Daredevil: Born Again’s Muse—The Blood-Soaked Villain Explained

Daredevil: Born Again has officially introduced its most gruesome villain yet—Muse from Marvel comics. Episode four of the Disney+ series marks the first appearance of the masked killer, and he's every bit as terrifying as his comic book counterpart. A deranged artist with a penchant for using human blood as paint, Muse has arrived to push Matt Murdock to his limits.

But who exactly is Muse, and how does Daredevil: Born Again adapt his twisted legacy from Marvel Comics? Here's everything you need to know about Muse and the chilling ways the show has reimagined him.

Who is Muse in Marvel Comics?

Muse made his debut in Daredevil (2015) #10, created by Charles Soule and Ron Garney. Unlike most villains, Muse isn’t driven by power or revenge—he sees himself as an artist, using murder as his medium. His introduction saw him create a massive mural painted with the blood of 113 missing people, earning him the nickname "Vincent Van Gore."

Daredevil and his partner, Blindspot, clashed with Muse several times, with the villain proving to be a nightmare for both. Unlike Matt Murdock, Muse didn't show up on radar—he was a void, unreadable by Daredevil’s enhanced senses. He also possessed superhuman agility, making him a formidable opponent in combat.

Muse’s most horrific act came when he kidnapped Blindspot, gouged out his eyes, and left Daredevil with a gruesome choice—save his friend or stop him. Eventually, Muse met his end when he ran into a fire, completing his "final masterpiece."

How does Daredevil: Born Again change Muse from Marvel Comics?

The MCU version of Muse keeps his eerie artistic tendencies intact but dials back his supernatural abilities. In Daredevil: Born Again, Muse is a bloodthirsty street artist who creates murals of New York's vigilantes—using real blood. However, unlike the comics, he appears to be a regular human without enhanced strength or sensory manipulation.

This change grounds Muse in the gritty realism of the Born Again universe, making him a more disturbing but believable threat. Despite lacking powers, he’s still a formidable adversary, with brutal martial arts skills and a deeply unsettling presence.

Another key change is the absence of Blindspot, Daredevil’s former sidekick, who played a crucial role in Muse’s comic book storyline. Instead, Born Again shifts the focus entirely to Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, using Muse as a catalyst to reignite Daredevil’s war on crime.

Muse’s role in Daredevil: Born Again

Episode four introduces Muse in a horrifying fashion. Seen dragging an unconscious body through a tunnel, he later straps them down and begins extracting their blood—one of the most disturbing moments in the MCU to date. His white mask, stained with streaks of red, closely resembles his comic book design, making him a nightmarish presence on screen.

Muse’s actions in Born Again also have larger implications. His blood-soaked murals threaten Wilson Fisk’s political career, forcing the new mayor to tighten his grip on the city. At the same time, his crimes push Matt Murdock to break his vow of restraint and return to the streets as Daredevil.

Who is Under Muse’s mask?

One of Daredevil: Born Again’s biggest mysteries is Muse’s true identity. Unlike in the comics, where he is an enigmatic Inhuman, the MCU version is likely someone viewers have already met. Marvel has yet to reveal the actor playing him, fueling speculation that he could be a familiar face in disguise.

Some theories suggest Muse might be a resurrected Bullseye, secretly operating under a new identity. Others speculate that Arty Froushan’s Buck Cashman, Fisk’s right-hand man, could be moonlighting as the sadistic artist. The most shocking theory? That Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson—whose apparent death has been questioned—could be behind the mask.

Regardless of who he is, Muse has already cemented himself as one of the MCU’s most unsettling villains. As Daredevil: Born Again unfolds, his blood-soaked rampage is sure to test both Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk in ways they've never faced before.

Where can you Watch Daredevil Born Again?

New episodes of Daredevil Born Again are available to stream every Tuesday on Disney+. The seventh episode will air on April 1, 2025. If you want to refresh your memory, we have recaps of Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, and Episode 4.