My introduction to Daredevil was through the 2003 Ben Affleck movie. I'm not proud of that, but it is what it is.
My brother had always been a much bigger fan of the character, and through his appreciation I was exposed to the complex, nuanced, and gritty details that my first impression of the hero had largely glossed over.
Rife with themes of Catholicism, corruption, and morality, the Daredevil comics consistently deliver darker and more intense stories than many other corners of Marvel comics. While he's not quite as bleak as The Punisher tends to be, he's definitely a hero for readers who like their comics raw and edgy.
What else can you expect from a character largely popularized by Frank Miller?
Daredevil had a lovely resurgence in the popular media when Netflix gave us a series more on par with the tone of the comics. Of course, as is typical of Netflix, the series was cancelled after three seasons.
However, thanks to Disney+, Charlie Cox returned as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again on March 4th, with new episodes to be released every week. And a second season is already secured!
To celebrate our hero's triumphant return, here are nine of the best Daredevil books and comics.
Daredevil
This prose adaptation of the comic series by Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. fleshes out Daredevil's origin story in vivid, captivating detail.
Matt Murdock was raised by a single father and toughened up by a long line of bullies. He had a pretty good idea of how to make it through life on the streets of New York.
But everything changed when radioactive material blinded him as he saved a man's life. However, with the loss of his sight, he gained unnaturally sharpened senses in all other regards.
Honing these skills under the guidance of an intense mentor, Matt grows into a formidable weapon. But it's not until his father is murdered that he finds his purpose.
Overcome with rage, Matt hits the streets to exact vengeance upon all evildoers. In this righteous mission, he becomes Daredevil.
Daredevil: Born Again
Written by Frank Miller—the author many readers feel is the voice of Daredevil—with art by David Mazzucchelli, this comic sees Matt Murdock at his lowest point.
Murdock has lost everything: his secret identity, his loved ones, and his own grip on his sense of self. But this rock bottom is an opportunity—a chance to be remade into a stronger hero with purer faith and more formidable resolve.
A dark look at the corruptibility of heroes, this comic is the perfect showcase of the vicious rivalry between Daredevil and Kingpin. A strong influence on the Daredevil television series (primarily season three), this arc is a must-read for any Daredevil fan.
This comic collects Daredevil (1964) #219 and #226-233.
Daredevil: Last Rites
A direct sequel to Born Again, Ann Nocenti and Lee Weeks' Last Rites sees the fortunes of our hero and villain turn on their heads. With Matt Murdock struck with amnesia, Daredevil has been laid to rest. But if that's true, who has been marauding around in the red suit? Matt is convinced he's the boxer Jack Murdock, but can he fight his way back to being the Daredevil that Hell's Kitchen needs?
Wilson Fisk wants to build a media empire, but his reputation has been brutally damaged. This may be the perfect time for Daredevil to dismantle everything Kinpin has built for himself…
This comic collects Daredevil (1964) #283-300.
Daredevil: A Touch Of Typhoid
Kingpin has a new devious plan to destroy Matt Murdock, and it all revolves around Typhoid Mary. Mary is a sensual assassin who suffers from extreme dissociative identity disorder—and she is the perfect villain to attack Murdock from both angles of his persona.
One personality is sent to target Matt, while the other locks in on Daredevil. And Murdock's life may depend on not falling in love with her…
A Touch of Typhoid collects Daredevil (1964) #253-#270 and Punisher (1987) #10.
Daredevil: Parts of a Hole
Echo is one of the most underrated comic book characters in my opinion. Wildly interesting, deeply complex, and cool as hell, she makes Parts of a Hole an essential read for Daredevil fans.
Maya Lopez is an Indigenous deaf woman who has carried the grief of her father's murder with her for years. When she meets Matt Murdock, it seems she has found someone who can truly understand her.
But as Maya and Matt fall in love, their secret identities—Echo and Daredevil—are at vicious odds. Kingpin has told Echo that Daredevil is responsible for her father's death, and she will stop at nothing to bring him to justice.
This collection includes Daredevil (1998) #9-15.
Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev Ultimate Collection Vol. 1
The Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev run of Daredevil is top-tier, and I highly encourage you to read all of it in one go! A gripping crime-noir epic, this run is dark, morally gray, and breathtaking. The story arcs in this run are thrilling, and the takes on the characters are incredible.
Among the trials faced by Daredevil in this run, read along as our hero's identity is leaked by the FBI and Bullseye makes a deadly resurgence.
Daredevil: End of Days
This dark follow-up to the Bendis/Maleev run takes viewers through the last days of Daredevil, exploring the character's legacy along the way. In the near future, Kingpin and Daredevil are murdered. But their end is just the beginning.
Investigative reporter Ben Urich has one final story to tell: Matt Murdock's last secret. Digging through every twisted corner of the city, Ben roots out Murdock's buried sins, lost loves, and the shocking truth behind his death. But all the while, a new Daredevil is tracking Ben through New York…
This comic collects Daredevil: End of Days #1-8.
Daredevil: Shadowland
Matt Murdock's soul hangs in the balance after Daredevil takes control over The Hand. His hope is to turn this brutal clan of killers into agents of justice, but after returning from Japan, it's clear that Daredevil is the one whose made a transformation.
Daredevil shuts Hell's Kitchen down, putting the neighborhood under martial law. His friends, from Foggy to Iron Fist, must face the dangers of Shadowland to stop—and save—him. Meanwhile, Master Izo and Elektra try to find out what The Hand truly has in store for Daredevil.
This collection includes Daredevil (1998) #508-512 and Shadowland: After the Fall #1.
Devil's Reign
Wilson Fisk is no longer a mere Kingpin of Crime, he has elevated himself to the mayor of the largest city in America. Now with a dystopian rule of New York City, his criminal and political power has reached it's ultimate peak.
Having once destroyed Daredevil isn't accolades enough for Fisk, and now he's set his sights on more of the city's heroes, including the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage.
With Taskmaster, Typhoid Mary, Kraven, and more filling out his army of supervillains, he's already an unstoppable force. And that's not even considering his Thunderbolts. But it seems Mayor Fisk isn't the only one with big plans…
This collection includes Devil's Reign #1-6 and Devils Reign: Omega #1.
