100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
#14. Daredevil: “Born Again”
Medium
Comic Book
Release Dates
February 1986–August 1986 (Daredevil #227–#231)
Graphic Novel Reprint Includes Daredevil #232–#233)
Credits
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Christie “Max” Scheele
The Reason It’s Great
How do you refresh a hero with years of history behind him? You break him down in every way and give him a “resurrection” of sorts. That’s what famed writer Frank Miller did with “Born Again”—he took everything from Daredevil and made him earn it back in blood and sweat.
Karen Page—who’s in dire straits, sells information that Matt Murdock is actually Daredevil. The information moves up until it reaches Kingpin—who uses it to frame Matt and take everything from him. Now destitute and homeless, Matt attempts to rebuild his life and fight against Kingpin’s continuous onslaught.
When Matt is almost killed, his mother (who disappeared early in his life and is now a nun) nurses him back to health. Kingpin, obsessed with killing Matt, hires Nuke—an enhanced super soldier. Matt soon reemerges as the Man Without Fear to face off against Nuke, vowing to fight for justice in Hell’s Kitchen.
The complex story is typical Miller, diving into the dark psyche of both the protagonist and antagonist. In 2001, Daredevil #227—the first issue of “Born Again”—was voted 11th out of 100 Greatest Marvels of All Time by fans. The story has been up for a film adaptation since 2011. Since the success of Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix, the storyline may find its way to the series.