Daredevil’s wild past as a lawyer for Spider-Man and Marvel heroes

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home]

Spider-Man is Spider-Man. He does everything a huge corporate franchise could. That’s not to say that Spider-Man, There’s No Way Home doesn’t have magical moments, but that they’re all made possible because of Disney’s ownership of Marvel and all its characters (plus one friendly agreement with Sony Pictures).

A cameo by Tom Holland Spider-Man that fans had hoped for and few could have imagined was one of the greatest surprises in the film’s third installment is what many of them were able to see. This has huge implications, especially considering the recent episode of Hawkeye, but it’s not just another IP-focused expansion of the MCU. Marvel Comics continues its fun tradition of entertaining cameos with a well-presented comic.

It is important to start earlySpider-Man has no way home, long before any of the multiversal shenanigans truly begin, Peter (Tom Holland) is struggling to survive the aftermath of Mysterio’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) scheme. Not only has Peter been unmasked but he’s also been successfully framed for murder. New York City is split in half. Spider-Man, a superhero? Oder a killer who murdered the interdimensional hero Mysterio? The Department of Damage Control takes him into custody.

Aunt May correctly tells them to not talk until they see a lawyer. Each child follows her advice however. MJ, who is brilliantly stoic and knows how to keep herself from being incriminated, is genius. Ned has to leave everything. And Peter … well, Peter gets a very good lawyer who we meet as we enter Aunt May’s apartment.

There’s good news on a few levels here. The lawyer explains that the charges against Peter won’t stick. The lawyer explains that the charges against Peter won’t stand. The camera focuses first on the cane. Daredevil fan will recognise it. Soon Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), is seen. The alter-ego of Daredevil is the second character from the Netflix Marvel shows to be confirmed in the MCU in 2021, after Vincent D’Onofrio’s notorious Kingpin showed up in Hawkeye.

Image: Marvel Studios

While it’s only a brief appearance, it establishes Matt as an active part of the MCU. Even better, he gets to display his talents. A brick crashes through the window in a hilarious moment that Matt tells Peter about the court of public opinion. Matt captures the brick using his extraordinary skills, instead of hitting it’s intended target. And when Peter asks how he did it, he quips, “I’m a really good lawyer.”

It’s a fun moment that will really mean a lot to fans of Netflix’s critically acclaimed Marvel shows. But it also represents one of the funnest things about Matt Murdock and Daredevil: He’s a lawyer in a world of superheroes, so of course he represents superheroes.

This goes back as early as 1964’s Daredevil #2. Matt made his first appearance and was asked by the Fantastic Four to be their representative over the vital matter of… renewing the Baxter Building’s lease. He was soon caught in some very dangerous and cosmic chaos. While trying to stop Electro stealing Reed Richards’ secrets, he got fired up into space in his rocket. In a hilarious twist, the Fantastic Four wound up hiring a different lawyer after Matt took too long to file their renewal — because he was fighting their rogues gallery as Daredevil! Oh, Matt.

Representing the Fantastic Four has brought Matt some of his most famous cases, including when Namor — the Prince of Atlantis — asked him to help him sue humanity in Daredevil #7. Matt didn’t like it. The Sub-Mariner was a wreak of havoc in the city. His would-be lawyer was able to strike a tempestuous alliance against the Atlantean.

Image: Stan Lee/Wally Wood/Marvel Comics

Murdock has a comic book history as Spider-Man. Murdock has represented Spidey as well as been employed by Spidey to represent his friends. He was present during Spider-Man/Black Cat, Matt was brought on as Felicia Hardy’s new lawyer as she sat in Ryker’s Island accused of murder. Spidey claims Felicia is innocent. They decided to get around the justice system, and exonerate Felicia. Blurring that line between actual law and vigilantism is key to Matt’s history in the comics. His connection with Spider-Man, and his rogues galleries is also a constant theme.

In 1997’s In the Court of Justice: VenomMatt also defended Eddie Brock by stating that Eddie Brock was not guilty of the crimes committed by the alien while it was bonded with him. Though Matt didn’t technically win the case, Eddie did get off.

Across his long history, Matt Murdock has represented a huge swath of Marvel’s superhero universe, including the Hulk, Black Widow, and even Captain America. Despite this, Steve Actually hired him to represent the prosecution accusing Steve of murder — so that everyone would know that Captain America didn’t get off just because HisShe-Hulk was also a famous superhero, and lawyer was a lawyer. Speaking of that famed showdown, Matt appearing here likely won’t be the last time we see him.

Disney Plus Legal Dramamy She-HulkThis super-lawyer could be right around the corner and working with each other. And as for who Matt might represent next, well we’ve just started to scratch the surface of his sprawling superhero clientele.