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

It's an exciting time for fans of the Man Without Fear, as the beloved Netflix series is set to continue with *Daredevil: Born Again* on Disney+. Simultaneously, Marvel is launching a new miniseries titled *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell*, which reunites writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, previously acclaimed for their work on *Death of Wolverine*. This new series promises a thrilling twist by drawing inspiration from the iconic *The Dark Knight Returns*, but with a unique Daredevil spin.

IGN had the opportunity to discuss the project with Soule, who provided insights into what fans can expect from *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell*. Before diving into the details, take a look at an exclusive preview of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* in the gallery below, and then continue reading to learn more about the series and Soule's thoughts on his past work being adapted into *Born Again*.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery

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The comparison to *The Dark Knight Returns* is apt, as *Cold Day in Hell* is set in a future where Matt Murdock has lost his powers and is dealing with the challenges of aging and his tumultuous past. Soule explains that in this future Marvel Universe, superheroes are a thing of the past, and Matt has long since retired from his Daredevil persona.

"Matt's older, for sure," Soule shared with IGN. "We don't get specific with it, but the idea is that he left superhero life behind many years ago. Not just him, either - in the world of *Cold Day in Hell*, superheroes 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 superhero 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 "aging superhero returns to action" narrative has been explored in various Marvel titles, from *The End* series to *Old Man Logan*. Soule highlights the appeal of this trope: "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 superhero 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 explains that *Cold Day in Hell* takes place in a distinct corner of the Marvel Universe where recent catastrophic events have left lasting impacts on the characters and the story. This setting allows Soule and McNiven to introduce new elements while putting their own spin on iconic Marvel themes.

This isn't the first time Soule and McNiven have tackled a story about a hero facing mortality; their previous collaboration on *Death of Wolverine* also explored this theme. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* serves 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 intriguing aspects of such stories is exploring how the hero's allies and adversaries have evolved over time. While Soule remains tight-lipped about specifics, he promises significant surprises regarding Daredevil's supporting cast and villains.

"Don't want to say more than that, though - that stuff is part of what I think people are going to tune in for," Soule teased.

With the release of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* timed to coincide with the debut of *Born Again*, it's clear Marvel aims to leverage the excitement around the show. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* serves as a good entry point for new readers, Soule affirmed, "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*, it's evident that the show draws inspiration from Soule's 2015-2018 run on the series, including elements like Wilson Fisk becoming the mayor of New York City and the villain Muse. Soule confirmed the influence of his work on the show: "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. 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, check out what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and see our most anticipated comics of 2025.