Adult
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Daredevil: Born Again
Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli
A hard-boiled story that breaks down Matt Murdock's life.
Superhero guide
Best Daredevil comics
Daredevil has two very different tones, dark and bright. Here are the runs people recommend, and which book to open first.
Daredevil is Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights crime in Hell’s Kitchen. He first appeared in 1964. Over the years the character has been written in two broad moods: a dark, grim street-level drama, and a lighter, more acrobatic adventure.
We list two books in our catalog as buy links and describe the other runs below, so you can search for the volume you want. Born Again is a dark classic, and Mark Waid’s run is the bright modern one. If you want to try the character, pick the tone you would enjoy.
Start here
Want the dark classic? Read Daredevil: Born Again. Want the lighter modern one? Read Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 1.
Two Daredevil books we list
Born Again is rated for adults in our catalog; the Waid volume is teen.
Teen
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Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 1
Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera
Collects the first six issues of Mark Waid’s Daredevil run, a friendly way into the character.
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The runs worth knowing
- Frank Miller (issues #168 to 191, and later issues): the run that introduced Elektra, Stick and the Hand and made Daredevil a major character. Miller wrote #168-191, #219 and #226-233.
- Born Again (issues #227 to 233): Miller with artist David Mazzucchelli, often called Miller’s finest Daredevil work.
- The Man Without Fear (1993): a miniseries by Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. that retells the origin.
- Mark Waid (2011 and 2014 series): drawn first by Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin, then by Chris Samnee. It returned Matt to a lighter, more acrobatic tone.
- Chip Zdarsky (with artist Marco Checchetto): a long, ambitious run that began in 2019 and is a good modern pick.
Ed Brubaker also wrote a well-regarded run in the 2000s; we leave it off the list because we could not confirm details. Search Amazon for any volume by name, or open the Comic Finder. For other Marvel hero starting points, see the best Marvel comics.
Questions people ask
What is the best Daredevil comic to start with?
It depends on the tone you want. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli is the dark classic, and it is rated for adults in our catalog. Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 1 is the lighter, more adventurous modern run and is a gentler first choice. Both are complete enough to enjoy on their own.
What order should I read Daredevil in?
There is no single order. Most readers follow one writer’s run in order: Frank Miller’s issues #168 to 191, then Born Again (#227 to 233), or Mark Waid’s 2011 series, or Chip Zdarsky’s run. The collected volumes are numbered, so read each run’s volumes in order. You can read the runs in any order.
What is Born Again?
Born Again is a Daredevil story told in issues #227 to 233, by writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli. It follows Matt Murdock’s life being taken apart by his enemy. Many readers call it Miller’s best Daredevil work. It is dark and rated for adult readers in our catalog.
Who created Daredevil?
Daredevil first appeared in 1964. Stan Lee and Bill Everett are the creators credited by most sources. The version most readers know, with Elektra, Stick and the Hand, came from Frank Miller, who wrote issues #168 to 191 and others. Later writers such as Mark Waid and Chip Zdarsky added their own tones.
Do I need to read Daredevil before watching the show or reading other Marvel comics?
No. The comics and the screen versions are separate, so you can enjoy either without the other. If you liked a show, a good comic to try is the one named after the arc you enjoyed. For other Marvel entry points, our best Marvel comics guide lists books that need no background.
Are Daredevil comics for kids?
Mostly not. Born Again is rated for adults in our catalog and the Waid run for teens. Daredevil is a lighter hero in some stories, but the character lives in a violent, crime-filled setting. Look through a copy and check the publisher’s age rating before buying for a younger reader.