Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell Gives Matt Murdock the Dark Knight Returns Treatment

It's an exciting time for fans of the Man Without Fear. With the much-anticipated continuation of the live-action series, *Daredevil: Born Again*, hitting Disney+, and a new comic book miniseries, *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell*, on the horizon, there's plenty to keep enthusiasts buzzing. The miniseries, crafted by the acclaimed team of writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, promises a fresh take on Matt Murdock's story, drawing inspiration from the iconic *The Dark Knight Returns*. In an exclusive interview with IGN, Soule delves into what fans can expect from this gripping new narrative.

Before diving into the details, take a moment to enjoy an exclusive preview of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* in the gallery below:

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery

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The comparison to *The Dark Knight Returns* isn't just for show; *Cold Day in Hell* explores a future where Matt Murdock has lost his powers due to the natural decay of the radioactive substance that once granted them. In this future, superheroes are a relic of the past, and Matt, now an older man, has left his Daredevil persona behind. Yet, as Soule explains, a compelling reason draws him back into the fray.

"Matt's older, for sure," Soule shares with 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."

This narrative of an aging superhero returning to action isn't new, but it's a fertile ground for storytelling, as Soule points out. "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," he explains. "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 and McNiven are no strangers to exploring themes of mortality and legacy in superhero stories, having previously collaborated on *Death of Wolverine*. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* serves as a companion piece to that earlier work, Soule reflects, "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 joys of stories like *Cold Day in Hell* is seeing how the supporting cast and villains have evolved over time. While Soule keeps the details under wraps, he hints at some major surprises. "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 *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* set to release on April 2, 2025, it's clear Marvel is leveraging the excitement around the *Born Again* show. Soule assures that the new series is accessible to newcomers, 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 heavily from his 2015-2018 run on the comic, including elements like Wilson Fisk's mayoral campaign 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* will be available starting April 2, 2025. For more on what Marvel has in store, explore what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and check out our most anticipated comics of 2025.