"Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell Echoes Dark Knight Returns for Matt Murdock"

It's an exciting time for fans of the Man Without Fear. The beloved Netflix series is set to continue with *Daredevil: Born Again* on Disney+, while Marvel Comics introduces a thrilling new miniseries, *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell*. This series marks a reunion between writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, previously known for their work on *Death of Wolverine*. The premise of *Cold Day in Hell* is tantalizingly reminiscent of *The Dark Knight Returns*, promising a fresh take on Matt Murdock's journey.

IGN had the opportunity to discuss the series with Soule via email. Before diving into the details, take a look at an exclusive preview of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* in the slideshow gallery below, and then read on to learn more about the series and Soule's insights on his previous Daredevil work being adapted for *Born Again*.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery

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*The Dark Knight Returns* serves as a clear comparison point for *Cold Day in Hell*. This new series unfolds in a future where Matt Murdock has lost his powers and is dealing with the challenges of old age and a past filled with tragedy. Soule explains that in this future Marvel Universe, superheroes are a thing of the past, and Matt has left his Daredevil identity behind for many years.

"Matt's older, for sure," Soule tells IGN. "We don't get specific with it, but the idea is that he left super hero life behind many years ago. Not just him, either - in the world of Cold Day In Hell, super heroes 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 super hero 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 trope of an aging superhero returning to action is not new, having been explored in various Marvel titles such as *The End* series and *Old Man Logan*. Soule sees value in this narrative approach, explaining, "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 super hero 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 further elaborates, "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 the theme of a hero confronting mortality; they did so in *Death of Wolverine*. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* could be seen as a companion piece to *Death of Wolverine*, Soule responded, "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 engaging aspects of stories like *Cold Day in Hell* is seeing how the hero's friends and enemies have aged. While Soule is cautious about revealing too much, he hints at significant surprises regarding Daredevil's supporting cast and villains, saying, "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 the release of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* coinciding with the debut of *Born Again*, it's evident Marvel aims to leverage the excitement around the show. 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 *Born Again*, Soule confirms that the series draws inspiration from his 2015-2018 run, including elements like Wilson Fisk's mayoralty and the villain Muse. "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," Soule shares. "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 shelves on April 2, 2025.

For more on what Marvel Comics has in store, explore what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and discover our most anticipated comics of 2025.