Recommended Citation
Favaro, Marco (2025) "Devil in Heaven: The Role of Matt Murdock's Parents and Friends in the Creation of Daredevil's Identity," Heroism Science: Vol. 10: Iss. 2, Article 2.
DOI: 10.26736/hs.2025.02.02
Available at: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/heroism-science/vol10/iss2/2

Traumas and losses mark superheroes´ lives from the beginning. Often orphans, superheroes start their journey with the loss of a paternal or maternal figure. This tragedy destroys their previous world and identity, but it also gives them a purpose. The superhero character, Daredevil, is no exception; he experiences loss and pain, too. Matt Murdock’s life is marked by the death of many people close to him, starting with the loss of his father, which leaves the deepest scar on him. The assumption of the "super" identity is necessary to replace the previous one, shattered by the trauma suffered. Matt, traumatized, needs to create a new persona. This new persona comes with a new worldview and values, a new moral code that conflicts with the mainstream one. Daredevil's story highlights the contradictions of his character involving the balancing of his violent vigilantism with an Übermenschliche morality.