Daredevil: Born Again's Muse Explained: Who Is Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk's New Enemy?

Disney+ has unveiled a new trailer for Daredevil: Born Again, premiering March 4th. This footage confirms a surprising twist revealed in the D23 trailer: Daredevil and Kingpin, longtime adversaries, are teaming up against a common threat—the artistically inclined serial killer, Muse. But who is this villain, and why does he unite such bitter rivals?

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Who Is Muse?

Muse, a relatively recent addition to Daredevil's rogues' gallery, debuted in 2016's Daredevil #11, created by Charles Soule and Ron Garney (Soule himself confirmed Muse's appearance in the D23 footage). This villain, reminiscent of characters from Hannibal, views murder as the ultimate art form. His debut involved a blood-painted mural created from the remains of a hundred missing persons, followed by a macabre sculpture using the bodies of six Inhumans.

Muse's unique ability to disrupt Daredevil's radar sense, combined with superhuman strength and speed, makes him exceptionally dangerous. His rivalry with Daredevil and Blindspot intensifies when he blinds Blindspot. After his capture, Muse self-mutilates to prevent further "artistic creation," only to escape and resume his killing spree, fixated on New York's vigilantes, creating monuments to figures like the Punisher.

This leads to a final confrontation with Blindspot, where Blindspot uses the power of The Beast to defeat him. Muse, lamenting his overshadowed story, commits suicide by fire in Daredevil #600 (2018). However, given the nature of the Marvel Universe, his return seems inevitable.

Muse in Daredevil: Born Again

The D23 and subsequent trailers confirm Muse's presence in Daredevil: Born Again, though the actor portraying him remains unannounced. His appearance, mirroring his comic counterpart (white mask and bodysuit with red "tears"), suggests the series draws inspiration from contemporary Daredevil comics, not just the 1986 Born Again storyline. While the show centers on the Murdock-Fisk rivalry, it diverges significantly; Fisk already knows Daredevil's identity in the MCU.

The series depicts an unlikely alliance between Daredevil and Fisk. A diner scene shows Matt threatening Fisk, prompting Fisk's cryptic response: "Is that coming from Matt Murdock… or your darker half?" This hints at a new threat forcing their collaboration.

Could Muse be that threat? Born Again seems influenced by Soule and Zdarsky's Daredevil comics. The Echo post-credits scene shows Fisk aiming for the mayor's office, and the Born Again trailer suggests his success, leveraging his resources and charisma. Following the comics, Fisk's anti-vigilante campaign directly clashes with Muse's actions, which glorify figures like the Punisher.

This shared opposition—Daredevil seeking to stop a killer, Fisk aiming to eliminate a threat to his authority—creates a forced alliance. Daredevil must work with Fisk, even though Fisk is actively trying to eradicate heroes like him. The series will likely feature other vigilantes like the Punisher and White Tiger, caught in the crossfire of Fisk's crusade and Muse's glorification of their actions.

While the Daredevil-Fisk rivalry remains central, Muse emerges as an immediate threat, potentially Daredevil's toughest opponent yet, necessitating an uneasy alliance with Mayor Fisk.

For more on the MCU's future, explore Marvel's 2025 plans and upcoming projects.

Note: This article was originally published on 8/10/2024 and updated on 1/15/2025 with the latest information on Daredevil: Born Again*.