Daredevil's New Villain Proves How Gross the Hero's Powers Really Are

Daredevil is known for his incredible super-powered senses, with Matt Murdock having one of the keenest senses of smell within Marvel’s array of heroes, but Daredevil is about to face a new, grotesque villain that shows just how gross Matt Murdock's powers can be. While the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen is an incredibly ground-level hero, his acute senses used to protect the city can also be a damning weakness.

In Daredevil #21, written by Saladin Ahmed, with art by José Luis Soares Pinto, Matt Murdock is still reeling from facing off against the embodiment of wrath, resulting in the death of Bullseye. However, Daredevil must now face a truly disgusting entity that will undoubtedly be putting all of Matt Murdock’s senses to the ultimate test.

DAREDEVIL (2023) #21
Daredevil #21 Cover Art: Daredevil consumed by fungus
Writer	Saladin Ahmed
Pencilers	Jose Luis & Carlos Nieto
Inker	Carlos Nieto & Oren Junior
Colorists	Jesus Aburtov
Letterer	Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist	John Romita Jr.
HELL'S KITCHEN IS ROTTING! Still reeling after the harrowing nightmares of DAREDEVIL #19, Matt Murdock is in uncharted territory! He may be surrounded by familiar faces, friends and foes — something's wrong... he can SMELL it! Nothing can escape The Man Without Fear and even amidst all the chaos and commotion of the city, something is festering inside Hell's Kitchen and eating its inhabitants alive... INCLUDING MATT!

The cover page of Daredevil #21 depicts a slimy entity consuming Daredevil’s body in an oozing fungus, and it not only hints that it's overrunning every part of New York, but its smell is potent enough to cloud Daredevil’s senses.

Daredevil Faces A Disgusting New Villain, Putting His Senses to the Test In The Worst Way

Daredevil #21; Written By Saladin Ahmed; Art by Jose Luis, Carlos Nieto, And Oren Junior; Color By Jesus Aburtov; Lettering By Clayton Cowles

While Daredevil’s powers have been used against him before, time and time again, he has proven that simple tricks to overwhelm his senses don’t easily phase him. After all, New York is known for its loud noises and less-than-pleasant smells. However, this also means this new fungus villain has to be incredibly potent and putrid if it’s strong enough to shake Daredevil's keen sense of smell. Though it’s incredibly difficult to overpower Daredevil when it comes to his enhanced abilities of hearing, smell, touch, and taste, several heroes and villains have managed to exploit his weakness.

Daredevil’s abilities are so strong, he can smell how many bullets are in a gun and can pick up frequencies to listen in on his opponents or hear police radios.

In Daredevil #1 by Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera, Captain America shoots a confetti cannon at Daredevil, confusing his senses, but being the seasoned war veteran he is, Captain America doesn’t use regular confetti, and instead opts for anti-radar chaff. Daredevil’s sense of hearing and touch are so precise that Captain America had to deploy a substance used to deter war aircraft’s radar signals. Daredevil’s abilities are so strong, he can smell how many bullets are in a gun and can pick up frequencies to listen in on his opponents or hear police radios.

Matt Murdock's New Villain Is Proving His Abilities Double As Major Weaknesses

Daredevil’s Sense of Smell Is Tested With His Latest Foe

Daredevil #22 cover page art; Daredevil fights a gross fungus monster

Daredevil’s unique abilities make him stand out from the sea of ground-level vigilantes, with a powerful sense of smell that surpasses even Wolverine. Still, his supernatural senses also act as a fatal flaw for Matt Murdock. Daredevil’s smell may assist him in combat, but it also forces him to endure some of the world's most horrendous scents. It’s not an easy feat to shake Daredevil, but his latest hurdle, manifested into a downright disgusting, nightmare-fueled fungus creature, is pushing his senses to the limit as it terraforms New York with its gross funk.