The Daredevil TV series starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock is one of the most beloved entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, developing a loyal and passionate fandom over the course of its three-season run. And while the series’ Netflix run ended on Season 3, recent developments have given fans hope that the show’s story isn’t over yet.
Charlie Cox recently reprised his role as Matt Murdock for a brief cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, around the same time that his nemesis the Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) returned in the Hawkeye series. And now that Daredevil has officially moved to Disney Plus along with the other MCU Netflix shows, it’s beginning to look like a revival is in the cards — and more seasons will surely mean more comic villains making their live-action debut. Here are just a few bad guys who could challenge the Man Without Fear in the future of the MCU.
Mister Fear
One of Daredevil’s earliest comic villains is the frightening Mister Fear, created by Stan Lee and Wally Wood for Daredevil #6 all the way back in 1965. The original Mister Fear was a chemist named Zoltan Drago, who used his scientific expertise to create a gas that induced intense fear in any who inhaled it. (Any similarities to the Scarecrow of Batman fame are unintentional — he didn’t start using his iconic Fear Toxin until 1967’s Batman #189.)
Drago was later killed by the mad scientist Starr Saxon (later the Captain America villain Machinesmith), who stole his equipment to become the second Mister Fear. However, the character to hold the mantle the longest is Larry Cranston, a law school professor who was once classmates with Matt Murdock himself. While Mister Fear may not be the most iconic Daredevil villain, his trademark Fear Gas makes him a perfect foe for the Man Without Fear.
Jester
Another classic Daredevil villain, the Jester made his comic debut in 1968’s Daredevil #42 by Stan Lee and Gene Colan. The Jester’s true identity is Jonathan Powers, a struggling actor whose talent is vastly outweighed by his ego. Though Powers mastered fencing, gymnastics, and all manner of other skills in order to increase his versatility as a performer, his lack of actual acting skill left him unable to land any roles. And so, Powers wound up working in children’s TV, where he was stuck getting pied in the face instead of showcasing his dramatic range.
Fed up with his perceived mistreatment by society, Powers hired the Tinkerer (a Spider-Man villain who sells weapons to other criminals) to craft an array of gadgets for him. By becoming the villainous Jester, Powers was able to take vengeance on the world that wronged him — mainly by committing petty, overly theatrical crimes. While the Jester of the comics may not feel at home in the gritty Hell’s Kitchen of the MCU Daredevil, he could easily be retooled into a more sinister character.
Bushwhacker
Created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Rick Leonardi, Bushwhacker first appeared in 1987’s Daredevil #248. Originally a CIA agent named Carl Burbank, the cyborg killer Bushwhacker was equipped with a mechanical gun-arm, which he puts to good use as a mercenary. Selling his services to the highest bidder, Bushwhacker has worked for the likes of Kingpin, the Hood, and Baron Zemo, and has done battle against Wolverine, the Punisher, Iron Man, Deadpool, Luke Cage, and even the Hulk. However, his most prominent enemy is of course Daredevil, who he has a personal grudge against. Thanks to his cyborg enhancements, Bushwhacker would make a formidable foe for Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, who has little experience fighting superhumans.
Nuke
Nuke is an interesting case, because he’s technically already appeared in the MCU. In the comics, Nuke (real name Frank Simpson) is a super-soldier created by an offshoot of the Weapon X program, who first appeared in the 1986 story arc “Born Again” by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. In the story, Nuke is characterized as a Vietnam War veteran who was so traumatized by the war that he believes it’s still going on. Hired by Kingpin to kill Daredevil, Nuke leaves a path of death and destruction in his wake until he’s eventually stopped by Daredevil and Captain America.
In the MCU, the character of Nuke was loosely adapted in the form of Will Simpson in Jessica Jones, played by Wil Traval. Likewise, “Born Again” served as the basis of Daredevil Season 3, in which Nuke’s role in the story was replaced by Benjamin Poindexter, aka Bullseye. Even so, Nuke is a memorable member of Daredevil’s rogues’ gallery, and there’s still room for a more faithful adaptation of the character in the MCU.
Stilt-Man
Finally, this fan-favorite villain is deserving of a mention. Created by Wally Wood, Stilt-Man first appeared in 1965’s Daredevil #8. Originally an engineer named Wilbur Day, Stilt-Man commits robberies using his high-tech battlesuit, which is equipped with a pair of telescopic legs — hence his codename. His gimmick may be a goofy one, but it’s that very campy charm that has endeared Stilt-Man to Marvel fans for decades. Even so, Stilt-Man may be a bit too silly for the MCU’s Daredevil. Perhaps Deadpool or Howard the Duck would make a better fit for his nemesis.