Daredevil: Born Again Should Launch the MCU’s Heroes for Hire

Daredevil: Born Again has excited fans about the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s push for more street-level storylines. For years, the MCU explored cosmic heroes and other superpowered beings with plots that span the multiverse. However, in Phase 5, the stories now focus on the heroes on Earth, starting with the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.

The show would also see the return of several other characters from the Marvel Netflix universe, including fan favorites like the Punisher and Kingpin. The return of these characters has provided fans with hope regarding potential comebacks for other heroes, such as the Defenders. The inclusion of these characters will certainly upgrade the MCU’s street-level world. But how would all these characters operate together? Marvel Comics has all the answers to this burning question.

Daredevil: Born Again Will Open the Door for the Defenders To Return

Daredevil: Born Again is canon for the MCU, which is important since it’s connected to other Marvel Netflix shows. The original Daredevil series ushered in a new era of Marvel TV following the release of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2013. Thanks to its story, characters, action, and more, Matt Murdock and Co. garnered rave reviews as a standalone series.

On top of being a brilliant piece of live-action Marvel, the series also featured some of the franchise’s most famous heroes. This includes the Punisher, who will debut in the MCU with Daredevil: Born Again. Murdock also met the likes of Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist to form the Defenders. The vigilante group had a superhero show of their own on Netflix. However, it failed to leave a mark and only ran for a season. The series had flaws, ranging from issues of lackluster action to its bland visual style. However, the team had chemistry, and fans cared about them even though characters like Luke Cage and Iron Fist had their own poor standalone shows. It’s why fans have clamored for their return since Daredevil showed up in the MCU.

Like in 2015, Daredevil could usher in a similar revolution for Marvel TV with his upcoming show. The street-level MCU has longed for a character that could push the narrative, and the Man Without Fear certainly fits the bill. The streets also need more heroes that could join the fight with Murdock, and there’s no easier addition than the returning Defenders. However, they won’t be the only street-level vigilantes and heroes to join the MCU down the line. So, how would the MCU accommodate these new additions?

The Defenders Could Help Bring the “Heroes for Hire” Initiative to the MCU

The Defenders are too small in scope to include every Marvel street-level hero. However, there’s an alternative that allows these characters to have a larger role. The alternative is the Marvel Comics’ Heroes for Hire initiative, created in 1978 by Ed Hannigan and Lee Elias. The concept began with Luke Cage, who offered protection and investigative services. Eventually, Heroes for Hire Inc. was created with Luke Cage as its owner, alongside Danny Rand/Iron Fist.

The Heroes for Hire initiative focuses on ordinary victims affected by crime, showcasing the average Joe in desperate need of help. What better way to highlight the goodness of heroes like Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Daredevil than by making them a part of such an initiative? It provides a larger scale for street-level heroes and vigilantes. One great example would be Daredevil, who could fight crime through violent measures while providing legal support as the lawyer Matt Murdock.

With the Heroes for Hire initiative, street-level heroes could be included in stories of higher stakes. Characters in their standalone shows and films can follow their story and their problems. An initiative like this allows Marvel Studios to create a street-level alternative to the Avengers, which faces cosmic and multiversal threats.

Heroes for Hire Will Help Integrate Street-Level MCU into the Franchise’s Other Characters

While Heroes for Hire may have started with the likes of Iron Fist and Luke Cage, multiple team iterations over the years have featured various members and leaders. During the team’s run in 1996, the initiative was created by The Human Torch, who led the likes of Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Black Knight, and more. Other group versions have included heroes like Black Widow, Falcon, Spider-Man, Black Cat, Deadpool, Black Panther, and many others.

A similar attempt could be made to create a new team that grounds many heroes who have found themselves in universe-threatening events. This team would also act as a bridge between street-level heroes and other superpowered beings in the MCU. Like the comic book variants of Heroes for Hire, a live-action team could pull heroes and vigilantes from various facets of the MCU. Apart from strengthening existing and upcoming MCU heroes, the initiative could also attract heroes who might not fit the Avengers, Thunderbolts, or even the X-Men.

The team also allows Marvel Studios to have varying power levels so that the MCU’s finest can battle it out. While the multiversal threats like Galactus, Kang the Conqueror, and Doctor Doom would require the intervention of the Avengers, Heroes for Hire could face dangers in the streets. This includes the likes of Kingpin, who is running for mayor of New York.

With Heroes for Hire, Marvel Studios has an alternative to the universal adventures of the Avengers. By focusing on the struggles of the streets, the MCU could uplift its vigilantes, who operate in dingy alleys to save the common person from being mugged, killed, or kidnapped. It grounds these characters by portraying them as heroes saving affected individuals or a community rather than an entire world, universe, or multiverse. It makes them relatable, which new MCU heroes have failed to do, as stakes increase with each new project in the franchise.