Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again season 2, episode 8Daredevil: Born Again season 2’s ending has completely changed the status quo for Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox). After publicly revealing himself as Daredevil to finally expose and remove Mayor Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) from office, Murdock is now paying the price going forward, teeing up more than a few exciting storylines from the comics the MCU could adapt for the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again season 3.
By the end of Daredevil: Born Again season 2’s finale, Daredevil convinced Fisk to take the attorney general’s deal to resign from office, renounce his U.S. citizenship, and leave the country. Meanwhile, Matt Murdock was arrested and imprisoned, setting the stage for a very different third season which is currently in production. Looking to the original comics, Murdock has been behind bars before, and it’s already been teased that Daredevil: Born Again season 3 will be taking inspiration from multiple storylines.
Some of these storylines are very exciting to think about considering what we already know about upcoming character returns in Born Again season 3, and some exciting developments elsewhere in the MCU with upcoming projects like Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Keeping that in mind, here are 3 Marvel storylines the MCU could adapt for Daredevil: Born Again season 3 now that Daredevil is in jail and The Kingpin is in exile.
The Devil In Cell-Block D” (Iron Fist & The Defenders Return)
One of the more likely comic storylines cited online is “The Devil in Cell-Block D,” from Ed Brubaker’s Daredevil run. On the page, Daredevil similarly faces jail time after his secret identity is exposed, forcing him to survive behind bars while surrounded by several of his fellow prisoners.
In that vein, Born Again season 2’s finale did reveal that the MCU’s Murdock is the same prison as several officers who were part of Mayor Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force, including Powell and Cole North. That said, North defied Fisk’s orders, having a crisis of conscience and turning against Powell in the finale. This aligns with a recent redemption arc where North went from working for Fisk to becoming an ally of Daredevil’s in the comics. Perhaps the same thing will happen in Born Again season 3 with North having Matt’s back in prison.
It’s also worth noting that Danny Rand’s Iron Fist temporarily took over as Daredevil during this same storyline, patrolling Hell’s Kitchen in Matt’s costume. With Finn Jones confirmed to return in Daredevil: Born Again season 3 alongside Mike Colter as Luke Cage and Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones for a full MCU Defenders reunion, it’s quite possible we could see something similar in the MCU. After all, Iron Fist already took it upon himself once to defend New York during Daredevil’s presumed death following Netflix’s Defenders crossover series, honoring the promise he made to Matt to “protect his city”.
“Doing Time/Lock Down” (Elektra’s Daredevil, Spider-Man, & The Hand)
Another storyline Marvel could just as easily borrow is the “Doing Time/Lockdown” arc from Chip Zdarsky’s 2019 Daredevil run. In that story, Murdock ends up in prison following an accidental killing as Daredevil. Wanting to take accountability and set an example by pleading guilty, Murdock was tried and arrested as Daredevil with his secret identity maintained. As such, Murdock was allowed to keep his mask on behind bars without having to publicly reveal his secret identity (which had been restored since the last time he was in prison).
Although that part of the story wouldn’t be featured in the MCU, seeing as how Murdock has already pubically revealed himself as Daredevil, there are other elements from this arc that could absolutely be featured (and may have already been set up in the MCU).
Hell’s Kitchen · Street-Level Edition How Well Do You Know Daredevil?
♻OriginsBlinded
☠VillainsKingpin
⚖AlliesJustice
⚔CombatNo killing
🎥TV SeriesNetflix
01
Matt Murdock was blinded as a child by radioactive material that fell from a truck. While he lost his sight, the accident gave him something extraordinary in return. What did the radioactive exposure give Matt?
✓ Correct! The radioactive chemicals that blinded young Matt Murdock simultaneously supercharged his remaining senses to extraordinary levels and gave him a radar-like spatial awareness. He can “see” the world around him through sound, smell, touch, and taste with superhuman precision — making him one of Marvel’s most unique heroes.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is superhuman radar-like senses. The radioactive accident didn’t give Matt strength, telepathy, or X-ray vision — it heightened all his remaining senses to superhuman levels and granted him a radar sense that lets him perceive the world around him in 360 degrees.
