RICHARD FISK
Real Name: Richard Fisk
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Criminal, crimelord; former terrorist, vigilante, playboy
Group Membership: None; formerly Hydra, Kingpin's criminal organization
Affiliations: Answer (Aaron Nicholson), Arranger (Oswald P. Silkworth), Lance Bannon, Beyonder, Blasphemy Cartel, Owen Briosky, Caesar Cicero,
Crime Master,
Cyber-Hunters,
Diamondback (Willis Stryker),
Digger, Dina, Fifth Sleeper, Foreigner, Fortunato, Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), Gibbs, Mr. Hall, Hammerhead (Joseph), Harold Harold, Hobgoblin (Ned Leeds), Jackal (Ben Reilly), Johnston, Klingman,
Madame Masque (Giulietta Nefaria),
Dean Martini, Mephisto, Joy Mercado,
Mr. Negative (Martin Lee),
Murphy, Owl (Leland Owlsley),
Puma (Thomas Fireheart), Red Skull (Johann Shmidt), Joe "Robbie" Robertson, Rose (Sgt. Blume), Sammy Sanchez, Scarpani, Sammy Silke, Silvermane (Silvio Manfredi), Frankie Sloane,
Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln), Varley, White Rabbit (Lorina Dodson), Mr. Williams;
formerly Alfredo Morelli
Enemies: Liz Allan, Black Cat (Felicia Hardy), Blue Boys, Captain America (Steve Rogers), Cloak (Tyrone Johnson), Dagger (Tandy Bowen), Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Falcon (Sam Wilson), Femme Force (Sharon Carter, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, others), Gauntlet (Alfredo Morrelli), Hobgoblin (Daniel Kingsley), Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley), Hobgoblin/Jack O'Lantern (Jason Macendale), Lt. Kris Keating, Madcap, Marcus Momplaisir, Ray Nesters, Tony Nesters, New Enforcers (Blitz, Controller/Basil Sandhurst, Dragon Man, Dreadnought, Eel/Edward Lavell, Fixer/Paul Norbert Ebersol, Madame Menace/Sunset Bain, Mentallo/Marvin Flumm, Mister Fear/Alan Fagan, Plantman/Sam Smithers, Super-Adaptoid, Tangle, Thermite, Vanisher), Nightwatch (Kevin Trench), Norman Osborn, Punisher (Frank Castle), Redwing, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Nick Fury, others), Spider-Man (Ben Reilly), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Clea Strange, Tony Tea Bags, Eugene "Flash" Thompson, Ben Urich, Mary Jane Watson
Known Relatives: Wilson Fisk (Kingpin, father), Vanessa Fisk (mother), Anatoly Fyskov (ancestor, deceased)
Aliases: Blood Rose, the Rose, Supreme Hydra, Schemer
Base of Operations: New York City, New York (primary)
First Appearance: (As Schemer) Amazing Spider-Man I#83 (April, 1970); (as Supreme Hydra) Captain America I#145 (January, 1972); (as the Rose) Amazing Spider-Man I#253 (June, 1984); (as Blood Rose) Web of Spider-Man I#89 (June, 1992)
Powers/Abilities: Richard Fisk has always had access to the incredible resources of the Kingpin, including the financial, technological, and criminal assets of his organization. As the Schemer, Richard Fisk commanded many men loyal to him, and he drove around in a car that was specially-equipped with heat jets, a battering ram, EMP technology, and hovering capabilities. Schemer used many weapons as well, including various guns, smoke grenades, and even a stun nozzle and a sword sewed into the fabric of his costume's lining. As the Supreme Hydra, Richard had access to vast criminal resources, including hundreds of men loyal to him, and advanced weaponry, including powerful ships and rockets, flamethrowers, electro-shock therapy beds, and other weaponry. As the Rose, Fisk utilized guns and, um, roses. He cultivated roses and used them as his calling card, while manipulating henchmen and criminal employees to do most of his dirty work. As the Blood Rose, Fisk used trick costumes, holograms, shields, lasers, grenades, and assault rifles.
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
History:
(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z#4) - Richard Fisk was born to Wilson and Vanessa Fisk within the first year of their marriage. Vanessa was, at the time, disturbed to learn of her husband's criminal affiliations and tendencies.
(Daredevil II#31 (fb) - BTS) - When Vanessa Fisk was pregnant with Richard, she pressed a needle against her stomach and considered ending her pregnancy rather than bring a baby into a world of violence.
(Daredevil II#116 (fb)) - Wilson Fisk watched his wife nurse their newborn son. Later, when she saw Wilson murder a man, she considered leaving him, but ended up staying.
(Daredevil II#27 (fb) - BTS) - As a child, Richard sometimes played with Sammy Silke, the son of another crime family.
(Daredevil II#30 (fb)) - Young Richard and young Sammy saw their fathers violently killing a man, and they realized their fathers were criminals. Fisk regularly beat Richard as Vanessa begged him to stop.
