Despite playing Matt Murdock’s Daredevil in live-action for nine years, Charlie Cox’s Man Without Fear still hasn’t used all of Daredevil’s abilities from Marvel Comics in the MCU. English actor Charlie Cox first appeared as Matt Murdock in 2015’s Daredevil season 1, the first chapter in Netflix’s Defenders Saga, produced by Marvel Television. He went on to lead three seasons of Daredevil, and star in The Defenders miniseries, before making the move to the MCU for appearances in Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Echo, and will soon reappear in his own MCU series, Daredevil: Born Again.
Following the January 2024 release of Echo on Disney+, Netflix’s Defenders Saga was integrated into the MCU’s official timeline, and confirmed to be canon to the franchise. This means that Charlie Cox’s previous adventures on Netflix now contribute to his official MCU history. Since 2015, Daredevil has demonstrated some impressive powers, gifted to him after he was exposed to chemicals and blinded as a child, allowing his other senses to be heightened to superhuman levels. Daredevil debuted in Marvel Comics in 1964’s Daredevil #1, and has displayed many incredible abilities that Charlie Cox’s live-action Daredevil hasn’t yet put on show.
10. Daredevil Is Impervious To Illusions
Daredevil’s Blindness Makes It Difficult To Fool Him
Since many illusions rely on eyesight to be fully convincing, Matt Murdock’s blindness means he is practically impervious to these dangerous scenarios. This became wholly evident in 2012’s Amazing Spider-Man #677, in which Daredevil teamed up with Spider-Man to find out who framed Black Cat for the robbery of a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi Hologram projector that created illusions, confusing Spider-Man, but having no effect on Daredevil. Daredevil has also battled Mysterio several times over the years, but his illusions have been mostly inconsequential.
In live-action, Charlie Cox’s Daredevil has never faced a villain capable of creating illusions, so has never had the opportunity to display this gift. However, it stands to reason that his blindness would be as valuable in preventing confusion from illusions as it is in Marvel Comics. This could become important in the MCU’s future, perhaps in Daredevil: Born Again or in Spider-Man 4, if Daredevil is involved.
Charlie Cox has been rumored to be appearing in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man 4, as both Daredevil and Spider-Man are now anonymous heroes protecting New York City.
9. Stick Trained Daredevil To Use Telepathy
Daredevil Rarely Uses His Telepathic Abilities
As a child, Matt Murdock was taken under the wing of the mysterious Stick, the blind leader of the Chaste who taught Murdock how to hone his superhuman abilities, allowing him to embark on a career as Daredevil. Stick not only helped Matt Murdock control his new enhanced senses and become a skilled fighter, but also trained Murdock to use some telepathic abilities. This has been a seldom-used power in Daredevil’s arsenal, but proved pivotal in battles against the mind-controller, the Purple Man.
Since Charlie Cox has brought a more grounded, down-to-Earth, and relatable version of Daredevil into live-action, introducing him with telepathic abilities may have been too far-fetched. Daredevil was a gritty exploration of Murdock’s exploits in New York, which perhaps wasn’t the place for his more fantastical abilities. However, this could be something that Daredevil gains in the MCU’s future, perhaps helping in his battle against Wilson Fisk.
8. Daredevil Can Block Others Using Telepathy On Him
Daredevil Has A Highly-Skilled Mind
As well as having access to some minor telepathic abilities, Matt Murdock is also able to block the telepathy of other characters in Marvel Comics. Through his training with Stick, Murdock was taught how to resist psychic intrusions, and how to navigate his complex superhuman senses. This means that any telepath powerful enough to enter Daredevil’s mind would be overwhelmed by the sudden barrage of stimuli, making Matt Murdock’s mind one of the most protected in the Marvel Universe.
Similarly to him not displaying his own telepathy in live-action, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock hasn’t crossed paths with anyone capable of reading his mind, so hasn’t had the chance to show off his telepathic resistance. Jessica Jones fought the mind-controller Kilgrave in her own series, but this didn’t include Daredevil. However, now set firmly in the MCU, Daredevil: Born Again could include telepaths, allowing Daredevil to show off this impressive skill.
7. Daredevil Received More Powers Through Demonic Possession
Matt Murdock Was Possessed By The Beast During Marvel Comics’ Shadowland
Marvel Comics’ Shadowland event in 2010 saw Matt Murdock’s Daredevil return to Hell’s Kitchen as the new villainous leader of the Hand. He comes into opposition from a number of street-level superheroes, who soon realize that Daredevil has actually been possessed by the Beast of the Hand. The Beast enhanced his physical abilities, allowing him to easily defeat supreme martial artists Iron Fist and Shang-Chi, and could regenerate from an attack from Wolverine’s claws.
Daredevil’s transformation into a villain in Shadowland would be fantastic to see, introducing an even more powerful incarnation. While these newfound abilities were only temporary, as Iron Fist uses his chi to heal Daredevil, this super-enhanced iteration of the character posed a significant threat to the heroes of New York City. This would put a brilliant dark spin on Daredevil’s MCU story, and could mark the consequences of his battles against the Hand in Netflix’s Daredevil.
The Hand was last seen in The Defenders, with the organization seemingly being dissolved after the deaths of its leaders, Alexandra Reid, Bakuto, and Sowande, and the apparent deaths of others, Madame Gao and Murakami, though their fates have never been revealed, creating the opportunity for the Hand’s revival.
