It’s finally here. With today’s release of the Daredevil: Born Again trailer, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the comics inspiring the upcoming series.

If you were to ask ten comics fans for their favorite Marvel character, you might get ten different answers. But if you were to ask those same ten fans what the best Marvel comic is issue-for-issue, you’d probably hear one answer over and over: Daredevil. From Nocenti and Romita Jr. to Bendis and Maleev, the Man Without Fear has played host to some of the greatest creators in comics. There are so many incredible runs that you really can’t go wrong (well, maybe avoid Shadowland).

But while I could talk Daredevil comics all day, we’re here to talk about the ones you should read before ol’ Hornhead returns to the small screen on March 4. As you’ll see below, I’ve included the individual issue numbers (for those reading digitally on Marvel Unlimited) as well as the collected editions that I’d recommend for the best reading experience.

Just remember to use code FRIENDSFROMWORK to get an added discount on any Organic Priced Books purchases.

Alright, without further ado, here are the five Daredevil comics to read before Daredevil: Born Again!

Born Again

Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s masterful take on the Man Without Fear, rightly hailed as one of the greatest comics of all time, was already adapted (at least partially) in Daredevil’s third and final season on Netflix. But as the new series’ namesake, it’s a good place to start. It’s also the definitive take on the Daredevil/Kingpin dynamic and has informed everything that’s followed. If Daredevil has a lodestar, it’s this. For a real treat, I’d recommend checking out the Gallery Edition, which showcases Mazzucchelli’s iconic artwork.

Collecting: Daredevil (1964) #226-233

Dark Art

Now for something completely different. Charles Soule’s criminally underrated (and under-collected) Daredevil run is chock full of good stuff. As a Columbia Law grad and NYC attorney, Soule has a lot in common with Matt Murdock. And it shows. After a stint on the West Coast (courtesy of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee), Soule brings our hero back to his roots — with one big difference. Resolving to change the system from within, Murdock ditches his defense attorney hat for that of a prosecutor. But when a horrifying new villain hits the scene, that resolve will be put to the test. Featuring the diabolical debut of savant serial killer Muse (soon to appear on-screen), this is where Soule’s story really hits its stride. And Ron Garney’s shadowy, borderline-scratchy pencils complement it perfectly.

Collecting: Daredevil (2015) #10-14

Mayor Fisk

If you watched Echo (and/or today’s trailer), then you know that the MCU’s NYC is about to get a brand new mayor. Though Zdarsky famously ran with this idea after taking the baton from Soule, don’t sleep on the arc that introduced this seismic shift in the status quo. There are all kinds of fun twists and turns here, and I have a feeling the upcoming series will pull more from this story than folks might initially expect.

Oh, and don’t be thrown off by the issue numbers, which reverted to legacy numbering in celebration of the 600th issue. This story immediately follows Land of the Blind (see above).

Collecting: Daredevil (2015) 595-600

Know Fear

If you’re a Daredevil reader or a reader of Marvel Comics in general, then you have almost certainly heard about Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s blockbuster run that wrapped just over a year ago. Picking up right where Soule’s run leaves off (about 12 issues after the end of Mayor Fisk for those keeping count), we find Murdock struggling to recover from a near-death experience that left him severely injured. Unfortunately, things quickly go from bad to worse when Matt decides to don the suit once more. This opening arc is sort of Zdarsky’s run in a microcosm. It’s an entertaining but heart-wrenching portrait of a tortured hero — and an excellent example of what makes Daredevil such a special character.

Collecting: Daredevil (2019) #1-5

Though you can find the trade paperback containing just the above issues on Amazon (see above), I’d strongly recommend snagging the omnibus collecting the entire first half of Zdarsky’s excellent run (see below). But get yours quick! They’re going faster than Aunt May’s wheatcakes.

Devil’s Reign

Last but certainly not least, we have what may be the most talked-about Daredevil comic of the last decade. Unlike the Avengers, the X-Men, or even Spider-Man, Daredevil is not a character known for his event books. The whole guilt-ridden-loner thing doesn’t necessarily lend itself to big team-ups. Then again, even the original Born Again comic starts to tilt in that direction at times (which is why some of Captain America’s most famous quotes come from a Daredevil comic), and it was only a matter of time before somebody cracked the code for the modern age. Enter Zdarsky and Checchetto. When Mayor Fisk ratchets up his war against New York’s costumed heroes, the city reaches a breaking point. Long rumored to be a source of inspiration for the upcoming series, this is also the event that cemented Zdarsky’s status as Daredevil superscribe and set the stage for Checchetto’s explosive debut on Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimate Spider-Man.

Collecting: Devil’s Reign #1-6

Again, you have options here. You could just snag the event itself in TPB format on Organic Priced Books (see above). There’s also a Devil’s Reign Omnibus, but I’d recommend foregoing that in favor of the one collecting the second half of the Zdarsky run — especially if you’re already grabbing the first. The second omnibus (see below) contains all the Devil’s Reign issues as well as the Zdarsky-penned Daredevil issues surrounding it.

And that’s it! Get to reading, and be sure to let us know what you think!

RE