Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)

This article is about the first Daredevil, Matt Murdock. For the second Daredevil, seeElektra (character).

Daredevilis asuperheroappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.Created bywriter-editorStan Leeand artistBill Everett,with some input fromJack Kirby,the character first appeared inDaredevil#1 (April 1964).

Daredevil
Promotional art forDaredevilvol. 2, #65 (September 2004). Art byGreg Land.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil#1 (April 1964)
Created by	Stan Lee(writer) Bill Everett(artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Matthew Michael Murdock
Place of origin	Hell's Kitchen,New York City
Team affiliations	Avengers New Avengers Defenders Marvel Knights The Chaste The Hand
Partnerships	Elektra Black Widow
Notable aliases	Man Without Fear Jack Batlin Mike Murdock
Abilities	Superhuman senses, agility, reflexes, stamina, coordination, and balance Echolocativeradar sense Master martial artist, hand-to-hand combatant, and stick fighter Expertise incriminology,criminal law, and police procedures Utilizesbilly clubwith multi-purpose functions Expert acrobat and gymnast

Daredevil is the alias ofMatthew Michael"Matt"Murdock,a lawyer blinded in childhood in a chemical accident that gave him special abilities. While growing up inNew York City'sHell's Kitchen,a crime-ridden,working-class,Irish-Americanneighborhood, Murdock pushes a man from the path of an oncoming truck and is blinded by aradioactivesubstance that falls from the vehicle. His exposure to the radioactive material heightens his remaining senses beyond normal human ability and gives him a "radar sense". His father, a boxer namedJack Murdock,is a single man raising his now-blind son to form a better life for himself. Jack is killed by gangsters after refusing tothrow a fight,leaving Matt an orphan. He hones his physical abilities and superhuman senses under the tutelage of a mysterious blind stranger namedStick,eventually becoming a highly skilled and expert martial artist. Some years later, after graduating fromColumbia Law School,Murdock seeks out the criminal element in Hell's Kitchen and begins to fight crime. He targets the local gangsters who murdered his father and succeeds in bringing them to justice. Eventually, in ironic contrast to hisCatholicupbringing and beliefs, Matt dons a costumed attire modeled after a devil and takes up a dual life of fighting against the criminal underworld in New York City as the masked vigilante Daredevil, which puts him in conflict with many super-villains, including his arch-enemiesBullseyeand theKingpin.He also becomes a skilled and respected lawyer who forms the law firm Nelson & Murdock withFranklin "Foggy" Nelson,his best friend and roommate. He establishes a long relationship with a co-worker,Karen Page,who experiences many hardships before her eventual murder by Bullseye. He re-encounters his on-again off-again girlfriendElektra Natchios,a fearsome ninja assassin who is murdered by Bullseye as well, but resurrected. Much later, she becomes the second Daredevil. Daredevil has a great deal of difficulty maintaining his secret identity, and is at times imprisoned for his extra-legal activities.

Writer/artistFrank Miller's influential tenure on the title in the early 1980s cemented the character as a popular and influential part of theMarvel Universe.Miller introduced elements offilm noirandninja films,and subsequent writers for the title have continued these themes and imagery. In particular, the series often explore political corruption, moral ambiguity, childhood trauma, disability,Irish Catholicidentity, and Christian themes.Daredevilis a critically acclaimed series, and has won multipleEisner Awards,in particular for authorsBrian Michael Bendis,Ed Brubaker,andMark Waid.

Daredevil is a prominent example of adisabledsuperhero, and has served as inspiration and positive representation forblindpeople and their advocates. He has appeared in various forms of media, including films and TV series.Ben Affleckportrays the character in the 2003 feature filmDaredevil.Subsequently,Charlie Coxportraysthe characterin theMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU) television seriesDaredevil(2015–2018),The Defenders(2017),She-Hulk: Attorney at Law(2022), andEcho(2024), and the filmSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021), and is set to again reprise the role to star in the television seriesDaredevil: Born Again(2025).

Publication history

Main article:Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)

Further information:List of Daredevil titles

Further information:Daredevil collected editions

Creation

Martin Goodman,the publisher of Marvel Comics, was impressed by the popularity ofSpider-Manand askedStan Leeto create a similar character based on theoriginal Daredevil,a superhero of the 1940s.Lee initially requested assistance fromSteve Ditko,the co-creator of Spider-Man, but he declined the assignment. Lee then sought the creative input ofBill Everett,who had previously createdNamor,andJack Kirby,the co-creator of theFantastic Four,theAvengers,and other well-known superheroes. Kirby and Everett co-designed Daredevil's original costume.Lee and Kirby have each claimed credit for Daredevil's billy club, which he uses to swing from buildings.Paul Young indicates that the basic concept of the character as a heroic blind vigilante is probably inspired by the symbol and motif ofblind justice.Timothy D. Peters, a legal scholar, has also drawn attention to the recurring visual analogy withLady Justice,the classical figure for the legal system.The character was generally considered second-string in Marvel's pantheon of heroes, and had low commercial viability for the first decade and a half of his existence, prior toFrank Miller's re-invention.

1960s

Splash page of the first issue ofDaredevil(April 1964) features the hero in his original costume. Art byJack Kirby(penciler) andBill Everett(inker).

The character debuted inMarvel Comics'Daredevil#1 (cover dateApril 1964),created by writer-editorStan Leeand artistBill Everett,The original costume design was a combination of black, yellow, and red, reminiscent of acrobat tights.The cover of the first issue was based on Jack Kirby's original concept sketch, but inked by Everett. Everett penciled the contents of the issue.

The first issue covered both the character's origins and his desire to enact justice on the man who had killed his father, boxer"Battling Jack" Murdock,who raised young Matthew Murdock in theHell's Kitchenneighborhood ofManhattan,New York City. Jack instills in Matt the importance of education and nonviolence with the aim of seeing his son become a better man than himself. In the course of saving a blind man from the path of an oncoming truck, Matt is blinded by a radioactive substance that falls from the vehicle. The radioactive exposure heightens his remaining senses beyond normal human limits, and gives him a kind of "radar" sense, enabling him to detect the shape and location of objects around him.To support his son, Jack Murdock returns to bo xing under the Fixer, a known gangster, and the only man willing to contract the aging boxer. When he refuses to throw a fight because his son is in the audience, he is killed by one of the Fixer's men. Having promised his father not to use violence to deal with his problems, Matt adopts a new identity who can use physical force. Adorned in a yellow and black costume made from his father's bo xing robes and using his superhuman abilities, Matt confronts the killers as the superhero Daredevil, unintentionally causing the Fixer to have a fatal heart attack.

