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It's an exciting time for fans of the Man Without Fear, as Daredevil enthusiasts are in for a double treat. The beloved Netflix series is set to continue with "Daredevil: Born Again" on Disney+, and on the comic book front, Marvel is launching a new miniseries titled "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell." This series reunites writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven, previously known for their work on "Death of Wolverine." The intriguing premise of "Cold Day in Hell" draws inspiration from "The Dark Knight Returns," promising a fresh and compelling narrative for Matt Murdock.

IGN had the opportunity to speak with Charles Soule via email to delve deeper into what this new series means for the beleaguered Matt Murdock. Before we dive into the details, take a moment to enjoy an exclusive preview of "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" in the slideshow gallery below.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 Preview Gallery

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The comparison to "The Dark Knight Returns" is apt, as "Cold Day in Hell" is set in a future where Matt Murdock has lost his powers and is dealing with the trials of old age and his tumultuous past. Soule shared with IGN that Matt isn't the only hero who has retired in this future Marvel Universe, but something will inevitably draw him back into action.

"Matt's older, for sure," Soule explains. "We don't get specific with it, but the idea is that he left superhero life behind many years ago. Not just him, either - in the world of Cold Day In Hell, superheroes are long gone, at least in comparison to the way they operate in the present-day Marvel Universe. The reason for Matt leaving Daredevil behind is actually pretty simple, if you're using superhero logic. As we all know, Matt got his powers by being accidentally dosed with radioactive goop. Radioactivity fades with time, and in this story, the idea is that over time Matt's powers faded away too. He's still got all his combat training, but he hasn't used it for a very long time. He is, to put it pretty plainly, an ordinary older man with an extraordinary past that he's worked quite hard to move beyond. At least, that's our status quo as we begin."

While "The Dark Knight Returns" is a significant influence, the "aging superhero returns to action" trope is a familiar one in comics, seen in various Marvel titles like "The End" series and "Old Man Logan." Soule highlights the appeal of this narrative approach.

"For me, the tonal switcheroo you get when you show familiar characters at unfamiliar points in their lives can be a really potent way to define them in new ways for readers," Soule says. "It also lets you define them more clearly. What parts of Matt Murdock persist when his ability to be a superhero in the traditional sense vanishes? He's clearly not Daredevil when we begin - does he need to be? Stories like this give you the best of both worlds - they can let you strip the hero down to their bare essentials while also letting you come up with a lot of fun ideas that are outside the regular continuity in some ways."

Soule further elaborates on the unique setting of "Cold Day in Hell," noting, "Cold Day In Hell takes place in its own corner of the Marvel Universe where terrible things have happened in the somewhat recent past, the after-effects of which resonate through the lives of the characters and the story. So, Steve and I get to make up a bunch of cool new things that use iconic Marvel elements, while also putting our own spin on all of them. That is… what many of these stories do, and of course I think Steve and I were both inspired by other brilliant variations on this theme."

This isn't the first time Soule and McNiven have explored themes of mortality in a Marvel hero's story. Their previous collaboration, "Death of Wolverine," also tackled this concept. When asked if "Cold Day in Hell" could be seen as a companion piece to "Death of Wolverine," Soule responded thoughtfully.

"I think everything we do together is in some ways a companion piece to everything we've done," Soule says. "I've been truly fortunate to work with Steve as much as I have. From the Wolverine stories, to Uncanny Inhumans, to Star Wars, and now Daredevil, I think everything we've done is an evolution of our ability to work together, and our friendship outside the comics. I have immense trust in Steve's ability to just, you know, do amazing things on the page, and I think he feels the same way about my scripts, hopefully. This book was extremely collaborative in a way that was a bit of an experiment for us, a back and forth discussion as scripts and inks and dialogue and colors came in throughout, and I think people are going to see that on the page. Steve called it 'jazz' at one point, and I don't think that's so far off. I'm really proud of all the work I've done with Steve, but this one really stands out."

One of the highlights of stories like "Cold Day in Hell" is witnessing how a hero's allies and enemies have aged. Soule is cautious about revealing too much about the roles of Daredevil's supporting cast and villains but promises significant surprises.

Soule teased, "Don't want to say more than that, though - that stuff is part of what I think people are going to tune in for."

With the release of "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" coinciding with the debut of the "Born Again" show, it's evident that Marvel is capitalizing on this synergy. Soule assures that "Cold Day in Hell" can serve as an accessible entry point into the Daredevil comics, even for those unfamiliar with the extensive continuity.

Soule says, "I think so! It's designed as a story people can pick up and enjoy if they know the most basic things about Daredevil and his past - blind, Catholic lawyer who had super-senses and ninja training at one time, but now he doesn't. It probably helps if you know a bit about some of the key adversaries and allies in Matt Murdock's orbit, but you don't have to."

The upcoming "Daredevil: Born Again" series on Disney+ draws inspiration from Soule's 2015-2018 run on the comic, including elements like Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York City and the villain Muse. Soule confirmed the influence of his work on the show and expressed his excitement about seeing his ideas come to life on screen.

"I've been fortunate enough to see the entire season of Daredevil: Born Again, and can confirm that the work I did with Ron Garney and my other amazing collaborators during my Daredevil run in the comics is all over the show," Soule says. "Mayor Fisk and Muse, yep, but other elements too, particularly just the thematic things we were playing with back in 2015-2018. As far as how it felt? It felt amazing. The thought that these ideas will be reaching that many people, when I can still remember writing them down in my red Daredevil notebook almost a decade ago now as things that might be cool... what a wonderful thing. I think fans will really enjoy the show."

"Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1" is set to be released on April 2, 2025.

For more insights into what's coming from Marvel Comics, explore what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and discover our most anticipated comics of 2025.