27 Years Ago, An Iconic Marvel Character Was Killed After Hundreds of Comics (And They’ve Never Returned)

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Marvel has evolved significantly over the years. If you look back to its origins in the Silver Age, the Marvel Universe was quite different. While considered mature for its time, especially compared to DC Comics, it largely catered to younger audiences with clear-cut heroes, villains, and love interests. One character who’s undergone a particularly dramatic transformation is Daredevil. Initially, he was very similar to Spider-Man – a lighthearted, acrobatic crimefighter who didn’t truly stand out, and who had a relationship with his secretary, Karen Page. Everything changed in the 1980s when writer and artist Frank Miller took over the Daredevil comic. Since then, Daredevil has become a much more complex character, and a pivotal moment that cemented the end of his Silver Age persona occurred 27 years ago in Daredevil (Vol. 2) #5 with the death of Karen Page.

Karen Page stands out as a fascinating love interest in Marvel comics, largely due to the way her character was handled over the years. Initially, she filled a common role – the supportive love interest, similar to characters like Pepper Potts or Gwen Stacy – but she eventually faded into the background as Daredevil repeatedly turned to relationships complicated by his own internal conflicts. Karen later reappeared in Frank Miller’s iconic “Born Again” storyline, though it’s also known for its problematic portrayal of female characters. She continued to be featured, playing a key role in a particularly compelling, yet often overlooked, era of Daredevil comics, specifically during the run by Karl Kessel and Cary Nord, which helped to rebuild her character before her eventual death.

Karen Page Was Recast as Daredevil’s Love Interest After “Born Again”

When discussing modern Daredevil, it’s impossible to ignore Frank Miller’s influential run. It’s widely considered the peak of the character’s history and essentially redefined Daredevil, moving away from the lighter, more humorous portrayal that came before. After Miller stopped writing the comic, subsequent writers often tried to imitate his style, with varying degrees of success – Ann Nocenti being a particularly strong example. By 1996, like many comics that weren’t focused on X-Men or Spider-Man, Daredevil was struggling, and Marvel decided a change was needed.

Writer Karl Kesel, known for his work on Adventures of Superman during the “Death of Superman” storyline, teamed up with artist Cary Nord, giving Nord a major opportunity. Together, they brought a fresh take to Daredevil, emphasizing humor and a more classic portrayal of the character – moving away from the darker tone popularized by Frank Miller and aiming for a more balanced approach. Nord’s clean, straightforward art style gave the comic a timeless feel without sacrificing the detail modern readers expected. Their run on Daredevil (Vol. 1) issues #353-357 and #359-364, though brief, proved successful, attracting attention and bringing a modest resurgence to the title after a long period of struggling sales.

I really loved the older versions of Daredevil, especially how they handled Karen Page. They did a fantastic job showing her rebuilding her life, and her relationship with Matt was just good – fans really connected with them. It felt like a classic take on their dynamic, but it wasn’t afraid to acknowledge the character’s evolution. That’s honestly why I was so shocked when she died in Daredevil (Vol. 2) #5. Kesel and Nord really brought her back to life as a vital part of Matt’s world, and it felt like exactly what his story needed. It’s a shame she’s remained gone ever since, though.

There are good reasons to keep Karen Page dead. Daredevil operates in a more realistic world than most heroes, and bringing her back would feel out of place. While the Hand could theoretically resurrect her, it wouldn’t make sense for the story. Beyond that, it’s hard to see what purpose her return would serve. Elektra has long been established as Daredevil’s primary love interest, and revisiting their relationship feels unnecessary (many fans, myself included, actually prefer Mia). Her previous resurrection after the ‘Born Again’ storyline felt earned, as people overcoming addiction is a relatable theme. While miraculous events might happen elsewhere, they don’t quite fit the tone of Hell’s Kitchen – though it made for a good line! Ultimately, we don’t need Karen as a romantic interest with Elektra already present, and she doesn’t contribute anything essential to the current story.

Karen Page Will Probably Actually Rest in Peace

Characters often come back to life in comic books, even in realistic storylines. But bringing Karen Page back now would likely require turning her into a villain controlled by the Hand, and most fans don’t have a strong connection to her character. It would also complicate the Daredevil narrative. It’s similar to why many wouldn’t want to see Gwen Stacy return – her impact is greater as a symbolic figure rather than a living character.

It was a truly surprising turn of events. This kind of thing rarely happened in stories like this. We’re used to the hero saving the day, so when that doesn’t occur, it feels significant. Even if she were rescued, Matt has suffered enough that it wouldn’t truly change things. It’s not about a missed opportunity, but rather that she’s been completely superseded, and her return isn’t necessary. She represented a simpler time, and Matt has moved past that.

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2026-01-27 19:11