Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 (2025)
In a surprising twist, it appears that one of Daredevil’s most formidable adversaries shares a deeper connection with Matt Murdock than his long-time ally, Foggy Nelson. While Foggy has played a crucial role in providing balance to Matt’s tumultuous life, it’s become clear that one particular villain truly understands the heart of the hero. Matt, shaped by suffering and dedicated to improving the future, finds an unlikely kinship with his greatest rival.
The recently released comic, Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1, crafted by Charles Soule and Steve McNiven, presents a haunting narrative set in a semi-apocalyptic landscape. In this grim future, many of Marvel’s iconic heroes have either retreated from duty or faced their demise.
In his later years, a power-less Matt Murdock is striving to assist those around him, trying to make a difference despite the absence of his Daredevil identity. Nonetheless, he seeks comfort from reflective memories and, in moments of vulnerability, reaches out to the one person who has truly known him: Wilson Fisk.
Kingpin Is Secretly Daredevil’s Closest Confidant
The relationship forged between a hero and a villain transcends the superficial boundaries typically seen in comic narratives. Over time, the initial animosity gives way to a profound understanding of each other’s motivations, aspirations, and fears. Few pairs exemplify this dynamic better than Daredevil and Kingpin. Initially clashing in Daredevil #170 (1981) — a cleverly crafted tale by Frank Miller — their relationship mirrored that of a standard heroic confrontational trope. Yet, as the story progressed, their shared experiences of cruelty and justice blossomed into something more complex.
As their battles continued, both characters began acknowledging their respective strengths. Each, a resilient survivor, discovered not only their differences but also their similarities amidst contrasting moral philosophies. Ultimately, they converge on a common aim: protecting Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil embraces a vision of peace and justice through legal means while Kingpin believes in imposing order through authoritative control. Their dynamic reached a pinnacle in Daredevil #300 (1991), where they openly recognized their intertwined destinies and the impact they’ve had on one another’s developments.
Foggy Can’t Inspire Daredevil’s Growth Like Kingpin Can
Decades of Fighting Have Led to Mutual Respect
The bond between Daredevil and Kingpin surpasses that of Matt and Foggy, forging unique mutual growth through contrast. While Foggy serves as a critical stalwart in Matt’s life, he fails to challenge him as Kingpin does. The events driven by Kingpin’s machinations have imparted a profound transformation on Matt, instilling in him a depth and devotion that enables dramatic personal evolution. The tumultuous interactions between Daredevil and Kingpin have ultimately strengthened them both, transforming their enmity into respect forged through shared trials.
In the twilight of his life, Daredevil finds inconsolable solace not in his still-living friends but at the gravestone of Kingpin. He wrestles with apprehensions about other heroes, such as Jessica Jones, and grapples with the changes wrought by time. As depicted in Cold Day in Hell, Matt feels a sense of decline, even as the world crumbles around him. Both Daredevil and Kingpin now stand as relics from a bygone era, their dreams dimmed along with the decay of Hell’s Kitchen and the greater New York City.
Daredevil and Kingpin’s emotional and philosophical challenges have only solidified their mutual resolve, fostering a respect that serves as the backbone of their intertwined fates.