Daredevil collected editions

The Marvel Comics character Daredevil (the mantle assumed by Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios) first appeared in 1964 in Daredevil #1, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Bill Everett.[1]

The character's various appearances have been collated into hundreds of trade paperback, hardcover and omnibus collections.

Collected editions by era

Marvel's first attempt at chronologically collecting the core title was in 1991, with the Marvel Masterworks premium hardcover line. The series reprinted 10-12 comics per book.[2][3]

The next try was the Essential Marvel line, which reproduced comics in black and white. These books were released from 1996 to 2013, before being replaced by the full-color Epic Collections.[4]

Other than those, many other issues have been republished in collected form.

Volume 1 (1964-1998)

The first volume of Daredevil is defined by the 30 issues worked on by Frank Miller. "It's not an exaggeration to say that Miller created a whole new mythos for Daredevil," writes Comic Book Resources. "Miller's run resulted in an unofficial edict for Daredevil writers that "Matt Murdock must suffer.""[5]

After Miller, Ann Nocenti became the first woman to write the character, inventing the villain, Typhoid Mary, and redefining the role of Murdock's love interest, Karen Page. Described as "Daredevil's Most Underrated Writer", Nocenti "reimagined Karen Page as a three-dimensional character who was just as heroic, if not more, than Daredevil himself". This was in contrast to Miller's depiction that made "Karen undesirable and a damsel in distress, incapable of helping herself or anyone else around her."[6]

As well as the below, the full run of Volume One was reproduced through Marvel's Epic Collection.

Volume 2 (1998-2009, Marvel Knights Era)

In 1998, Daredevil was cancelled and relaunched, with a new #1. Filmmaker Kevin Smith served as writer and Joe Quesada as artist. This relaunch "set the tone for the entire Marvel Knights line, directly inspired subsequent depictions of the character in film and television and set the template for how to relaunch a Marvel character."[7]

The rest of the volume was dominated by Brian Michael Bendis' 55 issues, then 33 from Ed Brubaker. Bendis said: "I plan for the biggest, most elaborate feast I can do and dive in and hope for the best. Also it's Daredevil. I've been thinking about it like since I could read and Daredevil's one of those books that a lot of my heroes didn't just work on, but they did their masterpiece on."[8]

As well as the below, the full run of Volume Two was reproduced through Marvel's Modern Era Epic Collection.

Volumes 3 & 4 (2011-2014, Mark Waid Era)

Mark Waid became the writer of Daredevil in 2011.[9] The third and fourth volumes largely tell a continuing story, despite the #1.

On the transition, Waid said: "We were willing to take chances as storytellers and that (Marvel) would back us. We were making such a huge paradigm shift for the character and his world and his entire method of operation. We'd actually been given the chance to renumber last year, around the time of issue 22-23, but we said "no" then because it truly would have been an artificial break. This time, it makes sense.[10]

Volume 5 (2015-2018, Charles Soule Era)

After Mark Waid's run on the title, Charles Soule took Daredevil past issue #600. His arc saw both Daredevil and his arch-nemesis, Kingpin, become Mayor of New York. On this, Soule said: "I love the 'city under siege' sub-genre, where people trapped in some untenable situation have to find a way to survive and escape. It's a little tricky to pull something like that off in Marvel's New York City, but I like how it came together here."[11]

Volume 6 & 7 (2019-2023, Chip Zdarsky Era)

Canadian writer Chip Zdarsky replaced Soule in 2019. On his approach to the book, he said: "Things can't be business as usual no matter how badly Matt wants them to be. This series is going to be about big questions and finding answers in strange places. (Matt) is trying to prove himself. That he can do the job."[12]

Volume 8 (2023-2025, Saladin Ahmed Era)

American poet, Saladin Ahmed, had been working on Marvel's Miles Morales series when he swapped to work on Daredevil, from September 2023. "I felt like I had a new, unique take on Matt and on Hell's Kitchen," he said. "That's at the center of this… him and his world."[13] Ahmed's Daredevil ran for two years, ending in September 2025.

Collected editions by type

Daredevil Omnibuses

Daredevil oversized hardcovers

Marvel Masterworks

Launched in 1987, Marvel Masterworks was Marvel Comics' first attempt at republishing a series in full colour, beginning with a character's first appearance.

Mighty Marvel Masterworks

In 2021, Marvel launched a new version of Masterworks books as "more affordable versions of this once high-priced line".[14] These were paperbacks, sized at 6-by-9in digest editions.