(Web of Spider-Man I#86 (fb) - BTS) - Vanessa pressured Wilson to send Richard to private schools for his education, as she sought to protect him from his father's influence.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#83 (fb) - BTS) - After finishing college, Richard told his father he wanted to stay in Europe, then he lost contact with his family for a time.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#287 (fb) - BTS) - In college, Richard befriended Alfredo Morelli, a man who would be at his side in the years to come.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#85 (fb)) - As a student in the Alps, Richard worked to be the best he could, studying hard and exercising regularly, trying to be as successful as his dad and bragging about his father constantly. When news that Wilson Fisk was the Kingpin of crime hit the papers, Richard was teased by the other students, and Richard rode despondently away on a ski lift, disappearing.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#83 (fb) - BTS) - Richard was believed dead in an accident, and authorities found a note he had left for his father. Kingpin got this news but kept it a secret from Vanessa for months.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#85 (fb)) - Richard used his family fortune to craft a costumed identity for himself, as well as weaponry, including a trick costume and a weaponized car. He put together a plot to go to New York and, with his men, overthrow the Kingpin.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#83) - The Schemer ordered his men to begin attacking various parts of the Kingpin's criminal empire, taking them over and then running them to keep their target on his toes. As the Kingpin's men began joining the Schemer, Spider-Man started fighting his men as well, then Spidey attacked Schemer's headquarters. After shooting at the hero, Schemer managed to trap the hero in a hydraulic press trap he'd made on his desk, then he escaped, leaving several of his men behind as Spidey broke free.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#84) - As a public bounty went out against the Schemer, he hid out inside his specially-equipped car until he was ready for action. The Schemer attacked Kingpin's men and told them to tell the Kingpin he was coming after him. Spider-Man attacked the Schemer in his car, but he used heat-jets, a battering ram, and hovering technology to knock the hero into the river, then he drove to the Kingpin's headquarters, where he used the car's electrical system to shut down power in the area. The Schemer prepared to fight the Kingpin directly, but Vanessa Fisk approached him and saw something in his eyes. Schemer abandoned his plans and fled.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#85) - Memories of his past reawakened, the Schemer fled in his car but collided with a van, damaging the vehicle. Schemer returned to his base for auto parts, but Spider-Man attacked him there, and Schemer used a gun, then a sword (sewed into his costume), a stun nozzle (also sewed into his costume), and a smoke grenade to fight back. Spidey webbed Schemer's feet, knocking him through a window, but he saved him before Schemer fell, then took him to the address of the "police" offering a bounty. There, Spidey found Kingpin waiting, and Kingpin put the hero in a trap. Kingpin then confronted the Schemer, who removed his mask as he explained what he'd done. As the Kingpin cried out that his son hated him, Richard admitted he still loved his father, and Vanessa arrived just as the Kingpin seemed to sink into a non-responsive state. Spider-Man escaped, leaving the family to handle their own concerns.
(Captain America I#147 (fb)) - Richard convinced Vanessa to send Wilson to an asylum for treatment.
(Captain America I#147 (fb) - BTS) - Wanting to make his father proud with a grand scheme, Richard became a Hydra agent and began uniting various factions of the broken criminal organization. Richard in time became the Supreme Hydra himself.
(Captain America I#145 (fb) - BTS) - The Supreme Hydra took his Hydra agents into an underground base in Nevada, where they spent months preparing an attack on the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization.
(Captain America I#147 (fb) - BTS) - The Supreme Hydra began making plans for world domination. While doing that, he had his scientists prepare an electroshock treatment that would awaken the Kingpin.
(Captain America I#147 (fb)) - After having the Kingpin kidnapped from the asylum and subjected to the shock therapy, Richard told Vanessa that he planned to turn the entire Hydra organization over to his father when he was better, but he made her promise not to tell Kingpin who he really was. She gave her word, then he saw Kingpin awakened.
(Captain America I#147 (fb) - BTS) - Kingpin took over Hydra and put Supreme Hydra in charge of many of the operations.
(Lethal Foes of Spider-Man#1 (fb)) - Kingpin and Supreme Hydra commissioned scientists to experiment on one of their employees, turning him into the super-powered Answer.
(Captain America I#145) - The Supreme Hydra watched Captain America through cameras in the hero's apartment, then he got his agents ready for battle. Hydra staged battles around the world to distract S.H.I.E.L.D., then the Supreme Hydra watched over a hidden camera as Nick Fury sent out Captain America with a group of female agents called Femme Force to handle one threat. Supreme Hydra launched a ship to apprehend that group, predicting that their downfall would lead to the downfall of the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. As they agents attacked, the Supreme Hydra reminded them that Captain America and Sharon Rogers were to be kept alive, but one Hydra agent seemingly killed Sharon during the attack.
(Captain America I#146) - The Supreme Hydra was horrified to learn that his project had failed, at the cost of millions to Hydra. He wondered if his benefactor might put him to death. Quickly conjuring a new plan, the Supreme Hydra called the Kingpin and assured him that he could still succeed; the Kingpin gave him 24 hours and warned of death if he failed. Hydra agents abducted Sharon Carter from the hospital where she was being treated for her injuries, then left a note for Cap to come after her or she would be killed. Captain America, flanked by Femme Force, ignored the threat to Sharon and attacked the Hydra agents.