Wally Woodintroduced Daredevil's modern red costume in issue #7, which depicts Daredevil's battle against the far more powerfulSub-Mariner,and has become a classic story of the early series.Wood also redesigned Daredevil's costume to include communications equipment; in his depiction, the mask contains a complex radio receiver, and his horns are both antennae to pick up radio signals and amplifiers of his own super-sensory radar blips. However, these concepts would be dropped.

Daredevil embarks on a series of adventures involving such villains as theOwland thePurple Man.In issue #16 (May 1966), Daredevil meetsSpider-Man,who will eventually become one of Daredevil's closest friends.A letter from Spider-Man unintentionally exposes Daredevil's secret identity, compelling him to adopt a third identity as his twin brother Mike Murdock, whose carefree, wisecracking personality more closely resembles the Daredevil guise than the stern, studious, and emotionally-withdrawn Matt Murdock.The "Mike Murdock" plotline was used to highlight the character's quasi-multiple personality disorder.This third identity was dropped in issues #41–42; Daredevil fakes Mike Murdock's death and claims he had trained a replacement Daredevil.The series' 31-issue run by writer-editor Stan Lee and pencillerGene Colan(beginning with issue #20) includesDaredevil#47, in which Murdock defends a blindVietnam veteranagainst aframeup;Lee has cited it as one of his favorite stories.

Matt discloses his secret identity to his girlfriendKaren Pagein a story published in 1969. However, the revelation proves too much for her, and she breaks off the relationship.This was the first of several long-term breakups between Matt and Karen, who remains a recurring character up until her death in the late 1990s.

1970s

Gerry Conwaytook over as writer with issue #72, and turned the series in a pulp science fiction direction. Conway also moved Daredevil toSan Franciscobeginning withDaredevil#86, and simultaneously brought on theBlack Widowas a co-star for the series.The Black Widow served as Daredevil's crime-fighting ally as well as his lover from November 1971 to August 1975. Issues #92-107 were published under the titleDaredevil and the Black Widow.Conway introduced Black Widow as a romantic partner for Daredevil as "a way to re-energize the title".She joined the series inDaredevil#81 (1971).John Romita Sr.designed a new costume for Black Widow based on the 1940sMiss Furycomic strip, but Colan was the artist for the series. Conway responded to feminist criticism by making Black Widow a more active and independent character, beginning inDaredevil#91 (1972).The series was retitledDaredevil and the Black Widowin the following issue;her name was dropped from the title after issue #107 (1973).Steve Gerberbecame the writer forDaredevilwith issue #97 (1972). Sales had declined, and in response he re-emphasized Daredevil as the central character.Tony Isabellabecame the writer forDaredevilwith issue #118, and he believed that Daredevil and Black Widow should be split up.Black Widow departed from the series in issue #124, feeling overshadowed by Daredevil.

The writing and editing jobs went toMarv Wolfmanwith issue #124. He returned Daredevil to Hell's Kitchen.Wolfman promptly introduced the lively but emotionally fragileHeather Glennto replace the Black Widow as Daredevil's love interest.Wolfman's 20-issue run included the introduction of one of Daredevil's most popular villains,Bullseye.With issue #144,Jim Shooterbriefly became the writer, but had difficulty keeping up with the schedule, and the writing chores were turned over toRoger McKenzie.

McKenzie's work on Daredevil reflected his background in horror comics, and the stories and even the character himself took on a much darker tone.Daredevil battles a personification of death, and a re-envisioning of his Daredevil's origin shows him using stalker tactics to drive the Fixer to his fatal heart attack.McKenzie created chain-smokingDaily BuglereporterBen Urich,who deduces Daredevil's secret identity over the course of issues #153–163.Halfway through his run, McKenzie was joined by pencillerFrank Millerwith issue #158 (May 1979).

In a story arc overlapping Wolfman, Shooter, and McKenzie's runs on the series, Daredevil reveals his identity to Glenn. Their relationship persists, but proves increasingly harmful to both of them.Though the Black Widow returns for a dozen issues (#155–166) and attempts to rekindle her romance with Daredevil, he ultimately rejects her in favor of Glenn.

1980s

Miller disliked Roger McKenzie's scripts,so new editorDennis O'Neilfired McKenzie so that Miller could write the series.In this period, Miller modeled Matt Murdock's appearance on the actorRobert Redford.Miller's initial run, first as penciler, then writer/penciler, and last a writer and layout artist begins in May 1979 and ends in February 1983. During this period, circulation doubled, to average sales of 276,812 copies per month. The series made Miller a star in the industry.Miller took writing inspiration fromhardboiledcrime fictionas well as the superhero comic tradition.For example, he draws on techniques of suspense, dramatic irony, and ambiguous characterization adopted fromRaymond Chandler.Miller moved away from the conventions of the commercially dominant genre of comic books,superhero comics,toward the style that interested him most:crime comics.Miller is also responsible for emphasizing Daredevil'sCatholicbeliefs and deep concern withpenance.

Cover ofDaredevil#184 (July 1982). Art by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson.

Resuming the drastic metamorphosis McKenzie began, Miller ignores much of Daredevil's continuity prior to his run on the series; on the occasions where older villains and supporting cast appear, their characterizations and history with Daredevil are reworked or overwritten. Most prominently, dedicated and loving father Jack Murdock is reimagined as a drunkard whophysically abusedhis son Matt, entirely revising Daredevil's reasons for becoming a lawyer.Spider-ManvillainKingpinbecomes Daredevil's new primary nemesis, displacing most of his large rogues gallery. Tormented by guilt, Daredevil gradually becomes something of anantihero.In issue #181 (April 1982), he attempts to murder Bullseye by throwing him off a tall building; when the villain survives as aquadriplegic,he breaks into his hospital room and tries to scare him to death by playing a two-man variation onRussian roulettewith a secretly unloaded gun.

Although still conforming to traditional comic book styles, Miller infused his first issue ofDaredevilwith his ownfilm noirstyle.Miller sketched the roofs of New York in an attempt to give hisDaredevilart an authentic feel not commonly seen in superhero comics at the time. Miller citedWill EisnerandMoebius,from the comics tradition, and filmmakersOrson Welles,Fritz Lang,andAlfred Hitchcockas inspirations.One journalist commented:

Daredevil's New York, under Frank's run, became darker and more dangerous than the Spider-Man New York he'd seemingly lived in before. New York City itself, particularly Daredevil'sHell's Kitchenneighborhood, became as much a character as the shadowy crimefighter; the stories often took place on the rooftop level, with water towers, pipes and chimneys jutting out to create a skyline reminiscent ofGerman Expressionism's dramatic edges and shadows.

