10 Strongest Daredevil Allies, Ranked by Physical Strength

Daredevil’s superhero journey proves that even the Man Without Fear can’t go without friends. No matter how secretive, dark, or brooding a hero may be, no hero sustains a successful career in crime-fighting without forming alliances within the superhero community. Most Marvel readers will recall how Daredevil’s greatest allies happen to be average citizens, namely Ben Urich and Foggy Nelson.

However, Daredevil’s hero friendships rank among the most significant within the Marvel Universe. Over the years, Matt Murdock has joined the ranks of the New Avengers and the Defenders, whilst also forming individual relationships with a bevy of superheroes. In addition, beyond the major heroes who make up Marvel’s best super-teams, Daredevil has formed individual bonds with numerous heroes in the surrounding New York City area, especially in and around Hell’s Kitchen, gifting Matt with a vast network of allies that he can depend on.

10

Black Widow / Natasha Romanova

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #52 by Stan Lee, Don Rico, Don Heck, and Sam Rosen

Daredevil and Black Widow have circled each other for the better part of six decades. It’s the one romance that may never reach the MCU, but it’s arguably Daredevil’s greatest romance. As is the case with most superhero relationships, the mission to stop crime never ends, so despite no longer smooching each other, Daredevil and Black Widow continue to meet each other in the superhero community.

Natasha Romanova does not sport any superpowers or super-strength. Her lack of actual powers theoretically places her just a smidge lower than Daredevil in Marvel’s power scale, but that doesn’t negate the learned skill she has acquired as one of the best agents that S.H.I.E.L.D. has to offer. Even as a human, Black Widow is one of the best Avengers for a reason.

9

Elektra

First Appearance: Daredevil #168 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Joe Rosen

Despite being a mere human, Elektra’s skill level is otherworldly. Targets and victims of Elektra’s violence have been struck to fear at the mere mention of her name. During her days as an assassin, she was spoken of as a mythical legend in the way she can strike through the night when one least expects it. Even today, after swearing a no-kill rule and taking on the mantle of Daredevil, Elektra’s skills remain scarily efficient.

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The fact that she can be viewed with practically supernatural regard, as if she were some literal Boogeyman, puts Elektra’s skillset as above the average human, even without super strength. Although their epic romance is over, Matt is lucky to still have his ex as a partner in crime-fighting.

8

The Punisher / Frank Castle

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #129 by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, Dave Hunt, and John Costanza

Daredevil and Punisher clash as both friends and enemies. These are two characters with strong convictions but conflicting views, particularly when it comes to Frank Castle’s pro-killing and pro-guns stance. His persistence has put him at odds with most superheroes in the Marvel Universe, but with Matt Murdock, their differences have brought them closer together. There are days when they can be like fire and ice working against each other, but then there are days when they work in surprisingly perfect harmony to combat evil.

Every era seems to put a new twist on Daredevil vs. Punisher, but no matter how close they are, the Punisher is always human. Yes, Castle is absurdly skilled in military tactics and hand-to-hand combat, and his determination is fueled by an adrenaline that gives him a boost in strength, but he still doesn’t compare to superhuman strength.

7

White Tiger / Angela del Toro

First Appearance: Daredevil #69 by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, Dave Stewart, and Cory Petit

Mainstream audiences first got to know Hector Ayala’s White Tiger in the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again. Ayala was a street-level vigilante who often worked with Daredevil, but more recently in the comics, Daredevil has befriended his niece. Angela has adopted both her uncle’s name and the Jade Tiger amulets that enhance the wearer’s basic abilities, including strength. She isn’t made invulnerable by using the amulets, but she proves strong enough to still be an asset.

In her hero’s journey, Daredevil took it upon herself to take the new White Tiger under his wing, training her to become a superhero. She returns the favor by joining him in the Hand once Matt becomes the organization’s leader in an attempt to use it as a force of good instead of its former evil.

6

Black Tarantula / Carlos LaMuerto

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #419 by Tom DeFalco, Steve Skroce, Bud LaRosa, Bob Sharen, and Liz Agraphiotis

Daredevil and Carlos LaMuerto’s relationship is complicated, especially knowing that they originally met as enemies. After watching him be released from prison on good behavior, Matt recognizes that the former Spider-Man villain is genuinely seeking a new purpose, and so he and Carlos collaborate on fending off the Yakuza. That team-up marks the start of a beautiful friendship, so much so that when Matt takes over the Hand, he asks Carlos to be his second-in-command. Knowing what Carlos is capable of, Daredevil would prefer Black Tarantula as a friend instead of a foe.