02
Daredevil’s greatest enemy is a massive, calculating crime lord who controls most of the criminal underworld in New York City. This villain is known by his real name and his title. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, is Daredevil’s most iconic adversary. Despite having no superpowers, Fisk’s immense physical strength, ruthless intelligence, and iron grip on New York’s criminal underworld make him one of Marvel’s most terrifying villains. Their battle is deeply personal — both men believe they’re saving Hell’s Kitchen.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is Wilson Fisk / The Kingpin. Bullseye is a deadly assassin, The Hand is a ninja organization, and The Owl is a lesser crime lord. But the Kingpin is the definitive Daredevil villain — the immovable force that controls New York’s underworld from the shadows.
03
By day, Matt Murdock fights for justice in a courtroom as a lawyer. He co-founded a law firm with his best friend in Hell’s Kitchen. Who is Matt’s law partner and best friend?
✓ Correct! Franklin “Foggy” Nelson has been Matt Murdock’s best friend and law partner since they met at Columbia Law School. Together they founded Nelson & Murdock, a small firm dedicated to defending the people of Hell’s Kitchen. Foggy is the heart and conscience of the partnership — often the one pulling Matt back from the edge.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is Franklin “Foggy” Nelson. Ben Urich is a journalist at the Daily Bugle, Danny Rand is Iron Fist, and Luke Cage is a Harlem-based hero. Foggy Nelson is Matt’s irreplaceable best friend, law partner, and moral anchor.
04
The Netflix Daredevil series (2015–2018) was praised for its dark tone and incredible fight choreography. Which actor portrayed Matt Murdock/Daredevil in the Netflix series and later in the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again?
✓ Correct! Charlie Cox brought Matt Murdock to life with a nuanced, critically acclaimed performance across three seasons of Netflix’s Daredevil. His portrayal was so beloved that Marvel Studios brought him back for the MCU, appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home and starring in Daredevil: Born Again.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is Charlie Cox. Ben Affleck played Daredevil in the 2003 film, Oscar Isaac is Moon Knight, and Jon Bernthal plays the Punisher (who appeared in Daredevil Season 2). Charlie Cox is the definitive live-action Man Without Fear.
05
Bullseye is one of Daredevil’s deadliest foes, a psychopathic assassin with an extraordinary ability. What is Bullseye’s signature power?
✓ Correct! Bullseye possesses an innate ability to turn virtually any object into a lethal projectile with perfect accuracy. From playing cards to paper clips, anything in his hands becomes a deadly weapon. He’s responsible for some of the darkest moments in Daredevil’s history, including the murder of Elektra.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is perfect accuracy — he never misses a target. Bullseye doesn’t have super speed, invisibility, or mind control. His terrifying gift is unerring aim — he can kill with a toothpick, a playing card, or anything he can throw.
06
Elektra Natchios is a complex character in Daredevil’s life — sometimes lover, sometimes enemy. She is a deadly assassin trained by a mysterious ninja organization. What is the name of this organization?
✓ Correct! The Hand is a secretive ninja organization that plays a major role in Daredevil’s mythology. Founded centuries ago, they deal in assassination, mysticism, and resurrection. Elektra was trained by The Hand and has been both their weapon and their enemy — her complicated ties to the organization mirror her complicated relationship with Matt.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is The Hand. The League of Shadows is from DC’s Batman universe, HYDRA is the broader Marvel villain organization, and The Foot Clan is from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (actually inspired by The Hand). The Hand is the ancient ninja order central to Daredevil’s world.
07
Frank Castle, the Punisher, has a complicated relationship with Daredevil. They share a mission to fight crime but disagree fundamentally on methods. What is the core philosophical difference between Daredevil and the Punisher?
