It's an exciting time for Daredevil fans, with the live-action series set to continue on Disney+ with "Daredevil: Born Again," and a thrilling new comic miniseries titled "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell" hitting the shelves. This series reunites the acclaimed team of writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, who previously worked together on "Death of Wolverine." "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell" poses an intriguing question: what if Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, got his own version of "The Dark Knight Returns"?
IGN had the opportunity to delve into the details with Charles Soule via email. Before we dive into the interview, take a moment to explore an exclusive preview of "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" in the slideshow gallery below. Then, read on for insights into the series and Soule's reflections on his past Daredevil work being adapted for "Born Again."
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery
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The comparison to "The Dark Knight Returns" is apt for "Cold Day in Hell," as the story is set in a future where Matt Murdock has lost his powers and is confronting the challenges of old age and his past traumas. Unlike the present-day Marvel Universe, superheroes in this future have largely retired. As Soule explains, "Matt's older, for sure. We don't get specific with it, but the idea is that he left superhero life behind many years ago. Not just him, either - in the world of Cold Day In Hell, superheroes are long gone, at least in comparison to the way they operate in the present-day Marvel Universe. The reason for Matt leaving Daredevil behind is actually pretty simple, if you're using superhero logic. As we all know, Matt got his powers by being accidentally dosed with radioactive goop. Radioactivity fades with time, and in this story, the idea is that over time Matt's powers faded away too. He's still got all his combat training, but he hasn't used it for a very long time. He is, to put it pretty plainly, an ordinary older man with an extraordinary past that he's worked quite hard to move beyond. At least, that's our status quo as we begin."
The narrative of an aging superhero returning to action is a familiar one, seen in various Marvel titles like "The End" series and "Old Man Logan." Soule shares why this trope resonates so deeply, "For me, the tonal switcheroo you get when you show familiar characters at unfamiliar points in their lives can be a really potent way to define them in new ways for readers. It also lets you define them more clearly. What parts of Matt Murdock persist when his ability to be a superhero in the traditional sense vanishes? He's clearly not Daredevil when we begin - does he need to be? Stories like this give you the best of both worlds - they can let you strip the hero down to their bare essentials while also letting you come up with a lot of fun ideas that are outside the regular continuity in some ways."
Soule adds, "Cold Day In Hell takes place in its own corner of the Marvel Universe where terrible things have happened in the somewhat recent past, the after-effects of which resonate through the lives of the characters and the story. So, Steve and I get to make up a bunch of cool new things that use iconic Marvel elements, while also putting our own spin on all of them. That is… what many of these stories do, and of course I think Steve and I were both inspired by other brilliant variations on this theme."
This isn't the first time Soule and McNiven have tackled themes of mortality in a Marvel story. Their collaboration on "Death of Wolverine" in 2014 was a landmark event. When asked if "Cold Day in Hell" could be seen as a companion piece, Soule remarked, "I think everything we do together is in some ways a companion piece to everything we've done. I've been truly fortunate to work with Steve as much as I have. From the Wolverine stories, to Uncanny Inhumans, to Star Wars, and now Daredevil, I think everything we've done is an evolution of our ability to work together, and our friendship outside the comics. I have immense trust in Steve's ability to just, you know, do amazing things on the page, and I think he feels the same way about my scripts, hopefully. This book was extremely collaborative in a way that was a bit of an experiment for us, a back and forth discussion as scripts and inks and dialogue and colors came in throughout, and I think people are going to see that on the page. Steve called it ‘jazz’ at one point, and I don't think that's so far off. I'm really proud of all the work I've done with Steve, but this one really stands out."
One of the most intriguing aspects of stories like "Cold Day in Hell" is seeing how the hero's allies and enemies have evolved. Soule remains tight-lipped about the specific roles of Daredevil's supporting cast and villains but promises, "Don't want to say more than that, though - that stuff is part of what I think people are going to tune in for."
With "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" set to release around the same time as the "Born Again" series, it's evident Marvel is aiming to leverage the excitement surrounding Daredevil. Soule believes the comic can serve as an accessible entry point into the Daredevil universe, stating, "I think so! It's designed as a story people can pick up and enjoy if they know the most basic things about Daredevil and his past - blind, Catholic lawyer who had super-senses and ninja training at one time, but now he doesn't. It probably helps if you know a bit about some of the key adversaries and allies in Matt Murdock's orbit, but you don't have to."
Regarding "Daredevil: Born Again," it's clear the show draws inspiration from Soule's 2015-2018 run, including elements like Wilson Fisk's mayoral campaign and the villain Muse. Soule confirms, "I've been fortunate enough to see the entire season of Daredevil: Born Again, and can confirm that the work I did with Ron Garney and my other amazing collaborators during my Daredevil run in the comics is all over the show. Mayor Fisk and Muse, yep, but other elements too, particularly just the thematic things we were playing with back in 2015-2018. As far as how it felt? It felt amazing. The thought that these ideas will be reaching that many people, when I can still remember writing them down in my red Daredevil notebook almost a decade ago now as things that might be cool... what a wonderful thing. I think fans will really enjoy the show."
"Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" is set to hit comic book stores on April 2, 2025.
For more on what Marvel Comics has in store, check out what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and see our most anticipated comics of 2025.
