As a Lifelong Daredevil Fan, I Hate How Marvel Just Defined Matt Murdock’s Heroism

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Warning: Spoilers for Daredevil #19!Would it be arrogant to say I might understand Daredevil better than Marvel does? Perhaps it sounds superfluous, maybe even presumptuous, to suggest such a thing. After all, who am I to claim a deeper understanding of a character than the company that created him? Yet, the very fact that I’m asking this question tells me that something is rotten in the state of Hell’s Kitchen.

Marvel’s rotten depiction—or perhaps misunderstanding—of Matt Murdock can be traced back to Daredevil #19, set to hit digital stores and local comic shops on March 26. A preview, featuring cover art by John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, and Richard Isanove, is included below.

In this preview, Marvel portrays Daredevil as being defined by his anger—or more specifically, Wrath—by pitting him against the manifestation of the wrathful sin of the Seven Deadly Sins. I try not to get worked up over things like this, but reducing Daredevil to such a one-dimensional trait feels like a gross oversimplification of who he truly is.

Daredevil’s Deadly SinsArc Pushes Matt Murdock to Face His Worst Traits

Daredevil #19, Written by Saladin Ahmed, Art by Aaron Kuder, Colored by Jesus Aburtov, and Lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles

For readers who haven’t been following Saladin Ahmed’s Daredevil run over the past two years, let me provide a quick recap. After Daredevil descends to Hell as the Hand of God, sacrificing himself to save his friends, he unknowingly brings back the Seven Deadly Sins. Each sin appears as a familiar, possessed face that Daredevil must exorcise. Elektra represents Sloth, Ben Urich embodies Envy, She-Hulk is Gluttony, Wolverine stands for Lust, Kingpin is Greed, Foggy Nelson personifies Pride, and now Matt faces Wrath.

As a long-time Daredevil fan, I appreciate the concept of this arc, especially how it forces a man traditionally consumed by Catholic guilt to confront his sins in personified form. It challenges Matt Murdock to face his worst traits, come to terms with them, and learn from them. The key word here is “learn,” but we’ll get to that in a moment. What I don’t love, however, is the implication that Wrath is Matt’s toughest challenge simply because it personifies anger. Anyone who has followed Daredevil for any length of time should understand how inaccurate that is.

Why Depicting Daredevil as Defined by Wrath Misses the Mark

Daredevil’s Wrath: A Misrepresentation of Matt Murdock’s True Struggles

It’s wrong to define Matt Murdock simply by wrath, even though Daredevil isn’t without his moments of anger. He embodies a bit of every sin, which is the central theme of the arc. He may have spent the last few years as a priest, but Matt Murdock was never a saint. That said, to say he is defined by his wrath is a fallacy. Yes, he lets his temper get the better of him occasionally, but he’s not like Wolverine, whose anger is so consuming that Matt immediately mistook him for Wrath when Wolverine was possessed by Lust.

Wolverine is naturally consumed by anger, but if the roles were reversed and Matt were the possessed one, the confusion wouldn’t have happened so easily. I fear this portrayal of Daredevil, suggesting he’s so consumed by wrath, stems from a reaction to his MCU version—either confusing the two versions or trying to align with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, TV Matt is often seen brimming with rage, whereas comics Matt is a lawyer who has dedicated his life to helping the helpless. That commitment doesn’t come from rage; it comes from a sense of justice.

Daredevil’s Journey: A Character Development Derailment

Why Marvel’s Repeated Regression of Daredevil Undermines His Growth

Honestly, reducing Daredevil’s journey to simply him being angry at the world feels like an insult to the depth of that journey. However, the bigger issue isn’t just the oversimplification—it highlights a deeper problem. Despite Daredevil’s growth and character development over the years, Marvel consistently brings him backward. Labeling him nothing more than an angry example of wrath is just one instance of how the character continues to be derailed.

As much as there is to appreciate about Saladin Ahmed’s run, it’s been defined by Daredevil relearning lessons he’s already mastered, particularly those from Chip Zdarsky’s run. Matt’s journey to Hell, where he sacrifices himself to save his friends, logically concluded his story. He finally came to terms with his place with God, resolving his recurring Catholic guilt. Yet, Ahmed’s run has him revisiting that same internal struggle, relearning how to make peace with his guilt all over again.

Ahmed’s Daredevil constantly rehashes the same lessons, as if Marvel has forgotten what the character has already learned. Daredevil has faced his doubts and fears time and time again, but in the case of Wrath, the accusation doesn’t even feel accurate. It feels like Marvel is losing sight not just of who Daredevil is, but of who he has become after years of character development. If Marvel can’t remember that growth, they’re stunting the very development that should be propelling Daredevil forward.

Daredevil #19 goes on sale from Marvel starting March 26, 2025!

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