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

It's an exciting time for fans of Daredevil, as the beloved character is seeing significant developments across various media. On the television front, the continuation of the acclaimed Netflix series, titled "Daredevil: Born Again," is set to premiere on Disney+. Meanwhile, in the world of comics, Marvel is launching a new miniseries, "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell," which reunites writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, the duo behind "Death of Wolverine." This series promises an intriguing premise, drawing comparisons to the iconic "The Dark Knight Returns," suggesting a darker, more mature take on the hero.

IGN had the opportunity to discuss "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell" with Charles Soule via email, where he shared insights into the series and his thoughts on the adaptation of his past work in "Born Again." Before diving into the interview, be sure to check out the 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" is apt, as "Cold Day in Hell" is set in a future where Matt Murdock, known as Daredevil, has lost his powers due to the fading effects of the radioactive substance that initially granted them. Now an older man, Matt has left his superhero life behind, a sentiment shared by many heroes in this future Marvel Universe. However, as Soule explains, the story explores what happens when circumstances force Matt back into action.

"Matt's older, for sure," Soule told 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 concept of an aging superhero returning to action is not new, having been explored in numerous Marvel stories, such as "The End" titles and "Old Man Logan." Soule believes that this narrative approach offers a unique opportunity to redefine familiar characters.

"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," Soule says. "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 elaborated on the setting of "Cold Day in Hell," noting that it exists in its own corner of the Marvel Universe, where recent catastrophic events have left lasting impacts on characters and the narrative. This allows Soule and McNiven to introduce new elements while reinterpreting classic Marvel components.

"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 tackled themes of mortality and aging with a Marvel hero, having previously worked together on "Death of Wolverine." When asked if "Cold Day in Hell" serves as a companion piece to "Death of Wolverine," Soule emphasized the collaborative nature of their work.

"I think everything we do together is in some ways a companion piece to everything we've done," Soule says. "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 exploring how the hero's allies and enemies have aged and evolved. While Soule remains tight-lipped about specifics, he hinted at significant surprises regarding Daredevil's supporting cast and villains.

Soule teased, "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's evident that Marvel is capitalizing on the excitement surrounding the "Born Again" show. Soule believes that "Cold Day in Hell" can serve as an accessible entry point into Daredevil's comic universe, even for those unfamiliar with his extensive history.

Soule says, "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 confirmed that the series draws inspiration from his 2015-2018 run on the comic, including elements like Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York City and the villain Muse. Having seen the entire season, Soule expressed his excitement about seeing his work translated to the screen.

"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 says. "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 upcoming Marvel Comics releases, check out what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and see our most anticipated comics of 2025.