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Daredevil: Miniseries

Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock

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The fire that burns in the chest of Matt Murdock finds its origin in this story by fan-favorite writer Zeb Wells and international superstar Carmine Di Giandomenico. Learn the story of Daredevil's father - the comic-book icon Battling Jack Murdock - as he boxes four rounds in what is destined to be the last fight of his life. See what leads the man who raised Daredevil to betray his gangland bosses and fight with integrity... even if it means his own death! Collects Battling Jack Murdock #1-4.

104 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2007

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About the author

Zeb Wells

710 books72 followers
Zeb Wells is an American comic book writer known for his work at Marvel Comics, as well as his work on the animated TV series Robot Chicken.

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5 stars
111 (24%)
4 stars
201 (44%)
3 stars
109 (24%)
2 stars
23 (5%)
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5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,204 followers
May 24, 2019
Whoa, how have I never heard of this before a couple of weeks ago?

This is a story of Matt Murdock's father's last night alive. The 4 issues are the four rounds he goes before he wins the infamous fight which leads to his death. Each round he reflects about his life even before Matt is in it. You seem him grow from a pathetic henchman who beats people up for the Fixer, to him trying to get clean from alcohol to box once more, to trying his best to be a father. An abusive, drunken, loser to be frank but his life wasn't for nothing as he helps mold Matt into being one of the best heroes ever.

This is a darker look into the past of a man I knew about but never really cared about. This made me feel for him. I wasn't always on his side. He did terrible things, including beating up people for a gangster as well as slap his son around because he was too drunk and prideful. However, watching him push forward was so intriguing I couldn't stop reading. The end result made me super sad but also hopeful.

The only negative would be Matt's age and such. It's been awhile since read daredevil's older comics but watching him much older when his father dies, even starting to be a hero, felt odd. That's the only negative.

The rest I loved. This is a easy 4.5 but I'll bump it to a 5 because it was such a nice surprise.
Profile Image for Aaron.
1,091 reviews111 followers
September 23, 2014
This is a great example of a solid writer/artist team taking well-trod territory and filling it up with character and emotion, and subsequently elevating it to a new place. If you've ever read Daredevil, you're probably familiar with the often-rehashed bullet points of his origin story: while pushing an old man out of the way of an out-of-control truck, he's struck with radioactive waste, blinded, and given super senses. The real inciting incident for his path to becoming a full-fledged superhero, though, came from his father, Battlin' Jack Murdock. It's been covered, but never as in-depth as this.

The story's structured around 4 rounds of a fight Jack is supposed to throw, with each round encompassing an issue. Throughout this, flashbacks hash out the Battlin' Jack's motivations and various tribulations, along with adding some incite into Matt Murdock's origins, as well. The art is stellar, and the story reads like a crime drama mixed with Raging Bull. I probably read the entire thing in 25 minutes, but very few of those minutes were wasted. This is kind of a get-in, get-out, waste-no-time kind of comic, and I appreciate the hell out of that.

There are some cliches here and there: the whole story turns around when Jack finds love, mobsters act about as mobstery as possible without any real humanity to them, there's a moment where Jack is beating up a guy and his little daughter runs in and suddenly Jack realizes he's been wrong all along. But these don't diminish the overall feeling of triumph borne of knowing that this whole thing is leading up to Matt's invention of Daredevil, and a whole mess of justice raining down on the crooks that hurt his father.

So, with that in mind, I don't think there's really anything here for people who aren't fans of Daredevil yet. Being familiar with DD's history definitely makes this a much more interesting read. You don't need to have read it all, but probably at least enough to feel connected to the character and his world. That's obviously a shortcoming, but not one that affected me, as Daredevil has been my favorite comic book character for years. So yeah. I guess I'm saying this is fan service. But if all fan service was this detailed, I don't think the term would be so negative.
Profile Image for Dimitris Papastergiou.
2,527 reviews87 followers
May 20, 2025
Never thought I'd like a story about Daredevil's father. Amazing read.

Matt's father is an alcoholic, a thug, and a boxer working for a guy who fixes fights, telling him to lose a fight so he can get paid and take care of his kid. But everything goes not as planned either for his boss or himself. Great story, and how it develops from start to finish. Highly recommended for DD fans and not.
Profile Image for JB.
183 reviews24 followers
September 28, 2015
This was another great Marvel Knights story. I really love these Marvel Knights books. This story focuses on Matt Murdock's father, Jack. The dialogue and narration where great. The art suited the story perfectly.

