Daredevil’s Most Hated Costume Saves His Secret Identity!

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Matt Murdock has undergone significant transformations lately. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he’s grappling with the aftermath of returning to his Devil of Hell’s Kitchen persona, while in the comics, he’s essentially a different character compared to our familiar Matt Murdock, or at least he’s lived an alternate life. For instance, he died and was reborn as a new man and a priest, and ever since then, he’s been trying to reconcile his old self with the new person he has become. The latest edition of Daredevil highlights one constant aspect about Matt: his disregard for fashion.

The iconic black armor outfit returns on Daredevil, a costume that has long been met with disapproval by fans, not just due to its eccentric style, but also because of the comic series where it debuted. D.G. Chichester’s initial run on Daredevil, during which this suit was introduced, is often criticized for its poor storytelling and character inconsistencies. Yet, it’s this very suit that stands out most from the run. It leaves a lasting impact, albeit not a positive one. However, its recent reappearance might just transform the hatred into something more playful.

In Saladin Ahmed’s ongoing series, we find Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, seeking a fresh start following a tragic event. Previously, in an issue, the devil Wrath had placed Matt in an unbearable dilemma: save his dear friend Foggy Nelson or let Bullseye perish. Typically, Daredevil, the Man Without Fear, would strive to find a way to rescue both, but this time he chose to save Foggy, knowing it meant Bullseye’s demise. This decision weighs heavily on Matt, causing him constant guilt, and he now wishes to discard the costume he wore during that fateful choice.

In issue #20 of the latest edition, our protagonist Matt, who’s drifting apart from his closest companions, spends much of his time at girlfriend Nyla Skin’s apartment. He’s delving into the mystery surrounding the vanishings in their building, when Ahmed presents a compelling argument for Matt to don the black armor instead of his regular suit. As Matt approaches Nyla’s apartment, he hears someone knocking on the door and hastily covers his costume with clothes to answer it. However, before he can, he is rendered unconscious by an unusual fungal infection blooming on him, and two individuals in protective suits discover him. They lift him up to transport him elsewhere, and the robe Matt threw carelessly over himself slips off slightly, revealing the suit. Contrary to their expectation of a superhero, these individuals misinterpreted the suit as a bondage outfit.

In the storyline, it was the black armor suit, not his red, yellow, or any other suit, that Daredevil wore which prevented his captors from uncovering his secret identity. If he had worn a more ordinary-looking suit, his identity would have been revealed on the spot and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. The irony lies in the fact that this is the costume that many dislike, yet it ended up saving Matt’s secret identity.

The suit, so uncharacteristic of Daredevil’s typical attire, was so peculiar to common thugs that they didn’t even recognize it as a costume initially. Ahmed masterfully utilized this unusual appearance as a plot device in the story, serving dual purposes: first, maintaining Matt’s secret identity, and second, ensuring he was already dressed as Daredevil when he needed to rescue the kidnapped individuals. This is a brilliant example of meta-writing indeed. I firmly believe that no matter how long Matt continues wearing this odd suit, this strategic decision alone justifies it. If Matt were to switch back to one of his other suits after this storyline concludes, it would only enhance the humor because then the suit’s inclusion would have been purely for comedic effect. Quite smart, if you give it some thought.

Daredevil #20 is on sale now.

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2025-04-10 04:40