When it comes to superhero rivalries, few are as intense, brutal, and deeply personal as the ongoing war between Daredevil and Bullseye. Unlike many hero-villain conflicts, which are often defined by grand schemes or ideological clashes, their feud is raw, physical, and built on a foundation of pain and obsession. For decades, Bullseye has been more than just another name in Daredevil’s rogues’ gallery—he is a force of chaos, a relentless assassin, and a living nightmare that Matt Murdock can never seem to escape.
Bullseye made his first appearance in Daredevil #131 (1976), created by Marv Wolfman and John Romita Sr. From the very beginning, he was a different kind of threat. Unlike Daredevil’s early villains, who relied on brute strength or criminal masterminding, Bullseye was an assassin with an unnatural talent for precision. He could turn anything—a playing card, a pen, even a toothpick—into a lethal weapon.
But what truly set Bullseye apart wasn’t just his skills—it was his personality. He wasn’t just a hitman doing a job; he was a sadist who thrived on the thrill of the kill. He wanted to prove that he was superior to Daredevil in every way, and with each encounter, that desire grew into something far more sinister: obsession.
Bullseye may have started as a deadly assassin, but it was Frank Miller’s legendary run on Daredevil in the early 1980s that transformed him into Matt Murdock’s ultimate nemesis. Miller took the basic concept of Bullseye—a killer who never misses—and turned him into a ruthless, deranged villain who lived only to destroy Daredevil.
Their rivalry became more than just a battle of skill; it became psychological warfare. Bullseye wasn’t content with just beating Daredevil—he wanted to break him, to make him suffer. This culminated in one of the most shocking moments in comic book history in Daredevil #181, when Bullseye, desperate to prove himself, murdered Elektra, Daredevil’s former lover and ally, in cold blood.
The scene is unforgettable—Elektra, impaled by her own sai, crawling to Matt Murdock’s doorstep before dying in his arms. It wasn’t just a victory for Bullseye; it was a message. He wanted Daredevil to know that no one in his life was safe.
From that moment on, their battles became even more brutal. Daredevil, usually controlled and precise, found himself pushed to the edge time and time again. He nearly killed Bullseye in a fit of rage, dropping him from a rooftop and leaving him paralyzed. But even that wasn’t enough to stop him.
Bullseye returned, deadlier than ever. With his spine reinforced by adamantium, he became an even greater threat. Time and time again, he would escape custody, go on a killing spree, and make his way back to Daredevil, always eager to push him further toward the breaking point.
And then, in a twisted reversal of fate, Bullseye stole Daredevil’s identity. During the Dark Reign era, Norman Osborn made him the official Daredevil of his new government-backed Thunderbolts, dressing him in the red suit and letting him loose on the world. For Bullseye, this was the ultimate insult—a chance to not only beat Daredevil but to be him, warping everything Matt Murdock stood for.
For all the pain Bullseye has inflicted on Daredevil, Matt Murdock eventually did the unthinkable—he killed him. During the Shadowland storyline, where Daredevil was corrupted by the mystical Hand and took a darker turn, he faced Bullseye one last time. But this time, instead of holding back, Daredevil drove a sai through Bullseye’s chest, avenging Elektra in the most final way possible.
Of course, death is never permanent in comics. Bullseye has returned multiple times since, in different forms—sometimes resurrected, sometimes as a clone, and sometimes surviving through sheer force of will. But no matter how many times he falls, one thing remains the same: his obsession with Daredevil never dies.
Daredevil and Bullseye’s feud isn’t just about hero versus villain—it’s a war of two men who are, in some ways, disturbingly similar. Both are highly skilled fighters with no superpowers, relying instead on their peak human abilities and intense training. Both have endured immense pain and loss, shaping their worldview. The difference? Daredevil channels his suffering into justice, while Bullseye embraces his darkness, using it to justify his twisted desire for dominance.
This is why their rivalry is one of the greatest in comic book history. It isn’t just about power or revenge—it’s about identity, about two men locked in an endless cycle of violence that neither can escape. No matter how many times they fight, no matter how much blood is spilled, their war will never truly be over. And for fans of Daredevil, that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.