I loved how the story ended. It's different from the main continuity. It's just a great, violent and dark origin story for Daredevil.

Jack Murdock is fighting the fight of his life and the reader is with him in the ring, for all four rounds.

If you're a Daredevil fan you should check this one out. Daredevil is already a different kind of superhero, more street level and this story couldn't be more street level. It has no superpowers in it whatsoever. It's a more realistic story than your average Marvel comic.
749 reviews33 followers
April 12, 2015
I enjoyed this one, though it wasn't amazing or super special in any way. It was just a nice psychological look at Daredevil's father and the choices he made. Most people know what happens to Jack Murdock, but now we are shown why he didn't throw the fight in the end. I especially enjoyed the moments between father and son, that really let us know that Jack wasn't a great father, but he wasn't just a bad person. He kind of got cornered into his circumstances at least where the story started and couldn't get away from powerfully bad people. Overall I liked how it ended. It didn't feel like it ended too soon or suddenly or unjustly either. It was just a nice story if you like Daredevil.
Profile Image for Marsha Altman.
Author 18 books134 followers
April 4, 2018
I know this comic is controversial because it's not canon and shows Jack flying off the handle and hitting Matt, but man, it's still amazing. Jack and Josie hook up! A young Turk Barrett! Foggy looks like a hobbit from the animated Hobbit film! What more do you want?
Profile Image for thea.
107 reviews30 followers
May 11, 2019
5 STARS ||

*cues the ‘thea is ignoring all her responsibilities for comic books’ soundtrack*

anyway it’s been an amazing fast and intriguing read! if you’re a fan of daredevil this is one of the essentials you should pick up for sure. the writing is phenomenal and my heart is now crumbling to pieces even though i already knew his origin WHEW

i will be reading a bunch of comics for a little bit so i’m sorry if you’re not interested in them but life’s been hectic and they’re the only thing helping me at the moment x
Profile Image for Himanshu Karmacharya.
1,151 reviews113 followers
September 1, 2019
Batllin' Jack Murdock is a sad tale revolving around all the misfortunes and tragedies of Jack Murdock, Daredevil's father. This book adds a little more detail in the Daredevil mythos and it sure is a welcome addition. The monologue/narration felt little off to me at times, but the end was good enough to make amends about that.
Profile Image for Guilherme Smee.
Author 27 books191 followers
May 19, 2025
Mais de vinte anos depois de ter sido publicada nos Estados Unidos esta minissérie sobre o pai de Matt Murdock, o Demolidor, finalmente chega ao Brasil. Ela foi elaborada pelo desenhista italiano Carmine Di Giandomenico, que além do argumento também é responsável por toda a arte da publicação. O roteiro, então, é feito por Zeb Wells. A trama traz fatos nunca mostrados nas histórias do Demolidor, como o momento em que a Irmã Maggie entrega seu filho aos cuidados de Jack "Batalhador" Murdock, mas também traz olhares muito especial para personagens secundários das tramas do super-herói da Cozinha do Inferno, como Tucão e Josie, do Bar da Josie. Esse encadernado capa dura também mostra como Jack estabeleceu sua carreira como lutador depois de ter servido por um longo tempo como leão de chácara do Arranjador. Temos o pequeno Matty antes de ter sido atingido por uma caminhão de lixo tóxico e como seu pai percebeu que ele também havia se tornado um exímio lutador, antes mesmo de assumir a sua identidade super-heroica. Uma bela recompensa para os fãs do Demolidor finalmente no Brasil.
Profile Image for Russell Pearce of Sector 2814.
107 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2021
I love the art work for this one and honestly for such a short run it's very packed with a lot of story. It's technically not Canon as is with many of the Marvel Knights runs. I like to call them "optional Canon" as you can choose to integrate the story into the main continuity as you see fit. And this one is no different. Totally worth the read.
Profile Image for Josh.
373 reviews15 followers
May 13, 2008
I got this book in single-issue form for $0.25 per issue, for the grand total of $1, and even then, standing in line at the comics shoppe, I almost put it back in the sale bin from whence it sprang. I had never heard of it, never seen it nor smelled it. But it was in the Marvel Knights prestige format - heavy, glossy card stock binding, cover priced at $3.99 each - which I just read in an interview with Marvel EIC himself, Joe Quesada, that the extra investment is a sign from Marvel of a story worth paying a little more for. And so why shouldn't I then pay the tiniest fraction of the intended sale price of ONE issue for all four? I gave in. I purchased. And finally, last night, I read.

And I tell ya, it was pretty good.

