Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell Gives Matt Murdock the Dark Knight Returns Treatment

It's a great time to be a Daredevil fan! The Netflix series continues with Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, and Marvel Comics launches a new miniseries, Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell, reuniting writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven. This series offers a compelling premise: Daredevil gets his own Dark Knight Returns.

IGN spoke with Soule to learn more. Below is an exclusive preview of Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1, followed by insights into the series and Soule's thoughts on the Born Again adaptation of his past work.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery

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The Dark Knight Returns comparison is apt. Cold Day in Hell isn't set in the present-day Marvel Universe; instead, it depicts an older, powerless Matt Murdock grappling with age and past traumas. He's not alone; superheroes are largely absent from this future Marvel Universe. Soule explains Matt's loss of powers simply: his radioactive origin fades over time. He retains his combat skills but is essentially an ordinary older man with an extraordinary past.

This "aging hero returns" trope is common, appearing in various Marvel titles like The End series and Old Man Logan. Soule notes the potency of showing familiar characters at unfamiliar life stages, clarifying their core characteristics. What remains of Matt Murdock without his superhero abilities? This setup allows for stripping away the superficial and exploring new creative avenues outside regular continuity.

Cold Day in Hell unfolds in its own corner of the Marvel Universe, with significant past events shaping the characters and story. Soule and McNiven create new elements using iconic Marvel components, adding their unique spin.

This isn't Soule and McNiven's first collaboration on a story exploring mortality; Death of Wolverine (2014) similarly dealt with a hero's decline. Soule views their projects as interconnected evolutions of their collaboration and friendship, describing their process on Cold Day in Hell as highly collaborative and experimental, a "jazz" approach resulting in a unique product.

The story's appeal lies in seeing how Daredevil's allies and enemies have aged. While Soule remains tight-lipped on specifics, he promises major surprises.

Given the timing, Cold Day in Hell capitalizes on Born Again. Soule confirms it serves as an accessible entry point for readers unfamiliar with extensive Daredevil lore, requiring only basic knowledge of the character and some key figures in his world.

Born Again draws inspiration from Soule's 2015-2018 run, featuring Mayor Fisk and Muse. Soule confirms further, less obvious thematic connections. He expresses immense satisfaction seeing these ideas adapted for a wider audience.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 releases April 2, 2025. For more on Marvel Comics, see what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and our most anticipated comics of 2025.