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

Disney+ has released a new trailer for Daredevil: Born Again, premiering March 4th. This footage confirms what the D23 trailer hinted at: Daredevil and Kingpin, sworn enemies, will be working together against a common threat – the artistically inclined serial killer, Muse.

Who is Muse, and what compels these rivals to unite? Let's delve into this twisted Marvel villain.

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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 artistic expression. His debut involved a mural painted with the blood of a hundred missing persons; later, he orchestrated a macabre composition using the corpses of six Inhumans.

Muse's danger to Daredevil stems from his unique ability: his body acts as a sensory black hole, disrupting Matt Murdock's radar sense. Combined with superhuman strength and speed, he's a formidable foe.

His rivalry with Daredevil and Blindspot intensifies when he blinds Blindspot. After his capture, Muse self-mutilates, destroying his ability to create art. However, he escapes and resumes his killing spree, becoming obsessed with New York's vigilantes, creating twisted monuments to figures like the Punisher, coinciding with Mayor Wilson Fisk's crackdown on vigilantism. A rematch with Blindspot, aided by the power of The Beast, leads to Muse's suicide. Though his death occurred in 2018's Daredevil #600, his return is a distinct possibility in the Marvel Universe.

Muse in Daredevil: Born Again

The Daredevil: Born Again D23 and subsequent trailers confirm Muse's appearance, though the actor portraying him remains unannounced. His costume mirrors his comic book counterpart: a white mask and bodysuit with red "bloody tears." Scenes depicting his battle with Daredevil are featured in the NYCC trailer.

This suggests that Born Again, while sharing its name with the iconic 1986 storyline, draws inspiration from more contemporary comics. The original Born Again focused on Fisk discovering Daredevil's identity. The show, while centered on their rivalry, seems to diverge, particularly considering Fisk already knows Daredevil's identity in the MCU.

The show hints at a Daredevil-Fisk alliance, shown in a diner scene where Matt threatens Fisk, prompting Fisk's cryptic response: "Is that coming from Matt Murdock… or your darker half?" A significant new threat necessitates their cooperation.

Could Muse be that threat? Born Again seems to be heading towards a status quo mirroring Soule and Zdarsky's Daredevil comics. The post-credits scene in Echo shows Fisk aiming for the mayor's office; the latest trailer suggests his election, leveraging his resources and charisma. Following the comics, Fisk might campaign on ending vigilantism. Muse, in direct opposition, glorifies figures like the Punisher.

This shared opposition—Daredevil seeking to stop a killer, Fisk aiming to eliminate a threat to his authority—could unite them, forcing Daredevil into an uneasy alliance with Fisk, even as Fisk actively works to suppress heroes.

The series will also feature the Punisher and White Tiger, likely caught in Fisk's anti-vigilante crusade. Muse's glorification of these figures through his art adds another layer of conflict.

While the Daredevil-Fisk rivalry remains central, Muse emerges as the most immediate threat, potentially Daredevil's toughest opponent yet. His powers and bloodlust necessitate an unlikely alliance with Mayor Fisk.

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

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