Daredevil: Born Again's New Trailer Hints at an Unlikely Alliance
A new trailer for Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again, premiering March 4th on Disney+, reveals a surprising collaboration: Daredevil and Kingpin are teaming up. This unexpected alliance, foreshadowed in the D23 trailer, is likely driven by a shared enemy: the artistically-inclined serial killer, Muse.
Who is Muse?
Muse, a relatively recent addition to Daredevil's rogue's gallery (created by Charles Soule and Ron Garney in 2016's Daredevil #11), is a chilling villain reminiscent of Hannibal. He views murder as a high art form, using blood for murals and arranging corpses into macabre sculptures. His unique ability to disrupt Daredevil's radar sense makes him a particularly formidable foe. Muse's superhuman strength and speed further enhance his lethality.
Muse's initial conflict with Daredevil and Blindspot escalated tragically when he blinded Blindspot. After his capture, Muse self-mutilated to prevent further artistic creations, only to later escape and continue his killing spree. His obsession with vigilantes, culminating in twisted tributes to the Punisher, directly clashes with Mayor Wilson Fisk's anti-vigilante campaign. This ultimately led to a final confrontation with Blindspot, ending in Muse's suicide. However, given the nature of the Marvel Universe, his return is highly anticipated.
Muse in Daredevil: Born Again
The D23 and subsequent trailers confirm Muse's appearance in Daredevil: Born Again, sporting a costume mirroring his comic book counterpart – a white mask and bodysuit with red "tears." While the series shares its name with a classic Frank Miller storyline focusing on Fisk's destruction of Matt Murdock's life, Born Again seems to diverge, utilizing more contemporary comic inspiration. The show highlights the ongoing Murdock-Fisk rivalry but introduces a new dynamic.
A diner scene depicts Daredevil threatening Fisk, prompting Fisk's cryptic response: "Is that coming from Matt Murdock… or your darker half?" This suggests a significant threat forcing their alliance.
Could Muse be that threat? The series' tone aligns with the work of Soule and Chip Zdarsky, particularly considering Fisk's mayoral ambitions (as seen in Echo's post-credits scene). Fisk's anti-vigilante platform directly conflicts with Muse's actions, making him a mutual enemy for both Daredevil and Fisk. Daredevil seeks to stop a killer, while Fisk aims to eliminate a challenge to his authority. This necessitates a temporary alliance, even if it means collaborating with the man who seeks to eradicate heroes.
The series will also feature the Punisher and White Tiger, likely caught in the crossfire of Fisk's crusade. Muse's glorification of such figures will further fuel the conflict.
While the Daredevil-Fisk rivalry remains central, Muse emerges as the immediate threat. His powers and bloodlust make him arguably Daredevil's most challenging opponent yet, leading to the unlikely 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.
