Daredevil: Born Again- How is Muse’s identity in the show different from that of the comics? Details explored

Daredevil has always been the bar when it comes to bringing the most gruesome villains to life. From Bullseye to Kingpin, Daredevil does not miss. But this villain might be worse than them all. Daredevil: Born Again is bringing to life one of the most gruesome killers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The art-inspired psycho-killer Muse's identity, who uses his victim's blood to paint his art, has finally been revealed. Revelation of Muse's identity makes one thing clear. Muse as a villain might be inspired by the Marvel comics, but the character featured in the show is very different from the one in the comics.

The sadistic graffiti artist has been used to revive the Daredevil: Born Again series and the creators are altering the overall idea of Muse to fit him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's an interesting comparison to see all the points where the creators of Daredevil depart from the comics. But before that,

Disclaimer: This article has MAJOR spoilers from Daredevil: Born Again. DO NOT PROCEED after this point if you do not want spoilers. Reader's discretion is advised.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get into all the ways this sadistic psycho-killer is different in the show from the comics.

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Muse in Daredevil: Born Again vs Muse in the Comics

Muse's identity

Muse's identity was revealed in the seventh episode of Daredevil: Born Again through a therapy session with Heather. First introduced in the second episode as a potential therapy client for Dr. Heather Glenn, Bastian Cooper (played by Hunter Doohan) was revealed to be the face behind the sadistic villain's mask. This is the first point where the MCU Muse differs from the one in the comics. Even though Muse appears in multiple Daredevil storylines in the comics, his identity has always been mysterious. In the comics, the villain remains an art-inspired serial psycho-killer who goes around New York painting the town red, quite literally.

Cooper approaches Heather, Matt Murdock's love interest this season, asking for her help as a therapist, visibly troubled. She asks him to email her, hinting that her role as his therapist will be an important avenue in Daredevil: Born Again.

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Muse's backstory

Along with a mysterious identity, the Muse of the Comics also had nothing that could be considered a backstory. The Daredevil: Born Again TV show has crafted the backstory that sheds light on Bastian Cooper as Muse. The titular hero's story also departs from the original printed comics, but most of its inspiration is based on the Comics, whereas this is the opposite for his artistically inclined villain.

Bastian Cooper's backstory, which the show's creators have decided to include, does increase the factor of fear. The creators of the show are giving the villain much more depth than what the comics originally indicated, making the plot feel even more unsettling and convincing. Bastian Cooper is revealed to be mentally troubled, as he has been committed to Psychiatric hospitals on previous occasions against his will. The tangibility and depth of Muse as a well-rounded character rather than just a one-dimensional villain hell-bent on killing the hero adds a compelling layer to Daredevil: Born Again.

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Muse's muteness

In Marvel Comics, Muse is responsible for the disappearance of hundreds of people from the streets of New York. Daredevil: Born Again has also introduced Muse in a similar pattern, with a costume that resembles Muse in the Comics. But, there is a big thing that the MCU has chosen to change about its villain. The villain in the comics was not one to talk too much, but he still chose to taunt his opponents with some philosophical or cheeky remarks. Even in his dying breath, he does not go silently and says, "so much art."

MCU has taken a total departure from this by making Muse mute. The villain in the show does not talk, which honestly elevates the show. Considering that this season of Daredevil focuses on a much darker side of New York, with similarly eerie and dark lights and aesthetics throughout the episodes, Muse's muteness is working for the show. Daredevil: Born Again's Matt Murdock, as a hero, relies on his heightened senses, especially his hearing, to defeat his opponents. The entire season has heartbeats playing in the background in several episodes. Being challenged by a villain who does not speak adds to the eerie darkness of the show.

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Muse is not a superhuman in Daredevil: Born Again

In the printed sources, Muse, as a villain, has superhuman strength as well as speed. He also has powers that allow him to absorb all sensory information around him, making him a challenging opponent for Daredevil, who fights by relying on his heightened senses. Not surprisingly, though, Daredevil: Born Again does not go down this path.

MCU's Daredevil franchise has always chosen a more realistic and grounded setting for its heroes and villains. So, for Daredevil: Born Again, even Wilson Fisk is not a superhuman villain but a powerful and manipulative man, the mayor of New York this season, who uses other people to get their hands dirty for him. Even Muse does not have any superhuman powers in the show. This does not mean that Matt is facing off against a man in a mask. Bastian Cooper, in the show, is revealed to be highly trained in Taekwondo by Lee Suk Ji. So, Muse has the ability to hold his ground opposite Daredevil in a fight, even though he, unlike Marvel Comics, lacks any superhuman powers.

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These major differences between Marvel Comics' Muse and Daredevil: Born Again's Muse go to prove that the show is heavily moving away from the source material. But these changes made by the creators are the best choice for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and elevate the Daredevil experience.

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