The essential Daredevil crossovers are Shadowland (2010), Devil's Reign (2022) and Acts of Vengeance (1989), events where Matt Murdock switches between hero and threat, exploring the moral limits of the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.
Daredevil is a street character whose most memorable crossovers remain rooted in the darkness of New York. Unlike the Avengers or the X-Men, Matt Murdock shines in events on a human scale where the line between justice and revenge blurs. His participation in major Marvel crossovers brings a unique psychological dimension.
This guide analyzes the major crossovers involving Daredevil and the issues to acquire for each. Find the founding numbers of the character in our guide to Daredevil key numbers.
Shadowland (2010). The Fall of the Hero
Andy Diggle orchestrates Matt Murdock's descent into hell. Having become leader of the Hand, Daredevil builds a fortress in Hell's Kitchen and executes Bullseye. This crossover is the Daredevil event par excellence, where the hero becomes the villain of his own story.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Shadowland #1: Daredevil kills Bullseye. VF: €12-25
- Shadowland #5: Conclusion, Matt freed from the possession of the Beast. VF: €8-15
- Shadowland: Moon Knight #1-3: Highly sought-after tie-ins. VF: €6-12 each
- Daredevil #508-512: Direct prologue and epilogue. VF: €5-10 each
Devil's Reign (2022): Kingpin vs. All
Chip Zdarsky writes the ultimate confrontation between Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk who becomes mayor of New York. Fisk makes superheroes illegal, specifically targeting Daredevil. This modern crossover has become a must-have for collectors of the character.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Devil's Reign #1: Fisk declares war on the heroes. VF: €8-18
- Devil's Reign #6: Conclusion of the Fisk/Murdock conflict. VF: €8-15
- Daredevil #36-40: Zdarsky's run leading to Devil's Reign. VF: €5-12 each
- Devil's Reign: Omega: Epilogue and consequences. VF: €6-12
Secret Invasion (2008). The lawyer faces the impostors
The Secret Invasion Daredevil tie-ins explore Matt Murdock's paranoia when he discovers that Skrulls have infiltrated the Hand. His radar sense does not detect aliens, creating an unprecedented vulnerability for the fearless man.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Daredevil #107-110: Tie-ins Secret Invasion, infiltration of the Hand. VF: €4-8 each
- Secret Invasion #1: Start of the global invasion. VF: €12-20
- New Avengers #38-39: Daredevil among the secret Avengers. VF: €5-10 each
Acts of Vengeance (1989). The Deadly Exchange
Loki sends unusual adversaries against each hero. Daredevil faces Ultron, an enemy far above his power category. These numbers show Matt's determination and ingenuity in the face of the impossible.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Daredevil #275-276: Matt vs Ultron, memorable confrontation. VF: €8-15 each
- Daredevil #277-282: Sequel to Acts of Vengeance, “A Childs Play” arc. VF: €4-8 each
The War of the Realms (2019): Guardian of Midgard
Jason Aaron sends Malekith and his armies to invade Earth. Daredevil temporarily gains Heimdall's power, becoming able to perceive all worlds. A spectacular moment for the blind character.
Collectible Key Numbers
- War of the Realms #1: Invasion of Earth by Malekith's forces. VF: €8-15
- War of the Realms #3: Daredevil receives Heimdall's powers. VF: €10-20
- War of the Realms #6: Conclusion, Matt returns his powers. VF: €6-12
King in Black (2021): Absolute darkness
Knull, the god of symbiotes, invades Earth. Daredevil fights on the streets of New York overwhelmed by darkness, his senses heightened by the symbiotic threat. Street-level tie-ins offer a unique perspective on the cosmic event.
Collectible Key Numbers
- King in Black #1: Knull arrives on Earth. VF: €8-15
- Daredevil #25-28 (Zdarsky): Tie-ins King in Black. VF: €5-10 each
- King in Black #5: Conclusion, defeat of Knull. VF: €6-12
Organize your Daredevil collection crossover by crossover with our collection management application. Don't miss any The Man Without Fear tie-ins in major Marvel events.
In what order to read the Daredevil crossovers
The events above span more than thirty years. Reading them in publication order gives an overview, but the choice depends on what you look for in Matt Murdock.
Publication order. Acts of Vengeance (1989), Secret Invasion (2008), Shadowland (2010), War of the Realms (2019), King in Black (2021), then Devil's Reign (2022). You watch the character go from a mere opponent of Ultron to a hero able to perceive every realm, then to the target of a mayor who wants to destroy him. This path is the richest if you want to understand the evolution of the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.
The common thread: Fisk and the Hand. If the story that interests you is one of decline and rivalry, read Secret Invasion (the infiltrated Hand), Shadowland (Matt at the head of the Hand), then Devil's Reign (Fisk against Murdock). Three events, one theme: the line between justice and vengeance, which the character crosses or suffers in turn.
The events where he is only a guest. In War of the Realms and King in Black, Daredevil is one character among many in an event bigger than him. For these two crossovers, the main series tells the event, while the Daredevil issues proper give the street-level angle: that is where the character's specific interest lies. If your collection is about Daredevil rather than the event, favor these tie-ins over the main series.
Main series or tie-ins? A useful reflex: start with each event's main series, which serves as the backbone, then add only the Daredevil issues that frame it (prologue, epilogue or linked chapters). Tie-ins from other characters are not needed to understand Matt's place in the story, and they multiply purchases without enriching the targeted collection.
A tip for the collection. For each event, note the main series title, the tie-in issue numbers and the year: those three pieces of information are enough to spot what is missing. Because the Daredevil issues surrounding a crossover are often consecutive, a lot of consecutive issues of the series generally gets you the prologue, tie-ins and epilogue in one go.
Frequently asked questions
The three most notable are Shadowland (2010), Devil's Reign (2022) and Acts of Vengeance (1989), events where Matt Murdock swings between hero and threat. Secret Invasion (2008), War of the Realms (2019) and King in Black (2021) complete the list.
Andy Diggle orchestrates Matt Murdock's fall: as leader of the Hand, he builds a fortress in Hell's Kitchen and executes Bullseye. Collect Shadowland #1, #5 (conclusion), Shadowland: Moon Knight #1 to #3 and Daredevil #508 to #512 for the prologue and epilogue.
Chip Zdarsky writes the showdown between Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, now mayor of New York, who makes super heroes illegal while targeting Daredevil. The useful issues are Devil's Reign #1, #6, Devil's Reign: Omega and Daredevil #36 to #40.
His radar sense does not detect Skrulls, which creates a new vulnerability when he discovers they have infiltrated the Hand. The tie-ins to look for are Daredevil #107 to #110 and New Avengers #38 and #39.
Yes. In War of the Realms (2019, Jason Aaron), he temporarily receives Heimdall's power, in #3. In King in Black (2021), he fights Knull's darkness in the streets of New York, with the Daredevil #25 to #28 tie-ins by Zdarsky.