Following up a suggestion from O'Neil that he give Daredevil a realistic fighting style,Miller drew detailed fighting scenes attentive to the physics and techniques of East Asianmartial arts.Miller introducedninjasinto the Daredevil canon,introducing previously unseen characters who had played a major part in his youth:Stick,leader of the ninja clan, theChaste,who had been Murdock'ssenseiafter he was blinded; andElektra,an on-again off-again girlfriend and sometime member of the Hand.Elektra was eventually killed by Bullseye, in a shocking and widely read issue that was one of the defining events of comics for the decade.

ArtistJohn Romita Jr.,signing a copy of issue 254 of the series atMidtown Comicsin Manhattan

After #191 Miller left the series. O'Neil switched from editor to writer.He continued McKenzie and Miller's noir take on the series, but backed away from the antihero depiction of the character by having him not only spare Bullseye's life but express guilt over his two previous attempts to kill him. Miller returned as the title's regular writer, co-writing #226 with O'Neil. Miller and artistDavid Mazzucchellicrafted the acclaimed "Born Again"storyline in #227–233.In theBorn Againstoryline, Karen Page returns as a heroin-addicted porn star, and sells Daredevil's secret identity for drug money.The Kingpin acquires the information and, in an act of revenge, orchestrates a frameup that costs Murdock his attorney's license. Murdock also discovers that his lost mother,Maggie,who he thought dead, is living as a nun.Miller ends the arc on a positive note, with Murdock reuniting with Karen Page.Miller's period of authorship was enormously commercially successful; his story arcs onDaredevilwere the only sales competition forChris Claremont'sUncanny X-Men,the consistent top seller in the 1980s.

Ann Nocentilater became the series's longest-running regular writer, with a four-and-a-quarter-year run from #238–291 (Jan. 1987 – April 1991).In this period, Murdock returns to law by co-founding with Page a nonprofit drug and legal clinic. Nocenti's stories wrestle withfeminism,alcoholism,andanimal rights.She introduced the antagonistTyphoid Mary,who became a recurring villain.Typhoid Mary hasdissociative identity disorder;while her "Typhoid" identity is evil, her alter ego, Mary Walker, who dates Daredevil is sweet and reserved.In Nocenti's storyline, Murdock becomes adrifterinupstate New York;this was the first time the character had been taken outside of an urban environment.She concludes her run with a positive turn in Murdock's fortunes: He returns to Hell's Kitchen, regains his sense of self, reconciles with Foggy Nelson, and resolves to seek out Karen Page.

1990s

New writerD. G. Chichestercontinued from where Nocenti left off.In the early part of his run, Daredevil succeeds in toppling Kingpin from leadership of his criminal empire. This is a mirror of Miller's "Born Again", in which now it is Kingpin rather than Daredevil who is stripped of his power.Subsequent issues are devoted to more detailed description of the social environs of New York City.Beginning with issue #305 (June 1992),Scott McDanielbecame the new series penciller. McDaniel's style was more exaggerated and melodramatic, in line with the most popular comics artists of the early 1990s, such asTodd McFarlaneandRob Liefeld.

Frank Millerreturned to the character and his origins with the 1993 five-issueDaredevil: The Man Without Fearminiseries. With artistJohn Romita Jr.,Miller expanded hisretconof the life and death of Murdock's father, "Battling Jack" Murdock, and Murdock's first encounters with the Kingpin and Foggy Nelson.The story fleshed out the role ofStickin the genesis of Daredevil, as well as the beginning of Murdock's doomed love affair with Elektra. In this rendition, Elektra is more dominant and active as a character, and more sexually aggressive.For this story, Miller and Romita citedWalter MosleyandMickey Spillaneas inspirations.Miller initially prepared the series as a scenario for a proposed TV series.

The creative team of Chichester and McDaniel returned with their "Fall From Grace" storyline in issues #319–325 (Aug. 1993 – Feb. 1994).In this period, McDaniel emulated Frank Miller's later style in the noir crime comicSin City.Elektra,who was resurrected in #190 but had not been seen since, finally returns.An injured Daredevil creates a more protective costume from biomimetic materials, resemblingmotocrossgear: red and gray with white armor on the shoulders and knee pads.His revamped billy clubs could attach to formnunchucksor abo staff.His secret identity becomes public knowledge, leading to him fake his own death and assume the new identity of "Jack Batlin".This new identity and costume last for several story arcs.The later Chichester period has generally been dismissed by critics and fans as an example of sensationalistic "event comics" that had become typical in the 1990s. However, the series introduced some themes that were continually revisited later, such as Murdock's increasingly tenuous ability to keep his identity secret.

A short stint byJ. M. DeMatteisreturned Daredevil to his traditional red costume and Matt Murdock's identity. UnderKarl Kesel,the title gained a lighter tone, with Daredevil returning to the lighthearted, wisecracking hero depicted by earlier writers.Matt and Foggy (who now knows of Matt's dual identities) join a law firm run by Foggy's mother, Rosalind Sharpe.

In 1998,Daredevil's numbering was rebooted, with the title "canceled" with issue #380 and revived a month later as part of theMarvel Knightsimprint.Joe Quesadadrew the new series, written by filmmakerKevin Smith.Its first story arc, "Guardian Devil",depicts Daredevil struggling to protect a child whom he is told could be theAnti-Christ.Murdock experiences a crisis of faith exacerbated by the discovery that Karen Page hasAIDS(later revealed to be a hoax) and her subsequent death atBullseye's hands.Black Widow also returns to the series, and the two seem to resume their relationship.When Daredevil discovers that the true party responsible for the scheme isMysterio,who is dying of cancer, he leaves Mysterio to commit suicide.

Smith was succeeded by writer-artistDavid Mack,who contributed the seven-issue "Parts of a Hole" (vol. 2, #9–15). The arc introduced Maya Lopez, also known asEcho,adeafmartial artist. Critics have commended the character and the story as a complex and multifaceted portrayal of a disabled Latina and Indigenous superhero,and an unusual relationship for Daredevil.

2000s

The 2001Daredevil: Yellowminiseries presented another take on Daredevil's origins using letters written to Karen Page after her death. The series depicts the early rivalry between Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson for Page's affection, and incorporates many events depicted in the earliest issues ofDaredevil.The supervillains the Owl and thePurple Manappear as antagonists. In this story, Daredevil credits Page with coining the phrase "The Man Without Fear", and she suggests to Daredevil he wear all maroon instead of dark red and yellow.