Marvel Premiere Classics

Beginning in 2006, the Premiere Classic hardcover line "compiled selected storylines from ... five decades of Marvel history".[15] It was cancelled in 2012 after 107 volumes.

Marvel's Gallery Editions are large-format hardcovers that "emphasise the size of the pages printed rather than the amount of comics within. (This means) 13in/33cm in height, and 9.3in/24cm in width".[16]

Epic Collections

Marvel launched the Epic Collections line of collected comics in 2013. Marvel Senior Vice President of Sales David Gabriel said they were intended to be: "big, fat, color collections at the best price we can maintain."[17]

Though the books are often published out of order, Gabriel added: "When all is said and done, the Epic volumes will fit seamlessly next to one another on readers' bookshelves, presenting a complete and unbroken run of each title!"

The first Daredevil Epic released was Volume 18: Fall From Grace.

Modern Era Epic Collections

Daredevil's Modern Era begins among the earliest of Marvel superheroes. The first issue collected will be Daredevil (vol. 2) #1, from 1998. In comparison, for books like Spider-Man (2001) and Avengers (2004), the collections begin later.

Marvel Premier Collection

In late 2024, Marvel Comics announced plans for the Premier Collection, a new line of paperback digests "featuring Marvel's most celebrated and prestigious storylines and creators from its entire comic book legacy". Similar in size and scope to DC Comics' Compact line, the books measure 6in x 9in.[18]

Daredevil: Born Again was released in February 2025, with a new afterword by writer, Frank Miller; and an foreword from actor Charlie Cox, who plays Matt Murdock in the Daredevil television series.

Marvel Platinum

The Marvel Platinum series was produced by Panini UK, focusing on a different Marvel superhero each month. Its aim was to reproduce a series of 'definitive' stories, largely aimed at new readers.

Essential Marvel

Running from 1996, Essential Marvel reprinted issues in black-and-white paperback format. It was discontinued in 2013, and replaced by the Epic Collection.[19]

Limited Series

Other versions of Daredevil

See also

References

  1. Daredevil (1964) #1 Marvel, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  2. The Comicraft Marvel Masterworks Collected Comics Library, retrieved 3 October 2024^
  3. The Amazing Spider-Man on Marvel Masterworks Resource Marvel Masterworks Resource, retrieved 3 October 2024^
  4. Marvel Announces "Epic Collection" Graphic Novel Format Comic Book Resources, April 15, 2013^
  5. 10 Ways Frank Miller Changed Daredevil Forever Comic Book Resources, 27 June 2020, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  6. Daredevil's Most Underrated Writer Fixed Frank Miller's Worst Problem Screen Rant, 23 January 2022, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  7. Daredevil: How Smith, Quesada & Palmiotti Saved the Man Without Fear Comic Book Resources, 1 May 2020, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  8. Interview with Brian Michael Bendis (January 2021) Man Without Fear, January 2021, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  9. Mark Waid And Paolo Rivera To Relaunch Daredevil In July Bleeding Cool, 16 March 2011, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  10. Interview With Mark Waid Man Without Fear, January 2014, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  11. Interview: Soule Challenges Daredevil as a Superhero and NYC Mayor Comic Book Resources, 20 June 2018, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  12. Zdarsky and Checchetto Reveal First Details of Daredevil Relaunch Bleeding Cool, 30 November 2018, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  13. A New Daredevil #1 by Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder for September Bleeding Cool, 18 May 2023, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  14. MARVEL COMICS WILL RELEASE A NEW GENERATION OF LESS PRICEY MASTERWORKS COLLECTIONS ICV2, 29 January 2021, retrieved 5 October 2024^
  15. Marvel Comics ends Premiere Classic line Digital Spy, 16 August 2012, retrieved 6 October 2024^
  16. Marvel Gives Gallery Editions To Secret Wars and Wolverine & Gambit Bleeding Cool, 5 August 2024, retrieved 1 October 2024^
  17. Marvel Announces "Epic Collection" Graphic Novel Format Comic Book Resources, April 15, 2013^
  18. Marvel Comics Unveils All-New 'Marvel Premier Collection' Penguin Random House, 17 October 2024, retrieved 23 October 2024^
  19. Marvel Essentials Line To End, Replaced By Smaller, More Expensive, Colour Epic Collections Bleeding Cool, 17 April 2014, retrieved 2 October 2024^