1986: A Landmark Year in Comics — Daredevil: Born Again | SIDEBAR FOREVER

1986: A Landmark Year in Comics — Daredevil: Born Again | SIDEBAR FOREVER

From Sidebar Forever by Hosted by Dwight, Swain & Adrian

March 17, 2026 · 1h 6m · Episode 208

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of Daredevil: Born Again and its significance in the landmark year of 1986 for comics.

Forty years ago, comics hit a turning point. Mainstream and indie publishers alike released a wave of bold, groundbreaking stories that reshaped the medium. This is the first installment in our series, “1986: A Landmark Year in Comics,” and we’re kicking things off with Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. On the episode, we dig into the story’s brutal premise, as the Kingpin systematically dismantles Matt Murdock’s life, pushing him to his absolute lowest point before the long climb back. We also talk about how Miller only agreed to return to Daredevil after his iconic run if Mazzucchelli would pencil the story—and how Born Again helped set the stage for Mazzucchelli’s breakout work just a year later on Batman: Year One. Along the way, we touch on IDW Publishing’s Artist Edition of Born Again and how Miller’s Daredevil work influenced a generation of writers—including Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, and Chip Zdarsky—who would go on to craft their own celebrated runs with the character.

Topics covered

  • comics
  • Daredevil
  • Frank Miller
  • David Mazzucchelli
  • Kingpin
  • 1986

Keywords

  • Born Again
  • IDW Publishing
  • Batman: Year One
  • Brian Michael Bendis
  • Ed Brubaker
  • Chip Zdarsky

Mentioned in this episode

Products: IDW Publishing's Artist Edition of Born Again

Books & works: Daredevil: Born Again, Daredevil, Born Again, Batman: Year One, Artist Edition

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