How Is the Swordsman Connected to Daredevil in Marvel Comics?

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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again Episode 8.Tony Dalton got his claim to fame playing Lalo, Better Call Saul’s loveable villain who steals the show. Since then, we haven’t seen much of him on our screens, but he was a welcome addition to the cast of Hawkeye back in 2021. Dalton plays Jack Duquesne, Kate Bishop’s (Hailee Steinfeld) suspicious stepfather with a mysterious background. He’s later revealed to be The Swordsman, a minor villain from Marvel Comics. We didn’t hear any word about Dalton’s return to the MCU until recently, when he surprised us by turning up in Daredevil: Born Again. Though The Swordsman doesn’t have an extensive history with Daredevil, his comic background is more complicated than you might expect. The MCU’s recent string of cameos and Easter eggs have been a little on the nose, if not forced. However, The Swordsman’s inclusion in Daredevil: Born Again has been a refreshing surprise, and he’s a great match for the tone and setting of the show.

Who Is the Swordsman in Marvel Comics?

Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton) initially appeared in a minor role during Episode 6, and The Swordsman also briefly made an appearance in some video footage. Daredevil: Born Again has shown a willingness to pepper its episodes with cameos, like with the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Yusuf Khan (Mohan Kapoor), so we initially thought Duquesne was just another cameo, but Episode 8 followed him becoming a key player in the fight against Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). Wilson Fisk has been buddying up with New York’s elite in an effort to garner more funding for his government projects, but after Duquesne’s initial rejection, Fisk turned to blackmail.

We don’t know much about The Swordsman from the MCU, but his comic backstory paints a vivid picture. Jack Duquesne was originally introduced back in Avengers #19 as a villain. Duquesne fought against the Avengers, but his backstory was fleshed out through Hawkeye, who reveals The Swordsman to be his mentor. Duquesne was a performer for a traveling circus who performed shows centered around swordplay, knife throwing, and archery. Clint Barton first met him while attending one of his shows, and after Duquesne discovered Clint was the victim of his abusive foster family, he took him under his wing, and Clint ran off with the traveling circus. Duquesne taught Clint to become an archer, but as time went on, their paths started to diverge. Duquesne saw himself as a Robin Hood figure, happily stealing from anyone he could, which went against Clint’s principles, and they eventually parted ways.

While The Swordsman started as a villain in the comics, he eventually undergoes a redemption arc and becomes a hero. Hawkeye did a great job adapting Duquesne in a way that acknowledged the comics but adjusted to the change in circumstances. Kate initially suspects Jack is a criminal, though it’s later revealed that he’s a vigilante, which is a nod to his redemption arc in the comics. And while The Swordsman didn’t mentor Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) in the MCU, he took on a mentor role for Kate, the second Hawkeye, as her step-father.

The Swordsman is similar to Batman, in that he is a wealthy businessman who uses his resources to fight crime in the day, as well as his efforts as a vigilante. Given that Kingpin is depending on New York’s wealthiest to finance his mayoral endeavors, Daredevil: Born Again is a great place to re-introduce Jack. While The Swordsman shares no comic history with either Daredevil or Kingpin, he’s a perfect fit for the show because he’s almost like a mid-point between the two characters. He’s a self-made millionaire who works outside the law to achieve his aims, like Kingpin, but he’s also a vigilante who fights for the rights of everyday New Yorkers, like Matt Murdock. By the end of Episode 8, his goals align with Daredevil, and his day-to-day life would inevitably lead to run-ins with Wilson Fisk. While the MCU has been criticized for cramming needless cameos into previous projects, the writers made a smart, calculated move by recognizing Born Again as a good fit for The Swordsman. Duquesne could become an invaluable ally to Daredevil, given that Matt Murdock lacks the same wealth and resources as his nemesis.

When we last saw Jack, he was falling into Kingpin’s web of extortion. Wilson Fisk has a new policy against Vigilante and threatens to expose Duquesne’s identity if he fails to fall in line. Of course, Matt Murdock overheard their conversation, and their paths will undoubtedly cross before the end of the season. Though Matt might be a little preoccupied with the bullet in his chest for the foreseeable future. For those who want to see more of Tony Dalton as The Swordsman, check out Hawkeye on Disney+.

All Daredevil: Born Again episodes are streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.

“}]] With Jack Duquesne’s return to Daredevil: Born Again, it’s time to take a deeper look at Jack Duquesne’s connection to the Man Without Fear.  Read More