Fans of Daredevil: Born Again Need to Read These Iconic Marvel Comics

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After the original Netflix show’s cancellation in 2018, fans were elated to see the sequel Daredevil: Born Again reintroduce Charlie Cox’s version in the MCU. With the series deep into its first season on Disney+ and a second on the way, now is a great time for new and returning fans to delve into the comics.

Marvel‘s Man Without Fear has one of the most highly-praised runs in the publisher’s superhero catalog, from classics to the hero’s more recent years. Fans of Disney+’s Born Again have more than enough to dig into to scratch the Daredevil itch between and after episodes. That ranges from its comic book namesake to the likes of Mayor Fisk and Dark Art​​​​​​that directly inspired the MCU series.

10

The Man Without Fear is a Great Origin

Collects Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #1-5

While the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again is well past the point of focusing on Matt Murdock’s beginnings, The Man Without Fear​​​​​​is an excellent origin tale. Written by the legendary Frank Miller and illustrated by John Romita Jr., the writer similarly refreshes Daredevil’s origins to what he did for Batman in Year One. This five-issue limited series chronicles Matt’s tough childhood, the tragic murder of his boxer father Jack, and what motivated him into vigilantism.

The Man Without Fear​​​​​​is a great and concise way to understand and experience Matt Murdock’s roots. It’s a particularly excellent starting point for new fans of the MCU series who want to go back to the original 2015 show, as it laid the creative foundation of the latter’s first season. From the iconic makeshift black suit to organically introducing key players like Kingpin, Matt’s best friend Foggy, and his complicated romance Elektra, The Man Without Fear is an essential read.

9

Guardian Devil Was Another Dark Milestone for Daredevil

Collects Daredevil Vol. 2 #1 – 8

There’s no shortage of tragedy in Daredevil’s mythos, but Kevin Smith, Joe Quesada, and Jimmy Palmiotti’s Guardian Devil​​​​​​still stands out. Steeped in Catholic symbolism to lean into Matt Murdock’s sense of faith, Daredevil must protect an infant said to be a savior. But the most consequential event by far comes from Bullseye murdering Karen Page.

Her death is baked into the foundation of future Daredevil runs, and it influenced elements of the original show and season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again. The brutal opening of Born Again sees Bullseye lead a massacre on Josie’s Bar and assassinate Foggy Nelson, leaving Matt and Karen in anguish. It’s a clever twist on the comic book source material, mirroring the significance of Guardian Devil—for better or worse—for the MCU.

8

Born Again Remains a Timeless Marvel Classic

Collects Daredevil Vol. 1 #227 – 233

Frank Miller is credited with saving Daredevil and shaping his modern comic book history. He’s written plenty of standout storylines in the years since, but Born Again with his Batman: Year One artist partner David Mazzucchelli remains his magnum opus. This story arc follows Matt Murdock dealing with the aftermath of his identity as Daredevil being sold upward to none other than Kingpin—and Karen Page did the deed.

Though it inspired the name for the Disney+ show, the iconic Daredevil: Born Again arc actually served as the creative influence for season 3 of the original TV show. Deconstruction arcs aren’t new concepts in superhero comics, but storylines like Born Again show how effectively they can highlight psychologically vulnerable parts of their protagonists. It’s a tale of gut-wrenching loss and personal revelations, but it makes Daredevil’s “rebirth” even more triumphant.

7

The Trial of the Century is a High-Profile Tragedy

Collects Daredevil Vol. 2 #38 – 40

Even for seasoned fans of the TV adaptations, the fate of Hector Ayala—the White Tiger—in Daredevil: Born Again felt truly punishing. The MCU storyline loosely adapts the Trial of the Century arc from writer Brian Bendis’ lauded run in the ’00s. At this point in the comic book run, Matt is been dealing with a slew of problems, from an identity leak within the FBI and several run-ins with Hell’s Kitchen’s organized crime world.

Now, Matt and Foggy are tasked with defending the heroic vigilante, White Tiger, in court against a murder charge. Daredevil: Born Again took some interesting creative liberties to fit within the MCU’s canon, like Kingpin being mayor and a Punisher-inspired figure executing Hector. However, both versions brilliantly use shock and awe in their own ways, creating perfect storms of drama happening around Matt’s life.

6

Hardcore Sees Matt Murdock Cross Shocking Lines

Collects Daredevil Vol. 2 #46 – 50

Brian Bendis and artist Alex Maleev’s Daredevil run arguably tops even Frank Miller’s transformative tenure. Their storylines are steeped in a moody crime-noir feel thanks to Bendis’s storytelling and Maleev’s stylized artwork. One of their most explosive arcs was Hardcore, which somehow ramps up Matt’s turmoil between being dragged in the tabloids, Daredevil facing murder charges, and even the resurgence of the villain Typhoid Mary.

