#SaveDaredevil has been trending lately as fans have been hoping to see the character resurrected by Marvel Studios. As you may recall, the live-action Daredevil series, which starred Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, was canceled by Netflix two years ago. Now, the rights have reverted back to Marvel Studios. That means, in theory, Daredevil can appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Fans hope to see Cox, as well as the rest of the cast, return in the MCU. That’s why #SaveDaredevil began trending on social media. Though it is possible that the character could be rebooted. Either way, Phase 4 and Phase 5 of the MCU are quite full right now between the movies and Disney+ shows currently in the works. Point being, it may be a while before we get the chance to see Daredevil saving the citizens of Hell’s Kitchen even with the rights back in the hands of Kevin Feige and Co.
With that in mind, fans have some time to kill. And what better way to do that than by revisiting some of Murdocks’ best moments from the pages of Marvel Comics? So, here are five Daredevil comics to read while we wait for Disney and Marvel to #SaveDaredevil.
Daredevil: Gang War
Thanks to the Netflix show, and Vincent D’Onofrio’s performance, it is hard not to picture Kingpin as a Daredevil villain. But that wasn’t always the case. He was originally mostly a Spider-Man foe until Frank Miller changed all of that. The Gang War storyline is arguably the best way to get a taste of some Matt v Wilson action.
“Featuring some of Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s most beloved Daredevil issues, this volume features the first clandestine meeting of the Protector of Hell’s Kitchen and the man that would become his greatest nemesis – the Kingpin. Wilson Fisk, the nefarious Kingpin of Crime, holds the secrets to the underworld. His beloved wife has been kidnapped by rival crime families and one of the deadliest assassins in the world – Bullseye – is gunning for him. Fisk’s only hope may lie with the blind avenger of the night known as Daredevil.”
Guardian Devil
Clerks director Kevin Smith has long been an outspoken fan of superheroes. But far from just a fan, Smith, with the help of the legendary Joe Quesada, also wrote one of the best Daredevil storylines in history with Guardian Devil. Not to spoil it for those who haven’t ready it, but it once again brings a familiar Spider-Man foe into the fold in unique fashion.
“A scared teenager on the run. An infant child some say is humanity’s savior. A former lover whose life is now hobbled by a terrible secret. A law partner accused of a horrible crime. A city being overcome by an inscrutable menace. They need a guardian. Someone to protect them. Someone with faith in them. They need Daredevil.”
Daredevil Yellow
There are few teams in the history of comics as legendary as that of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. The duo did, at one point, tackle the Man Without Fear in Daredevil Yellow. The storyline re-examines the character’s origin story, offering a fresh new perspective that only serves to make Matt Murdock’s backbone even stronger.
“The origin of the blind super hero’ who, in the early days of his career, donned a yellow costume and sought justice outside the law and found hope in his love for Karen Page.”
Daredevil: Last Hand
There are few moments in the history of Daredevil as defining as the death of Elektra. The hero’s arguable arch nemesis Bullseye is at odds with Elektra in Daredevil #181, titled Last Hand. Even though it is just a single (albeit double-sized) issue, the impact of its contents cannot be overstated. This was also a part of Frank Miller’s legendary run.
Born Again
Again, we arrive at Frank Miller. Many would argue that The Dark Knight returns is his greatest gift to the medium of comics. It could easily be argued that Born Again is right up there. This is Daredevil’s most iconic story for a reason. It not only puts a longstanding character through the ringer, but it also stands alone as a true testament to what the medium of comics can accomplish. This is peak comic book storytelling.
“Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli present one of the most defining Daredevil runs of all time! When Matt Murdock’s super hero identity is outed by Karen Page, Kingpin makes moves to destroy Matt on every level, targeting his relationships, his career and his very will to live. But just because Daredevil’s in Purgatory, doesn’t mean he’ll end up in Hell…”
So what do you think? What’s your favorite Daredevil story? Do you have Marvel studios steps in to #SaveDaredevil? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
