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

It's an exciting time for fans of the Man Without Fear. The beloved Netflix series is set to continue with "Daredevil: Born Again" on Disney+, while Marvel Comics is launching a thrilling new miniseries titled "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell." This series brings back the dynamic duo of writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, who previously collaborated on "Death of Wolverine." The premise of "Cold Day in Hell" is intriguing: What if Daredevil had his own version of "The Dark Knight Returns"?

IGN had the opportunity to discuss this new venture with 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.

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 dealing with the challenges of old age and his tumultuous past. Soule explains, "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 concept of an aging superhero returning to action is a familiar one, seen in various Marvel titles such as "The End" series and "Old Man Logan." Soule elaborates on why this narrative is so compelling: "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 further explains that "Cold Day In Hell" takes place in a unique corner of the Marvel Universe where recent catastrophic events have left a lasting impact on the characters and the story. This setting allows him and McNiven to introduce fresh elements while still honoring iconic Marvel lore. Soule states, "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 the theme of a superhero facing mortality. Their previous work on "Death of Wolverine" also dealt with similar themes. 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 intriguing aspects of stories like "Cold Day in Hell" is how the hero's supporting cast and villains have evolved over time. Soule hinted at some surprising developments for Daredevil's allies and adversaries but kept the details under wraps, 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."

With the release of "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" coinciding with the debut of "Born Again," Marvel is clearly aiming to leverage the excitement around the show. When asked if the series serves as a good entry point into Daredevil comics, Soule affirmed, "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. Soule shared his thoughts on seeing his work adapted for 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. 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 be released on April 2, 2025. For more insights into upcoming Marvel Comics releases, explore what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and discover our most anticipated comics of 2025.