Read the 50 Greatest Daredevil Stories of All-Time

This limited series by Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack, Klaus Janson, and Bill Sienkiewicz picks up in the near future of Hell’s Kitchen after Daredevil has been murdered. After a lengthy fight, Bullseye kills the Man Without Fear; Ben Urich takes the challenge of writing Matt Murdock’s story but gets side tracked when he stumbles onto the mystery of DD’s last word: “Mapone.”

Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr. introduce one of Daredevil’s most lethal foes. A femme fatale suffering from dissociative personality disorder, sweet and innocent “Mary “ captures Matt Murdock’s heart while “Typhoid,” a psychopath who possesses psychokinetic powers, works to break DD as a perfect weapon for the Kingpin.

This emotional issue by Frank Miller follows Daredevil as he visits a now paralyzed Bullseye in the hospital. DD brings a seemingly loaded gun and invites his archnemesis to partake in a game of roulette—but not the one you play in the casino. Matt tells Bullseye a story of a boy named Chuckie, and by the end everything comes full circle and highlights the man that Matt Murdock has become.

Zebediah Killgrave has returned—and he’s not alone. The assembled children of the Purple Man use their father’s own advice and turn against him. The kids then decide to see the city and start running amok all over San Francisco. The Man Without Fear gets wind of this and has no choice but to take them down.

Considered one of the most tragic tales in Marvel history, this issue follows Bullseye as he escapes from prison only to plot his revenge against Daredevil. The villain figures out DD’s secret identity and goes after what he cares about most: Elektra. The tragic ending sees Bullseye killing Elektra with her own weapon and would shake the Marvel Universe for years to come.

Daredevil’s longtime nemesis, the Hand, makes a power play for Matt Murdock’s soul in this Ed Brubaker-written arc. Inspired by the original Bullseye, who “saved” her life, a new villain dubs herself Lady Bullseye and takes on the contract on Matt Murdock’s life. Iron Fist, White Tiger, Black Tarantula, and Master Izo all pitch in against this deadly new threat.

Frank Miller and John Buscema tell a classic tale of a “nasty, rotten little town” in New Jersey and the crooks who want to keep it that way. Matt Murdock never dons the Daredevil costume in this issue—he never even speaks. He’s there to fight the battle of law and order and that’s it.

Frank Miller makes his artistic Daredevil debut in this issue written by Roger McKenzie. DD gets abducted by the Unholy Three and his allies must devise a plan to get him back. While the search and rescue mission rolls, Daredevil has to even the playing field against Death-Stalker if he hopes to beat this dimensional plane jumping villain.

Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack follow investigative reporter Ben Urich as he should be covering the murder trial of Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin, but instead seems strangely drawn to a young boy named Timmy, the son of the villain Leap Frog. With his dad missing, Timmy has been drawing pictures of him and Daredevil. What’s the mystery behind the villain’s disappearance?

Another Miller and McKenzie team-up witnesses the Hulk loose in New York. Matt Murdock senses the raging monster and sets out to confront him in his civilian duds. He manages to get the beast back into Bruce Banner and takes him somewhere to rest. On Dr. Banner’s way out of the city, a crowded subway manages to transform him back into the Hulk. Can DD talk him down twice?

Karl Kesel and Cary Nord highlight battle between the Man Without Fear and the Absorbing Man in this issue. DD struggles to fight for his life against a villain that can turn whatever he touches into a weapon. Meanwhile Karen Page discovers the shocking revelation of the true identity of Foggy Nelson’s mother.

Taking place after the leak of Daredevil’s secret identity, Redemption sees Matt Murdock taking a case for Emily Flood, a mother trying to protect her son and his friends. The David Hine and Michael Gaydos collaboration follows DD as he tries to prove his client’s innocence, with plenty of twists and turns on the way.

Bendis and Alex Maleev focus on a support group that meets in the basement of a local Hell’s Kitchen church, all who have been affected by Daredevil in some shape or form. The story takes place after Wilson Fisk’s fall and DD’s evolution into the new Kingpin. As each individual’s story gets shared, they soon realize they might be more connected than they all knew.

Set after the events of Dark Reign, Daredevil returns to Hell’s Kitchen a changed man and looking to utilize the Hand as a force of justice. His first order of business: kill Bullseye. Many heroes join his quest but soon begin to question his new methods. Could something be not quite right with ol’ Horn Head?

During a battle with Paste Pot Pete, Doctor Doom shows up, beats Daredevil to a pulp, takes him to his lair in Latveria and switches their minds. The villain then attempts to trick the Fantastic Four, but DD, as Doom, declares war on Latveria’s neighbors.  The FF begin to attack the real Daredevil and it’s up to Spider-Man to save our hero.

A murder investigation leads Daredevil to Taskmaster and Tombstone, in the middle of a contest to take out certain targets to gain entrance to a mysterious family. Before Matt can decide how to handle the two villains, the Punisher swings in and it’s up to DD to stop the villains and Frank Castle from murdering any more people in this D.G. Chichester and Lee Weeks story.

