Daredevil: 10 Things About The Marvel Superhero Only Comic Fans Know
According to the fans' theories, Daredevil may be appearing in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home, though it remains to be seen if it will be the Netflix version or a new one. Comic book fans know there is plenty of history to draw on with The Man Without Fear, which could provide some sense of where the MCU is going with the iconic superhero.
Daredevil has been a major part of Marvel Comics lore for nearly sixty years, with a number of critical stories and events that would be ideal for adapting into the MCU in some form. As one of the best allies and friends of Spider-Man, he's also integral to understanding the deep comic history of both characters.
10 Radioactive Origin
Fans of the Netflix Daredevil series are likely familiar with the origin of the character, but the TV show did make some differences. Key among them is the active agent, which gave young Matt Murdock his powers in Daredevil #1, was a radioactive chemical.
At the time, radiation and atomic power were at the forefront of culture, leading to their use in nearly every Marvel Comics superhero origin story (like the Hulk with gamma radiation and Spider-Man with the radioactive spider). In the Netflix series, it was simply hazardous chemicals.
9 Changing Costumes
Daredevil, co-created by writer Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, first appeared in a yellow costume. Jack Kirby also had a hand in designing the suit. Comic fans mainly know Daredevil today for his iconic all-red costume, which made its debut in issue #7 of the ongoing series.
In this issue, Daredevil suggests he can change the color of his costume by touching it (thanks to his powers). The red suit was designed by legendary comics artist Wally Wood and would become his signature look for the majority of his history in comic books.
8 'Mike' Murdock
Daredevil's real-life alter ego is Matt Murdock. For a time, he went by 'Mike' Murdock. In Daredevil #25, Spider-Man inadvertently spills the beans on Daredevil's true identity. This leads Murdock to create the Mike Murdock persona, introduced as his twin brother.
It ultimately got too confusing for readers of the comic, so Mike Murdock was 'killed off.' Spider-Man and Daredevil remained friends though long after. MCU fans would also love it if this comic book relationship would carry through into Spider-Man 3.
7 Daredevil And Black Widow
Another unexpected Avengers friendship that would be great to see in the MCU is that of Daredevil and Black Widow. Some comic book fans may not even know that for a brief period of time in the 1970s, the title of his ongoing series was actually retitled to Daredevil And Black Widow.
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The book got its new title when Natasha Romanoff became Daredevil's regular partner and love interest. The name change only lasted between issues #93-108 of the series, and the two remained close allies and friends long after.
6 The Arrival Of Frank Miller
Daredevil's ascent into the pantheon of great Marvel superheroes arguably begins with the arrival of writer and artist Frank Miller (which started in issue #158). Miller would have a tremendous influence on the series, bringing a more realistic and darker tone to the book that would later become hallmarks of his landmark work (including some of the best Batman comic book arcs of all time like The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One). Through the '80s, Frank Miller had a hand in some of Daredevil's most important stories.
5 The Impact Of Elektra
While Daredevil has fought against some cool villains, Elektra has likely had the most impact on Daredevil. Created by Frank Miller, the lover and sometimes antagonist of Matt Murdock turned his life upside down when she first appeared in Daredevil #168.
Her shocking death in issue #181 at the hands of the assassin Bullseye led to one of Daredevil's darkest moments. He let the villain fall from a highwire, severely injuring him, and perpetuating their hatred of each other for years.
4 Born Again
Miller left but then returned to write the series for the "Born Again" storyline that ran between issues #227–233. Artist David Mazzucchelli, his partner from Batman: Year One, would handle the art. In the story, Karen Page ends up revealing Matt's identity to the Kingpin, which turns Matt's world upside down. With Kingpin determined to burn down Daredevil's life, he was forced to start over completely.
3 Extreme Makeover
In the 1990s, design styles for superheroes had gotten extreme, leading to some of the most outlandish costumes in comic history. Daredevil was no exception. He ditched his red costume for an armored red and black one with giant silver shoulder pads.
The costume wasn't as egregious as some other examples from the era, but it was ultimately abandoned in favor of the classic version. The red costume has been Matt Murdock's look more or less ever since.
2 Guardian Devil
The darkness pioneered by Frank Miller in the '80s may have reached its zenith in the "Guardian Devil" storyline, which was the first storyline of the second volume of Daredevil beginning in 1998. After Karen Page dies at the hands of Bullseye (or so it appears) Daredevil is made the target of Mysterio's complex psychological campaign. Matt Murdock eventually sees through it and defeats Mysterio.
1 Elektra As Daredevil
In the most recent Daredevil comics, Elektra has returned to Matt Murdock's life and is actually serving as Daredevil in his absence. This comes after Murdock ends up in prison following a brutal and deadly campaign against the mob to clean up Hell's Kitchen.
He asks Elektra to take over the role to keep on protecting the neighborhood, which she does in a new costume that incorporates elements of both characters' traditional looks. Her violent tendencies have raised the question of whether she can remain a hero though.