Alternate versions of Daredevil

In addition to his mainstream incarnation, Daredevil has had been depicted in other fictional universes.

1602

In Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602, set in Earth-311, Matthew Murdoch is first introduced as a blind balladeer. Secretly he is an adventurer for hire, who charged reasonably excessive prices to anyone who had the money, for any job. Matthew, as a child, was a fearless boy who would explore anywhere. One day he discovered a dark cave that glowed inside from a green substance. As a boy Matthew thought nothing of tasting it, and so he did to know what it was. He discovered nothing about the green substance and continued to explore the dark cave. He soon walked back the way he came. At first he assumed he felt the pebbles of the beach beneath his feet and could not see anything merely because it was nighttime. His mother later found him with a fever and muttering to himself about darkness. She also discovered that her son is completely blind. Though he lost his sight, the rest of Matthew’s senses became functioned with superhuman sharpness. Matthew traveled as a blind beggar and poet, singing songs of heroes, and appearing weak and helpless. His true nature would be revealed when he was either on a job for a client or attacked.

The Queen of England’s head spymaster, Nicholas Fury, had hired him to hunt down and protect Donal, the Templar keeper of Thor’s staff. On the way to meet Donal he encountered a woman named Natasha (aka the Black Widow), whom he referred to as the most dangerous woman in Europe. His analysis of Natasha proved to be very accurate when she betrayed him by smashing a bottle over his head and pushing Matthew off a bridge into a canyon below. But Murdoch survived, and appeared again in a dark cave just in time to save Donal from being attacked by Natasha’s men. Matthew attempts to rescue Donal from her by taking him as away as he could. But Natasha had the cave entrance surrounded with a garrison of men, sent by Count Otto von Doom of Latveria to capture the old man’s treasure, Donal, and Matthew Murdoch. Doom imprisoned them in one of his castle’s cells and worked to uncover the secrets of the golden bauble that Donal gave to him to distract him from the true treasure: the staff. Donal was also in contact with Doctor Strange, the former Queen’s court magician and physician, who informed them that a group of heroes were on their way to the castle.

When the imprisoned Captain of the Fantastic Four railed against his stone prison, it shook the castle from its foundations and freed Murdoch and Donal. Murdoch used his abilities to carry the old man and leap from wall to wall to the courtyard many feet below. When Doom’s men cornered them, after Donal demanded to find his staff, the old man used it to transform himself into the Thunder God, Thor. Thor used his immortal powers to stop Doom’s men and assist Carlos Javier’s witchbreed in their attack on Doom’s castle, finally allowing Doom to use Thor’s electricity to explode the golden sphere that Donal had given him, scarring Doom and bringing him to the brink of death. Then, while Donal-as Thor-joined the group aboard their ship, headed to the New World to fix the tear in their universe, Murdoch used his own means to leave Latveria.

Murdoch later appeared to King James, in the dark, threatening to cut his throat if he ever attacked the late Queen’s spymaster, Fury. He then disappeared through the window, promising to return again if James was untrue to his word. And with a final warning not to touch his home land of Ireland.

2099

* Marvel Knights Daredevil 2099 is Samuel Fisk, a grandson of Wilson Fisk, who feels some remorse over his grandfather's actions, and carries on the legacy of Daredevil, as well as the Kingpin legacy he inherited.
* The one-shot "2099 A.D. Genesis" (Jan. 1996) introduced a Marvel 2099 version of Daredevil, opposing the corporate criminals of Alchemax in a futuristic New York.

Age of Apocalypse

In the "Age of Apocalypse" timeline, Keeper Murdock serves Mikhail Rasputin, one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen. Exposure to toxic waste during his time in one of Apocalypse's labor camps for humans caused Murdock's blindness and powers, though he believed his powers were granted by an implant given to him by Rasputin. When he accidentally touched the incapacitated Empath, he realized the error of his ways and sought repentance.

House of M

In the "House of M" crossover, Matt Murdock/Daredevil is romantically involved with She-Hulk.

Earth X

In the "Earth X" series, an invulnerable stunt man, thought by the Thing to be Deadpool, goes by the name of Daredevil, as well as donning a costume that looks somewhere between that of Daredevil and Evel Knievel. This version craves his own death.

