compromise, torn between the desire to dismantle his father’s criminal empire and the temptation to wield its power for himself.

As The Rose, Richard adopted the mask of a refined crime lord, elegant and calculating, a counterpoint to the brute force of the Kingpin. He sought to control the underworld through subtlety and manipulation, positioning himself as a rival to his father while concealing his true identity. In this guise, Richard embodied the paradox of the son who despises his father’s sins yet cannot escape them, becoming another player in the same ruthless game.

His story is marked by tragedy. Richard’s attempts to overthrow the Kingpin often failed, leaving him caught between loyalty and betrayal. At times he allied with Spider-Man, at others he opposed him, his shifting allegiances reflecting his inner conflict. Ultimately, Richard’s rebellion consumed him, and his life ended violently — a reminder that in the world of crime, even noble intentions are corrupted by the weight of legacy.

The Kingpin’s origin in this series is not the same as his original comic book history.

Thwip Quip: “I hope this software isn’t soft boiled yet.”

SPIDER-MAN AND DAREDEVIL

Spider-Man and Daredevil share one of the most enduring friendships in Marvel’s canon, forged not by cosmic destiny but by the streets of New York. Both heroes are defined by dual lives — Peter Parker balancing responsibility with youth, Matt Murdock balancing justice with law — and both carry the burden of protecting a city that never truly sleeps. Their meetings are not simply team-ups, but recognitions of kindred spirits.

Daredevil was among the first heroes to learn Spider-Man’s true character, seeing past the mask and the public vilification that J. Jonah Jameson spread. In turn, Spider-Man recognised in Daredevil a man who fought with equal courage, though his powers were born not of mutation but of resilience. Their friendship is marked by mutual respect, each understanding the other’s sacrifices in ways few others can.

Their encounters often blur the line between camaraderie and conflict. From their early clashes in Amazing Spider-Man #16, where misunderstanding led to battle, to later alliances against Kingpin, the Hand, and other threats, their relationship reflects the tension of two men who fight differently but for the same cause. Daredevil’s world is shadowed by crime families and legal battles; Spider-Man’s by science and mutation. Yet together, they form a bridge between these realms.

Both heroes are everymen at heart — Spider-Man the working-class student, Daredevil the blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen. Their friendship reminds us that heroism is not about grandeur, but about perseverance, about standing beside one another when the city demands more than one man can give. When they meet, it is not spectacle but affirmation: two figures who understand the cost of the mask, and who find strength in shared burden.

Framed | The Ultimate Slayer