Daredevil: Born Again's New Trailer Hints at an Unlikely Alliance: Daredevil and Kingpin Unite Against Muse
A new trailer for Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again, premiering March 4th on Disney+, reveals a surprising twist: Daredevil and Kingpin, longtime adversaries, are seemingly collaborating. This collaboration appears driven by a common 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. He views murder as a high art form, creating gruesome "masterpieces" from his victims. His methods are particularly unsettling for Daredevil; Muse's body acts as a sensory disruptor, interfering with Matt Murdock's radar sense. Possessing superhuman strength and speed, Muse is a formidable foe. His conflict with Daredevil and Blindspot escalates dramatically when he blinds Blindspot, and later, he even commits suicide rather than see his "artistic legacy" overshadowed.
Muse's Return in Daredevil: Born Again
The D23 and subsequent trailers confirm Muse's presence in the new series, sporting a costume closely resembling his comic book counterpart: a white mask and bodysuit streaked with red, mimicking blood. Several scenes depict him clashing with Daredevil.
While Daredevil: Born Again shares its name with a classic Frank Miller storyline, the series appears to draw inspiration from more modern Daredevil comics. The show's narrative deviates from the original comic's focus on Fisk's discovery of Daredevil's identity, instead highlighting a new threat that forces an unlikely alliance between Murdock and Fisk. A diner scene shows Matt threatening Fisk, prompting Fisk's intriguing response: "Is that coming from Matt Murdock… or your darker half?"
The Catalyst: Muse's Anti-Vigilante Stance
Muse could be the key to this alliance. The series seems to be aligning with the tone of Soule and Chip Zdarsky's Daredevil comics. Fisk, as seen in Echo's post-credits scene, is aiming for the mayor's office—a position the trailer suggests he's attained. His campaign likely centers on ending vigilantism, a stance directly challenged by Muse. Muse's glorification of vigilantes like the Punisher directly contradicts Fisk's platform, creating a mutual enemy. Daredevil needs to stop a ruthless killer, while Fisk needs to eliminate a threat to his authority.
This shared objective forces an uneasy alliance between Daredevil and Fisk, even though Fisk is actively working to suppress heroes like Daredevil. The series will likely also feature other vigilantes like the Punisher and White Tiger, caught in the crossfire of Fisk's anti-vigilante campaign.
Daredevil: Born Again will likely explore the complex Daredevil/Fisk dynamic, but for now, Muse emerges as the immediate and potentially most dangerous threat yet. His powers and bloodthirsty nature make him a formidable opponent, necessitating Daredevil's unlikely partnership with Mayor Fisk.
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