4 Years Later, The MCU Remade a Beloved Marvel Comic (& Couldn’t Use Any of the Best Bits)

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The second season of Daredevil: Born Again drew inspiration from a famous comic book storyline, but had to leave out some key elements. Wilson Fisk, as mayor, reached the height of his power during that season, establishing a harsh reign over the city with martial law and strict curfews that even outlawed vigilantes. He essentially controlled everything, forcing both Daredevil and his enemies to respond to his actions.

The second season of Born Again took a noticeably different path than the comic books it was based on. The original storyline, which started in Amazing Spider-Man, featured Spider-Man returning from a trip to the Negative Zone to discover months had passed and the Kingpin had become mayor. This concept expanded into other comics, particularly those featuring Daredevil, ultimately leading to the “Devil’s Reign” event.

Devil’s Reign is the Story of the Kingpin’s Downfall

Chip Zdarsky wrote Devil’s Reign, with artwork by Marco Checchetto, and it depicted Kingpin’s final plan as mayor of New York City. Usually calm and logical, Kingpin was deeply disturbed to learn he once knew Daredevil’s secret identity, but that the Purple Man had erased the memory. Enraged by this manipulation, Kingpin started a harsh crackdown on everything Daredevil believed in, outlawing vigilantes and using the Purple Man’s mind control to win the mayoral election.

New York City’s comic book world is filled with heroes and vigilantes, and they all felt the impact of Kingpin’s crackdown. The Fantastic Four were arrested, Iron Fist (Danny Rand) was attacked by Kingpin’s team, and the Taskmaster targeted the Daily Bugle hoping to lure out Spider-Man – who had secretly been replaced with a duplicate. As Kingpin recovered his memories, his scheme grew more dangerous, culminating in him breaking free from the Purple Man’s mind control and discovering Daredevil’s true identity as Matt Murdock.

The conclusion of Devil’s Reign was appropriately intense. Kingpin unknowingly killed a magically created double of Matt Murdock – a storyline that had been building for years. Because witnesses saw Kingpin commit the murder, it brought his criminal enterprise to an end. In the following mayoral election, Luke Cage won unopposed, running on a platform supportive of vigilantes.

Marvel Couldn’t Tell Anything Like Devil’s Reign

The new Daredevil: Born Again series takes a different approach to the classic comic book storyline. While drawing inspiration from the more realistic tone of the Marvel Netflix shows, it scales back many of the larger, more fantastical elements. Villains aren’t as over-the-top, there are fewer superheroes operating in the city, and characters like Luke Cage have smaller roles. The series also shifts the timeline, focusing on the early stages of Wilson Fisk’s rise to power, well before any elections, and portrays the new anti-vigilante laws as a starting point rather than a final goal, significantly altering the story’s direction.

In the comics, Kingpin teamed up with Doctor Octopus, who was after the Fantastic Four’s advanced technology. Doctor Octopus brought in different versions of himself from other realities, having previously controlled the bodies of heroes like Ghost Rider, the Hulk, and Wolverine. This complicated storyline was likely too outlandish for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially since the Fantastic Four hadn’t been introduced yet.

The show also drew inspiration from the Devil’s Reign comic storyline. In that arc, Kingpin made a deal with wealthy couple the Stromwyns, who saw him as someone they could control in New York. This mirrored the dynamic between Mr. Charles and the Contessa in Born Again, where Charles worked for her. However, the Stromwyns’ situation was much more tragic – Kingpin ultimately refused to be controlled and killed them. Mr. Charles, on the other hand, made it through Season 2 alive and even left with Bullseye.

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2026-05-28 20:12