- "No prison can keep me, you know that. Come on! Kill me!"
"No! God knows I want to, but you don't get to destroy who I am. You will go back to prison and you will live the rest of your miserable life in a cage, knowing you'll never have Vanessa, that this city rejected you. It beat you. I beat you!" - ―Kingpin and Daredevil[src]
The Battle at the Presidential Hotel was a three-sided confrontation between Daredevil, Kingpin, and Benjamin Poindexter during Kingpin's wedding reception.
Background[]
- "Why are you telling me this?"
"'Cause Fisk wants to get married tonight. And I don't think he deserves a life of happily ever after." - ―Benjamin Poindexter and Daredevil[src]
Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson decided to represent Ray Nadeem who had information about Wilson Fisk's criminal conspiracy and manipulation of the FBI agents. Blake Tower agreed to convene a special grand jury to make an official testimony against Fisk. With the help of New York City Police Department, Murdock escorted Nadeem to the New York State Supreme Court Building before they were attacked by Felix Manning's mercenaries. Murdock and Nadeem managed to take down all attackers and made their way to the courthouse. However, Nadeem was discredited by Fisk who got to the jury and forced them to deny all statements.
Nadeem then went to his house and recorded a message for his wife and son. Saying his last goodbye for his family, Nadeem then confessed about all Fisk's circumstances and bribed federal agents. Later, Fisk and Vanessa Marianna sent Benjamin Poindexter to the house where he assassinated Nadeem by a single shot to his head.[2]
Felix Manning is interrogated by Daredevil
Deciding to proceed by himself, Daredevil kidnapped Manning and forced him to tell everything he knew about Fisk. Manning told him about Fisk's wedding with Marianna and assassination of Julie Barnes. Daredevil then contacted with Poindexter and gave him the location of the deceased Barnes. Poindexter then asked Daredevil why he told him about it to which Daredevil answered by informing him about Fisk's wedding. Daredevil sicced Poindexter on Fisk who had Barnes killed and he decided to go to Presidential Hotel for revenge.[3]
Battle[]
Failed Wedding[]
Benjamin Poindexter threatens Agent J. Lim
- "Julie and I wish you the absolute best."
- ―Benjamin Poindexter to Kingpin[src]
Wearing Daredevil's Suit, Benjamin Poindexter took a Bureau car and drove to Presidential Hotel where Wilson Fisk's wedding was to take place. He was spotted by J. Lim who attempted to apprehend him. Poindexter then revealed himself and showed Lim the corpse of Julie Barnes which he carried at the front seat. He then asked Lim to do himself a favor and walk away while Poindexter did what he planned. Lim refused and attempted to neutralize him, and Poindexter was forced to knock out his former colleague but decided not to kill him. Poindexter then left Barnes' corpse and unconscious Lim and made his way to Fisk, avoiding all FBI security protocols and taking down all agents on his way.
Fisk's wedding is crashed by Poindexter
Meanwhile, Fisk finally married Vanessa Marianna in front of multiple guests. The bride and groom then went to the floor for the first dance. However, while they danced, guests received video recorded by Ray Nadeem who confessed about all Fisk's crimes and manipulation of the FBI. Tammy Hattley then informed Fisk that several agents were down. Fisk then decided to walk Marianna to a safe place. However, Poindexter then revealed himself in front of Fisk and all at the floor, saying that he and Barnes wish Fisk the absolute best and then threw a microphone in Marianna's direction.
Benjamin Poindexter prepares to execute Tammy Hattley
Before the microphone could kill her, Marianna was saved by Daredevil, swapping away the blunt object from her face. Fisk and Marianna then fled and tasked the agents to secure wedding, opening fire at both intruders. Forcing himself to get into cover, Poindexter attacked the agents but was confronted by Daredevil. Daredevil then went to pursue Fisk while Poindexter used pendants to kill Arinori and Mockta. Hattley attempted to reach for a weapon before Poindexter took Mockta's gun and shot her in the gut. She begged Poindexter to spare her, but he aimed the gun on her in order to finish her. Fortunately for Hattley, the weapon was out of ammo and Poindexter just knocked her by an accurate throw of a gun.[3]
Deal with the Devil[]
Kingpin and Vanessa Marianna is face to face with Daredevil
- "You'll keep my secret, and you won't harm Karen Page or Foggy Nelson or anyone else. Because if you do, I will go after your wife. And I will prove Vanessa ordered the murder of Agent Ray Nadeem, and like her husband, she'll spend the rest of her life in a cell."