(Captain America I#147) - Supreme Hydra tried fighting Captain America as Femme Force defeated the Hydra agents, so he threatened Sharon Carter directly. Supreme Hydra pushed the button to electrocute the woman, but instead of killing her, it knocked her out of her coma. Cap unmasked the Supreme Hydra as Richard, and Kingpin was horrified as he'd almost self-destructed the Hydra base from afar, which would have killed Richard, but Vanessa had stopped him. Richard fled from Captain America in a rocket ship and returned to Kingpin at the office of Hydra's financial benefactor, Harold Howard. Captain America followed him, finding Kingpin ready to beat Richard due to his failures at the hands of Femme Force. Kingpin turned to attack Cap just as Falcon and Redwing attacked.
(Captain America I#148) - The Red Skull revealed himself as the source behind Richard's recent successes in Hydra, and announced that he planned to launch the Fourth Reich, letting Nazism spread across the globe. Kingpin yelled at Richard, who was ashamed. Red Skull launched the Fifth Sleeper, and Kingpin pledged his resources to help Captain America, Falcon, and S.H.I.E.L.D. stop it.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#164 (fb)) - Richard was badly wounded in the battle with the Red Skull and the Fifth Sleeper, and he lay dying. Kingpin had him placed in a cryogenic freeze, preserving him until he could find a way to revive him.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#163) - Kingpin captured Spider-Man and strapped him into a machine next to the comatose Richard.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#164) - As Kingpin prepared to drain Spider-Man's life with a Vita-Drain machine, Vanessa pleaded with Kingpin to reconsider, but he refused to listen and activated the switch. Richard woke up disoriented, surprised to see Spider-Man lying there, and Richard realized Spider-Man had sacrificed part of his own life force. Vanessa got him a robe and tended to him as Kingpin dealt with the hero. Kingpin was frustrated when Richard didn't show more gratitude. Spider-Man attacked and Kingpin savagely tried to murder the hero as Vanessa ordered Kingpin's men to fire on Spidey. Kingpin was lost in a wreckage in the water during the battle. Vanessa called off the soldiers and let Spider-Man go free as she went to tend to Richard.
(Web of Spider-Man I#30 (fb)) - Richard and Alfredo went to his house in the Hamptons, seeking to get away from his father and think. When reporter Ned Leeds showed up at his door wanting to do a story on the Kingpin, Richard felt despondent and Alfredo was annoyed. Richard and Alfredo spent months vacationing in Florida, Mexico, and Italy, and Leeds followed them everywhere. Impressed by Ned's spirit, Richard began to get inspired to try and take down his father. Later, in France, Richard heard that Vanessa had convinced Wilson to give up crime, but she'd been hurt in an explosion and wandered the streets as a vagrant for a time; Daredevil used Vanessa in a plot to thwart some of the Kingpin's plans. Richard bought a loft in Greenwich Village, where he and Alfredo began working with Leeds on a plan to take Kingpin down, and Leeds revealed that he was the Hobgoblin. Richard became acquainted with corrupt cops Johnston and Varley and put them on his own payroll. Richard formed the cover identity of the Rose, planning to affect a slow takeover of his father's empire without actually committing any crimes himself. Varley and Johnston recruited a gang for Richard. Rose and Hobgoblin set up a series of conflicts to fool the Kingpin, as Alfredo plotted behind the scenes.
(Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives I#3 (fb)) - Though Richard didn't realize it, Ned Leeds, as the Hobgoblin, was actually being brainwashed and manipulated by Roderick Kingsley, the true Hobgoblin. Kingsley later credited himself partially for making Richard the Rose.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#253 (fb) - BTS) - The Rose took bets on the football game between the Mammoths and the Skyhawks, and player Ray Nesters was ordered to throw the game, as he had thrown others for payment from the Rose.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#253) - The Rose's men Johnston and Varley brought money to Nesters and ordered him to throw the next game, but Nesters was reluctant, and the Rose promised there would be consequences, as he tended to his black rosebush. When Ray refused, Rose kidnapped his brother Tony Nesters, but Spider-Man intervened. Uncomfortable with physical violence, Rose fired his gun at the hero and fled, and later Nesters admitted publicly how he had thrown games.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#256) - Tending to his black roses, the Rose heard that Spider-Man and the police had disrupted his biggest warehouse. Rose demanded that Spider-Man be put to death, and he refused to go through the Kingpin for permission. After flying him to the city, Rose hired the Puma to go after Spider-Man.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#257) - Puma contacted the Rose to inform him Spider-Man would be killed soon, then the Arranger summoned him to meet with the Kingpin. In the meeting, in a sauna (which Rose attended in a full mask and suit), Kingpin ordered that Spider-Man be left alone. Rose sent Johnston to cancel the contract with Puma, then Hobgoblin arrived, proposing an alliance.
(Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man II#95 (fb) - BTS) - The Answer called and ordered Rose to set up a drug deal at Kingpin's order.
(Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man II#95) - The Rose angrily agreed to the Kingpin's plan, ordering Johnston and Varley to set it up. The Rose made sure he was gone after the heroin was unloaded, not wanting to be there for whatever the Kingpin had planned. From afar, Rose watched Silvermane attack Cloak, Dagger, Spider-Man, and Black Cat. Wanting Silvermane's power for himself, he ordered Varley and Johnston to retrieve Dagger, thinking Silvermane would come after her, but the Answer grabbed Dagger and flew off as Cloak took Silvermane, Johnston, and Varley into the Dark Dimension.
(Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man II#96 - BTS) - Johnston and Varley were freed from Cloak, but lost the heroin.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#258) - As Johnston and Varley watched, Rose sent some of his men against the Hobgoblin, who proved his skills in combat by easily defeating the men.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#259) - The Rose worked with Hobgoblin for weeks to destabilize criminal activity and seize interests. Rose warned Hobgoblin that Kingpin would be mad when he found out. Hobgoblin planned to use some of the Rose's men to confront Harry and Liz Osborn.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#260) - The Rose provided Hobgoblin with resources, then Rose privately confided in Johnston that he planned to kill the Hobgoblin after they no longer needed him.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#261 (fb) - BTS) - The Rose's men kidnapped Liz Osborn for Hobgoblin, but seeing she was ready to give birth soon, they kidnapped Mary Jane Watson as well. Meanwhile, Rose set up a headquarters for Hobgoblin, equipped with his costumes and gear.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#261) - The Rose's men secured the hostages and Rose showed Hobgoblin his room. After obtaining the journals of Norman Osborn, Hobgoblin brought Harry to the holding room as well. Rose began reviewing details of the upcoming plans with Hobgoblin but then Spider-Man attacked, releasing the three hostages. Rose, Johnston, and Varley fled as the headquarters burned down around them.
(Spider-Man: Made Men#1 (fb) - BTS) - Learning that the criminal Tony Tea Bags had learned his real identity and planned to reveal it to Ben Urich, the reporter, the Rose had Tony killed. The Rose's men delivered Tony's head to Urich with a single rose.
(Spider-Man: Made Men#1) - The Rose attended a meeting with Hammerhead, Silvermane, Caesar Cicero, and other criminals, called by Fortunato, to discuss organized crime in the city. Fortunato nearly killed Cicero, but then Norman Osborn attacked the ship they were on, and the criminals dispersed as Spider-Man, Daredevil, Punisher, and Captain America arrived.
(Secret Wars II#3) - The Beyonder briefly took over criminal enterprise in New York City, making the Rose, Varley, Johnston, and the Kingpin all loyal to him, but he didn't keep his position long.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#275) - As the Hobgoblin experimented with new weapons, planning on fighting Spider-Man, the Rose reminded him of his promise to collect on gambling debts, and the Hobgoblin soon returned to the streets to extort more cash. The Rose didn't realize that the Kingpin was onto his plot, though Kingpin chose not to act as he suspected the real identity of the man behind the mask of the Rose.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#276) - After seeing Flash Thompson angrily condemn the Hobgoblin on the news, the Rose feigned concern and called to check on his ally. Later, Hobgoblin framed Thompson, putting him in a Hobgoblin costume and letting him get arrested for his own crimes.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#278) - The Rose sat with Hobgoblin, asking why he had chosen to frame Thompson, but Hobgoblin just flew away, maniacally laughing.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#280) - Jack O'Lantern, believing that the Hobgoblin had been arrested, offered his services to the Rose, who wondered if he could pit the two villains against each other. Rose called to warn Hobgoblin about Jack O'Lantern, thinking it would spark a fight.
(Daredevil I#234 (fb) - BTS) - The Rose arranged for Scarpani to handle an arms shipment.
(Daredevil I#234) - Tending to his rose plants, the Rose got word that the costumed vigilante Madcap stopped Scarpani's men. Rose ordered the vigilante to be liquidated.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#281) - The Rose got a call that Jack O'Lantern had broken Flash Thompson out of jail, and the Rose gave the news to Hobgoblin, encouraging him to kill Thompson to cover his tracks.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#284) - When the Kingpin disappeared, a gang war hit the streets, as the Arranger employed Jack O'Lantern to go after Silvermane. The Rose began planning subtle power grabs after a meeting with a panicking Johnston, Varley, and Hobgoblin. Later, police officer Kris Keating arrested Varley and Johnston, and Richard went to see the Arranger.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#285 (fb) - BTS) - Arranger set up for Richard to visit Vanessa, who was in a hospital bed with health and memory issues.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#285) - With Varley and Johnston out of jail, the Rose received a visit from Hammerhead, who wanted to take control of the local gangs, and Rose said he'd consider it. After Hammerhead left, Rose ordered his men to get Hobgoblin to go after the Blue Boys. Regretting the gang war and its casualties, Rose removed his mask and went to visit the Arranger as Richard Fisk. Fisk visited his mother, who still didn't recognize him. Later, the Rose, Varley, and Johnston were attending a meeting held by the Arranger, who was seeking an alliance, and met Mr. Williams and others. When the Punisher attacked, Rose and Arranger formed a truce, and ordered Hobgoblin and Jack O'Lantern to work together, and Spider-Man arrived to intervene in the battle.
(Amazing Spider-Man 286) - The Rose, with Varley and Johnston, escaped the battle, having Hobgoblin cover for them while Mr. Hall drove them away. Later, Richard was reading the newspaper in the park when Dina, a woman on a bicycle, got a flat tire and flirted with him while she fixed it. After they had coffee, then sex back at Fisk's home, Dina asked questions about Richard, then overheard him give directions to Varley. Richard felt understood by Dina as he explained that he was trying to do what was right without getting his own hands bloody. Richard went back to see his mother, shown in by Klingman, an aid to the Arranger, then he was shocked when his mother recognized him, though the doctors swiftly rushed Richard out of the room. After seeing Dina again, Richard dressed as the Rose and went to the site of a gang war, where Hobgoblin and Jack O'Lantern were intensifying a bid for territory. Spider-Man, rescuing innocents, convinced Hobgoblin to leave the battle, leaving Rose isolated below. When a single police officer cornered the Rose, Richard felt like he had no choice but to kill the man. Richard ended up shot in the arm at the same time. He returned home to Dina, saying he'd had no choice but to commit the murder.
