36 Years Ago, Daredevil Unveiled An Iconic Look In This Underrated Marvel TV Movie

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Marvel fans were thrilled to see Charlie Cox reprise his role as Daredevil on screen. It’s fitting that this comeback happened on television, as that’s where Daredevil originally debuted in live-action and established the now-famous look that’s quite different from his comic book counterpart.

Many fans believe Daredevil’s all-black costume and mask with no eyes first appeared in the 1993 mini-series The Man Without Fear. However, it actually debuted in 1989’s The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. Both costumes will be different in the upcoming series, with the earlier one appearing to be black spray-painted. This is a departure from the simple black sweats and hooded mask worn in Seasons 1 and 3 of the original Daredevil series. Interestingly, before Charlie Cox and Ben Affleck, actor Rex Smith played Daredevil (and Matt Murdock) in what would be the last appearance of Bill Bixby’s Incredible Hulk. That costume was a basic black spandex suit, but it significantly influenced how Daredevil looked in future appearances.

The Incredible Hulk Television Series Was Marvel’s First Shared Universe

In the late 1970s, Marvel Comics tried to launch several TV shows using made-for-television movies. While most didn’t take off, one was a hit: The Incredible Hulk, starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. The series began with two TV movies and then ran for five seasons on CBS, from 1978 to 1982.

Universal Television produced the series, and Kenneth Johnson was the lead writer. Johnson wasn’t a fan of comic books and wanted to significantly alter the character and overall idea. Fortunately, Stan Lee managed to reign in some of his more drastic ideas, like changing the Hulk’s color from green to red.

The show’s formula worked well: David Banner, played by Bill Bixby, was always on the run after transforming into the Hulk. Each episode typically involved him arriving in a new town, uncovering a local issue, and then being forced to escape after Hulking out. Although the fifth and final season only had seven episodes, Bixby continued to be associated with the character.

Bill Bixby originally tried to convince Nicholas Hammond to reprise his role as the Hulk, but that didn’t happen. However, Bixby was able to return to the character in three TV movies: The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and The Death of the Incredible Hulk.

The initial TV movie laid the groundwork for what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In The Incredible Hulk Returns, Bruce Banner meets a past student, Donald Blake, portrayed by Steve Levitt, who explains finding Mjolnir. This discovery unexpectedly summons Thor, played by Eric Kramer, almost as if he were a magical genie.

Hulk and Thor initially clash, but quickly join forces to defeat some common enemies. The movie The Death of the Incredible Hulk included a character similar to Black Widow, but with a different name. Although plans for future films and a potential She-Hulk series were considered after the Hulk’s storyline concluded, they never came to fruition. Sadly, the actor’s death from cancer brought this chapter of the Hulk’s story to a permanent end.

The Trial of the Incredible Hulk Introduced Daredevil In His Now-Iconic Black Costume

While The Trial of the Incredible Hulk is remembered for its Marvel characters, it’s also historically significant because actor Rex Smith appears as a member of the jury. For Marvel fans, this cameo is what made the film a cult classic.

He’s Bruce Banner’s lawyer, but he leads a double life as the superhero Daredevil, protecting the streets of New York. The TV series creator, Kenneth Johnson, chose a more realistic costume – a black suit without the traditional eyeholes seen in the comics.

John Rhys-Davies also appeared in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. Despite not being a fan of comic books, actor John Rhys-Davies portrayed Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, in a unique way. Instead of directly participating in criminal activity, Kingpin largely remained in his office, observing his subordinates through television monitors.

He completed the look with ridiculously oversized headphones, complete with an antenna poking out of one side. The movie ended with him making a daring escape in a hovercraft, seemingly intended to launch a new series based on the character, similar to Daredevil. However, despite strong viewership, that spin-off never happened.

Although The Trial of the Incredible Hulk isn’t considered one of Marvel’s best works, it still holds a place in the company’s history. One of its most lasting contributions is the now-famous black costume worn by Daredevil. A particularly clever detail was the costume designer’s decision to leave out eyeholes in the mask, recognizing that Matt Murdock is blind.

This design influenced the look of The Man Without Fear, which then became the inspiration for Daredevil’s mask in Seasons 1 and 3. Despite its simple, low-cost construction for the original television film, this costume has had a lasting impact, though its origins are often overlooked.

Later Adaptations Embraced Daredevil’s Black Costume, Including Born Again

As a long-time Hulk fan, it’s been amazing to see how his look has evolved since that first TV movie in ’89! Back then, it was all about simple, do-it-yourself costumes. Now, we’re talking seriously detailed, armored suits. Thinking about it, Lou Ferrigno’s outfit in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk seems a little goofy when you compare it to Charlie Cox’s Daredevil suit. But honestly, it worked! It felt right for a more realistic, street-level vigilante. It’s cool to remember that 1989 was also the year Batman got his all-black suit in Tim Burton’s movie – a big year for superhero looks, for sure!

As a longtime Daredevil fan, I always appreciated how Frank Miller established that iconic black suit and mask early in Matt Murdock’s career as a hero. It’s interesting because in the comics, Daredevil deliberately keeps his blindness under wraps – not just to protect his secret identity, but also to prevent villains from figuring out how to exploit that weakness against him. It’s a smart move for the character, really.

Daredevil’s all-black suit is likely more imposing than his other costumes. Combined with his mask – which covers his eyes – it creates a particularly menacing appearance. Removing the visibility of his eyes adds a darker, more threatening feel, suggesting to his opponents that he’s concealing something and isn’t to be underestimated.

I’ve been following the leaks from the set, and they’ve shown us some cool things about Daredevil’s suit. It looks like one of his high-quality, professionally-made uniforms, but it’s a different mask than any of the ones we’ve seen stored on rooftops in previous seasons. It’s exciting to see a new look!

This costume seems to be Daredevil’s red suit from Season 1 of Born Again, but it’s been painted black, similar to Miles Morales’ Spider-Man suit in Into the Spider-Verse. It’s likely that after Kingpin’s men destroyed Matt Murdock’s apartment at the end of the first season, he lost his other costumes and had to quickly make do with what he had.

Daredevil’s return to a darker costume is likely linked to his conflicts with Kingpin and the Vigilante Task Force. It could also signal a more serious tone for Matt Murdock and his team as they struggle to save their city. Regardless of the reason, this change in appearance deliberately echoes the look from the original Daredevil: Born Again series.

Despite being a cheaply made film from the 1980s, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk featured a surprisingly creative take on Daredevil’s costume. Interestingly, the design has become more well-known and remembered than the movie itself.

I’m so excited that The Trial of the Incredible Hulk is available to stream on Plex! And for my fellow Daredevil fans, Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again is already on Disney+, and it sounds like we can expect Season 2 around 2026 – can’t wait!

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2025-11-30 05:38