There is a constant barage of Marvel origin retellings littering long boxes all over this great land, and I'll say this is one of the better ones. I had never heard of writer Zeb Wells, nor artist/co-plotter Carmine Di Giandomenico before (and it turns out, at least in Zebby's case, with reason - it looks like he writes origin retellings, team-ups, B-list minis and other comics poison almost exclusively), but I was surprised by both. the art was cool-looking: Somewhere between Ed McGuiness and Brian Wood,a little cartoony, but a little dirtier, but still easy to follow and realisitic. Good-lookin'!! Zeb's formatting and dialogue was very admirable. I liked the concept - 4 issues, 4 rounds til Battlin' Jack Murdock is supposed to throw what is famously his last fight. 4 rounds to work over his whole life. We get some insight into him as a man, and we see the stuff we know from some new angles.

Sounds like this should get a better review, doesn't it? Well, the problem's when Daredevil enters the picture. It's when we see that young, "helpless" Matt Murdock is actually going to kick some ass, and maybe even save his father's life. A masked, stick-weilding man beats the crap out of some goons who beating on Jack. In his last minutes alive, Jack Murdock puts all the pieces together, and realizes that this is his son, and spends his last breath laughing maniacly, knowing that his son will destroy the Fixer, and all of his goons. Then, he gets his brains blown out.

I just that was a little silly. And maybe it wouldn't have been, but also, the "stick" he finds at the gym that the mysterious assailant left at the scene, is a billy-club, with a trigger that extends into a staff. Seems like a lot of tech for an 18 year-old WITHOUT a vendetta (yet) to fabricate in his spare time. That's all. Just a couple of really weak links in the chain of an otherwise really entertaining, compelling story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jeff Lanter.
723 reviews11 followers
June 2, 2013
I should have known that if I started reading anything Daredevil that was good on Marvel Unlimited, I would end up having to read it. I just have a soft spot for the character and his origin story in particular is something that I find appealing and moving. There's just something about an underdog that is hard to resist and nobody has it worse than Matt.

Battlin' Jack Murdock explores the perspective of Daredevil's father. Fans of Daredevil will have a good idea of how this one ends, but the journey to get there is what makes it interesting. The plot really fills in the holes from the origin story I remember from the movie. To my surprise, this version of Daredevil's father is more human and less perfect. He is mean at times, but his actions seem less altruistic and more logical, if that makes any sense. Seeing the human side of his father and getting a more detailed explanation of his life was really interesting and satisfying.

The art overall was good and a pretty unique style that fit the book. At times there may have been an unrealistic amount of blood and I agree that the artist struggles with children. Time is hard to tell in this story too and I always was wondering how old Matt was supposed to be because he basically looks the same. Also, I found the covers to be pretty unappealing except for the one that is the cover on the trade paperback. These are small complaints and fans of Daredevil will enjoy this look into one of the best superhero origin stories in comics.
Profile Image for Peter Derk.
Author 32 books403 followers
July 18, 2013
A nice little backstory on Daredevil's father.

I don't know why, but any movie about boxing suckers me in big time. Rocky? Even the shitty ones have their moments. That Tyson documentary? Thoroughly watchable. Oh, and if you haven't seen Warrior yet, holy crap. I know, it's about the douche-y world of mixed martial arts. But trust me. It's got heart, it's got story, it's got soundtrack by the National.

I might be able to expand it further, now that I think about it. I also like movies and books about a guy coming out of retirement who really shouldn't. Dark Knight Returns? Yep. Die Hard With A Vengeance? IMHO, most underrated of the Die Hards.

There's just something about a story where an old dude is facing up to the odds. I think, maybe, it's because those are the stories where you're just not sure that everything is going to be okay.
Profile Image for 47Time.
3,466 reviews95 followers
November 8, 2018
This is a tragic story of a father trying desperately to raise his son. The many obstacles in his way make the road almost untenable, but he fights life just like he does his opponents in the ring - with full determination and with his son in his heart.

Matt Murdock's father Jack is a boxer and a drunkard. He is forced to throw a game set up by the Fixer if he wants to keep his son safe. His inner turmoil reveals that he is reluctant to throw the match, but sees no other solution. He relives the days when his son came into his life. The times were just as difficult, but Jack never gave up.

