Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett’s brand-new Daredevil run is finally upon us, with a decent amount of intimate exposition laid out to succinctly debrief readers on its status quo in issue #1. For instance, we get a glimpse into Matt Murdock’s new role as a self-reflective, adjunct law professor at Empire State University, a potential new love interest in colleague Sari Ellison, and a new, enigmatic figure named Omen, who is allegedly a villain.

‘Allegedly’ being the operative word here, because we truly know nothing about Omen yet that could classify them as the newest member of Daredevil’s rogues’ gallery, aside from what Marvel and the ongoing series’ creatives have said. Regardless, a few details shared here and there, along with Omen’s introduction in issue #1, are beginning to paint a portrait of who this character is.

Daredevil writer Stephanie Phillips has been understandably tight-lipped about Omen, though she has teased some of her influences for the character in response to a fan during a League of Comic Geeks Community AMA last month:

“OMEN!!! He’s actually inspired by gothic literature. And I don’t want to start naming specific writers or books because there will be some surprises with Omen I don’t want to spoil. But, as the story progresses, I think readers will start to be able to pick up on it. I’d also say there’s a healthy dose of Greek tragedy in him that might be more obvious as the story begins in issue 1!”

The first page of Daredevil #1 is its most alluring and fascinating, as it appears to give readers the same premonition that Omen has received. Later, when Daredevil encounters Omen in Matt’s apartment, Omen claims: “The pictures sent me to Matthew Murdock… they show his future in flames.”

Omen then describes themselves as “a servant of vision. A seer of futures. A messenger in search of Matthew Murdock.” Overall, this issue deliberately asks more questions than it answers, and it will be thrilling to learn more about Omen.

Omen may be labeled as a villain in all promotional material for Phillips and Garbett’s Daredevil run, but there is nothing about him that presently suggests he is villainous or wielding evil intent. In fact, instead of looking to cause harm, he merely seems to be attempting to warn Matt of his and Hell’s Kitchen’s possible fate:

“Tell Matthew Murdock that I have seen his future… and he will die!”

Matt was also the one who threw the first strike, with Omen only defending themselves (as well as leaving Daredevil alive to relay their message to Matt).

The story for this first Daredevil arc could be a lot more complicated than Omen simply looking to kill Matt. And, even if it is that simple, Omen probably has an interesting reason to want to find Matt, such as thwarting whatever ruinous event they believe will occur in the future otherwise.

It is refreshing to see a brand-new character as mystifying as Omen, who has instantly made this first issue an arresting one. Omen could be quite terrifying if they do turn out to be a legitimate villain, and their doomed foresight is a beautiful foil to Matt’s literal lack of sight. The solicitation for Daredevil #2 reads as follows:

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH! MATT MURDOCK, once a noted attorney, now goes by a new title: college professor! But when the mysterious, future-seeing villain OMEN targets Matt himself, it’s DAREDEVIL who’ll be taught a brutal lesson: When your enemy already knows what’s coming, every choice is a matter of life and death!

Daredevil #2 is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2026.