The blind vigilante gets his own Netflix series starting today, April 10. Check out the outfits he's worn over the years and decide which ones were sexy and which plain sucked.
For someone who has been blind since he was a wee lad, Matt Murdock—a.k.a. Daredevil, the Man Without Fear—has certainly become quite the clothes horse in his adult years.
Daredevil went about 25 years with only slight modifications to his crimefighting attire. But when he reached the 1990s, he started making costume changes like he was Katy Perry performing "Hot 'n' Cold" in concert. Unfortunately, DD's outfits aren't nearly as tasteful as Katy P's, especially when the guy already sported such a simple, classic look to begin with. Makes you wonder if the "Man Without Fear" monniker applies to what Daredevil is willing to be seen wearing in public.
Hornhead's clothing choices are back in the spotlight for two reasons. First, his personal style in the comics has gone from utilitarian and combat-ready to natty and dressed to the nines (see below). Second, Marvel Studios just dropped its 13-episode Daredevil series on Netflix today, Friday, April 10. Early rumors were that DD might not be sporting a costume —or not one that resembles his classic, crimison look—through much of the first season. But a leaked Netflix image and trailer Thursday might have shot down that idea. We'll just have to wait for Friday's binge watchers to spoil the surprise for the rest of us.
With that in mind, we take a look at the evolution of Daredevil's outerwear over the years, sending 10 of his costumes down the runway to decide whether the outfit shows the hero has Fashion Sense or whether he's just another Fashion Victim.
1964: Original Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Dardevil (vol. 1) #1
What's the Verdict? Fashion Victim. The costume's overall design harkens nicely to Matt Murdock's boxing heritage, but the clashing color scheme of yellow and red show that it must have been thrown together by a blind man.
1965: Classic Red Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Dardevil (vol. 1) #7
Why the Change? Murdock explains that the new threads are a way to upgrade the functionality of his costume, as well as to give himself a more distinctive look. Let's face it, yellow isn't a color usually associated with heroes.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Sense. Simple, stylish, sensible and striking. Daredevil wore this outfit in the comics for almost 30 years.
1989: The Trial of the Incredible Hulk Costume
First Appearance: The Trial of the Incredible Hulk NBC TV movie
Why the Change? Apparently, an entirely red costume with a horned mask wasn't realistic enough for this made-for-TV movie. But Rex Smith's portrayal of blindness was realistic enough for the filmmakers? Go figure.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Victim. The design has some merit—shades of it will pop up in later looks—but all that goes out the window when the costume is pieced together with an off-the-shelf Danskin leotard and leggings and second-hand fetish wear.
1993: Armored Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Daredevil (vol. 1) #321
Why the Change? After his classic duds were torn to shreds in a fight, Daredevil throws the baby out with the bathwater in redesigning his new armored costume, which is constructed from lightweight polymers and other advanced materials. The armor features padding reminiscent of designs from Frank Miller's Ronin, as well as built-in holsters for his upgraded billy clubs, which transform into nunchuks and a bo staff.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Victim. Daredevil will never be accused of being a fashion pioneer (cut him some slack, he is blind), and this style choice was an example of him following the pack of other superheroes switching to armor in the 1990s. Everyone from Batman, Captain America and even Spider-Man decided to go "metal" with extra padding and protection to show how tough they were. Like all fashion trends, this look was abandoned almost two years later for the classic crimson after the armor was trashed by a bad guy.
1994: The Man Without Fear Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Dardevil: The Man Without Fear #5
Why the Change? This costume isn't a change so much as it's a forerunner to Daredevil's original outfit. Murdock dons the heavy black sweats and black bandana around the eyes to rescue a kidnapped girl before he adopted his hero persona.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Sense. This costume takes the TV movie design—as well as elements from a 1980s flashback story written and drawn by Frank Miller, who also wrote Man Without Fear—and does it right. Trailers and still photos from the Netflix series show that Daredevil will most likely be sporting a version of this costume early on.
1998: French Connection Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Dardevil (vol. 1) #377
Why the Change? Daredevil has his memories and identity stripped away so he can go on an undercover mission in France for the super-spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. Eventually, he decides it's a good idea to wear this costume. The story that introduces this outfit is almost as ridiculous as the costume itself.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Victim. The less said about this costume the better. He only wore it for three issues.
2003: Ben Affleck Costume
First Appearance: Daredevil movie
Why the Change? For Daredevil's theatrical movie debut, the filmmakers made a good-faith effort to adapt the hero's classic comic book costume to the big screen. What's that saying again about good intentions and roads to Hell?
What's the Verdict? Fashion Victim. This costume almost works, but the whole isn't greater than the sum of the parts of it that do work. And that open collar? No. Just. No.
2005: Samurai Biker Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Daredevil: Father #3
Why the Change? Murdock mixes and matches the antique samurai armor and robes in his townhome to create this battle outfit. Then he hops on a motorcycle and does his best impersonation of Kaneda from Akira and goes up against a super-gang calling itself The Santerians.
What's the Verdict? Push. There's no two ways around it: This costume is a big, hot mess. But that gives it its charm. How charming, though, does it have to be to be considered a success? It'd have to be 10 times more charming than that Arnold from Green Acres, ya know what I'm saying?
2011: Shadowland Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Shadowland #1
Why the Change? Matt Murdock is possessed by a ninja demon, turns Hell's Kitchen into a brutal, urban prison called Shadowland, becomes all murder-y and gives his costume a jet-black dye job. He also adds stabby things to his forearms, which ninja demon-possessed vigilantes are wont to do.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Victim. Some heroes need to realize that once you go black, you should immediately reconsider that style choice and go back to your more traditional color scheme. Which is exactly what Daredevil did after he was un-possessed.
2015: Red Suit Costume
Marvel Comics
First Appearance: Daredevil (vol. 4) #14
Why the Change? Having left his secret identity in the dust, Matt Murdock decides there's no reason he needs to keep donning the Daredevil costume. Out goes the horned mask; in comes the three-piece, crimson suit with a black shirt and crimson collar tip accents.
What's the Verdict? Fashion Sense. It's a sharp look, but it's hardly groundbreaking. As stated earlier, Daredevil tends to follow the herd when it comes to fashion. For instance, DC Comics good guy The Question has been sporting the tie-and-suit-jacket look for decades. And Moon Knight adopted a button-downed, monochromatic style last year.
All this, of course, begs the question:
WHO WORE IT BETTER?