6. The Grendel Granted Daredevil Symbiote Abilities
Daredevil Fought The Symbiotes In 2021
Similarly to his possession by the Beast of the Hand, Daredevil also became enhanced by his connection to a Grendel, one of the King in Black’s symbiotes, during 2021’s Daredevil (Vol. 6) #27. This granted him symbiote abilities along the lines of Venom, including an enhanced physiology, flight, an accelerated healing factor, the ability to manifest symbiote body parts, and nigh-immortality. Daredevil soon expelled the creature by electrocuting himself, reverting him to his normal power set.
Daredevil has never come across a symbiote in live-action, but there is a huge amount of potential for this to happen in the MCU’s future. After Spider-Man: No Way Home left a piece of the Venom symbiote in the MCU, it’s possible the alien creature could find a host in the MCU’s Spider-Man 4, and this could perhaps be Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. This could see him temporarily become a villain opposite Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
5. Marvel Comics’ Daredevil Is A Master Of Martial Arts
Matt Murdock Is A Boxer & Trained Martial Artist
Charlie Cox’s previous performances as Matt Murdock’s Daredevil have put the character’s boxing skills and background to good use, but have failed to display Daredevil’s incredible martial arts abilities. In Marvel Comics, Stick trained the young Matt Murdock relentlessly, making Daredevil one of the greatest martial artists in the Marvel Universe. This saw him fuse boxing with Ninjutsu, Jiu-jitsu, Aiki-Jujutsu, Savate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Judo, Krav Maga, Silat, Karate, Copoeira, Eskrima, Aikido, and Greco-Roman wrestling, only a handful of which Charlie Cox’s Daredevil has used in live-action.
Daredevil’s new home in the MCU proper will provide him with the perfect opportunity to put these martial arts skills to use. This could even see him cross paths with Shang-Chi, or fight alongside Iron Fist again, putting his new skills to the test. The MCU’s Daredevil has already shown off a more acrobatic fighting style, and this should only develop over time.
4. Daredevil Is Immune To Fear Toxins As The Man Without Fear
Daredevil Has Proven He Is Truly The Man Without Fear
Despite being gifted the nickname, the Man Without Fear, Matt Murdock does, in fact, feel fear. However, through years of training, he has been able to detach himself from his fear and emotions, to a level that borders on sociopathic, which means he simply is the Man Without Fear. Daredevil has been able to hone this ability so much that he has even become immune to fear toxins, such as those used by Mr. Fear in 1997’s Daredevil #365, making him even more formidable during battles against some terrifying villains.
Charlie Cox’s Daredevil has certainly demonstrated his willingness to leap into outmatched battles against more-powerful enemies, but he has never detached himself from his fear. In fact, it’s this fear that makes him one of the MCU’s most realistic heroes, as he’s just a regular guy, albeit with heightened senses, that wants to bring justice to those in the wrong.
3. Daredevil’s Will Allows Him To Resist The Purple Man’s Attacks
Matt Murdock Has Huge Determination & Mental Strength
While the MCU’s Thanos used his indomitable will to collect the six Infinity Stones and bring devastation to the universe, Matt Murdock uses his in Marvel Comics to do good in the world. Daredevil’s willpower is so strong, in fact, that he is one of the few people on Earth who isn’t susceptible to the Purple Man’s mind control, allowing him to easily defeat the Jessica Jones villain. Daredevil’s refusal to ever give up makes him a formidable ally, and sometimes dangerous adversary.
This indomitable will has somewhat been shown in Daredevil’s live-action storylines, as Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock has a hard time letting go, particularly throughout his feud with Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin. However, this hasn’t been proven to be strong enough to fight back powerful villains like Kilgrave, and his mind has been swayed on several occasions. Perhaps Daredevil’s future adventures can put more focus on this intense gift.
2. Daredevil Used Batons Forged From Yggdrasil In Marvel Comics
Daredevil Was Given Batons Made From The World Tree By The Keeper Of The Bifrost
During 2019’s War of the Realms event in Marvel Comics, which saw the heroes of Earth fight against the Dark Elf Malekith, who was leading an assault against Midgard, a.k.a. Earth, Daredevil saw some immense power upgrades. One of these involved him receiving batons forged from the wood of Yggdrasil, the World Tree that holds all the realms of the cosmos. The Keeper of the Bifrost gfited these to Daredevil, and suggested that he is more worthy of divinity than most other supreme beings.
Matt Murdock has used his batons and billy clubs in almost all of his adventures as Daredevil in the MCU, but these superpowered weapons haven’t yet been seen. Christopher Eccleston’s Malekith is regarded as one of the MCU’s most-wasted villains from 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, but an adaptation of War of the Realms could redeem him, and could see heroes, including Daredevil, get massive upgrades.
Loki season 2 established a new Yggdrasil in the MCU, created by Loki from the branching timelines of the multiverse, so Daredevil’s Yggdrasil batons could contain multiversal power in the MCU’s future.
1. Matt Murdock Became A God During War Of The Realms
Daredevil Wielded The Sword Hofund During War Of The Realms
As well as receiving incredibly powerful batons courtesy of the Keeper of the Bifrost, Daredevil also wielded Heimdall’s sword, Hofund, during War of the Realms, which transformed him into an all-seeing deity. This saw Daredevil at his most powerful, as he became the God Without Fear, restoring his sight and amplifying it so he could see everything in the universe. This also upgraded his physicality, making him stronger, faster, and more durable, and granted him flashes of precognition, to determine how best to handle situations.
Evidently, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock has never even come close to displaying the level of power that Daredevil harnessed during War of the Realms. However, now that Cox’s Daredevil is embarking on adventures in the MCU proper, surrounded by cosmic entities and supernatural presences, it’s possible that this elevated superhero could debut in the future, making an incomprehensible upgrade for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.
