Is Marvel Reintroducing Shadowland’s Daredevil?

Daredevil’s going dark for the All-New, All-Different Marvel.

When Marvel Comics released their second teaser image for the post-Secret Wars Marvel Universe earlier this week, the publisher revealed a revised look for The Man Without Fear. But as many horn heads know, this “new” suit looks more like a return to one of Daredevil’s more infamous variants: The Shadowland costume.

The original dark-and-brooding duds appeared during Marvel’s 2010 crossover event, “Shadowland.” In the storyline, a demon possess Mat Murdock’s soul and drives him to commit all sorts of diabolical acts, like murder Bullseye, erect a super-prison in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen, and—oh yeah—ditch his iconic red suit for a stealthier, ninja-influenced alternative. But the black color scheme also carried thematic significance. By wearing all-black—like the bad guys!—Daredevil declared that he had entered anti-hero territory, and was far-too serious for silly red costumes.

With Shadowland as context, does this new black costume tell readers that a more sinister Daredevil will emerge from Secret Wars? Interestingly, Daredevil–the Shadowland version or otherwise–doesn’t have a Secret Wars tie-in book. Not that Matt Murdock isn’t in a dark enough place in the pre-Battle World Marvel Universe.

When readers last saw Daredevil in Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s Daredevill series (which must take place before Secret Wars #1’s incursions), he was in such dire straits that he brokered a deal with his arch-nemesis, the King Pin. That partnership has to put a dent in Matt’s happy-go-lucky attitude, giving him a decent excuse to wear the darker garb. Granted, the new version looks a little less sinister with more red highlights by the way of his gloves and boots, and less stabby arm blades.

Then again, the black costume may just be Marvel’s attempt to bring comic book Daredevil one-step closer to his Netflix counter-part. The series, which became a runaway success for Marvel, mostly featured Matt Murdock in a black suit with red highlights.

But what do you think of the black suit, readers? Is it a call back to Shadowland, a plug-in for Netflix, or something else entirely? Share your ideas in the comments.