Daredevil: Born Again’s Secret Villain Muse – Marvel’s Psychotic Return

by

Speaking about comic book antagonists, Muse – a chilling supervillain – is a relatively modern creation, introduced by writer Charles Soule and artist Ron Garney in Daredevil Vol. 5 #11, which dropped in 2016. The concept revolves around him being a murderous artist who uses his violent acts as a means of creating what he perceives as art. Regrettably, Muse was terminated by Marvel just two years following his introduction, but death tends to hold little weight in the world of comics. Excitingly, his impending appearance in Daredevil: Born Again for the MCU has been scheduled for 2025, marking his comeback to Marvel Comics pages. Here’s a rundown on one of Marvel’s most deranged villains.

The Marvel Comics Debut of Muse

Initially, Muse unveiled his work by painting a chilling mural in the city streets of New York, using the blood of more than a hundred deceased individuals as pigment. Clad in an ominous mask, Muse possessed extraordinary swiftness and moderately enhanced physical strength. He was also capable of generating a disorienting whirlwind of sensory distortion around himself, making it almost impossible to trace him. In the mind of the twisted Muse, the lives of his victims were insignificant until they became integral components of his self-proclaimed artworks. As his second grand artistic endeavor, Muse arranged the lifeless bodies of six Inhumans in a manner that mimicked ordinary tasks.

In the process of Muse devising his subsequent blend of art and crime, which involved seizing control of a courtroom, Daredevil and the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen crossed paths with him. During this confrontation, Muse plucked out Blindspot’s eyes. Upon removing Muse’s mask, Daredevil discovered that his face resembled his unsettling mask, intensifying the sense of his instability. Muse displayed all the traits of a full-blown psychopath in the vein of the Joker, showing no respect for human life at all. The authorities eventually locked him up following his courtroom takeover, but Muse’s story didn’t end there.

Muse Becomes a Pawn for Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin

While Muse was incarcerated, Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin assumed the role of Mayor in New York City, largely on an anti-vigilante platform. During this period, Muse managed to break free from prison, despite it being guarded by the Inhuman race. With most vigilantes now labeled as criminals in the city, Muse paid tribute to them by vandalizing numerous New York landmarks with graffiti. He even acknowledged those who had previously confronted him.

In the process of crafting a homage to The Punisher, he encountered and clashed with local law enforcement who aimed to apprehend him. Instead of surrendering, he brutally killed these officers, incorporating their remains into his artwork. Mayor Fisk exploited this grisly act to intensify his harsh anti-vigilante legislation. Shortly after, Muse had another confrontation with Blindspot; instead of being captured, he chose self-immolation in a blazing inferno. It appeared that Muse had met his end, but as is often the case in comics, death doesn’t last long for many characters.

Muse’s Backstory Remains a Mystery

There’s much we still don’t understand about Muse’s true identity and origins. His past, prior to teaming up with Daredevil and Blindspot, remains shrouded in mystery. Even his real name is unknown, but in the Marvel Comics Universe, he’s been referred to as “Vincent Van Gore” by the media due to his gruesome killings. We’re also unsure of how he gained his abilities. It’s speculated that he might be a mutant, considering his attacks on several Inhumans during a period when tensions between mutants and Inhumans were high. However, it’s just as plausible that he was an Inhuman with personal grievances against his own kind.

The MCU Version of Muse in Daredevil: Born Again

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Muse’s design is strikingly similar to his comic book version, as shown in the trailer for “Daredevil: Born Again.” It’s worth noting that Wilson Fisk has been elected as the Mayor of New York in this series, mirroring his role in the comics during Muse’s initial appearance. The Punisher is also featured in the trailer, leading to a potential connection: Could Muse’s violent acts be manipulated to implicate the Punisher in more severe crimes? This could be a direct reference to the comic book stories within the MCU. However, it’s unlikely that Inhumans will play a significant role since they haven’t been fully integrated into the MCU yet. We’ll find out for certain when “Daredevil: Born Again” premieres on Disney+ on March 4.

Read More

2025-01-16 03:02