Bendis and Maleev continue their outstanding DD run. Matt’s identity has been ousted to the public. A new love interest debuts in Milla Donovan. The Owl rises to power and Luke Cage shares some strong words with our hero.

After beating Wilson Fisk to the brink of death, Matt Murdock has become the Kingpin of Hell’s Kitchen. After cleaning up the streets, Matt has hung up his horns— until the Yakuza make their move. Can DD survive the attack without the help of his friends?

Joe Quesada makes his return to Daredevil in this thrilling adventure set during a New York City heatwave. The current Marvel CCO writes and draws this mysterious tale about a serial killer gone rampant. With the scorching temperature rising and the city being pushed to the edge, will the Man Without Fear be able to catch this evildoer before Hell’s Kitchen crumbles?

A precursor to “Born Again,” this street tale by Denny O’Neil and David Mazzucchelli follows Matt Murdock as he investigates the supposed suicide of his ex-girlfriend Heather Glenn.  At the scene of the crime authorities found cigarette buds and evidence that her home had been burglarized, but who would steal from a dead girl? There’s only one way to find out…

Ann Nocenti and Barry Windsor-Smith craft a Daredevil and Black Widow team-up in this exciting issue. Vietnam vet and Super Soldier project reject Jack Hazzard starts to follow in the footsteps of the unstable volunteers before him and Natasha has to take him down. She enlists the help of DD, but even together will they be enough to take down this not-so-super soldier?

Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev end their DD run with a bang in this appropriately titled arc. The story contains the return of Bendis and Maleev mainstays, a battle with Bullseye and, of course, Wilson Fisk. The former Kingpin promises irrefutable proof, called “The Murdock Papers,” to the FBI of Matt Murdock and Daredevil being one and the same.

Karl Kesel, Cary Nord and Rick Leonardi create an unexpected team-up between Ben Reilly and Matt Murdock. Minutes after walking down the street with Peter Parker and Ben Urich, DD catches up with a “Spider-Man” and Ben explains the clone science. The heroes take on a not so bright villain named Shooter.

After the apparent death of Wilson Fisk, the Secret Empire, Hydra, the Hand, the Yakuza and other criminal underworld factions seek to redistribute control of the his vast empire—but not if Daredevil, the Punisher, and Nomad have anything to say about it.

Lee Weeks writes and draws this compelling three-issue arc that puts New York in the middle of a deadly snowstorm.  Daredevil sets out to save a little girl’s life and ends up saving many others on the way. Weeks puts in play a religious undertone through the arc in this heart-wrenching tale of life and death.

Peter Parker goes to San Francisco to interview Daredevil and Black Widow about their current mission protecting evidence for the Rolling Stones, but before the chat can begin, a new villain named Ramrod interrupts. Even with Spider-Man along, can Daredevil and Black Widow take down this new steel-skinned foe?

Investigative reporter Ben Urich figures out Daredevil’s secret identity of Matt Murdock. When confronted, Matt goes into detail and recounts his life story. Telling of his childhood, how he received his powers, his father’s death at the hands of the Fixer, and more, Matt pleads with Ben not to run with the story because if he did, there won’t be a Daredevil.

Investigative reporter Ben Urich figures out Daredevil’s secret identity of Matt Murdock. When confronted, Matt goes into detail and recounts his life story. Telling of his childhood, how he received his powers, his father’s death at the hands of the Fixer, and more, Matt pleads with Ben not to run with the story because if he did, there won’t be a Daredevil.

Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr. pit Daredevil and the Inhumans against Ultron! Doctor Doom fashions 12 Ultron robots that all fail, but using their parts he creates Ultron-13 and tasks it with killing DD. 13 minds in one robot proves to be too much and the sentient becomes infatuated with Number Nine of the Inhumans. Can our heroes stop the villain before he claims her for himself?

Mark Waid along with Paolo and Joe Rivera create a fantastic standalone story where Matt Murdock takes some of the students from the Cresskill School for the Blind on a trip that quickly goes south. The bus crashes in the middle of a snow storm and things get worse when one student goes missing, but a beautifully drawn tale about survival and leadership follows.

The Mark Waid and Peter Krause Infinite Comic follows the Man Without Fear on the way to his new home in San Francisco with girlfriend Kirsten McDuffie along for the ride! DD faces down Man-Bull, a doppelganger Daredevil, and the Mad Thinker all within four explosive issues!

Jim Shooter and Gil Kane throw all they can at DD. After losing his radar sense, Daredevil receives a challenge to take on Bullseye on live TV. Being the Man Without Fear, he accepts and actually defeats the villain only to learn the identity of the man behind Bullseye…

Spider-Man becomes blind at the hands of the Masked Marauder and who better to turn to than ol’ Horn Head? Daredevil tells Spidey they’re in this together and helps him cope with the transition. Together they fight the Marauder and Tri-Man, and just as Spider-Man’s spider-sense begins to heighten to Daredevil levels, his eye sight comes back and it’s off to beating the bad guys.

