Marvel: Best Daredevil Villains, Ranked

[[{“value”:”

Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil, has been a beloved Marvel superhero since his debut in 1964. There is a classic saying that a hero is only as strong as their villains, and in Daredevil’s case, he has faced a wide array of villains throughout the many decades of comic book history.

From crime lords who rule with an iron fist to assassins who match his martial prowess, Daredevil’s enemies aren’t just obstacles to overcome – they’re complex characters who challenge both Matt Murdock’s physical abilities and moral compass. Some of whom have become iconic foes across the Marvel universe as a whole, let alone in Daredevil comics.

9

Nuke

If Captain America Became A Hired Gun

Real Name: Francis “Frank” Simpson

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #232

Not all super soldiers are like Captain America and Nuke is a prime example of that. He is a military veteran whose worst traits were amplified by a super soldier serum, making him unstable. He turned himself into a killer for hire, which is what led to him being recruited by Kingpin to kill Daredevil.

What makes Nuke stand out from other super soldier characters, aside from his zealous mentality, is his healing factor. The serum combined with an addiction to adrenaline pills gives him advanced healing to shake off any wound given to him. When paired with his super strength, he proves to be an effective threat against Daredevil.

8

The Owl

Daredevil’s Strange First Villain Deserves Credit

Real Name: Leland Owlsley

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #3

Every hero has their first villain and for Daredevil, it was The Owl. He began rather simply, being a gangster with a bird theme akin to a Dick Tracy villain, who was thwarted by Daredevil numerous times. With each defeat, he would come back with more enhancements to his body, further embracing his namesake to give him the ability to fly, enhanced strength, and owl-like talons.

The Owl possesses a genetically altered physiology that grants him enhanced hearing, nearly rivaling that of Daredevil. However, where The Owl truly excels is in his cunning intellect, enabling him to outsmart nearly every opponent. This advantage proves beneficial in his battles against Daredevil, assisting him in ways that extend beyond mere physical confrontation.

7

The Purple Man

He Fought Daredevil Before Jessica Jones

Real Name: Zebediah Kilgrave

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #4

While he has become better known as the arch-nemesis of Jessica Jones, especially after the Netflix series, The Purple Man began as one of the earliest Daredevil villains. He is a man with the ability to compel anyone to obey his command by just speaking to them, which is a powerful superpower that can make even the kindest person dangerous, and he is far from kind.

The Purple Man is a twisted sociopath with no care for others. He sees everyone as a tool to get what he wants, whether it’s fortune or power. He has even turned people into his slaves for years at a time, like with Jessica Jones. Daredevil is one of the few people on Earth whose willpower is strong enough to make him immune to the Purple Man’s influence.

6

The Hand

Daredevil Is Always There To Stop These Ninjas

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #174

Daredevil is often compared to Batman due to his crime-fighting style as a dark vigilante combined with similar villains. The Hand can be considered Daredevil’s equivalent of The League Of Assassins, seeing how that is exactly what they are: an organization of deadly ninjas that seek to control the world through their influence and resources.

The Hand has a talent for converting people into loyal members of their organization, with Elektra being the most famous example. Daredevil has stopped their plans many times, making him their mortal enemy, but with the ability to resurrect their fallen warriors, they always bounce back to create more problems for the Man Without Fear.

5

Mister Fear

Fear Is A Tool And They Use It Effectively

Real Name: Zoltan Drago, Starr Saxon, Larry Cranston, Alan Fagan

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #6

Armed with a gas that renders any victim with paralyzing fear, Mister Fear is another early villain of Daredevil’s who actually defeated him. It’s a perfect gimmick as Daredevil is known as the Man Without Fear and the villain made it his goal to prove the opposite by any means necessary.

Four characters have donned the moniker of Mister Fear, with the original being Zoltan Drago and following him were Starr Saxon, Larry Cranston, and Alan Fagan. Each took on the role in unique ways; Cranston was the most personal villain, being a former classmate of Matt Murdock who did everything to smear the reputation of Daredevil and the Defenders.

4

Typhoid Mary

Tragedy Created One Of Murdock’s Most Dangeroes Foes

Real Name: Mary Walker

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #254

Typhoid Mary is one of Daredevil’s most tragic villains, as she is a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder as a result of being abused as a child. Mary Walker is a kind and quiet individual, while her Typhoid persona is a dark and violent criminal who has pyrokinesis and other psionic abilities, turning herself into a threat for Daredevil.

Similar to Elektra, Typhoid Mary plays dual roles in her relationship with Daredevil—both as a lover and a villain, each persona creating a different dynamic. In her quest to reach Daredevil, Typhoid has even gone so far as to seduce and marry the Kingpin. Additionally, she has a third alter ego named Bloody Mary, who is much more dangerous than Typhoid, exhibiting sadistic tendencies.

3

Elektra

Even Death Itself Is No Match For Her

Real Name: Elektra Natchios

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #168

Elektra is a character who often oscillates between being an anti-hero and a villain, which complicates her relationship with Daredevil. Trained in martial arts from childhood, she had the potential for a better life had her first mentor continued to guide her. However, her rage ultimately led her to become an assassin for The Hand.

Matt Murdock and Elektra battled each other when she was hired by Kingpin as an assassin. However, her love for him is what would eventually lead to her death by her own sai, murdered by Bullseye. Fortunately, nobody stays dead in comic books, and she has since fought with and against Daredevil. At one point, she even took over the role of Daredevil when Matt went to prison.

2

Bullseye

Arguably Daredevil’s Greatest Rival

Real Name: Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter

First Appearance: Daredevil Vol. 1 #131

Imagine if Hawkeye was a twisted assassin, the result would be Bullseye. Also known as Ben Poindexter, Bullseye is a consistent source of pain and misery for Daredevil in the comics. Not only is he often hired by other Daredevil villains to go after him, he formed an obsession with beating Daredevil after being thwarted by him so much.

Bullseye earned his codename for his near-superhuman accuracy, able to hit a target from any distance or angle as long as he knows their location; this was showcased as a standout villain of the live-action Daredevil show. He can also turn any item into a projectile, from a pen to a stapler. It was this skill combined with his hatred for Daredevil that resulted in Bullseye killing Elektra, just out of spite.

1

Kingpin

The War Between Him And Daredevil Is Eternal

Real Name: Wilson Fisk

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #50

Typically, the mastermind villain just sits at his desk and orders other villains to do the dirty work. Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, is a bit of both, as he features hundreds of pounds of pure muscle that is near-superhuman, and he is willing to get physical. Even a powerful superhuman like Spider-Man is tested by the strength of the Kingpin.

Kingpin is everything that Daredevil despises: crime and corruption incarnate, with a complete desire to control New York City by any means necessary. He and Daredevil are reflections of each other, with Daredevil being the result of being raised by his kind father, whereas Kingpin was raised by an evil and abusive one.

“}]] From Elektra to the Kingpin, Daredevil boasts a collection of iconic villains drawn from sixty years of history in Marvel Comics.  Read More