(Power Pack I#29 - BTS) - The Rose set up a drug deal that would expose the Kingpin's criminal activities, hoping the police would discover it. Hobgoblin battled Spider-Man and Alex Power to keep it a secret.
(Web of Spider-Man I#24) - When Owen Briosky called to inform Fisk that Hobgoblin, Spider-Man, and Vulture were involved in a battle at his casino, Rose took Varley and Johnston to break up the fight, returning Hobgoblin with him to finish things in New York.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#287 (fb) - BTS) - The Hobgoblin quit working for the Rose, wanting to pursue his own ventures.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#287) - With his arm in a sling, Richard and Dina met with Alfredo Morelli at the park to discuss plans. Richard gave a Rolex to a homeless man, figuring that man would be robbed and killed by drug addicts who would then sell it for drugs and overdose; he saw this as his way of cleaning up the streets. Alfredo planted bugs in the Kingpin's networks for the Rose to monitor communications, then the Hobgoblin attacked him, trying to kill Alfredo. Alfredo returned to Fisk, telling him what happened, and Fisk began to wonder if he was in over his head and should just retreat to Europe, but just then Dina heard intel on the wires about Vanessa.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#288) - Alfredo was furious about Hobgoblin's attack and vowed to go after him. Feeling in over his head, Richard considered quitting being the Rose. Alfredo called and said he'd nearly killed Hobgoblin, but Jack O'Lantern had stopped him. Richard worried aloud to Dina that Hobgoblin would now come after the Rose, and he would have to hide in his secret apartment. Just then, the Kingpin called the Rose's private line, using a number only Varley had. With his gun drawn, the Rose showed up at Vanessa's bedside, where the Kingpin waited, and the Rose revealed who he was, knowing the Kingpin had figured it out. The Kingpin claimed that Vanessa had left him recently, and he had only kept her drugged in bed to protect her, but he planned to let her go that night while holding a gala dinner as a distraction. That evening, Vanessa was taken to safety.
(Web of Spider-Man I#29) - With his head in bandages and his arm in a sling, Fisk went to the grave site of Ned Leeds, who had been exposed as the Hobgoblin before being killed, to pay respects. Reporter Joy Mercado, with cameraman Lance Bannon, questioned Fisk, but he rushed away with Alfredo and Dina. When Dina asked Richard questions, he admitted he'd believed Leeds was the Hobgoblin. Fisk sent Varley and Johnston in to kill Roderick Kingsley, seeking to end their professional relationships; they shot Kingsley (secretly his brother Daniel in disguise) then saw Kris Keating (secretly the Foreigner in disguise) shoot at them and escape. At dinner with Richard and Dina, Richard considered quitting being the Rose again, then Alfredo armed himself and went to clear out the Hobgoblin's bases.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#289/Web of Spider-Man I#29) - Hearing of the supposed death of the Hobgoblin, the Rose went to discuss plans with Varley and Johnston but he found both men murdered in his apartment. The Hobgoblin attacked, but decided to keep the Rose alive for now, blowing up his apartment as he flew away to go after the Kingpin.
(Web of Spider-Man I#29) - Surviving the explosion, Fisk vowed to give up being the Rose, feeling in over his head with his two trusted advisors dead. Soon, the Rose was on the phone with Alfredo when he was seemingly killed by the Hobgoblin. Panicking, the Rose wondered what his life had become.
(Web of Spider-Man I#30) - Several days went by and Dina and Alfredo worried after the missing Richard. Richard went to a church confessional, trying to make sense of his life. Feeling hopeless, Richard went to the Kingpin and agreed to work for him.
(Web of Spider-Man I#87 (fb)/Web of Spider-Man I#100/1 (fb)) - Richard learned that Alfredo was alive, and they made new plans to take down the Kingpin's organization, putting together a complex long plot. Alfredo had extensive plastic surgery to make himself a duplicate of Richard, then he began working with the Kingpin, working his way up through the organization. Alfredo helped establish Sgt. Blume as the new Rose. As time went by, Alfredo began to actually think of himself as Richard Fisk.
(Web of Spider-Man I#84-88 - BTS) - Alfredo, as Richard Fisk, began seeing to the downfall of the Kingpin, but only by becoming more and more like the Kingpin himself, even shaving his head and adopting a similar appearance. Through a series of plots involving Blume as the Rose and Jason Macendale as the Hobgoblin, Alfredo became a full-fledged criminal.
(Web of Spider-Man I#89 (fb) - BTS) - Feeling betrayed by Alfredo, who had killed Blume, and realizing he needed to clean up Alfredo's mess, Richard adopted a new identity, that of the Blood Rose, a Punisher-like vigilante who carried guns and advanced weaponry.
