Marvelous Must-Reads: Best 12 Most Thrilling Daredevil Comics

Daredevil is set to make his return to the MCU. After a successful run on Netflix, fans are extremely excited to watch Daredevil in action again. However, there’s still some time till he makes his return. So why not read some of the best Daredevil comics in the meantime?

Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, made his first appearance in April 1964. He was created by comic book legends, Stan Lee and Bill Everett. He is a lawyer by day and a crime-fighting vigilante at night. The fact that he’s blind but can still kick your butt, makes him more menacing.

So if you’re planning to catch up on Daredevil’s comic book history then look no further. We have picked the top 12 best Daredevil comics of all time. These comics will give you a great understanding of Daredevil’s character and personality.

Best Daredevil Comics

For 58 years, Daredevil has been a part of the Marvel universe. Finding a good starting point in comic books can be difficult. Especially, when a character has a really long history.

However, these best Daredevil comics will provide you with a good starting point. Over the years, many writers have written his stories but some are better than others. So, let’s jump right into it.

12. Parts Of A Hole

If you have watched the recent Disney+ show, Hawkeye, you might be familiar with Echo by now. The story titled, “Parts Of A Hole” was the first major appearance of Echo. Kingpin sends Echo to destroy Daredevil.

However, Matt Murdock ends up falling in love with her. The tension rises when Echo figures out Daredevil’s weakness and begins to execute her plan. Overall, this is considered one of the best Daredevil comics. 

11. Through Hell

Chip Zdarsky took the reins of Daredevil in 2019 with the “Through Hell” storyline. This story is heavily inspired by Frank Miller’s dark vision of the character and the realism of the Netflix show which was extremely popular at the time. 

In this storyline, Kingpin has now become the Mayor of New York City. Matt Murdock literally goes through hell as the NYPD is cracking down on vigilantes in the city. In terms of recent stories, Through Hell stands its ground as one of the best Daredevil comics.

10. Last Rites

Last Rites is an iconic Daredevil storyline. It follows an amnesiac Matt Murdock who thinks he’s actually a boxer now. Even though Matt has hung his costume, there’s still a Daredevil operating in New York City.

Ann Nocenti is probably the only female writer to write a Daredevil story and she has done a great job. This story also served as an inspiration for some parts of Daredevil season 3 on Netflix.

9. Mark Waid’s Daredevil

Mark Waid took Daredevil back to his roots with his run on the devil of Hell’s Kitchen. His run is considered one of the best Daredevil comics. He didn’t do anything special, he just took Daredevil back to his roots. 

During this storyline, more people begin doubting if Matt Murdock is Daredevil. Even though he denies the rumors, his career as a lawyer is put to risk. Furthermore, we see a more optimistic Daredevil after so many years of grittiness. It is quite refreshing to see.

8. The Man Without Fear

We can’t ignore “The Man Without Fear” while discussing the best Daredevil comics. It basically serves as the origin story of Daredevil. All the chapters explore different parts of his life with the first focusing on his childhood.

The Man Without Fear has 5 issues and it has been written by comic book legend, Frank Miller. Netflix based their first season heavily on this interpretation of the character, especially the costume. If you’re new to the comics world then this story is a must read for you.

7. A Touch Of Typhoid

Another storyline by Ann Nocenti makes its way on our list of the best Daredevil comics. A Touch Of Typhoid tells the story of Typhoid Mary, a villain with multiple personalities and extraordinary abilities. She’s not only targeting Daredevil but also Matt Murdock.

This storyline is really well-written and quite rewarding. You will enjoy every panel of it. The character of Typhoid Mary is simply amazing and is a fitting addition to Daredevil’s gallery of rogues.

6. Daredevil: Yellow

Jeph Loeb is better known for his work at DC Comics with stories like Batman: Hush and The Long Halloween. However, he has lended his talents to Daredevil as well, which is honestly a match made in heaven (or hell).

Daredevil: Yellow is a reimagining of Daredevil’s initial years. It is more of a “love letter” to the character of Daredevil. Yet it is quite heartbreaking and emotional at many instances. Overall, this is one of the best Daredevil comics of all time. 

5. Hardcore

The Daredevil comics written by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev are considered to be one of the finest iterations of this character. Their entire run on Daredevil deserves a spot on this list but we are choosing a storyline titled “Hardcore.”

This 4 issue storyline literally puts Daredevil through hell. He is facing murder charges, his love life is unbalanced, Typhoid Mary has returned and his identity has been made public. On top of that, Kingpin is trying his best to restore his empire. The shocking ending of this storyline is enough to put it on this list of the best Daredevil comics. 

4. Guardian Devil

Guardian Devil is written by Kevin Smith. This storyline tackles multiple aspects in Matt’s life. Karen Page finds out she has HIV and gets killed by Bullseye. On the other hand, Matt finds a toddler who could potentially be the Antichrist.  

The writers enjoy pushing Daredevil to his mental limits and this is one of those instances. Nothing in his life seems to be going right. Guardian Devil is well known for kicking off the Marvel Knights lineup. 

3. Out

Another entry from Brian Michael Bendis’ work on the character. Out spans from Daredevil #32 to #40. In this storyline, a FBI agent sells Daredevil’s secret identity to the media. Matt Murdock must fight through all the media attention and find a way to fix this.

A hero’s secret identity being revealed is quite a common trope. These storylines usually end with some sort of mind-wiping spell or a hero faking his death. However Out is different from all those stories. Hence, it can be called as one of the best Daredevil comics.

2. The Last Hand

The Last Hand is not only one of the best Daredevil comics but also an important one. This story sees Bullseye escaping from prison, hell-bent on revenge. He eventually comes face-to-face with Elektra and successfully kills her.

Overall, this is a very thought-provoking storyline. It also features some great fights. The more you get into this story the more intense it gets. The Last Hand should be on the reading list of every Daredevil fan.

1. Born Again

Frank Miller is probably the best thing that happened to Daredevil. Born Again and the other stories on this list is proof of that. In this story, Karen Page sells Daredevil’s secret identity to a drug lord. It eventually lands in the hands of Wilson Fisk who plans on making Matt’s life hell.

Born Again is not only one of the best Daredevil comics but one of the best Marvel comics in general. The upcoming Daredevil show is titled “Daredevil: Born Again.” So there might be some elements in the show taken from this storyline.

Conclusion

So this was our list of the best Daredevil comics. These comics weren’t ranked in a particular order. You can give them a read and indulge yourself in the gritty street of Hell’s Kitchen.