With Daredevil: Reborn on the horizon, Marvel Comics has revealed the greatest weakness of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. While Daredevil possesses exceptional combat skills and has saved the world on multiple occasions, none of that matters when certain blows hit harder than others.
In Daredevil #18, it becomes clear that Matt Murdock’s blindness isn’t his biggest vulnerability. Unlike Superman, whose greatest flaw is Kryptonite, his true weakness goes beyond physical limitations or external factors.
Spoiler Warning: The following text contains spoilers for the latest Daredevil comic. If you haven’t read it yet and prefer to experience the surprises firsthand, consider bookmarking this page to revisit later.
The weakness of the Daredevil
In the latest Daredevil comic, the superhero continues his battle against the seven deadly sins, which have taken control of several characters from his inner circle and are attacking him in different ways. However, the most dangerous of them has forced Matt Murdock to confront a struggle he can’t escape—his own guilt.
In this issue, Jason becomes possessed by the power of Wrath, losing control of his actions. This puts Daredevil in an impossible situation: the villain has both Foggy Nelson and a mercenary—who has already lost an arm to Wrath—at his mercy. Both barely clinging to life, and Matt can only save one.
For many, the choice would be obvious—save his best friend, Foggy, and let the mercenary perish. After all, the villain has caused Matt immense pain, even killing people close to him in the past.
But Matt Murdock has always been guided by his faith and his unwavering commitment to doing good. His mission has never been about personal vengeance, but about saving as many lives as possible. Because of this, every difficult choice weighs heavily on him, leaving him haunted by guilt, no matter what he decides.
Even if he chooses to save Foggy, Matt knows he will never forgive himself for letting the mercenary die. Wrath is exploiting this inner turmoil, attacking Daredevil at his most vulnerable point—his guilt. By doing so, Wrath hopes to push Matt over the edge, breaking his resolve and driving him into a fury. The question is: will it work?
Classic decisions at Marvel
This kind of moral dilemma is a common trope in storytelling, frequently appearing in both Marvel and DC Comics. The goal is to push heroes to their limits—forcing them to choose who lives and who dies, ultimately proving that no matter what they decide, they can never save everyone.
In films, we’ve seen this play out in Spider-Man (2002), when the Green Goblin dangles a tram full of children on one side and Mary Jane Watson on the other, forcing Peter Parker to make an impossible choice between the woman he loves and innocent lives. Similarly, comic books frequently explore these high-stakes decisions, as seen in the latest issue of Daredevil.
This isn’t the first time Marvel has forced Matt Murdock to make such a devastating choice. However, in past stories, the decision typically involved two people close to him. Wrath, on the other hand, introduces a twist—exploiting Matt’s deep sense of compassion. The villain knows that Daredevil, guided by his moral code, cannot simply abandon a life, even if that life belongs to an enemy.
Daredevil vs. Iran
In Daredevil #18, the issue leaves readers in suspense, as it doesn’t reveal who Daredevil ultimately chooses to save. However, one thing is certain—his decision will put him on a direct collision course with Wrath. The bigger question now is what comes next, as the deadly sin still possesses Jason. Since Matt lacks the ability to perform an exorcism, there are only two possible ways to free Jason: through mercy or force.
More than just a battle against villains or supernatural forces, this moment highlights Daredevil’s greatest struggle—his own psyche. How he responds to this impossible choice will determine whether he has grown past his inner demons or if they will ultimately consume him.
