History of Daredevil: Origins and Complete Comics List

There are few characters whose first series was almost canceled due to lack of sales, and who end up becoming one of the most respected titles in the entire comic book industry.Daredevil, it's exactly this trajectory: from a minor superhero of the Silver Age, stuck between the giants that are Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, to a title that has systematically attracted the best authors of each generation. Frank Miller invented modern black comics there. Brian Michael Bendis delivered the run that redefined uncompressed storytelling at Marvel. Chip Zdarsky signed there, between 2019 and 2024, what many consider to be the best Marvel run of the decade. Few series can boast such a track record over sixty years.

Matt Murdock, blind lawyer by day and vigilante in Hell's Kitchen by night, is also one of the most "adult" characters in the Marvel universe. His stories deal with urban crime, judicial corruption, the Catholic religion, depression, social justice. This realistic and concrete dimension makes Daredevil a perfect series for the collector who wants to combine reading pleasure and investment in quality issues, because the great runs of Daredevil age remarkably well and their price remains stable, even constantly increasing.

This guide will give you everything you need to know to understand theDaredevil genesis, follow thecomplete list of comics in chronological order, identify themajor runsand thekey issuesto be integrated as a priority. We will travel together through the seven volumes of the series, from the origins of 1964 until Vol.7 launched in 2024, clearly distinguishing each creative era and the essential arcs.

The birth of Daredevil: Marvel in 1964

In 1964,Stan Leeand his collaborators had already created the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, the X-Men and the Avengers. Marvel needed new titles, and Lee was looking for a hero grounded in urban reality: a blind lawyer whose other senses are overdeveloped, defending the innocent with law by day and force by night. The name "Daredevil" had been used by Lev Gleason Publications in the 1940s, but the copyright had fallen into the public domain.

Stan Leewrote the script for the first issue, withBill Everett(creator of Namor) in drawing andSteve Ditkoto the inking of certain pages. The origin story lays all the canonical foundations:Matt Murdock, son of boxer Jack "Battlin' Jack" Murdock, is blinded by a chemical accident in Hell's Kitchen. His remaining senses become superhuman, with a "radar sense" compensating for his blindness. After his father is murdered by gangsters, Matt vows to fight crime under the identity ofDaredevil. The first yellow costume will be replaced by the iconic red from the#7.

The seven volumes of Daredevil: the complete list in order

The Daredevil series has had seven official volumes since 1964. Understanding these volumes isindispensableto buy, sell and organize a collection. Here is the exhaustive list with dates, releases and key creative teams:

The great Daredevil runs: guide by author

It is by hisauthor runsthat Daredevil stands out. Here are the essential creative periods to know:

• Lee & Wally Wood (#5-11, 1965)— Wood redesigns the costume (change to red in #7) and elevates the series to the rank of Silver Age classic in just 7 issues.
• Lee & Gene Colan (#20-100, 1966-1973)— 80 numbers that permanently define the character's look. It was under Colan thatBlack Widowshares the poster (#81+).
• Frank Miller (#158-191, #226-233, 1979-1986)— The revolution. Miller createsElektra(#168),Stick,The Hand, developedKingpin, orchestrates the death of Elektra (#181), and returns for“Born Again”(#227-233, with Mazzucchelli). Before Miller, the series was at risk of cancellation. Afterwards, it became one of Marvel's most prestigious titles.
• Ann Nocenti & Romita Jr. (#236-291, 1986-1991)— Underrated experimental run: political criticism, feminism, creation ofTyphoid Mary(#254). Currently being re-evaluated by collectors.
• Kevin Smith & Quesada (Vol.2 #1-8, 1998)—Marvel Knights Relaunch. "Guardian Devil" and the death of Karen Page relaunched Daredevil as a prestige title.
• Bendis & Maleev (#16-81, 2001-2006)— 55 issues focused on the public revelation of Murdock's identity. Maleev's photo-realistic style influenced an entire generation.
• Brubaker & Lark (#82-119/#500, 2006-2009)— Matt in prison, escape, reconstruction. "The Devil in Cell Block D" And "The Return of the King" maintain a remarkable level.
• Mark Waid & Samnee (Vol.3-4, 2011-2015)— Luminous counterpoint after years of darkness.Eisner Award 2012. 54 consistent issues, highly sought after in collections.
• Charles Soule (Vol.5, 2015-2019)— Murdock Assistant District Attorney, identity restored, creation ofBlind spot. Run underpriced, excellent buying opportunity.
• Chip Zdarsky & Checchetto (Vol.6, 2019-2024)— 5-year saga unanimously acclaimed: accidental murder, prison, duet with Elektra, climax "Hell's Kitchen". Already rising in rating.

The 5 major Daredevil arcs to know

Certain arcs transcend their run and have become absolute references in the medium:

• “Born Again” (Vol.1 #227-233, 1986)— The absolute masterpiece.Miller & Mazzucchelli: Karen Page sells Daredevil's identity to Kingpin, who methodically destroys Matt Murdock's life. Consistently ranked among the top 5 superhero comics of all time.
• "Guardian Devil" (Vol.2 #1-8, 1998-1999)—Kevin Smith & Joe Quesadarelaunch the series under Marvel Knights. The death of Karen Page and the religious themes make this a pivotal arc.
• "Out" (Vol.2 #32-40, 2002)—Bendis & Maleevsign the arc that changes everything: Murdock's identity published in the press. The very concept of secret identity is deconstructed in 9 issues.
• "The Devil in Cell Block D" (Vol.2 #82-87, 2006)— First arc ofrun Brubaker: Matt Murdock in prison, surrounded by his worst enemies. A tense prison thriller.
• “Know Fear” / “Through Hell” (Vol.6 #1-20, 2019-2020)— The first two arcs of therun Zdarsky: Matt accidentally kills a burglar, is arrested, goes through an existential crisis, and emerges transformed.

Daredevil key issues: the key numbers to know

Here are the essential numbers to watch for when building a structured Daredevil collection. Values ​​shown are estimates in CGC 9.0-9.2 for modern comics and CGC 4.0-6.0 for Silver/Bronze Age, based on eBay and Heritage Auctions sales from 2024-2025. For a complete guide to key numbers, check out our dedicated articleTop 10 Daredevil Key Numbers.

Essential Miniseries and Collecting Tips

Unlike Spider-Man or Batman, Daredevil has always been focused onone main series, supplemented by some essential mini-series:

• Man Without Fear #1-5(1993, Miller & Romita Jr.): rereading of the origins, raw and cinematic style.
• Daredevil: Yellow #1-6(2001, Loeb & Tim Sale): nostalgic story centered on Karen Page.
• End of Days #1-8(2012, Bendis, Mack, Janson, Sienkiewicz): futuristic story of the death of Daredevil.
• Woman Without Fear #1-3(2022, Zdarsky & de Latorre): Elektra as Daredevil.

To manage a complete Daredevil run, the functionalityMy Comics Collection Collection Trackerallows you to map your progress volume by volume and identify your missing numbers. Also see ourComplete Daredevil Collecting Guideand ourTop 10 Daredevil Key Numbers.

Where to start based on your budget:with 50-100 euros, the Zdarsky run (Vol.6 #1+) is an ideal entry point. With 200-500 euros, add Waid/Samnee and the first Bendis. With 500-1,000 euros, target mid-grade Miller key issues (#168, #181, #227). Above 1,000 euros, aim for Daredevil #131 (Bullseye) or a CGC copy of #1 in acceptable condition.

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