Brian Michael Bendiswrote an long run of Daredevil stories in the 2000s.

David Mack brought colleagueBrian Michael Bendisto Marvel to co-write the following arc, "Wake Up" in vol. 2, #16–19 (May 2001 – August 2001),which follows reporterBen Urichas he investigates the aftereffects of a fight between Daredevil and the newLeap-Frog,particularly on Leap-Frog's young son.After an interlude, Bendis resumed his arc in issue #26 (December 2001).In this run, Murdock meets his romantic interest and future wifeMilla Donovan,who is also blind.Donovan later considers having the marriage annulled, on the grounds of Murdock's dishonesty.Bendis's storyline also explores the re-emergence of the Kingpin, the betrayal of him by his associates (including his own son), and vengeance for this betrayal enacted by his wife,Vanessa Fisk.Vanessa Fisk takes over the Kingpin's empire and sells it togentrifiersand to real estate magnateDonald Trump.When Kingpin attempts to return to power, Daredevil beats him to the point of incapacity and declares himself a new "kingpin" of Hell's Kitchen, forbidding all criminal activity.In the Bendis and Maleev period, Daredevil's identity is leaked, first to the FBI and subsequently to the press.He becomes desperate to hold onto his increasingly tenuous secret identity, willing to make enormous sacrifices in service of this goal. At the conclusion of Bendis's storyline, Murdock is arrested and imprisoned alongside his adversaries, with the FBI hoping that he will be killed by his enemies.Bendis won anEisner Awardfor Best Writer for his work onDaredevil,as well as other concurrent titles, in 2002 and 2003.Daredevilby Bendis and Maleev also won the Eisner for Best Continuing Series in 2003. Bendis says he was congratulated for this achievement by Frank Miller.However, Miller joked with him that the award was also his; Bendis responded that he was "glad that he knew I knew that without him, nothing we did would have existed."

The impact of the exposure of Murdock's identity as Daredevil continued as a plot point in storylines by the new creative team, writerEd Brubakerand artistMichael Lark,beginning withDaredevilvol. 2, #82 (Feb. 2006).Brubaker says that, in his view, "Daredevil is one of the most experimental mainstream comics there is," and cites inspiration fromnoir fiction.Brubaker's arc begins with Murdock imprisoned.Another character masquerades as Daredevil inHell's Kitchen.Murdock later discovers this ersatz Daredevil is his friend Danny Rand, the superheroIron Fist.Brubaker introduces the new characterMaster Izo,another blind warrior who founded the Chaste centuries ago.Brubaker's series also includes Lily Lucca, a new femme fatale manipulated byMister Fear.Brubaker won Eisner Awards for Best Writer for his work onDaredeviland other titles in 2007, 2008, and 2010.Comics critic Ryan K. Lindsay compares Brubaker's stories to the films ofneo-noirandNew Hollywooddirectors of the 1970s, such asMartin Scorsese,Roman Polanski,andSam Peckinpah.

In 2009, new writerAndy Digglewrote a new story line in which Daredevil assumes leadership of the ninja army theHand.This continued in aone-shottitledDark Reign:The List – Daredevil.

2010s

In 2010, Daredevil continues to lead the Hand with the intent of transforming them into an organization that seeks justice. However, when Bullseye kills over a hundred people with a bomb, Daredevil and the Hand launch an onslaught of vengeance. In the ensuing arc, "Shadowland",Daredevil makes the city block that Bullseye destroyed into a fortress administered by the Hand.Murdock returns to his senses after a battle with Elektra and several superheroes.The story reveals that Murdock's erratic behavior is caused by a demonic possession.Purged of the demon by his allies, Murdock departs New York, and becomes the leading character of a new miniseries titledDaredevil: Reborn.He leaves his territory in the hands of theBlack Pantherin the briefly retitled series'Black Panther: Man Without Fear#513.

In July 2011,Daredevilrelaunched with vol. 3, written byMark Waid.Waid focuses on the character's powers and perception of the physical world.The Waid period also emulates Stan Lee's earlier, more light-hearted tone.Waid won the Eisner Award forDaredevilin 2012.Daredevilvol. 3 ended at issue #36 in February 2014.Waid andChris Samneefollowed this up withInfinite Comics'Daredevil: Road Warriorweekly digital miniseries,which focused on an adventure during Matt's trip to San Francisco. It was reprinted as issue 0.1 inDaredevilvolume 4, which launched under Waid and Samnee with a new issue #1 (March 2014) as part of theAll-New Marvel NOW!storyline centered on Matt's new life in San Francisco.Daredevil also joins theNew Avengersin a story written by formerDaredevilseries writerBrian Michael Bendis.

Daredevilvolume 4 ended with issue #18 in September 2015. A new volume began as part of theAll-New, All-Different Marvelbranding, written byCharles Soulewith art byRon Garneywith the first two issues released in December 2015.In this series, Matt returns to New York, where he now works as an Assistant District Attorney. Flashbacks in a later story arc reveal how Murdock regained his secret identity: Supernatural entities alter the memory of everyone on earth except Foggy Nelson.Timothy Peters describes this plot twist as "fantastically ludicrous" but necessary in order to set up the future plot machinations that depend on the social discrepancy of a secret identity.Peters views the subsequent storyline as an intriguing illustration of contemporary expectations and perceptions about the legal system.Using his restored secret identity, Murdock is able to take advantage of a subsequent court case to establish a precedent for superheroes testifying in court without the need to expose their secret identities.Despite interference from the Kingpin, Murdock succeeds in taking this precedent to the Supreme Court so that all superheroes will have the same rights in future cases, and afterward returns to his traditional red costume.

In February 2019, the series began a brand-new volume written byChip Zdarskyand with art primarily by Marco Checchetto.In this story, Kingpin becomes Mayor of New York, which advantages criminals over heroes.

2020s

In the Zdarsky arc, Daredevil temporarily quits his superhero activities out of guilt after killing a thief accidentally. When a team of villains invades Hell's Kitchen, he returns to fight alongside Elektra and ordinary citizens who have collectively adopted the "Daredevil" identity.In the aftermath of the battle, he gives himself up to police custody.He continues to conceal his face with his mask, stating that he wants to stand trial for his crimes but will only do so on the condition that his identity is never revealed. He voluntarily confesses to the killing and is sentenced to a prison term. While Matt serves his time, Elektra takes up the Daredevil costume and protects Hell's Kitchen at his behest. In the prison, Murdock grapples with the idea that Daredevil and Matt Murdock work together to put people in prison, which he comes to see as ruining people's lives without reforming them or setting them on the right path.Zdarsky was nominated for anEisner Awardfor his writing on this series.