End of Days

"Daredevil: End of Days" is a future comic book that will chronicle Daredevil's final days. [cite news|author=Richard George|title=NYCC 07: Daredevil Is Going to Die|publisher=IGN|date=2007-02-24|url=http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/767/767747p1.html|accessdate=2007-03-17]

Exiles

First mentioned in "Exiles" #12, the Daredevil from Earth-181 was revealed to be an assassin working for his reality's Kingpin.

Lev Gleason Publications/Mutant X

An unrelated superhero named Daredevil, published by Lev Gleason Publications during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books, wore a red-and-blue costume and fought crime with boomerangs. The alternate universe version of Matt Murdock in the "Mutant X" series wore a similar costume as an homage.

Marvel Mangaverse

The Marvel Mangaverse features a version of Daredevil called the Devil Hunter. His costume is patterned after an oni, or Japanese demon.

Marvel Zombies

Daredevil appears in the limited series "Marvel Zombies vs. the Armies of Darkness". While still un-zombified, he is seen fighting the villain Thunderball. Ash, misunderstanding, helps Thunderball win the fight.

Daredevil also appears in . He shows up on the scene in order to save a terrified Nova from the zombified Spider-Man. Ironically, he becomes a zombie when Spider-Man bites him on the back. In the limited Marvel Zombies series, Daredevil is among those who chase and eventually eat Magneto, but not before Magneto hurls an I-beam completely through his torso. It is assumed he is eventually destroyed after several zombies gain the Power Cosmic and incinerate all the other zombies.

MC2

In the alternate timeline published under the MC2 imprint, Daredevil is murdered by the Kingpin while saving the life of Kaine. Kaine attempts to revive Daredevil by sorcery, but inadvertently bonds both Daredevil's soul and the demon Zarathos to Reilly Tyne, who becomes the superhero Darkdevil.

Runaways

In a Runaways alternate future, Daredevil is a member of Heroine's team of Avengers.

Ruins

In the two issue Warren Ellis limited series Ruins. A newspaper headline reveals that Matthew Murdock was fatally injured when an atom truck crashed spilling a radioactive substance in his face. Thus he never became Daredevil.

Spider-Ham

The funny animal comic book "Spider-Ham" from the Marvel children's-comics imprint Star Comics included versions of Daredevil named "Deerdevil" and "Deviled Ham".

Ultimate Daredevil

:" See also: Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra for information on the two starring miniseries."Another version of Daredevil has appeared under the Ultimate Marvel imprint, which updates and re imagines Marvel characters without linking them to previous Marvel Universe continuity. Ultimate Daredevil has appeared in two different limited series "Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra", written by Greg Rucka, and "Ultimate Elektra", written by Mike Carey. These both focus on Daredevil's beginnings, with Matt Murdock as a law student at Columbia University.

An older Daredevil has also made guest appearances in "Ultimate Marvel Team-Up", "Ultimate Spider-Man Annual" #2, and the "Blockbuster" storyline in "Ultimate X-Men". This version of Murdock also acted as Bruce Banner's attorney in "The Ultimates 2". On "Ultimate Spider-Man" Annual #2 and #106, The Man Without Fear has begun recruiting heroes such as Moon Knight, Shang-Chi and Spider-Man as a team to take down the Kingpin. It is revealed in "Ultimate Spider-Man" #109 that Matt Murdock's father was a boxer killed by the Kingpin (a.k.a. Wilson Fisk) when he wouldn't throw a match. Later, after the Kingpin burns down his law offices, a crazed Daredevil breaks into Fisk's apartments and threatens to murder the comatose Vanessa Fisk by snapping her neck, but is convinced not to by Spider-Man.

Old Man Logan

In a alternate future, fifty years after the superheroes lost a great battle, two young men dressed as Daredevil and the Punisher are found chained together on a pole by a new Kingpin, who has killed Magneto in the past, after an attempted mission to free the town from him. The man dressed as Daredevil asks for the whereabouts of Spider-Man's granddaughter, who is also the daughter of the Avenger Hawkeye. The new Kingpin states that he's still thinking of what to do with her and that Daredevil and the Punisher got off easy. They were then eaten by raptors.

References