(Web of Spider-Man I#89) - Blood Rose engaged in target practice, then sent a letter to "Richard", summoning him. Blood Rose shot some of "Richard's" men before confronting him, then Spider-Man and Hobgoblin (Macendale) arrived, making the battle more complicated. When "Richard" tried to escape, Blood Rose shot him, leaving him seemingly dead in the river. Blood Rose then escaped.
(Web of Spider-Man I#97) - The Blood Rose used guns and grenades to take out a group of criminals, then he called the Foreigner to arrange the next hit. Blood Rose attacked Fisk Tower, killing the employees (including Brady) within and setting off thermite explosions. Spider-Man attacked, but Blood Rose set off a series of pre-planted explosives to destroy the tower and cover his escape. As the building burned, Robbie Robertson arrived to investigate, and Blood Rose launched the robotic Cyber-Hunters given to him by the Foreigner.
(Web of Spider-Man I#98) - After Blood Rose and the Cyber-Hunters battled Spider-Man and Robbie Robertson with the intent to kill them, Blood Rose had a change of heart and let the innocents go, deciding he hadn't fallen so far as to kill them.
(Web of Spider-Man I#98 - BTS) - The Cyber-Hunters turned on Blood Rose, under orders from the Foreigner to kill him, but he bested them, then had them report back to the Foreigner that he was dead.
(Web of Spider-Man I#98) - Blood Rose attacked the Foreigner directly, demanding to know who wanted him dead.
(Web of Spider-Man I#99) - When the Foreigner refused to reveal his client, Blood Rose tried to kill Foreigner, but the villain used lasers, shields, and holograms to stay alive. Spider-Man intervened and left Blood Rose webbed to the wall as he contained the Foreigner. Blood Rose secreted a resin from his suit to escape the webbing, then dislocated his own shoulder to escape. Back at his rose garden, he pulled his mask off, determined to have his revenge.
(Web of Spider-Man I#100) - Richard accessed the Foreigner's files and discovered the criminal New Enforcers were seeking to take over the Kingpin's territory. Using hacked intel, Blood Rose was able to infiltrate the New Enforcers headquarters and send a remote signal to turn their android members, Dragon Man, Dreadnought, and the Super-Adaptoid, against each other. Blood Rose was swiftly overcome by the other members, including Eel, Thermite, Vanisher, Blitz, Plantman, and Tangle. Spider-Man intervened, wearing a new steel suit of armor, and held off the villains while Blood Rose sought to escape, but he was shocked to see Alfredo arrive in a new villainous identity, Gauntlet, seeking revenge. Rose fired a shot at Gauntlet, accidentally hitting Nightwatch, the vigilante who had just arrived to fight Alfredo. Spider-Man tried webbing Blood Rose to a tree, but Blood Rose was able to break free by using tearaway portions of his costume. After kicking Blood Rose in the face to defeat him, Spidey unmasked Blood Rose as Richard Fisk and was shocked. Spidey then noticed that Gauntlet also looked like Richard, and he called for all of the villains to be arrested despite being confused.
(Spider-Man I#43 (fb) - BTS) - Fisk entered the witness protection program for a time.
(Spider-Man I#43) - Fisk listened to the news while in the protection program.
(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z#4 (fb) - BTS) - Richard rejoined the Kingpin's criminal organization but turned to drinking heavily.
(Daredevil II#26 (fb)) - Fisk sat silently while Sammy Silke moved into the area, determined to start his own criminal enterprise.
(Daredevil II#29 (fb)) - Fisk invited Silke to have a drink with him.
(Daredevil II#30 (fb)) - Fisk told Silke that Matt Murdock was Daredevil. Even as Kingpin entered the room, Richard wondered if Silke might be able to overthrow the Kingpin. They later met with several men, including Richard, beginning to plan the overthrow, now that Kingpin was blind. First Silke planned to humiliate the Kingpin by putting out a hit on Daredevil, and he promised the other criminals better profits once he was in charge.
(Daredevil II#27) - Fisk participated with Sammy Silke, Dean Martini, Frankie Sloane, Sammy Sanchez, and others in stabbing the Kingpin (who was blind) to seeming death.
(Daredevil II#31) - As Silke and the criminals celebrated the Kingpin's reported death and made plans to make Daredevil's secret identity public, Richard, seemingly drunk, punched a wall in frustration as he realized his father was gone. When he got home, he found Vanessa waiting in the dark. Richard claimed that he'd saved them both by seeing Wilson killed, but Vanessa ranted about what a huge disappointment Richard was and drew a gun, seemingly to kill him.
(Daredevil II#32 - BTS) - Richard's corpse was found in his apartment.
SECRET WARS III HAPPEND
(Clone Conspiracy#2-4, Amazing Spider-Man IV#23, Prowler II#4-5, Clone Conspiracy#5) - The Jackal resurrected several villains, including the Rose (presumably Richard Fisk) by creating clones and uploading the host's memories into them. The Carrion virus spread through the clones, consuming and killing most of them.
(Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider#1) - When Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider, sought to recruit the souls of dead villains, including the Rose, to overthrow Mephisto, the Rose flatly refused.
(Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man: King's Ransom#1) - Kingpin used the Lifeline Tablet to bring Richard back to life. He appeared in his Rose uniform.
(Amazing Spider-Man V#66) - Kingpin hugged the Rose tightly, telling him that life would be different between them now.
(Devil's Reign: Spider-Man#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Rose got a stockpile of powerful old S.H.I.E.L.D. tech and began renting it out to local gangs for a price.