In August 2021, it was confirmed that volume 6 of the series would end in November 2021, at Issue #36.The series lead into the crossover event "Devil's Reign"with the same creative team.Following the conclusion of that series, anotherDaredevilseries, also written by Zdarsky, was launched in July 2022.

In May 2023, it was announced that volume 7 and Zdarksy's time onDaredevilwould conclude with issue #14 in August 2023, with a new volume written bySaladin Ahmedand drawn byAaron Kuderset to launch in September that same year.

Characterization

Fictional character biography

Matthew Murdock is born in Hell's Kitchen, a working-class Irish-American district of New York City. Suffering from post-partum depression, his mother,Maggie,abandons the family and becomes a nun.His father,Jack Murdock,is a struggling professional boxer. Matt's father is loving but controlling and over-protective, and physically abusive on one instance.As a youth, Matt Murdock is struck by a truck carrying radioactive materials. The accident blinds him, but gives him enhanced senses that give him extraordinary perception of his environment.Matt is mentored byStick,a mysterious sensei.Matt attendsColumbia Universityand meetsFoggy NelsonandElektra Natchios.Nelson becomes Murdock's best friend, and Elektra becomes Matt's first serious girlfriend. Jack Murdock refuses to throw a fight on orders from a gangster called the Fixer, because he does not want to be humiliated in front of his son. As a result, the Fixer has Jack killed.Matt is driven to bring his father's killers to justice, and eventually does so.The Fixer dies of a heart attack when he is confronted by Matt. As a result of Matt taking revenge, Stick ends his training, believing that Matt is undisciplined. Matt and Foggy found a law firm, Nelson and Murdock. Matt begins a second career as a costumed vigilante.Along with the name Daredevil, he is commonly known by suchepithetsas "Hornhead"and "The Devil of Hell's Kitchen".Karen Pageeventually joins the firm, and becomes Nelson's girlfriend after college. He encounters many supervillains. He reveals his secret identity to Page, but she is anxious about the relationship and eventually leaves to pursue a career as an actress in Hollywood.Briefly, Murdock moves to San Francisco and lives withNatasha Romanova,who is also a costumed adventurer under the name Black Widow.After they break up, he returns to New York and begins a relationship with Heather Glenn.However, his on-again off-again girlfriend Elektra returns, now a mysterious and fearsome ninja. Together, they find a criminal organization called the Hand.However, she becomes an enforcer for a local crime Boss, the Kingpin. She is eventually killed by a hitman, Bullseye.Karen Page has become a drug addict, and betrays Murdock's confidence by selling his secret identity to criminals.However, she returns to New York and begs forgiveness, which Murdock gives her, and she recovers from her drug addiction. She is later killed by Bullseye as well, however.He then marriesMilla Donovan,a woman without superpowers who is also blind.They have a troubled marriage because of his secret life as a costumed crime-fighter.Simultaneously, his secret identity is leaked to the press, and he becomes desperate to cast doubt on the public's suspicions about his activities.For a time, he declares himself a new kingpin of his neighborhood, forbidding criminal activity.Murdock is subsequently imprisoned,and later released. He experiences many other adventures and misfortunes. He then assumes control of the Hand, and attempts to employ them as an army against criminals and evil-doers.In the process of doing so, he becomes possessed by a demon, and his efforts go wildly out of control.He is purged of the demon by his friends and allies, and eventually returns to his previous role as an enforcer of justice.His secret identity is leaked to the press, and eventually it becomes an open secret that Matt Murdock is Daredevil; however, supernatural entities alter the fabric of human knowledge so that Daredevil can again become an unknown, mysterious figure.However, he accidentally kills a common thief. Overcome by guilt, he tries to give up the Daredevil identity and crime-fighting activity. He feels compelled to return to such endeavors when a team of supervillains invades Hell's Kitchen; he fights alongside a legion of ordinary citizens who have also adopted the "Daredevil" symbolism.

Personality and motivation

Critics have commented that Daredevil is unusually psychologically complex, by the standards of comic-book superheroes.

He is highly determined and willing to make bold decisions to in order to fight crime in his city. In his public personality, as trial lawyer Matt Murdock, he also tries to defend his clients and to work within the established legal system.Miller argues that Murdock has taken on two demanding careers (as lawyer and vigilante) because of a need to prove himself, compensating for his blindness. Miller believes that, likeBatman,Daredevil is driven by his concern for justice, but while Batman is primarily concerned with punishing criminals, Daredevil is more interested in finding redress for victims.The contrast between his love of the law in his regular life and his exceptional vigilante activities often produces problems for him. He is also sometimes ruthless and deceptive, and this can put his friends and loved ones at risk. Timothy Callahan even argues that Murdock is often mentally unstable or evenpsychotic"in his willingness to layer the fabric of lies in his relationships with others."One of his fundamental conflicts is between his attraction to extra-legal justice and punishment and his simultaneous fascination with objective order and legal, rational explanation.

Miller says that Murdock is drawn to violence because of anger at the world regarding his disability as well as his unresolved conflict with his father.Murdock's father, "Battlin' Jack", was a professional boxer who prohibited Matt from any athletic activity and compelled him to devote his time to study, attempting to mold an entirely different life for his son.Learning of his disobedience, the father resorted to corporal punishment to control his son. These events led Murdock to become obsessed with determining the proper moral and legal rules for behavior, and to develop a highly ambivalent relationship tocombat sportsand thrill-seeking behavior.Film and comic scholar Paul Young points out that the stories often depict a gap between Murdock's stated motivations and his actions, demonstrating that Murdock has inherently limited self-knowledge and sometimes deceives himself with incomplete justifications for his choices.

Murdock is a devoutCatholicand often tormented by religious and moral guilt.However, he also has many romantic affairs, which frequently end badly. Miller also sees the character as driven by sensuality.Psychologist Travis Langley and literary scholar Christine Hanefalk comment that this disposition could be described as asensation seekingpersonality trait.They note that while Murdock has had many lovers, he takes the approach ofserial monogamyrather than promiscuity or sex addiction.

