The Marvel Cinematic Universe has made a comeback with ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and one of the biggest questions surrounding the series is the fate of Karen Page. The scrapped version of the show reportedly had both Karen and Foggy Nelson dead.
However, the show has yet to follow this path. While Foggy died in the reboot, Karen’s fate is still up in the air. However, should the MCU follow through with that storyline, or would it be a mistake to kill her off so soon?
Karen Page’s Comic Book Journey Was Filled With Tragedy
While ‘Daredevil: Born Again‘ has mostly followed the comic book path, the MCU doesn’t shy away from diverging when necessary. Killing Karen Page, especially off-screen, would risk alienating fans who have come to love Deborah Ann Woll’s portrayal. Karen Page first appeared in Daredevil #1 in 1964. Initially, she was little more than a typical love interest for Matt Murdock.
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While she was an important part of his early stories, she lacked the depth that would make her truly stand out. Over time, however, her character underwent significant changes, none more drastic than what Frank Miller did to her in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’. In this storyline, Karen had long since left Matt’s life to pursue an acting career, but her life took a dark turn.
Struggling with addiction, she ended up selling Matt’s secret identity as Daredevil in exchange for drugs. This one desperate act set off a chain reaction that nearly destroyed Matt’s life. Additionally, Wilson Fisk used the information to systematically dismantle everything Matt had built. Karen’s guilt over her betrayal defined her subsequent appearances.
She and Matt eventually rekindled their relationship. However, tragedy followed her every step. During Guardian Devil, another major Daredevil arc, she was killed by Bullseye, mirroring the way Matt’s other love interest, Elektra, had died before her. Her death left a permanent mark on Matt and she indeed was a major figure. The MCU certainly has the opportunity to adapt this storyline, but doing so would be very different and difficult.
How Netflix’s Karen Page Is A Better Version Of Her Comic Counterpart
In Netflix’s ‘Daredevil‘ Karen Page became more than just a love interest. She was a character with her own strengths and flaws. This version of Karen was determined, resourceful, and unwilling to be a damsel in distress. From the moment she was introduced, she was involved in major storylines.
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She helped Matt in exposing corruption in Hell’s Kitchen and played a crucial role in bringing Wilson Fisk to justice. Unlike her comic book counterpart, she wasn’t just a secretary; she was a journalist, an investigator, and someone who could hold her own. Her relationships also expanded beyond just Matt.
Her dynamic with Foggy Nelson was one of the most compelling friendships in the series. Additionally, her interactions with Frank Castle were also very intriguing. She wasn’t just a side character, she was a core part of the Daredevil story. So, because of how well-developed she was in the Netflix series, killing her off now would be a major disservice to the character.
Unlike in the comics, where Karen was often overshadowed by Elektra and written inconsistently, the Netflix series made her an irreplaceable part of the Daredevil mythos. Fans grew attached to this version of Karen. So, abruptly removing her would not only be upsetting, it would feel undeserved.
