Disney has unveiled an exciting new trailer for the highly anticipated series, *Daredevil: Born Again*, set to premiere on Disney+ on March 4. This latest footage reaffirms a surprising twist from the D23-exclusive trailer: Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin will be joining forces to combat a common enemy. What could possibly unite these long-standing adversaries? The answer might lie with a new villain introduced in both trailers, the chillingly creative serial killer known as Muse.
Who is Muse, and why does this superhuman murderer have the power to bring together even the fiercest of rivals like Daredevil and Kingpin? Let's delve into the details of this sinister Marvel villain.
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Who Is Muse?
Muse is a relatively new addition to Daredevil’s roster of villains, created by Charles Soule and Ron Garney, and first appearing in 2016’s *Daredevil #11*. Soule has confirmed that Muse is indeed featured in the D23 footage. This villain, reminiscent of characters from the *Hannibal* TV series, is a prolific serial killer who views murder as the ultimate form of artistic expression. In his debut, Muse created a mural using the blood of a hundred missing persons and later arranged the corpses of six Inhumans into a macabre composition.
Muse poses a unique threat to Daredevil because his body acts as a sensory black hole, disrupting Matt Murdock’s radar sense. Combined with his superhuman strength, speed, and a chilling talent for murder, Muse ranks among Daredevil’s most formidable foes.
Muse quickly becomes a nemesis to Daredevil and his new ally, Blindspot. Their rivalry escalates when Muse brutally blinds Blindspot. After Daredevil finally apprehends him, Muse breaks his own fingers to prevent further artistic creation. However, his hands are later healed, and he escapes to continue his deadly spree in New York City. Obsessed with the city's vigilantes, Muse leaves twisted tributes to figures like the Punisher, even as Mayor Wilson Fisk intensifies his crackdown on vigilante activity.
This leads to a fierce rematch between Muse and Blindspot, with the latter harnessing the power of The Beast, a demonic entity revered by the ninja cult The Hand, to defeat Muse. Feeling overshadowed by Blindspot’s story, Muse ultimately commits suicide by walking into a fire. This dramatic confrontation occurred in 2018’s *Daredevil #600*, and Muse has remained deceased since. Yet, in the Marvel Universe, it's only a matter of time before such a notorious killer might return to life and resume his gruesome art.
Muse in Daredevil: Born Again
The trailers for *Daredevil: Born Again* confirm Muse's appearance in the upcoming Disney+ series, though the actor portraying him remains undisclosed. Muse is seen in a single shot wearing a costume strikingly similar to his comic book version—a white mask and bodysuit with red, bloody tears. Additional scenes in the NYCC trailer show him clashing with Daredevil.
While *Born Again* shares its name with the iconic 1986 Daredevil storyline by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, the series draws inspiration from more recent Daredevil comics. The original comic focuses on Wilson Fisk uncovering Daredevil’s secret identity and dismantling Matt Murdock’s life. In contrast, the show, while rooted in the ongoing feud between Murdock and Fisk, takes a different path, especially since Fisk already knows Daredevil’s identity in the MCU.
*Born Again* hints at an alliance between Daredevil and Fisk, as depicted in a scene where they meet at a diner. Matt warns Fisk of consequences should he overstep, to which Fisk responds, “Is that coming from Matt Murdock… or your darker half?” This suggests a new, formidable threat in New York City that compels these bitter enemies to collaborate.
Could Muse be this threat? The MCU's take on Daredevil's world seems to be influenced by the works of Charles Soule and Chip Zdarsky. The post-credits scene in *Echo* indicates Fisk's ambition to become mayor, and the latest *Born Again* trailer suggests he has achieved this goal, leveraging his resources and charisma to win over New Yorkers.
If *Born Again* follows the comics, Fisk will campaign against vigilantism in New York City. Muse, as in the comics, directly opposes this agenda. As a violent killer, Muse glorifies vigilantes like Frank Castle through his gruesome art. Muse could be the common enemy that forces Daredevil and Mayor Fisk to unite. Daredevil aims to stop a cold-blooded killer, while Fisk seeks to eliminate a threat to his mayoral authority. This alliance, though uneasy, becomes necessary for Daredevil, even as Fisk targets heroes like him.
*Born Again* will also feature other vigilantes like Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and White Tiger, who will likely be caught in the crossfire of Fisk’s anti-vigilante campaign. Muse’s twisted homage to these figures will further complicate the situation. Ultimately, while the series may hinge on the intense rivalry between Daredevil and Fisk, Muse emerges as the immediate and most pressing threat to Matt Murdock’s world. With his unique powers and insatiable bloodlust, Muse may prove to be Daredevil's toughest challenge yet. Fortunately, he has an unlikely ally in Mayor Fisk.
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Note: this article was originally published on 8/10/2024 and updated on 1/15/2025 with the latest information about Daredevil: Born Again.
