Just in time for Daredevil’s return to the MCU on Disney+ comes a new edition of an all-time classic in Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s Born Again. Karen Page, Matt Murdock’s former lover, sets into motion a Machiavellian chain of events by trading away his secret identity for a drug fix. Now, Daredevil must find all the strength he can muster as Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, wastes no time taking him down as low as a human can get. As he’s nursed back to health by a nun named Sister Maggie, Matt discovers a shocking secret that will change their relationship forever – but can he piece his life back together and survive a battle against the brutal super-soldier named Nuke?
The Marvel Premier Collection was launched this year with the intent of presenting classic Marvel stories with brand new material at a bargain price. And it has started off with a bang with what many people consider to be the definitive Daredevil saga. In addition to this classic story, this collection also includes a new introduction by Frank Miller and a foreword from the star of Daredevil himself Charlie Cox.
There is not much to say about Born Again that hasn’t already been said. It is a prime example of how to deconstruct and rebuilt a hero. In his first run on the character, Miller pushed Daredevil hard and put him in situations with much higher stakes than anything he’d previously encountered. But with Born Again, Miller took Matt to his absolute limit.
With every action the Kingpin takes to systematically destroy his life (including but not limited to getting his law licence revoked and destroying his home), Matt finds his grasp on reality and his sanity slowly slipping away. His gradual recovery and battle to reclaim his life is some of the most enthralling storytelling that has been ever depicted in a Marvel comic. The character work is on point, with Wilson Fisk never being more ruthless than this, reporter Ben Urich facing some scary consequences of his profession and Karen Page crawling up from rock bottom. There are also some classic lines peppered throughout which are just as iconic.
The artwork is equally tremendous with Mazzucchelli cementing himself as an all-time great in the field of comics with his work here. His characters really sell the desperate situations that Miller has put them in with the standout moments being Karen Page’s drug addled state and the iconic scene where Matt’s home and Daredevil costume are both destroyed. His action sequences are also masterpieces – with the brutal fight between a frazzled Matt Murdock and the Kingpin followed by Matt’s perilous escape from a sinking water-filled car being masterclasses in building tension.
Born Again is a classic for a reason and is a must read for all Marvel fans. It is also a perfect jumping on point for any new fans following the release of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.
Daredevil: Born Again (Marvel Premier Collection) is out now from Marvel (9781302965983, p/b, £13.99)
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