With Vanesa Fisk and her children murdered by Lady Bullseye, the Hand pulls the Kingpin back to the United States to exact his revenge. Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, and David Aja do the unthinkable in this five-issue arc when they team up our horn headed hero with his most hated nemesis to bring down their common foe. Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk fighting back-to-back!? This, you have to see.

Mr. Fear enlists the help of the Enforcers and puts a plan into action to destroy Matt Murdock’s life. He not only poisons Matt’s wife, Milla Donovan, but has her accused of murder. This six-issue story arc by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark pits Daredevil in a race against time, while a gang war with the Hood and the Wrecking Crew against Mr. Fear and the Enforcers threatens to destroy the city.

Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s opus wraps up everything that’s been throw at the Man Without Fear over their run to this point in a grand way. Bullseye has returned as the mastermind behind everything. Brought back to life by the Hand and Lady Bullseye, the villain sustains himself with hatred for Daredevil, but the hero refuses to play nice this time.

The all-star creative team of Kevin Smith, Joe Quesada, and Jimmy Palmiotti bring Daredevil to the forefront once again in this arc. Launched under the Marvel Knights line, the story follows Matt Murdock struggling against a familiar but new villain. Matt’s religion takes center stage, Bullseye does what Bullseye does best and there’s even a great heart-to-heart with Spider-Man.

With Daredevil’s alias leaked to the press, our hero must deal with everything that follows. To start, DD has no shortage of enemies willing to attack him while running an errand.

Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev pick up the baton and begin their long, acclaimed run on the Man without Fear with “Underboss.” The team set up a rising star in Kingpin’s vast organization out for than just Wilson Fisk—he’s looking to take out Daredevil too.

Wilson Fisk wants to reclaim his role as the Kingpin of Hell’s Kitchen, and first order of business? Take out Daredevil. Matt Murdock, still dealing with the fallout of his secret identity, finds himself bombarded by hordes of villain. The final fight between Murdock and Fisk proves brutal and ends with a new Kingpin: Matt Murdock.

Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark take over the billy club from after Bendis and Maleev send our titular hero to Ryker’s Island. Along with our hero in prison: his old pals Kingpin and Bullseye who have their own plans for Mr. Murdock. The assorted lot of super and not so super criminals put DD to the test and he receives some help from an unlikely ally—Frank Castle aka the Punisher.

Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. create one of the most influential Daredevil stories, retelling Matt Murdock’s origins in stunning fashion. From the accident that took away his sight as a child, to Stick’s mentoring, to the first time he ever put on the mask, this gritty noir take on the beginning of the Man Without Fear shaped the character for years to come.

Karen Page—former flame and secretary of Matt Murdock—now on a downward spiral sells DD’s secret identity. The information finds its way to the Kingpin who uses it to destroy Matt’s life in one of Daredevil’s most iconic adventures from Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.

With his secret identity out once again, Matt Murdock goes to great lengths to get his heroic antics back on track, faking his own death and suiting up in a new costume to become the “new” Daredevil. The story, by D.G. Chichester and Scott McDaniel, also sees our hero reunited with Elektra, and adopting the new alias of Jack Batlin.

A broken down Wilson Fisk loses control while Daredevil rises to the top. Matt Murdock regains his license to practice law, Kingpin’s empire crumbles, and the emotional ending finds Matt Murdock beating Fisk to a pulp and forgiving him for his atrocities, all while Spider-Man cheers him on.

J.M. DeMatteis concocts a brilliant arc that finds Matt Murdock completely broken. Daredevil’s psyche shatters. Two Daredevils: an violent thug-crippling vigilante and another dressed in the original yellow suit. Unknown to Matt, he’s both of them. Stick returns to take his protégé on a spiritual journey to become the man he’s supposed to be.

Wally Wood creates one of the most infamous tales in the Silver Age of Marvel. Namor the Sub-Mariner surfaces to hire Matt Murdock in a lawsuit against the surface world. When things start to go awry, Matt decides it’s time to get Daredevil involved.  It’s a “battle against all odds” for DD.

This Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale limited picks up in the wake of Karen Page’s death, narrated by Matt Murdock‘s letters to the deceased. Set as an origin story that follows DD in his yellow costume, we get early incarnations of rogues such as the Owl and Purple Man weaved throughout the storyline, and a touching resolution to Matt and Karen’s romance.

A Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz team-up, this tale shows Wilson Fisk’s one true love falling ill from a mysterious disease, and in true Kingpin fashion, he kidnaps a famous doctor’s wife, hoping to force him to treat his ill spouse. The result: an ensemble story, beautifully brought to life by Sienkiewicz art and Miller’s dialogue.

David Mack and Joe Quesada set up a tragic romantic entanglement in typical Daredevil fashion. Maya Lopez, aka Echo, becomes romantically entwined with Matt Murdock. The deaf vigilante, who has the ability to mimic or echo any fighting style she sees, simultaneously finds herself manipulated by the Kingpin to take down Daredevil.