Daredevil is currently one of the most beloved live-action superheroes. His journey from the pages of comics to being popular on a big screen began with Ben Affleck’s iteration in 2003. But his bigger and more popular adaptation started with the 2015 Netflix series. Starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, the show gained a huge fanbase for its dark and iconic portrayal of Hell’s Kitchen and its complex character development. It is considered to be one of the best superhero shows in history.
The series dived deep into Daredevil’s emotional struggles, undying commitment to justice, and important relationship with Wilson Fisk. Over three seasons, the show rewarded its dedicated fan base. However, despite its acclaim, the series was canceled in 2018, leaving fans yearning for more. Now with its return in a new series Daredevil: Born Again, a lot of fans wonder what the overall story may be, and which comic book stories will serve as an inspiration for the show. As one of the first examples, let’s take Frank Miller’s story that served as an inspiration for the title of the show, which is of course Daredevil: Born Again.
[Warning: this review does include spoilers from the comic run of Born Again]
The story of “Born Again” in the comics and its importance to Matt Murdock/Daredevil
Daredevil: Born Again is one of the most defining stories in Daredevil’s history, written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli. Originally, it was published back in 1986 in Daredevil #227-#233. At first look, it is a story about destruction, redemption, and faith that strips Matt Murdock of everything and forces him to rise from the ashes. The storyline is often described as one of the greatest Daredevil comic book arcs ever. Although some story arcs included in the comic book were already somewhat used in previous seasons of Daredevil, there are still plenty of parts of it, that could be easily adapted in the new series.
The comics’ story begins with Karen Page, a former secretary at Nelson & Murdock and Matt Murdock’s former love interest, who has fallen into drug addiction. In desperation, she sells Daredevil’s secret identity for a heroin fix, setting off a chain of events that destroys Matt’s life.
The information reaches Wilson Fisk, who slowly destroys Murdock’s world, piece by piece. His bank accounts are frozen, he is accused of crimes he didn’t commit and jury tampering, his apartment is blown up, and he is disbarred. Piece by piece, his life crumbles away, until he is left homeless, wandering the streets of New York City, paranoid and emotionally broken. Wherever he goes, he sees a potential goon who works for Fisk and who will try to hurt him more, even if it’s a person who has never had contact with Kingpin.
Kingpin, confident that he has finally destroyed Daredevil, grows more brave in corrupting the society. However, Matt quietly begins to fight back, operating outside the law to weaken Fisk’s grasp on the city. At his lowest point, after being defeated in a fight, Matt is taken in by Sister Maggie, a nun who is later revealed to be his biological mother. Her presence and the care she gives him become a turning point, allowing him to begin rebuilding himself. Even though this part of the story isn’t further explored, just like in season 3 of the show, I think it’s worth mentioning that it was the moment where Matt can finally rest and knows he is safe.
Meanwhile, Karen, broken with guilt, returns to New York in search of Matt, hoping for forgiveness and a way to make amends. The final act of the story introduces Nuke, a psychotic super-soldier and “government asset” sent by Kingpin to wreak havoc on Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil’s battle with Nuke is not just a physical confrontation but a symbolic one, where he proves to himself and the city that he is still standing, still fighting, and is still a hero.
Superheroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor appear during their fight to have a small impact on the story, but it’s not an obvious one. You’d think that they’re there to help Daredevil, but no, they are there to protect this government asset. Fortunately, Captain America sees through Kingpin’s facade and tries to stop it at the source.
In the end, Matt gets his life back. He tries to balance his double life and protect his community. Hell’s Kitchen is still his home, and he will do everything in his power to protect it. Even after everything that happened, he will not forget it, he will not let this past event break him again. No matter what happens next, he will be ready for what’s about to come.
A story not just about a superhero, but about a human being coming back after being at his lowest
What makes Born Again such an important story in my opinion is its focus on Matt’s past, his weaknesses, and his ability to fight through every obstacle on his way to clear his name. It is not a story about Daredevil fighting crime in a traditional superhero sense, but rather a story about a man losing everything, suffering, and finding his way back. This story redefines Matt Murdock, showing that his strength does not come from his abilities or his costume but from his will and faith. The title itself, Born Again, carries religious significance, which is heavily reflected in the narrative.
Matt’s journey closely mirrors themes of suffering, death, and resurrection, showing similarities to Christian imagery of salvation and renewal. It makes it interesting to see, especially when we know that Matt’s faith is essential to his character. Even decades after its publication, Born Again remains relevant. Its themes of resilience, corruption, faith, depression, and personal redemption continue to resonate with audiences. The way it deconstructs its protagonist, pushing him to his absolute lowest only to rebuild him stronger, has been present in countless modern superhero stories.
The Daredevil Netflix series took heavy inspiration from Born Again, particularly in how it portrayed Matt’s struggle with identity and faith in season 3. The new Daredevil: Born Again series will still borrow some parts from this arc and adapt them to fit the story they want to present.
At its heart, to me, Born Again is more than just a superhero story. It is a tale of suffering and survival, of losing everything and finding strength in faith and friendship. It proves that Matt Murdock is not defined by his abilities, his career, or his possessions, but by his indomitable will to fight for what is right, no matter how much he is beaten down. That is why Daredevil: Born Again is not just an important comic, it is an essential one.
Final thoughts on Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller
Daredevil: Born Again stands as a perfect comic book that honors Matt Murdock’s past, his legacy, problems, moral dilemmas, and importance to the universe. By exploring important topics and showing the struggles of a superhero who can’t protect people, we got a story that was unexpected, and not easy to predict. The involvement of different characters who are meant to break Matt or help him is wide; therefore you can never predict who will have a part in Matt’s future.
I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of seeing Matt’s life so devastated, that he had to fight for everything. He was broken, depressed, weak, and at his lowest. And that’s the reason this comic book is so good. If a story is written well, then you stay with the character for better or the worse. This way, we can experience the transformation of that hero and even relate to his story.
As a fan of Daredevil, I liked this arc. It was brave enough to touch on serious topics, as well as to show the brutal and harsh reality of being a person who lost the will to fight. Even though Matt was an important hero to the whole Marvel universe, at this point, his struggles were necessary to prove he was just a man. Daredevil: Born Again is the perfect comic book story to read to be prepared for potential future stories in the Disney+ series.
What do you think about the comic book run by Frank Miller or either of the Daredevil series? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in the Discord where we have many fans chatting already.
You can also reply on YouTube as you watch my video discussion with Vin and Anthony about the premiere episodes of Daredevil: Born Again and some of the comics that inspired or connect with the show, linked below.
Daredevil Reading Guide: 1998-2025