(Devil's Reign: Spider-Man#1) - Eager to prove himself better than his father, the Rose was determined to kill Spider-Man. He hired Gibbs and Murphy to apprehend Spider-Man, and was furious when they failed, firing a gun to frighten them away. The Rose had Marcus Momplaisir of the Beyond Corporation kidnapped and he questioned Marcus, threatening to torture him unless he revealed Spider-Man's real identity. Instead, the Rose dressed Marcus up in a spare Spider-Man costume and put out a news report that Spidey was being arrested, causing the real Spidey to show up. The Rose drew a massive weapon to fight Spidey, but he ended up defeated and knocked unconscious. They dressed the Rose in another Spidey suit and left him to be arrested by the police.
(Strange III#3) - Clea Strange attacked the Rose, turning his men into snakes and demanding that he give her intel on the Blasphemy Cartel. He tried making a deal with her, but gave her the intel when she intimidated him. He contacted the Cartel, who briefly trapped Clea in a no-magic zone, but she still won the fight.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#1 (fb) - BTS) - After the Kingpin lost his power, the Rose tried making a claim for the power, but Tombstone claimed it first. The Rose hired the Digger to be his enforcer.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#1) - Tombstone held a crime syndicate meeting with White Rabbit, Crime Master, Diamondback, Hammerhead, Madame Masque, Mr. Negative, the Rose, Tombstone, and White Rabbit. Digger burst in and threatened a fight with Tombstone, who agreed to a meeting with the Rose in Tombstone's own territory, but Spider-Man stopped it. Later, the Rose authorized Digger to blow up Tombstone's home in a hit, but Tombstone survived.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#4) - Spider-Man, tricked by Tombstone into the action, savagely beat up the Rose's entire army when they weren't prepared for it. The Rose fired a gun at Spider-Man before being knocked out.
(Amazing Spider-Man VI#5) - Fisk was arrested.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee (writer), John Romita Sr. (penciler) and Mike Esposito (inker).
Richard appeared in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man volume 2, but I think it is safe to assume this was either an alternate reality/not in continuity, or some sort of mass hologram or manipulation. The story had several points that didn't fit.
Despite a relatively limited number of appearances, Richard Fisk is a Hank Pym-like super-villain, with shifting motivations, neuroses, methodologies, and costumed identities. From the Schemer, to the Supreme Hydra, to the Rose, to the Blood Rose, to the drunk son of the Kingpin.
The story with the Rose, the Blood Rose, and the Hobgoblin was so unnecessarily convoluted. Richard Kingsley brainwashed Ned Leeds, Alfredo Morelli got plastic surgery to look like Richard then made someone else the Rose, the former Jack O'Lantern became the new Hobgoblin, Vanessa Fisk was in a medically induced coma, the Rose worked for the Kingpin but also against him...just...bluck.
It is possible that the Rose/Richard Fisk remains alive after the Clone Conspiracy series, which resurrected many characters, even the original Stilt-Man; that said, the Rose was in Hell in the Damnation series. (It is also possible that the Rose in both Clone Conspiracy and Damnation weren't Richard Fisk at all, but instead another Rose. The one in Damnation was referred to as a "daddy's boy" though.
Interestingly, Richard Fisk became Daredevil in What If? II#2.
Thanks to Wolfram Bane for pointing out Anatoly Fyskov as a relative.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Richard Fisk should not be confused with:
(Spider-Man: Made Men#1 (fb) - BTS) - Tony Tea Bags was a criminal who spent time in prison in England, where he learned the identity of the criminal, the Rose. Tea Bags set up a meeting with reporter Ben Urich to give him the information, but the Rose had Tea Bags killed first.