Making Murdock’s life hellish is far from novel, whether in the comics, the 2015 TV show, or Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again. Even so, Hardcore earnestly shows what The Man Without Fear looks like when his mental faculties are barely hanging on and he begins to flirt with the darker urges of his mind. What unravels is simultaneously terrifying by Matt’s standards and a humbling of his greatest enemies.

5

Roulette is a Memorable One-Off Encounter With Bullseye

Collects Daredevil Vol. 1 #191

Wilson Bethel’s live-action debut as Bullseye was acclaimed in season 3 of the original Daredevil TV series. He portrayed the marksman’s troubled psyche in increasingly unsettling fashion, and fans saw the next step in the shocking first episode of Dardevil: Born Again. However, Frank Miller’s Roulette​​​​​​shows the villain in a unique and vulnerable position. In this single-issue storyline, a Bullseye in critical condition and confined to a hospital bed is “visited” by his rival in secrecy.

The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen proceeds to sit beside his bed and force him into a supposedly deadly game of Russian Roulette, with the hero reflecting on his presence’s consequences on young minds. Despite being a single, small story in the grand scheme of Daredevil’s mythos, Roulette is one of the character’s most introspective comics. It delves into the ethics of Daredevil’s well-intentioned vigilantism and the ramifications of his and Bullseye’s vitriolic, cyclical relationship.

Collects Daredevil Vol. 5 #10 – 14

Charlie Cox’s return as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin are the most important elements of Born Again​​​​​​in the MCU. However, it’s also adapting one of The Man Without Fear’s best and most brutal modern villains—Muse. For fans wanting to see the rogue’s roots in the Marvel comics, Charles Soule and Ron Garney’s run is a must.

Muse debuts in the Daredevil arc, Dark Art, immediately making his presence felt as one of the most morbid figures Matt has ever had to deal with. After Daredevil’s trainee, Blindspot, tries to fill the gaps that Matt can’t as a vigilante hero, he finds himself in the path of a gruesome serial killer who makes gore the centerpiece of his art. Dark Art is a visceral introduction for the new villain, and he brings a gripping horror element to the story.

3

Mayor Fisk Sees Kingpin Expand His Ambitions

Collects Daredevil (2017) #595 – 600

Charles Soule and Ron Garney’s Daredevil run looks like the most significant reference for the MCU’s Born Again in more ways than one. On top of the grisly Muse’s introduction, Soule’s Mayor Fisk paved the way for the Kingpin of New York to become its next mayor. While once thought unimaginable, Matt’s greatest adversary has consolidated power and has the resources to make Daredevil a public enemy.

With D’Onofrio’s take on Mayor Fisk gradually shaping the New York political scene in his favor, the Mayor Fisk comic arc is a timely read. On top of what this means for Matt’s alter ego, fans can also see how this affects some of the city’s other heroes. This surprising turn of events is another exciting way to shake up Daredevil and Kingpin’s long-running history.

2

Know Fear is a Perfect Modern Entry Point

Collects Daredevil Vol. 6 #1 – 5

Daredevil fans are enjoying some excellent modern-age comics, with Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s quickly becoming the best since Mark Waid’s run. This run is particularly good for new fans coming from Daredevil: Born Again who want to start reading a long-term run. The opening Know Fear story arc begins with Matt’s existential struggles after suffering a near-death experience.

Know Fear is as good for first-time readers as something like Miller’s The Man Without Fear​​​​​, perfectly introducing the street-level characters that make up Daredevil’s world. There are plenty of internal conflicts to drive another interesting arc for Matt, challenging his sense of responsibility when operating as his vigilante persona. Plus, there’s a riveting encounter with the Punisher for good measure, again showing the contrast between their ideas of “justice.”

1

Devil’s Reign is a Spectacle & Daredevil-Centric Crossover

Collects Devil’s Reign #1 – 5 (Main Series)

For more timely Daredevil comics to read now that Born Again isout on Disney+, Devil’s Reign makes for another exciting read. With Wilson Fisk’s tenure as mayor in full force, the crime boss outlaws vigilantes in New York City to bolster his power. This paints targets on the backs of New York’s many superheroes in the Marvel Universe, entangling Spider-Man, Captain America, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Moon Knight, and more.

Devil’s Reign is comprised of a main limited series and supplemental tie-ins involving other heroes and rogues, and it will satisfy fans intrigued by Fisk’s mayoral stint in the MCU series. With a dynamic as bitter and historic as Daredevil and Kingpin’s, it can be difficult to keep their conflict interesting. Thankfully, writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Marco Checchetto do an excellent job of elevating Kingpin to an Avengers-tier threat.

“}]] If you’ve been loving Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, then dive even further into a few of these fan-favorite Marvel Comics with even more to enjoy!  Read More