What makes Black Tarantula dangerous is that he’s as smart as he is strong, and his strength is incomparable to most. Even better, he has a healing factor that heals him at an accelerated rate during a fight. Daredevil can bring the best out of everyone, and a villain like Black Tarantula is no exception.

5

Iron Fist / Danny Rand

First Appearance: Marvel Premiere #15 by Roy Thomas, Gil Kane, Dick Giordano, Glynis Oliver, and Gaspar Saladino

While being members of the Defenders certainly brought Matt Murdock and Danny Rand closer together, their closeness goes far beyond just their super-team ambitions, as Iron Fist remains friends with Daredevil outside the team. Perhaps the biggest solid that Danny does for Matt is continuing operations as Daredevil while Matt is in prison. Rand is truly a friend that anyone can depend on. He may not be the physically strongest of the Defenders, in terms of natural strength, but the Iron Fist makes Rand rank among the most powerful.

Even without the Iron Fist in his possession, Danny is still naturally gifted as a martial artist. He’s since lost the Iron Fist since his last team-up with Daredevil, but stories like Luke Cage: Gang War showcase just how useful and vital to any super-team Danny Rand can be, even without actual superpowers.

4

Jessica Jones

First Appearance: Alias #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, Matt Hollingsworth, Richard Starkings, and Oscar Gongora

Jessica Jones has the distinction of being the only member of the Defenders whom Daredevil has kissed. Of course, Jessica’s never actually been romantically involved with Daredevil, but, in the series The Variants, he does meet a variant of hers from another universe where she is romantically involved with that world’s Daredevil. The teased romance never actually manifests in Earth-616, as Jess and Daredevil are strictly platonic.

Along with the ability to fly that she rarely uses, super-strength is Jessica’s primary superpower. She’s displayed immense feats of strength that have put her on the Avengers’ radar. Had the timing been right and had the team asked her before she retired from superheroism, Jessica might have ranked among the strongest Avengers in Marvel history.

3

Luke Cage

First Appearance: Hero for Hire #1 by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Billy Graham, and Skip Kohloff

One of the few Marvel heroes who manage to be stronger than Jessica Jones happens to be, ironically enough, her own husband. Luke Cage is not only immensely strong in the traditional sense, but his skin is just as strong, if not stronger. Cage has unbreakable skin, no matter how Earth-shattering the damage is. That level of durability actually makes him more powerful than a locomotive, a boost that a select few heroes in comic history have, and even fewer in Marvel’s line-up.

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Admittedly, outside of being on the Defenders, Daredevil and Luke Cage aren’t particularly close friends. Daredevil’s commitment to secrecy and seclusion with regard to his secret identity puts him at a distance from a lot of heroes, including Luke Cage. Thankfully, the two still carry hefty amounts of respect for each other and are always willing to help each other.

2

Spider-Man / Peter Parker

First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Artie Simek

Daredevil once referred to Spider-Man as “the best of us,” and understandably so. The sentiment is shared by others within the Marvel Universe. It’s not lost on any of Marvel’s heroes just how good-natured and pure-of-heart Peter Parker naturally is. These qualities have endeared him to the superhero community. That being said, because it’s so easy to praise Spider-Man for his emotional qualities, it’s easier to overlook his physical qualities.

Everyone knows that Spider-Man has super strength, but it’s often underestimated just how strong Spider-Man really is. It’s been documented that Spider-Man is so strong that he regularly holds his strength back unless he’s tested. When he stops holding back and just lets his rage speak for him, he’s powerful enough to crush someone’s face with his fist.

1

She-Hulk / Jennifer Walters

First Appearance: The Savage She-Hulk #1 by Stan Lee, John Buscema, Chic Stone, and Joe Rosen

MCU fans are familiar with the relationship between Jennifer Walters and Matt Murdock as attorneys at law. While the two never dated in Marvel’s comics canon, they have quite an illustrious bond both through their law practices and as fellow crime-fighters. This relationship gives Daredevil his strongest ally. She-Hulk has proven herself as among the strongest in the universe, not only by defeating familiar names like Thanos and Thor, but by literally becoming the Champion of the Universe.

She-Hulk’s feats of strength have greatly outmatched many of Daredevil’s peers, and obviously Daredevil himself as well. That’s what makes having strong friends in high places so useful. When Daredevil can’t pull his weight, one of his friends is strong enough to do exactly that for him.