Themes and motifs

Political corruption and moral ambiguity

Like other comic books influenced byfilm noir,Daredevil comics often depict modern urban society as highly corrupt, with no trustworthy authority. The comics frequently present a crisis of authority in which Daredevil or various antagonists, such as Kingpin, attempt to achieve a position of sovereignty in order to enforce some kind of recognized order.Daredevil comics also present debates on questions about religion and the relationship between human and divine justice, as well as Christian ideals of forgiveness and generosity. In particular, Matt Murdock is a devoutCatholic,and some stories, such as Miller'sBorn Again,treat themes and traditions particular to the Catholic denomination.

Irish Catholic identity and culture

From his creation, Daredevil carries anethnicandsocioeconomicidentity of aworking class,Irish Americanchildhood. Kevin Michael Scott writes that "When Daredevil first appeared in 1964, there was no other comic that placed its hero so squarely in the realm of the poor and working classes."In the period of Miller's authorship, his characterization emphasized a particularlyIrish Catholicidentity (Miller comes from an Irish Catholic ethnic background as well).Scholar Matthew Cressler argues that Daredevil's disability has a particular resonance for Catholic culture, because Catholic tradition and folklore presents afflictions or impairments as opportunities for holiness and potential sainthood.Cressler views theBorn Againstory as particularly inflected with Catholic cultural tradition and in dialogue with Catholic expectations.He argues that the significance ofbo xingin Daredevil's early life and training has a particular meaning for US Catholic culture, because "bo xing was a crucial site for the making of American Catholic manhood in the twentieth century," commended by clergy as a means to learn moral and spiritual discipline.Cressler argues thatBorn Againalso a demonstrates awhiteracial identity beyond Irish Catholic ethnicity, because Daredevil concerns himself with protecting his neighborhood and loved ones from vices and dangers that the narrative associates with minor antagonists who are not white.Cressler associates this with the cultural affinity of Irish Americans with thepresidency of Ronald Reaganand his values and rhetoric.

However, Paul Young draws attention to a complex and unresolved combination of social and political values in Daredevil's character and activities; while he sometimes practices violent retribution andlaw and orderprinciples, he also adheres tosocial liberalismin his stated ideals and in his moral choices and behaviors.While the character has a clear ethnic and racial identity, fans who are not white have said that they find themselves able to closely identify with Daredevil's characteristics. For example, John Jennings, a professor ofCultural StudiesandBlack studieswho is himselfAfrican American,writes that he particularly identified with Daredevil as a child because of Daredevil's childhood poverty, his isolation and feeling of peculiarity, his experience ofbullying,and his tenacity, all of which could be characteristic of the childhood experiences ofpeople of color.

Blindness

The comic series also often addresses the challenges of blindness andvisual impairment.While Daredevil is the best-known blind superhero, and among the first, he had predecessors in two early superheroes created in 1939,Doctor Mid-Niteand theBlack Bat.The basic trope of a blind person with exceptional sensory abilities is long-standing in literature and mythology.However, along withProfessor X,Daredevil is one of the first modern disabled superheroes.Other supporting characters in the series are also blind, such asStickandMaster Izo.These two characters are reminiscent of blind martial artists presented in Asian cinema, suchZatoichi.Writer/co-creatorStan Leesaid that he was worried that blind people would be offended at how far he exaggerated the enhancement of a blind person's remaining senses, but that his fears were assuaged by letters from organizations such as the Lighthouse for the Blind, which said that blind people greatly enjoyed having Daredevil comics read to them.

Violence and trauma

The stories also often address the long-term effects of trauma andadverse childhood experiences.The early stories first introduce Matt Murdock's complex relationship with his father, and Murdock's experience of loss and drive for justice following his father's murder.Matt Murdock's abandonment by his mother, physically abusive treatment by his alcoholic father,and bullying from childhood peers are all detailed by later stories in the series. Other prominent characters, such as Kingpin and Elektra, are also revealed to have experienced childhood misfortunes that affect aggressive and thrill-seeking behavior in adulthood.In 1981, Miller declared that "violence is actually the theme of the book," insisting on the depiction of realistic injury in order to convey the hazards and moral ambiguity of a heroic lifestyle.

Powers and abilities

Frank Miller,seen here signing a copy of issue #181 atMidtown Comics,revamped the character's radar-sense to make it more believable.

Although the character is blind, his remaining four senses function with superhuman accuracy and sensitivity, giving him abilities far beyond the limits of a sighted person. Few characters know that the hero cannot see. Generally speaking, the stories operate with the premise that Daredevil compensates for his missing sight with his other heightened senses (in particular,olfactory,auditory,andsomatosensoryperception). Earlier stories are more likely to explicitly account for how he does this, while later stories often presume Daredevil's apprehension of his environment.

Daredevil can identify people by their distinct heartbeats.He also uses his superhuman hearing as apolygraphto determine dishonesty by listening for changes in a person's heartbeat.This ability can be fooled if the other person's heart is not beating at a natural rate, such as if they have anartificial pacemaker.His heightened hearing can in some circumstances cause problems for him as he runs the risk of becoming overstimulated; this was particularly an issue in adolescence, before he learned to control his powers.Beginning in the period of Frank Miller's authorship, Daredevil is also shown to have the ability to scan a wide spectrum of sounds throughout his broad environment, and to focus on a particular sound source, filtering out the others.Daredevil is also able to use his hearing to perceive spatial entities and relations, byecholocation.This is an exaggerated depiction of a real ability that some blind people, such as Ben Underwood, have cultivated.

Daredevil can use his sense of smell to immediately identify any particular individual.He can also deduce and perceive information about his environment. However, in the early stories Daredevil relies on his sense of smell much less often than his hearing.The stories of the 1970s and 1980s refer to his sense of smell as orienting Daredevil's perceptions to a greater degree.

Daredevil can read by passing his fingers over the letters on a page, though laminated pages prevent him from reading the ink.Most photographs, televisions, and computer screens are blank to him.In early stories, he can distinguish colors by touch, but this is generally phased out as implausible after the 1960s.He is sometimes able to detect objects and information by sensing heat sources and temperature changes.