✓ Correct! This is the defining tension between Daredevil and the Punisher. Matt Murdock, a devout Catholic and lawyer, believes in the justice system and refuses to cross the line into killing. Frank Castle believes the system is broken and that lethal force is the only way to permanently stop criminals. Their rooftop debate in Season 2 of the Netflix series is one of the greatest scenes in superhero television.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is that Daredevil refuses to kill while the Punisher kills criminals. It’s actually the Punisher who uses weapons (guns, explosives), and neither works with police. Daredevil fights at all hours. The real divide is moral: Matt believes in redemption and the law, while Frank believes in permanent, lethal justice.
08
In the Daredevil Netflix series, Vincent D’Onofrio’s portrayal of Wilson Fisk was widely acclaimed. In Season 3, Fisk manipulated a specific FBI agent to become the new Bullseye. What is this character’s name?
✓ Correct! Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter, played brilliantly by Wilson Bethel, was an FBI agent with a troubled past and an innate ability for perfect marksmanship. Fisk recognized his psychological vulnerabilities and manipulated him into donning a Daredevil suit to frame Matt Murdock, setting up Dex’s transformation into the classic villain Bullseye.
✗ Even Daredevil’s radar sense couldn’t find the right answer there! The answer is Benjamin Poindexter (Dex). Ray Nadeem was another FBI agent manipulated by Fisk but in a different way, Brett Mahoney is an NYPD sergeant allied with Daredevil, and Mitchell Ellison is the editor of the New York Bulletin. Dex is the one Fisk groomed to become Bullseye.
Case Closed Your Hell’s Kitchen Verdict
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Are you the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen — or just a blind spot?
While Matt was behind bars, Elektra Natchios took over as a brand-new Daredevil in Zdarsky’s run, wanting to prove to Matt that she could be trusted as she needed his help to form The Fist, the ancient counter to the returning sinister ninja cult known as The Hand. Interestingly, MCU Elektra actress Elodie Yung recently posted some physical training videos on social media, and she’s also been spotted in New York where Born Again season 3 is currently in production.
Likewise, neither Yung’s version of Elektra nor The Hand has been featured in the MCU since 2017’s The Defenders, though The Hand is confirmed to be making a comeback fighting Tom Holland’s Peter Parker later this year in Spider-Man: Brand New Day…in a prison.
Before Matt’s imprisonment in the Zdarksy run, Daredevil and Spider-Man joined forces to send a clear message to New York’s crime bosses: even with Daredevil doing time behind bars, the city would still be protected. As a result, it feels very likely that Spider-Man battling members of The Hand inside a prison could very well connect to Murdock’s incarceration in Born Again season 3.
“Return of The King” (Wilson Fisk Returns To New York)
Daredevil: Born Again season 3 could also borrow from Brubaker’s “Return of the King” arc. In the original comics, Wilson Fisk eventually returns to the United States after spending time overseas, seeking to rebuild his power and influence following a recent downfall. Operating from the shadows, Fisk’s return also saw him directly opposing The Hand, a notion that’s very interesting considering The Hand’s imminent MCU return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Although Mayor Fisk was removed from office and sent into exile after Matt Murdock publicly exposed himself as Daredevil in order to fully expose Fisk’s crimes with his free port, it’s already been confirmed that Vincent D’Onofrio is set to return in Born Again season 3.
As a result, “Return of the King” could provide the perfect blueprint for Fisk’s inevitable resurgence in the MCU. Even the framing of Fisk on the beach at the very end of the finale mirrors pages from the “Return of the King” storyline.
It’s also worth noting that this same storyline also saw Fisk and Murdock briefly allied against The Hand. Perhaps the same could be adapted for the MCU? It’d certainly offer their MCU relationship a compelling new dynamic, one we’ve never seen before on-screen.
All episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season 2 are now streaming on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.