- ―Daredevil to Kingpin[src]
Daredevil made his way to the Wilson Fisk's suite where he was confronted by several FBI agents. He successfully defeated them before he was approached by Shelby. Daredevil then heard that the New York City Police Department arrived at the hotel and asked Shelby to shut down the elevators in order to prevent them to stop Daredevil. He then headed to the living room where he faced Fisk. He asked Marianna to get to safety before facing Daredevil.
Vanessa Marianna is saved by Daredevil
With no way to escape, Fisk and Daredevil charged at each other and entered into a brutal fight. Vanessa Marianna then attempted to flee before she was stopped by Benjamin Poindexter who killed Markham to get to her. He then headed to Marianna before he was attacked by Daredevil who covered Marianna before Poindexter hurt him by an accurate throw of a bowl. Fisk then confronted Poindexter, beating him and then went to another showdown with Daredevil. They both were interrupted by Poindexter who made chandelier fall on them, but they managed to step away.
Benjamin Poindexter is paralyzed by Kingpin
Poindexter then took more pendants as his weapon and confronted Daredevil while Fisk attempted to bring Marianna out of the fight. Poindexter then managed to briefly overpower Daredevil and made another attempt to kill Marianna. However, she was saved again by Daredevil and Fisk succeeded at grabbing Poindexter before he could take another shot. Eventually, Fisk defeated Poindexter, overpowering him and breaking his spine.
With Poindexter incapacitated, Daredevil faced Kingpin who was too exhausted by the previous fight. Daredevil began savagely beating his face repeatedly before Marianna begged him to stop. Fisk then taunted Daredevil that nothing could stop him from hunting Karen Page and Foggy Nelson, noting that the only choice that Daredevil had was killing him. However, Daredevil refused to break his no-kill rule and stated that Fisk would go back to prison. Also, he noted that if Fisk harmed Page or Nelson or revealed his secret, Murdock would prove that Marianna ordered the murder of Ray Nadeem and would thus be incarcerated. Fisk then agreed to Murdock's demands on the promise that he would not expose Marianna.[3]
Aftermath[]
Fisk's Incarceration[]
Fisk is taken under arrest by Brett Mahoney
- "Please, give me a moment to say goodbye to my wife."
"Did you give one to Ray Nadeem?" - ―Kingpin and Brett Mahoney[src]
NYPD officers led by Brett Mahoney stormed Wilson Fisk's suite. The NYPD spotted Benjamin Poindexter in a Daredevil suit, who was unable to move and unmasked him. As the real Daredevil was spotted leaving, this cleared Daredevil's name and made it known to the authorities that Poindexter was the one who had committed the recent murders in Daredevil's name. Meanwhile, Fisk and Vanessa Marianna were escorted out of the hotel, with Fisk being handcuffed and placed in the back of a squad car. The NYPD also arrested Tammy Hattley and all the remaining FBI agents who worked under Fisk's command. Hattley then decided to confess and corroborated Ray Nadeem's statement, resulting in a successful incarceration for Fisk.[3]
However, Nadeem's confession only succeeded in keeping Fisk incarcerated for a short time. Fisk eventually was able to use his remaining power and influence to get himself released from prison[4] thereby allowing him to recoup his empire and reaffirm himself as the kingpin of crime in New York City.[5]
Poindexter's Augmentation[]
The paralyzed Benjamin Poindexter was taken into custody and his wounds were treated by Kenji Oyama, who treated his broken spine with Cogmium steel framework.[3]