UNDERBOSS (2001-2002)

Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev kick off their critically acclaimed run on Daredevil with the UNDERBOSS story arc. And it's not just the dialogue or the hell he puts Matt Murdock through. Matt Murdock's selfishness and self-righteousness is about to come back to bite both him and the Kingpin in the worst way possible. If this is a run you haven't read yet, then don't read this page. Instead, go and track down the original issues or the collected editions and treat your eyeballs to something beautiful. 

Matt Murdock is still reeling from the murder of Karen Page at the hands of Bullseye, while the Kingpin is coming to terms with the loss of his sight after betraying Echo who took her revenge by blinding him.

There's also a DAREDEVIL READING ORDER for this period to guide you through.

Past events that directly impact this story:

• BORN AGAIN - The Kingpin learns Daredevil's secret identity
• GUARDIAN DEVIL - The death of Karen Page

Minor Crossover: The Elektra tie-in shows that part of the story from her perspective, but isn't required reading.

• Daredevil #26-27
• Elektra #6 (tie-in) (also see 'NUFF SAID)
• Daredevil #28 (also see 'NUFF SAID)
• Daredevil #29-31

Daredevil #26

A week ago, Matt Murdock won a high-profile court case against a massive pharmaceutical company. But the win came with a price when Nitro exploded outside the courthouse, injuring number of people including his business partner and best friend Foggy Nelson. With the effect of the explosion still playing havoc with his senses, Daredevil chased down Nitro as Daredevil and beat him mercilessly to try to get some answers. In the present day, criminal Sammy Silke convinces the Kingpin's lieutenants to turn against their boss as they all stab him Caesar-style.

Daredevil #27

Three months ago, Sammy Silke was sent by his father to join the Kingpin's crew. He reunited with the Kingpin's downtrodden son, Richard Fisk, who ignores Silke despite knowing him since they were kids. A week ago, Daredevil handed Nitro over the the police. The hospitalised Foggy Nelson figured Nitro's attack was aimed at Daredevil rather than Matt Murdock. Foggy's step-mother Anna Nelson tried to convince Foggy to leave New York. Daredevil confronted the Kingpin who denies all knowledge of the attack. DD noticed a new heartbeat among the Kingpin's men belonging to Sammy Silke...

Elektra #6 (tie-in)

Matt Murdock's former lover and assassin-for-hire Elektra learns someone has placed a price on Matt Murdock's head. She makes her way to the offices of Nelson & Murdock, leaving Matt a note and intercepting assassin Angelica Roeg. Elektra defeats Roeg. Elektra takes a part of the costume Matt kept when she died and returns it to her own grave.

Daredevil #28

Matt finds Elektra's message, warning him that there's a price on his head. He thinks back to the night when Bullseye murdered his girlfriend, Karen Page, and wonders if this is all his doing. Attempts on Murdock's life by Shotgun and Boomerang both fail, as Bullseye watches from the sidelines. Daredevil senses him but loses him in the crowds in Hell's Kitchen.

Daredevil #29

Three months ago, Sammy Silke joined the Kingpin's outfit and began to challenge him immediately. Silke asked if the Kingpin would kill a lawyer who is causing problems for a pharmaceuticals company his family has a vested interest in. Learning that the Lawyer is Matt Murdock, the Kingpin refuses. Two months ago, Silke questioned the Kingpin's lieutenants learning from them that Matt Murdock is Daredevil. though they're under orders not to act on it.

Two days ago, Daredevil made his way into Fisk Tower to confront the Kingpin. Realising he's not the one who put the price on his head, Daredevil left a very vulnerable Kingpin in his tower, aware that his days may be numbered. In the present day, Vanessa Fisk travels from the safety of Switzerland to America when she hears the news of the assassination attempt on the Kingpin who's still alive, but is comatose and on life-support. News of the Kingpin's demise is leaked the news to the press as a cover story. Vanessa plans to get her husband out of the country and to find out who tried to kill him. She learns that their son, Richard, may be behind it all.

Daredevil #30

Two months ago, Richard Fisk suggested Sammy Silke stir up the Kingpin's men as he knew they won't listen to him. One month ago, Silke convinced the Kingpin's lieutenants to turn against their weakened boss in return for better pay. Richard Fisk put the word out that the Kingpin has put out an open bounty on Matt Murdock. In the present day, Daredevil meets up with Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich (who knows DD's true identity) and they both realise his secret may be out. Vanessa Fisk orders the Kingpin to be taken to Switzerland while she decides to stay long enough to punish the one responsible for her husband's condition...

Daredevil #31

Daredevil continues to search for answers on who put the price on Matt Murdock's head and comes up with nothing. Vanessa Fisk confronts her son, Richard, who believes he's freed them both from his father's control. Vanessa kills Richard for his betrayal, then arrange shits on all the other's involved in the attempt on the Kingpin's life. Silke escapes his would-be killers and turns himself in to the police, demanding protection. When he refuses to give them information on his father's criminal empire, he's forced to give them something else: Daredevil's secret identity.

Daredevil #32-34 (2002) 

Foggy Nelson is released from hospital; one of the cops sells Daredevil's secret identity to the Daily Globe; the press begin hounding Matt Murdock, but no one can prove he's Daredevil.

Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target #1 (2003) 

Daredevil confronts Bullseye (he then goes on to learn more about Bullseye's past, though the final three issues of this series were never released).

Daredevil #45-46 (2003) 

Daredevil learns the Kingpin is alive and back in town; Kingpin kills Sammy Silke; it's revealed that Fisk had an eye transplant that restored his sight.

Daredevil #50 (2003) 

Daredevil defeats the Kingpin and proclaims himself the new Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen; Fisk is imprisoned.

Daredevil #81-82 (2006) 

Matt Murdock is arrested by the FBI when the Wilson Fisk tricks him into proving he may be Daredevil; while Murdock is in prison, another Daredevil fights crime in New York, calling the rumours about Murdock into question.

Civil War #1 (2006) 

Nitro returns, this time killing over 600 people when he explodes in Stamford during CIVIL WAR.

Daredevil #87 (2006) 

Matt Murdock escapes prison and learns the new Daredevil is really Iron Fist.

Daredevil #89-92 (2006-2007)

Vanessa Fisk is revealed to have become very ill in due, in-part, to the guilt over killing her son; Vanessa Fisk dies, having set up a plan to 'prove' Matt Murdock isn'tDaredevil (though most people still believe he is).

Daredevil #1 (2011) 

The allegations that he might be Daredevil prevent Matt Murdock from practising law, forcing him to work in an advisory capacity.

Daredevil #35-36 (2014) 

Matt Murdock admits in court that he is, in fact, Daredevil; Matt is disbarred in New York.

Daredevil #1 (2014) 

Matt Murdock moves back to San Francisco where he can still practice law during ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW!

Spider-Man: The Clone Conspiracy #2-5 (2017)

Richard Fisk is resurrected in a clone body by the Jackal; Fisk returns to his Rose identity during THE CLONE CONSPIRACY.

Daredevil #17-20 (2017)
Daredevil frees the Purple Children from the Purple Man's control; in return, the Purple Children erase the knowledge that Matt Murdock is Daredevil from the minds of everyone in the world during RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL.

See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe chronology with these reading orders:

• DAREDEVIL: Out (2001-2003)