--[Spider-Man: Made Men#1]
images: (without ads)
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z#4, p32, pan1 (main)
Amazing Spider-Man I#286, p13, pan4 (Richard Fisk, face)
Amazing Spider-Man I#83, cover (as Schemer)
Captain America I#147, p4, pan1 (as Supreme Hydra)
Web of Spider-Man I#30, p13, pan3 (the Rose)
Web of Spider-Man I#97, p1, pan1 (Blood Rose)
Damnation: Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider#1, p10, pan7 (in Hell)
Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man I#83 (April, 1970) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker)
Amazing Spider-Man I#84-85 (May-June, 1970) - Stan Lee (writ.er editor), John Romita Sr, John Buscema (pencilers), Jim Mooney (editor)
Captain America I#145 (January, 1972) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Gil Kane, John Romita Sr (artists), Stan Lee (editor)
Captain America I#146-147 (February-March, 1972) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), John Verpoorten (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Captain America I#148 (April, 1972) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Sal Buscema (enciler), John Romita Sr (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#163-164 (December, 1976-January, 1977) - Len Wein (writer/editor), Ross Andru (penciler), Mike Esposto (inker)
Amazing Spider-Man I#253 (June, 1984) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Rick Leonardi (penciler), Bill Anderson (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#256-257 (September-October, 1984) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (enciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man I#95 (October, 1984) - Al Milgrom (writer/penciler), Jim Mooney (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#258-259 (November-December, 1984) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#260 (January, 1985) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Joe Rubinstein, Brett Breeding (inkers), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#261 (February, 1985) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Spider-Man: Made Men I#1 (August, 1998) - Howard Mackie (writer), Norman Felchle (artist), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Secret Wars II#3 (September, 1985) - Jim Shooter (writer), Al Milgrom (penciler), Steve Leialoha (inker), Bob Budiansky (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#275 (April, 1986) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Jim Owsley (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#276 (May, 1986) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Brett Breeding (inker), Jim Owsley (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#278 (July, 1986) - Tom DeFalco, Peter David, Jo Duffy (writers), Mike Harris (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Jim Owlsley (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#280 (September, 1986) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Brett Breeding (inker), Jim Owsley (editor)
Daredevil I#234 (September, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Steve Ditko (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#281 (October, 1986) - - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Brett Breeding (inker), Jim Owsley (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#284 (January, 1987) - Tom DeFalco, Jim Owsley (writers), Ron Frenz, Brett Breeding (pencilers), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#285 (February, 1987) - Tom DeFalco, Jim Owsley (writers), Alan Kupperberg (penciler), Jim Fern (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#286 (March, 1987) - Jim Owsley (writer), Alan Kupperberg (penciler), Jim Fern, Art Nichols (inkers), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Power Pack I#29 (April, 1987) - Louise Simonson (writer), Jon Bogdanove (penciler), Dan Green (inker), Carl Potts (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#24 (March, 1987) - David Michelinie, Len Kaminski (writers), Del Barras (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#287 (April, 1987) - Jim Owsley (writer), Erik Larsen (penciler), Art Nichols (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#288 (May, 1987) - Jim Owsley (writer), Alan Kupperberg (penciler), Jim Fern (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#289 (June, 1987) - Peter David (writer), Alan Kupperberg & Tom Morgan (pencilers), Jim Fern (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#29 (August, 1987) - James Owsley (writer), Steve Geiger (penciler), Art Nichols (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#30 (September, 1987) - James Owsley (writer), Steve Geiger (penciler), Jack Abel, Kyle Baker, Jim Fern, Keith Williams (inkers), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#84 (January, 1992) - Howard Mackie (writer), Alex Saviuk (penciler), Keith Williams (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#85 (February, 1992) - Howard Mackie (writer), Alex Saviuk (penciler), Keith Williams (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#86-89 (March-June, 1992) - Howard Mackie (writer), Alex Saviuk (penciler), Sam de la Rosa (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#97 (February, 1993) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Derek Yaniger, Alex Saviuk (pencilers), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Rob Tokar (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#98 (March, 1993) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Derek Yaniger, Alex Saviuk (pencilers), Don Hudson (inker), Rob Tokar (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#99 (April, 1993) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Derek Yaniger, Alex Saviuk, Josef Rubinstein (inkers), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#100/1 (May, 1993) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Alex Saviuk (penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Lethal Foes of Spider-Man#1 (September, 1993) - Danny Fingeroth (writer), Scott McDaniel (penciler), Brad Vancata (inker), Rob Tokar (editor)
Spider-Man I#43 (February, 1994) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Jae Lee (artist), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives#3 (April, 1997) - Roger Stern (writer), Ron Frenz (penciler), Bob McLeod (inker), Tom Brevoort & Glenn Greenberg (editors)
Daredevil II#26-27 (December, 2001 - January, 2002) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex Maleev (artist), Stuart Moore (editor)
Daredevil II#29-32 (March-June, 2002) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex Maleev (artist), Stuart Moore (editor)
Clone Conspiracy#2-3 (January-February, 2017) - Dan Slott (writer), Jim Cheung (penciler), John Dell (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
Clone Conspiracy#4 (March, 2017) - Dan Slott (writer), Jim Cheung (penciler), John Dell, Jay Leisten (inkers), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man IV#23 (March, 2017) - Dan Slott & Christos Gage (writers), Giuseppe Camuncoli (penciler), Cam Smith (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
Prowler II#4 (March, 2017) - Sean Ryan (writer), Javier Saltares, Jamal Campbell (pencilers), Lorenzo Ruggiero (inker), Devin Lewis (editor)
Prowler II#5 (April, 2017) - Sean Ryan (writer), Javier Saltares (pencilers), Jamal Campbell (penciler/inker), Devin Lewis (editor)
Clone Conspiracy#5 (April, 2017) - Dan Slott (writer), Jim Cheung (penciler), John Dell, Cory Smith (inkers), Nick Lowe (editor)
Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider#1 (May, 2018) - Christopher Sebela (writer), Phil Noto (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)
Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man: King's Ransom#1 (July, 2021) - Nick Spencer (writer), Roge Antonio, Carlos, Jose Carlos Silva (artists), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#66 (May, 2021) - Nick Spencer (writer), Mark Bagley (penciler), John Dell (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
Devil's Reign: Spider-Man#1 (May, 2022) - Anthony Piper (writer), Ze Carlos (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)
Strange III#3 (July, 2022) - Jed MacKay (writer), Marcelo Ferreira (penciler), Don Ho, Roberto Poggi (inkers), Darren Shan (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#1 (June, 2022) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr (penciler), Scott Hanna (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man VI#4-5 (August-September, 2022) - Zeb Wells (writer), John Romita Jr (penciler), Scott Hanna (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
First Posted: 10/07/2019
Last updated: 08/17/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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