A single comic just changed Daredevil’s entire backstory

Mike Murdock began as a lie Matt Murdock would tell to keep people from knowing he was really the superhero Daredevil. He would pose as his own twin brother in order to evade scrutiny as Matt, eventually going so far as to stage “Mike’s death.”

Then, in an accident of super powers a few years ago, a living, fully adult Mike Murdock was created, with full awareness thathe was an accidental human copy of a flimsy lie. But this week, in a Daredevil comic, Mike Murdock used cosmic shenanigans to become Matt’s real twin brother.

So Daredevil has a real twin brother now.

What else is happening in the pages of our favorite comics? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. If you missed the last one, read this.

---

Daredevil Annual #1

Image: Chip Zdarsky, Manuel Garcia/Marvel Comics

Like a kind of superhero Pinocchio, Mike Murdock’s story is about lies, and wanting to be a real boy. So he stole an Asgardian artifact and a book of magic and put the two together to retroactively create his own life as Matt Murdock’s scrappy brother who was also raised by Battlin’ Jack Murdock. Daredevil Annual #1 lays out a whole new backstory, where Mike was around for the accident that caused Matt’s blindness, and where Matt went off to college and a law degree while Mike stayed in the neighborhood and started hustling for supervillains.

And his best friend and partner in crime is ... Wilson Fisk’s son?

Batman: Three Jokers #1

If there’s anyone that the long-awaited Three Jokers #1 is for, it’s people who like that sweet, sweet Jason Todd angst.

X-Men #11

X-Men #11 instantly added itself to the list of great Magneto moments in history. In the book, Erik fends off an entire Cotati invasion from Krakoa. This version of the character has big Ian McKellen energy, as Magik interrupts him in the middle of some naked meditating and then he dons his classic villain colors to enter the fray.

John Constantine: Hellblazer #9

Image: Simon Spurrier, Matías Bergara/DC Comics

News broke recently that Hellblazer is among a handful of DC books getting canceled in the not-so-far-off future, which is a pity because it’s just been consistently great storytelling with consistently amazing art. Pick it up in trade!

Teen Titans Annual #2

Image: Robbie Thompson, Eduardo Pansica/DC Comics

So, Damian Wayne quit being Robin this week. We’ll see how long it sticks, with Teen Titans also on the chopping block and lots of stuff in Gotham City on the verge of major change.

Suicide Squad #8

Image: Tom Taylor, Daniel Sampere/DC Comics

Suicide Squad, alas, will also be turning in its brain bomb in November, which is too bad because DOGSHOT.

X-Factor #2

Image: Leah Williams, David Baldeon/Marvel Comics

In this week’s X-Factor, Leah Williams and David Baldeon continued their streak as the horniest X-Men book (not a low bar, actually!) by taking the team to Mojoworld, the absurd entertainment dimension. Naturally, Mojoworld has gone full Twitch stream, and the chat votes on whether to let you over the border. Daken was banned for lewd.

Action Comics #1024

Image: Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr./DC Comics

Nothing really to say here. I just found this panel, in which a time-traveling Brainiac 5 is so excited to see the real Daily Planet that he hugs the globe, to be extremely pure.