Daredevil's radioactive accident also led him to develop a "radar-sense ", mentioned along with his first appearance.In the initial description, it seems to be synonymous with echolocation, but in later stories it takes on other qualities; essentially it substitutes for vision.At times the radar sense is identified with hearing, but at other times it is described as an entirely distinct sense.The radar is also sometimes explained as a cumulative ensemble of all of Murdock's heightened senses.Some narratives suggest that the radar sense is an imaginative activity that fills in the blanks among all the sense data he can gather.In some stories, Daredevil himself actually emanates waves of some sort to detect his surroundings, possibly analogous to radio waves.The radar sense has shown on numerous occasions the ability to "see" through walls and fabrics, like an X-ray.The radar sense also grants him an omnidirectional field of vision. These two latter abilities are the most notable advantages the radar has over normal vision.At times, the radar-sense appears to be a form of magic.However, Frank Miller's interpretation of the character makes his abilities somewhat more toned down and realistic; for example, his radar sense is less like clear vision and more like a "proximity" sense Miller derived from the comments of some martial artists.Across the history of the characters, writers are inconsistent with regard to whether the radar sense is more or less reliable than eyesight.The radar sense is mentioned much less frequently in comics of the 21st century; Hanefalk speculates that this is because the concept seems excessively supernatural.

The extent of Daredevil's superhuman physical attributes beyond his super-senses and radar sense varies depending on the writer and depiction of the character, though he has always been portrayed as having a superhumanly enhanced sense of balance and coordination. In most cases, he is depicted as also possessing superhuman agility, reflexes, and stamina. In all cases, Daredevil is depicted as a master of martial arts and expert acrobat and gymnast, with his superhuman attributes aiding him in his mastery of these skills.

Matt Murdock was initially self-taught as aboxer,following his father's example. Subsequently, he was trained byStickto become a master hand-to-hand combatant inmartial arts.He practicesmixed martial arts,primarily combining bo xing withninjutsu.

Daredevil's signature weapon is his specially designedbaton,which he created. Disguised as a blind man's cane in civilian garb, it is a multi-purpose weapon and tool that contains 30 feet of aircraft-control cable connected to a case-hardened steelgrappling hook.Internal mechanisms allow the cable to be neatly wound and unwound, while a powerful spring launches the grapnel. The handle can be straightened for use when throwing. The club can be split into two parts, one of which is a fighting baton, the other of which ends in a curved hook.

In his civilian identity, Murdock is a skilled and respected New York attorney.He is a detective and interrogation expert.

Supporting characters

Elektra

Main article:Elektra Natchios

Elektra Natchios is a pivotal character for Daredevil,at different times being an enemy, a romantic partner, and an ally.Elektra made her debut as a bounty hunter, and though her time as part of Daredevil's rogues' gallery was brief (spanning barely a year of the first Frank Miller series), her romantic past with him is an important part of the mythos.Created by Frank Miller, the character first appeared inDaredevil#168 (Jan. 1981).Her violent nature and mercenary lifestyle has served as a point of conflict between her and Daredevil, which, in 2020, culminated in her becoming the second Daredevil.

Elektra is an unusually ruthlessantiheroandfemme fatale.Scholar Paul Young defines some of her defining initial characteristics as including her succinct speech patterns, her "athletic, eroticized body," herfather complex,and her lethal weapons and fighting prowess. He notes that another critic, Larry Rodman, memorably compared her to a "psychoticswimsuit model".

She shows few compunctions about killing her adversaries, and in some stories even kills innocent people. However, she maintains a strong affection for Matt Murdock and, later, other people she admires. She is often morally conflicted, and eventually attempts to use her skills for good.Miller says that Elektra's violent disposition originates from the trauma of the loss of her father, and that he meant the character to illustrate Jung'sElectra complex:"She was a young woman who had her sexual interest centered on her father, and just as she was transferring this to another man, her father is killed." Miller argues that this initial anger led to corruption by other forces (the Hand and the Kingpin). In his view she is not essentially good, but rather "one of the villains who's got a weak streak in them."

Elektra returned to the series, resurrected, first in one of the arcs written byD.G. Chichester.Miller refused to write any additional stories for Marvel, in protest against the character's revival outside his authorship.She has continued to appear in various subsequent series as a complicatedanti-hero.In stories of the 2020s, she even takes on the identity of Daredevil herself, initially because the original Daredevil is imprisoned.

Allies

Throughout the coreDaredevilseries, many characters have had an influence in Matt Murdock's life. His father, "Battlin' Jack" Murdock instills in Matt the importance of education and nonviolence with the aim of seeing his son become a better man than himself.He always encouraged Matt to study, rather than fight like him. Jack forbade his son from undertaking any kind of physical training.It is his father's murder that prompts the super-powered character to become a superhero, fighting gangsters.He was trained by an old blind ninja master namedStickfollowing his childhood accident.

Matt Murdock's closest friend isFranklin "Foggy" Nelson,his college roommate,sidekick,and law partner.Their relationship in the early years of the series was fraught with tension due to Nelson's sense of inferiority to Murdock as a lawyer and as a target for the affections of their secretary,Karen Page.They frequently argued over Murdock's preference for defending supervillains, as Nelson's enthusiasm is for corporate law.The pudgy and fallible Nelson has often been used by writers for lightheartedness and even comic relief.However, in the period written byBrian Michael Bendis,Nelson is a close confidante to Murdock, and assists him emotionally and legally in the period of crisis when his secret identity is on the verge of public knowledge.

Ben Urich,a reporter for theDaily Bugle,often appears in Daredevil stories. An investigative reporter, Urich shares some of Daredevil's intellectual abilities but does not have any kind of fighting prowess.He discovers Daredevil's identity and eventually becomes his friend as well.

As a superhero, one of Daredevil's best friends is the heroSpider-Man.They reveal their secret identities to one another inPeter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man#110, in 1986.However, due to the events of the "One More Day"storyline, Daredevil no longer knows Spider-Man's secret identity.Iron Fistwould later become one of his greatest friends, and at one point took on the role of Daredevil himself.ThePunisher,anti-hero Frank Castle, is one of Daredevil's reluctant allies, as well as his antagonist due to their different philosophies in crime-fighting.

Daredevil is somewhat unusual among superheroes in that he does not generally work consistently with a group of teammates. However, he has worked alongside theFantastic Four,theDefenders,and theAvengers.All three of these groups invited Daredevil to join, which he generally resisted.In 2011, Daredevil did join one version of the Avengers, led by Luke Cage, as well as one of the iterations of the Defenders.In a variety of stories in the comics, Daredevil works together withJessica Jones,Iron Fist,andLuke Cage,as individuals or in a group.

Romantic interests

Daredevil has a convoluted and often tortured love life. His relationships often end badly. The longest connections he has maintained with women have been with other costumed fighters:Black Widowand Elektra. The relatively high number of violent deaths for his partners has been criticized as examples of thewomen in refrigeratorstrope, according to which female characters in comic books are often disposable and serve as plot devices to motivate or complicate male heroes.

