The Daredevil Dilemma: Can "Born Again" Revive Foggy Nelson?
The premiere of "Daredevil: Born Again" has ignited a firestorm of discussion among Marvel fans, not just for the reintroduction of Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, but for a shocking event that threatens to fundamentally alter the show’s landscape: the apparent death of Foggy Nelson. The opening episode, "Heaven’s Half Hour," pulls no punches, depicting a brutal attack orchestrated by Bullseye, culminating in Foggy’s tragic demise as he and Karen Page leave Josie’s Bar. This event, along with the collateral damage inflicted upon bystanders and the assassination of one of Foggy’s clients, serves as the series’ inciting incident, triggering Matt’s temporary abandonment of his Daredevil persona and Karen’s departure from New York.
However, this seemingly definitive demise has not sat well with fans, who are desperately searching for a loophole, a narrative thread that could potentially undo this devastating blow. Their hope rests on a seemingly innocuous detail: the address of Nelson, Murdock, and Page’s law firm. Briefly glimpsed in the opening episode, the firm’s location is identified as number 468. This number has sparked a frenzy of comic book sleuthing, leading fans to a potential lifeline in the form of Daredevil #468.
The significance of issue #468 lies in its title: "The Secret Life of Foggy Nelson." Published in August 2006 (as Daredevil #88 under the then-current numbering system) by Ed Brubaker, David Aja, Frank D’Armata, and Cory Petit, this issue presented a shocking twist: Foggy Nelson had actually survived an earlier assassination attempt and entered witness protection. This revelation occurred within the context of the "Devil in Cell Block D" storyline, where Matt Murdock was imprisoned on Ryker’s Island (a frequent location in the Marvel Universe) on charges related to his Daredevil identity.
During this arc, Foggy, acting as Matt’s defense attorney, was seemingly stabbed to death during a visit to Ryker’s. However, issue #468 revealed that Foggy had made a deal with the FBI on the operating table, agreeing to enter witness protection under the alias "Everett Williams" to ensure his safety while the authorities investigated the attack. The subsequent events involved Matt’s escape from prison, his exoneration, and his eventual discovery that Vanessa Fisk, the Kingpin’s terminally ill wife, had orchestrated the fake death as a means of revenge against both Matt and her husband. In exchange for exonerating Fisk, she offered to destroy evidence of Matt’s Daredevil activities in Europe, further strengthening his legal defense. Ultimately, Vanessa proceeded even when Matt refused, dying shortly after Matt found out that Foggy had survived, leading to the reunification of the Nelson, Murdock, and Page firm.
The parallels between the comic book storyline and the events depicted in "Born Again" are tantalizing, offering a potential pathway for Foggy’s return. However, there are significant differences in the depiction of Foggy’s death. In "The Devil in Cell Block D," the circumstances surrounding Foggy’s apparent demise were deliberately ambiguous. While he was stabbed, Matt could still hear his heartbeat with his enhanced senses, and dialogue from Dakota North implied that Foggy had stabilized in the ambulance. This vagueness allowed for the shock reveal of his survival to be genuinely surprising.
"Born Again," in contrast, presents a far more explicit and seemingly irreversible scenario. Both Karen, who was at Foggy’s side, and Matt, who witnessed the attack from a distance, experienced the moment of Foggy’s death. There is no indication of any life-saving measures being taken, and the overall tone suggests a definitive loss.
Therefore, while the appearance of the number 468 might be an intentional Easter egg, alluding to the comic book storyline, "Born Again" appears to be committed to portraying Foggy’s death as real.
Nevertheless, the world of Marvel, both within the comics and the MCU, is replete with instances of characters returning from the dead. The supernatural elements that have been woven into both Daredevil on Netflix and the broader MCU present myriad possibilities for undoing even the most certain of deaths. Ressurection spells, alternate dimensions, and even advanced technology could all conceivably be used to bring Foggy back into the fold.
For instance, the Hand, a ninja cult previously seen in the Netflix series, is famous for necromancy. They could be the force that revives him. Similarly, the multiverse opened up by recent MCU films offers infinite possibilities.
Given these narrative possibilities, the door is not entirely closed on Foggy’s return. However, as it stands, the show has offered very little concrete evidence to support this theory, besides the symbolic significance of the number 468.
The fan speculation surrounding Foggy’s potential resurrection highlights the deep connection that viewers have formed with these characters. Foggy Nelson is not merely a sidekick, he is an integral part of Daredevil’s world, providing legal counsel, emotional support, and a much-needed dose of humanity. His absence would undoubtedly leave a void in the series, and it is understandable that fans are reluctant to accept his death.
The writers of "Born Again" are likely aware of the intense scrutiny surrounding this storyline, and they may have intentionally included the address 468 as a subtle nod to the comic book history, a red herring, or perhaps a carefully planted seed that will eventually blossom into a full-blown resurrection plot.
Ultimately, the fate of Foggy Nelson remains uncertain. While the opening episode of "Born Again" presents a bleak outlook, the ever-evolving nature of the MCU suggests that anything is possible. Whether Foggy’s death is a permanent fixture of the series, a tragic but essential plot point, or a temporary setback that will eventually be reversed remains to be seen. For now, fans will continue to dissect every scene, analyze every detail, and cling to the hope that "The Secret Life of Foggy Nelson" will somehow find its way into the MCU, bringing back one of Daredevil’s most beloved allies.
