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

It's a thrilling time for fans of the Man Without Fear. With the live-action Netflix series continuing on Disney+ as *Daredevil: Born Again*, and a new comic book miniseries titled *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell* launching, there's plenty to keep enthusiasts engaged. The new miniseries reunites writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, previously acclaimed for their work on *Death of Wolverine*. The concept of *Cold Day in Hell* is enticing, drawing inspiration from the iconic *The Dark Knight Returns* but tailored to the world of Matt Murdock.

IGN had the chance to discuss this new venture with Charles Soule via email, delving into what this means for Matt Murdock. 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 discover more about the series and Soule’s reflections on his work being adapted for *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 contending with the challenges of old age and his haunted past. Soule explains that in this world, superheroes are a relic of the past, and Matt is no exception. His powers, derived from a radioactive incident, have faded over time, leaving him an ordinary older man with an extraordinary history he's tried to leave behind.

Soule noted, "Matt's older, for sure. 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 theme of aging superheroes returning to action isn't new, with notable examples including *The End* titles and *Old Man Logan*. Soule sees the value in this narrative approach, stating, "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 added, "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 explored themes of mortality in a superhero's life, having previously collaborated on *Death of Wolverine*. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* could be considered a companion piece to *Death of Wolverine*, Soule replied, "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 stories like *Cold Day in Hell* is how they portray the aging of a hero's allies and enemies. Soule hinted at surprises in store for 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."

Given the timing of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1*'s release, it seems Marvel is leveraging the excitement around the *Born Again* show. Soule believes the new series can serve as a gateway into Daredevil comics, even for those unfamiliar with the extensive continuity, 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*, the show draws inspiration from Soule's 2015-2018 run on the comic, including elements like Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York City and the villain Muse. Soule confirmed the influence, saying, "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 the shelves on April 2, 2025.

For more on what's coming from Marvel Comics, check out what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and see our most anticipated comics of 2025.