Murdock had a long-term relationship withKaren Page.Initially, Murdock and Foggy Nelson constituted a love triangle with Page, with each vying for affections.Murdock revealed his secret identity to her in Daredevil #56 (September 1969).Page has various doubts and anxieties about her relationship.However, in Daredevil #86 (January 1972) Page leaves to pursue an acting career in Hollywood.He maintains an on-again off-again relationship until her tragic death. Like Elektra, Page is murdered by Bullseye; but she is never resurrected.

In the 1970s, he had a romantic relationship with Black Widow, who fought crime with him while they were in San Francisco. Theycohabited,a daring choice for the time.She complained about Daredevil's sexist attitudes, and broke off the relationship because she did not want to feel like asidekick.They remain close confidantes in ensuing stories, some of which suggest the possibility of resuming the relationship.Some critics suggest that the series consistently presents Black Widow as the best match for Daredevil.

In the later 1970s, Daredevil began a relationship with heiress and party girl Heather Glenn. He revealed his identity to her in a 1977 storyline,As Young puts it, Glenn has "a casual and flirty manner, and a voracious sexual appetite;" she is also elusive and casual regarding her relationship with Murdock. Young compares to her to one of the Sternwood sisters from Chandler'sThe Big Sleep.As initially characterized by Gerry Conway, Glenn is somewhat stereotyped because of her flighty nature. However, Young argues that the Miller period gives her a degree of verisimilitude, even arguing that she has more depth thanChris Claremont's female heroes.In contrast, J. Andrew Deman has argued that Miller's depiction of women is much more stereotypical than Clarement's.Glenn eventually kills herself, inDaredevil#220 (March 1985).

In the late 1990s, he had a brief relationship withMaya Lopez,a deaf woman and skilled martial artist. While Murdock and Lopez fell in love, Lopez was manipulated by the Kingpin into believing that Daredevil had killed her father (while it was Kingpin himself who was responsible) Under the name Echo, Lopez fought Daredevil and was eventually convinced of his innocence.

In the 2000s, Murdock marries a woman namedMilla Donovan.Donovan shares Murdock's disability.Eventually, one of Daredevil's enemies drives her to insanity.

Enemies

Main article:List of Daredevil enemies

In his early years, Daredevil fought a number of costumed supervillains, such as theOwl,thePurple Man,and the Matador.Critics have noted similarities between Daredevil's early rogue's gallery and the villains associated withBatman,the popular character published by Marvel's competitor,DC Comics.Marv Wolfman introduced the psychopathic assassinBullseyein 1976.

Frank Miller's run onDaredevilpared down the rogue's gallery toKingpin,previously introduced as an antagonist ofSpider-Man,and Bullseye.The Kingpin learned Daredevil's secret identity in the "Born Again"storyline.InDaredevil#254,Ann NocentiintroducedTyphoid Mary,an assassin for the Kingpin withdissociative identity disorder(the diagnostic term for multiple personalities), who would become a prominent Daredevil foe.Nocenti created Typhoid Mary after reflecting on experiences working in asylums for the mentally ill, about the condition ofbipolar disorder,and about stereotypes regarding women in comic books.

Subsequent writers, such asJeph Loeb,Brian Michael BendisandEd Brubaker,have re-introduced the Daredevil's rogues gallery of the 1960s, particularly the Owl; however, in the new interpretations they are "radically different from their original incarnation – nastier, meaner, and more cruel."

Reception

Daredevil has been inspirational for readers with disabilities, particularly those withvisual impairment.For example,Tom Sullivan,a blind man, writes that "When I read my first Daredevil in the mid-'60s, I decided Matt Murdock represented everything I thought I could be." Further, he argues that blind people in real life sometimes experience enhanced awareness of other senses, like Daredevil and that this can help them in athletics; he credits inspiration from Daredevil with cultivating his own abilities.Christine Hanefalk suggests that the character is a useful figure for imagining the experiences of visually-impaired people, and can help to cultivate empathy for their perspective.

Daredevil was also groundbreaking in the degree of violence that could be depicted in a mainstream superhero comic book, particularly in the instance of the murder of Elektra by Bullseye in 1982.

Daredevil was also a strong inspiration for theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.The concept took its ninja imagery fromDaredevil.In theoriginal comics,the characters were even implied to be the pet turtles of Matt Murdock, who mutated as a result of the same accident that gave him superpowers.

Joe Quesada,an editor at Marvel, says thatKevin Smith's authorship of the "Guardian Devil"arc of theDaredevilseries in 1998-1999 "changed everything" and that this is "probably the single most important development in this particular era of comics, from the '90s to today." Quesada says this is because Smith was the first Hollywood director to write a mainstream superhero comic, and this encouraged subsequent authorship of comics by writers from film, TV, and literature.

In other media

Main article:Daredevil in other media

Charlie Cox at the 2024 Rose City Comic Con. Cox portrays Daredevil in theMarvel Cinematic Universe.

Daredevil has appeared in various other media, particularly in television and film. He was first adapted in the TV filmThe Trial of the Incredible Hulk,portrayed byRex Smith,in 1989.

ADaredevillive-action feature filmstarringBen Affleckas the character and directed byMark Steven Johnsonwas released in 2003. The film received mixed reviews from critics, and was a moderate box-office success.

In 2015, aDaredeviltelevision show, starringCharlie Coxasthe protagonistand created byDrew Goddardpremiered on Netflix and lasted for three seasons.This was acclaimed by critics and attracted a cult following from fans.Steven S. DeKnight,an executive producer of the show, has said that it took inspiration from theFrank Millerperiod as well as the storylines byBrian Michael BendisandAlex Maleev,with Maleev's art in particular providing "a template for the look of the show."Then-DisneyCEOBob Igerstated that if Marvel's Netflix TV shows, such asDaredevil,could later be adapted as feature films if they were sufficiently popular.Cox also plays Daredevil inThe Defenders,a crossover miniseries in which Daredevil teams up withJessica Jones,Luke Cage,andIron Fist.Cox reprises his role as Murdock in the filmSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021),wherein he successfully clearsPeter Parker's name fromMysterio's death. The film does not reference his superhero identity beyond a brief display of his enhanced senses when he catches a brick thrown through the Parkers' window.According to Tom Holland, Murdock's appearance was written after filming began due to uncertainty about the rights to include the Marvel Netflix characters.

Cox again reprises the role inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law(2022)and inEcho(2024).He voices the character in the animated seriesYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man(2025).He will also star in a revival of the first television series, to be titledDaredevil: Born Again,which will premier on March 4, 2025.

See also

• List of Daredevil titles
• 1964 in comics
• Animal echolocation

References

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