Daredevil: Born Again will fully integrate Daredevil into the MCU. But the new series could also introduce a more recent and terrifying villain.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe changed when the multiverse introduced a new range of characters that could appear. From Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool entering the canon to past Spider-Men joining forces with Tom Holland, the possibilities are endless. One of the biggest surprises to come out of The Multiverse Saga was the return of Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, who has appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and as Daredevil in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. But with Daredevil: Born Again bringing a reinvigorated Matt Murdock to the MCU, it could also open more opportunities regarding allies and enemies.
There have been countless reports about who could join Daredevil’s upcoming series, including the return of Jon Bernthal’s Punisher. But it hasn’t been a secret that Vincent D’Onofrio will return to oppose Daredevil as the Kingpin. But between rumored heroes and confirmed villains, there’s a middle ground where characters that have thrived in the street-level arena could appear in a new series. However, one character that would be a perfect addition may not be as old as Daredevil’s classic villains but is every bit as terrifying.
Muse Was a Deadly and Mysterious Villain
Muse first appeared in Daredevil #11 (by Charles Soule and Ron Garney) as a violent but mysterious serial killer who used his talents as a way to talk to Daredevil through art. However, the art Muse used involved the blood of missing people, including Inhumans. He became a driving force for Daredevil as his abilities made it, so he was elusive to police but one of the most wanted criminals in recent memory. Aside from strength or speed, Muse had the power of imperceptibility that made it so no one could easily pin the villain down. This allowed him to constantly evade the law and capture innocents.
Ultimately, Muse grew an attachment to Daredevil, inspired by his heroism, and tried time and again to give him a twisted challenge. But when defeated, rather than concede to his victor, he gave himself the death he deserved, walking into a pile of burning rubble. However, the real influence he left behind allowed for the Kingpin, now Mayor of New York City, to use Muse’s actions to push the outlawing of vigilantism in the city. Unlike Bullseye, who was easily predictable as he was a twisted mercenary, Muse was impossible to understand or face on almost any front, as he only lived to cause mayhem in the name of art. But this was only one aspect that would make the character a real threat to enter the MCU.
Muse’s Introduction Is Perfect for Daredevil’s MCU Debut
The original Daredevil series was heavily grounded even when it was tied to the early years of the MCU. In a world where aliens and Ultron existed, Daredevil showed that deadly threats could still exist among humans with characters like Kingpin and Bullseye. As Matt Murdock fought against corruption, his struggles felt even more tangible as he dealt with multiple crises of conscience and struggled with his faith. But what made the character so compelling, even when he entered the MCU, was that no matter what had him down, Daredevil would always fight to protect those in need, whether it was The Drip Broker or Peter Parker. With his character now in the MCU, Muse could be the perfect bridge between two worlds to offer a fresh take on the franchise.
Muse being a supervillain with powers would already be a fresh thing to see on a series that, previously, never faced enemies with immense power save for The Hand. Even still, those enemies were on par with Matt Murdock, whose skills were all self-made, save for his radar vision. For Muse, having a physical threat either working for or working parallel to the Kingpin would be a fresh step for a series that was in desperate need of a wider range of enemies. Daredevil has already proven he could tackle superpowered foes as Daredevil faced She-Hulk with almost no struggle. That said, Muse’s presence could open the door to more formidable superpowered enemies.
While Muse’s appearance would eventually lead to Daredevil facing powered enemies, like Typhoid Mary or The Owl, Muse could also set the hero up to face foes outside of his rogue’s gallery. With Kang the Conqueror on the horizon, as well as the addition of Moon Knight and Spider-Man being more active in the city, this could lead to team-ups where Daredevil could hold his own. Whether facing classic Spidey villains like Shocker or any enemies that Moon Knight has yet to face, he’s more than earned his spot to take them on one at a time. The biggest thing that Muse could bring for Daredevil, however, would be the experience necessary to work alongside The Avengers when the need eventually arises.
Muse Could Be Given a New Origin
The luxury of Muse in the comics was that his origin was never explored, meaning that he was nothing more than a superpowered being who was so threatening that understanding him was out of the question. This could also open a huge door for the MCU as introducing Muse could offer a chance to give him a tangible origin that wouldn’t infringe on his motivation or personality. This worked before as little-known villains like Whiplash and Mandarin were reworked into completely new characters that worked so well that they even improved the source villains. While Muse wouldn’t need a rework, the MCU has already set the stage to give him greater depth.
With mutants appearing in the MCU, superpowered individuals without serums or suits have become more and more commonplace. For Muse, a mutation would be the best way to explain why Muse, being the profound artist he believed he was, would see his mutation as a gift from the creative muses, perhaps giving him his name. Then, with this understanding, it could push him to use his skills to create “art,” kidnapping and killing humans and mutants to get the attention of heroes. Even better, whether Muse lives or dies, he could still feel more hatred toward mutants and vigilantes. In the end, Muse appearance in Daredevil: Born Again could offer a chance for the MCU to grow further while giving Daredevil a truly scary and challenging villain.
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