Daredevil's New Nemesis: Who Is It?

Disney+ has unveiled a new trailer for Daredevil: Born Again, premiering March 4th. This footage confirms a surprising twist revealed in the D23 trailer: Daredevil and Kingpin, arch-nemeses, are collaborating against a shared threat—the artistically inclined serial killer, Muse. But who is this villain, and why are these sworn enemies uniting?

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Who Is Muse?

Muse, a relatively recent addition to Daredevil's rogue's gallery, debuted in 2016's Daredevil #11 (created by Charles Soule and Ron Garney). Soule himself confirmed Muse's appearance in the D23 footage. This villain, reminiscent of characters from Hannibal, views murder as the ultimate artistic expression. His debut involved a blood-painted mural from the remains of a hundred missing persons, later followed by a macabre sculpture using six Inhuman corpses.

Muse's unique threat to Daredevil stems from his ability to disrupt Matt Murdock's radar sense, acting as a sensory black hole. Combined with superhuman strength and speed, this makes him exceptionally dangerous. His rivalry with Daredevil and Blindspot intensifies when he blinds Blindspot. After his capture, he self-mutilates to prevent further "artistic" creations, only to later escape and continue his bloody spree. His obsession with vigilantes, particularly the Punisher, escalates as Mayor Wilson Fisk cracks down on them. A final confrontation with Blindspot, aided by the power of The Beast, leads to Muse's suicide. However, given Marvel's penchant for resurrection, his return is anticipated.

Muse in Daredevil: Born Again

The Daredevil: Born Again trailers confirm Muse's presence, sporting a costume mirroring his comic book counterpart: a white mask and bodysuit with red "tears." His appearance in multiple scenes, including a fight with Daredevil, suggests a significant role. While Born Again shares a name with a classic storyline focusing on Fisk's destruction of Murdock's life, this adaptation appears to diverge. The show highlights the Daredevil/Fisk rivalry but introduces a new dynamic. A diner scene shows a tense meeting, hinting at a mutual threat forcing their uneasy alliance.

The series seems influenced by Soule and Zdarsky's Daredevil comics, particularly Fisk's mayoral ambitions (as seen in Echo's post-credits scene). Fisk's anti-vigilante platform, coupled with Muse's glorification of figures like the Punisher, positions Muse as the common enemy. Both Daredevil and Fisk have reasons to eliminate Muse: Daredevil seeks justice, while Fisk aims to maintain control. This necessitates an unlikely alliance, even if temporary. The series will also feature the Punisher and White Tiger, likely caught in the crossfire of Fisk's crusade and Muse's art.

Ultimately, Daredevil: Born Again balances the established rivalry with a new, urgent threat. Muse's powers and bloodlust present Daredevil with his most formidable challenge yet, leading to a necessary partnership with Mayor Fisk.

Note: this article was originally published on 8/10/2024 and updated on 1/15/2025 with the latest info about Daredevil: Born Again.