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Daredevil is often the center of many of Marvel Comics’ darkest and most morally nuanced storylines. Many of these stories involve Matt trying to balance his civilian and vigilante lives and struggling with the hardships of crimefighting. A hero defined by bravery and tragedy, Daredevil is a fascinating character who has been through hell to protect the little guy.
10) “Devil at Bay”
Although Daredevil is best known for his dark, gritty storylines, “Devil at Bay” takes the hero back to his more lighthearted, eccentric roots. After spending most of his life defending the streets of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, Matt in “Devil at Bay” moves to San Francisco, sets up a new law practice, and brings his vigilantism to the new city. Of course, even in this new location, Daredevil can’t help but run into his old enemy, the Owl. While “Devil at Bay” may have a lighter tone, it doesn’t ignore the losses in Daredevil’s life. Instead, it allows him to move on and adopt a more optimistic outlook on the future.
9) “Parts of a Hole”
Daredevil is well-known for his iconic supporting cast, and “Parts of a Hole” introduced one of his most iconic allies/love interests, Maya Lopez, aka Echo. When Matt first met the deaf Maya, they were kindred spirits and quickly fell in love. Unfortunately, Maya was secretly an assassin who was on a quest to avenge her father’s murder. To destroy his longtime rival, Kingpin tricked Echo into believing that Daredevil was her father’s killer. This naturally leads Echo to try to kill Daredevil, all without realizing that he and Matt Murdock are one and the same. Daredevil is then forced to clear his name. “Parts of a Hole” is a tragic and compelling story that perfectly introduces one of Marvel’s best heroes in recent years.
8) “Hardcore”
When Daredevil’s life falls off the rails, he goes down a very unexpected path. In “Hardcore,” Daredevil must deal with the FBI outing his secret identity to the public, murder charges, and the return of villains like Kingpin and Typhoid Mary. Kingpin once again engages in a plot to destroy Daredevil and everyone he loves, including the hero’s latest girlfriend, Milla Donovan. Sick of Kingpin and the derailment of his personal life, Daredevil snaps. After Daredevil beats the crime lord to a bloody pulp, the hero declares himself the new Kingpin of New York City. “Hardcore” certainly lives up to its name with incredibly brutal action sequences, intense drama, and an ending that ushers in a new era for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.
7) “Good Guys Wear Red”
With their opposing views on crimefighting, Daredevil and the Punisher have one of the most complex rivalries in Marvel Comics. In “Good Guys Wear Red,” the two vigilantes are trying to track and take down a drug dealer named Hogman, who sells his products to children. However, Daredevil and the Punisher soon start fighting each other when their ideas on the boundaries of vigilantism clash. The Punisher makes his intentions to kill Hogman clear. He believes that criminals like Hogman deserve to die for the lives they have destroyed. In contrast, Daredevil’s moral code prevents him from allowing anyone die on his watch. “Good Guys Wear Red” pushes Daredevil’s morals near the breaking point as he and the Punisher engage in their most epic confrontation.
6) Daredevil: Yellow
A somber tale about death, regret, grief, and moving on, Daredevil: Yellow puts a new spin on the hero’s origin. As therapy, Matt writes a letter to his deceased love, Karen Page. Through this framework, Matt recounts his father’s death, his early adventures as an inexperienced superhero, and the first time he met Karen. Daredevil: Yellow is a poignant character study as the hero looks back on his life and constantly ponders what might have happened if he had done things differently. This nuanced miniseries delves into Daredevil’s deepest thoughts and regrets while also showing how he has evolved, both as a superhero and as a person.
