Marvel’s Reverse-Daredevil Is Still One Of Its Most Terrifying Villains

Marvel’s Daredevil has faced off against some of the most iconic villains in comics, but few were as terrifying as Ikari, who essentially served as the “Reverse-Daredevil.” While Ikari’s time in the comics was short-lived, he quickly proved to be one of Daredevil’s greatest threats as he possessed the same powers as the hero could see. Ikari nearly killed Matt Murdock, showing he was an incredibly underrated Daredevil villain.

Protecting Hell’s Kitchen has led to Daredevil battling some of the Marvel Universe’s greatest villains. Matt Murdock has taken on everyone from Kingpin, to Bullseye, to Kraven the Hunter, to the Purple Man, to The Hand. The hero has used his unique superhuman abilities, including his heightened senses, echolocation, and martial art skills, to take on sinister opponents. However, when he faced off against Ikari, he met a villain who matched his greatest abilities, as he was explicitly designed as the perfect counter to Daredevil. Ikari copied his origin, but with the twist he could also see.

In Daredevil #25 by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Javier Rodriguez, and VC’s Joe Caramagna, Matt Murdock comes face-to-face with a villain named Ikari, who claims to have the same powers as him. Ikari, which is Japanese for Fury, reveals someone used the same toxic chemicals that blinded Daredevil and gave him powers to give him his own abilities. In their first encounter, Ikari nearly beats Daredevil to death but leaves him with the warning that he can kill him at any moment and he should be scared.

Bullseye ultimately created Ikari to help kill Daredevil. The villain wore a yellow and red costume and had radar sense like the hero, but unlike Matt Murdock, he could still see. Ikari proved to be the ultimate Daredevil counter, as he terrorized the hero’s life. However, following an epic fight with Daredevil where the”Reverse-Daredevil” was going to kill him for good, the Shroud killed Ikari by throwing him off the side of a building. Daredevil would later go undercover as Ikari to try to take down Kingpin. The villain would only be seen again when his severed head was displayed as a trophy by Kraven the Hunter in Waid and Samnee’s run on Captain America.

Ikari’s quick demise cut short the potential for a Daredevil villain who represented the darkest side of the hero. Ikari had a great look, the same powers of Daredevil (plus sight), and was created specifically to take down Matt Murdock. It’s a shame he died so quickly, as Marvel’s “Reverse-Daredevil” was one of the most terrifying adversaries Daredevil ever faced. Hopefully, Ikari somehow returns in future Daredevilstories.

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Liam McGuire
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Lead writer for Screen Rant’s comic team. [email protected]. Find me on Twitter @LiamRMcGuire for comic news and reporting.

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