Profile Image for Emanuele Malpezzi.
73 reviews11 followers
January 27, 2019
E' possibile riproporre per la millesima volta una storia conosciuta anche dal lettore più occasionale e renderla ancora accattivante?
Certo, e questa mini-saga ne è una prova.
Quattro albi, quattro round. Quest'idea della forma che si mescola alla sostanza è solo una delle tecniche che rendono eccezionali questo breve ciclo. La sceneggiatura fornisce una vera e sentita caratterizzazione al personaggio di Jack Murdock. Le azioni del personaggio non sono un mero pretesto per la nascita dell'Uomo Senza Paura, esse mostrano tutti i confitti di un uomo in preda di tutti i suoi demoni.
Ma ciò che colpisce di più di questo fumetto sono i disegni. Carmine Di Giandomenico, forse prendendo spunto dalla migliore tradizione popolare italiana, ci propone un Jack Murdock scultoreo, un novello Maciste (o un Ercole uscito da un film di Cottafavi) pronto a combattere sul ring più famoso del mondo. I rivoli del sangue sul suo corpo statuario sembrano scanalature nel marmo. La presenza fisica è sempre imponente, come si addice al protagonista di una storia che, anche presa a sé stante, lascia davvero a bocca aperta.
Profile Image for Alessandro.
1,541 reviews
February 18, 2025
“Daredevil: Battling Jack Murdock" is a masterful and deeply emotional take on a story we all know—the tragic fate of Matt Murdock’s father. But this isn’t just a retelling; it’s an intimate, heartbreaking dive into the life of Jack Murdock, a man caught between his love for his son and the harsh realities of the world he inhabits.

Zeb Wells' writing is raw and powerful, capturing the desperation, resilience, and flawed nobility of a man who knows he’s fighting a losing battle. Carmine Di Giandomenico's art is stunning, drenched in grit and emotion, perfectly complementing the noir-infused tone of the narrative. Every panel feels alive, every punch carries weight, and every glance between father and son is loaded with unspoken emotion.

This is a must-read for Daredevil fans and anyone who appreciates grounded, character-driven storytelling. It reinforces what makes Matt Murdock the hero he is—his father’s unwavering belief in him. A truly spectacular graphic novel.
Profile Image for gryph.
9 reviews
Read
January 4, 2022
interesting introduction to jack murdock. he's definitely one of marvel's more overlooked characters, and i do wish this was a little longer. it feels a little rushed and some bits feel a bit on-the-nose ("my boy is weak" constantly repeated) other than that, it's a nice quick read and provides as a good little prologue to matt murdock's reign as daredevil (and i do enjoy the fact that jack figured out that jack has taken up being a fighter, essentially knowing that matt is daredevil).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lisa.
11 reviews
April 9, 2025
'so I bottle my fury in my arms and will it to my knees. I do it for you, Matt. may you never know what I did for you'.

i have mixed feelings about this one. even though i like how deeply both of them care for each other, i'm not overly fond of the way jack lives and holds himself (not the working under fixer part, but being a drunk part). i'd give it two stars, but the ending is much better than two
Profile Image for Roman Colombo.
Author 4 books35 followers
March 14, 2018
This was one of Zeb Wells best works. And Do Giandomenico's best art. We've known this story for years, but telling it through Jack Murdock's perspective was brilliant. We should get an Uncle Ben story like this.
Profile Image for ac..
162 reviews
November 5, 2018
“ain’t no feeling like it in the world. losing something you think is yours... something that should be yours.”

okay! time to go cry over the love the murdocks have for each-other no biggie
Profile Image for Seb.
120 reviews
July 25, 2023
WOW!!!!
This was awesome! A character study on Jack Murdock, Matt’s father, and how he wants to be a better man. There’s boxing, drama, gangsters, and so much in 4 issues. I loved this! Highly Recommend.
Profile Image for Robert.
4,583 reviews31 followers
November 15, 2024
A Daredevil story without any Daredevil in it, but all the stronger for it. Focusing on Matt Murdock's father, and a familiar story to fans already, Wells breathes new life and pathos into a well worn tale.
Profile Image for Victor Bravo Jr.
14 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2019
Overall was a great story, the last issue seemed a little rushed during the fight but aside from that it's worth the read 👍
Profile Image for Emily Bedford.
268 reviews19 followers
September 22, 2022
Interesting to see Jack's point of view and where Matthew's mother went. However was it necessary? not really.
Profile Image for Jenn Palomino.
376 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2023
Every now and then I got into my husband’s comic collection and say, “give me something to read” and today I got this. Daredevil origin story kind of. Pretty solid.
Profile Image for Mike Mali.
119 reviews
September 11, 2023
Didn’t love the artwork, but this limited series fits really well into the Daredevil continuity. The four round story structure was a nice touch.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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