"Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell - Matt Murdock's Dark Knight Returns"

If you're a fan of Daredevil, you're in for a treat. Not only is the much-anticipated continuation of the Netflix series, *Daredevil: Born Again*, set to premiere on Disney+, but Marvel Comics is also launching a thrilling new miniseries titled *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell*. This series marks the reunion of writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, who previously collaborated on *Death of Wolverine*. The concept? A take on Daredevil that echoes the iconic *The Dark Knight Returns*.

IGN had the opportunity to discuss this exciting new project with Charles Soule via email. Before diving into the details, take a moment to explore an exclusive preview of *Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1* in the slideshow gallery below, and then read on to learn more about the series and Soule’s reflections on his previous Daredevil work being adapted for *Born Again*.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery

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The influence of *The Dark Knight Returns* is evident in *Cold Day in Hell*, which is set in a future where Matt Murdock has lost his powers and is contending with the challenges of aging and a past filled with tragedy. Soule shares, "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 an aging superhero returning to action is not new, having been explored in various Marvel titles like *The End* series and *Old Man Logan*. Soule explains the appeal of this narrative: "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 continues, "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 a story about a Marvel hero facing their mortality; they did so in *Death of Wolverine* in 2014. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* serves as a companion piece to *Death of Wolverine*, Soule responded, "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 most engaging aspects of stories like *Cold Day in Hell* is seeing how the hero's allies and adversaries have evolved over time. In *The Dark Knight Returns*, for example, the Joker becomes catatonic, Superman becomes a government puppet, and Green Arrow turns into a one-armed anarchist. While Soule is cautious about revealing too much about Daredevil's supporting cast and villains in the new series, he promises significant surprises. He 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 aims to leverage the excitement surrounding the *Born Again* series. When asked if *Cold Day in Hell* serves as an accessible entry point into Daredevil comics, despite its futuristic setting and reliance on existing continuity, Soule replied, "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's 2015-2018 run on the comic series has clearly influenced the show, particularly with elements like Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York City and the villain Muse. Soule confirmed the connection: "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 scheduled for release on April 2, 2025.

For more insights into what Marvel Comics has in store, explore what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and discover our most anticipated comics of 2025.