Comic Accuracy Showdown: Ben Affleck’s Daredevil vs. Batman
Ben Affleck is one of those rare actors who has worn two of the most recognizable cowls in comic book history: Marvel’s Daredevil and DC’s Batman. His portrayals, however, exist in very different contexts. His Daredevil came out in 2003, at a time when comic book movies were still figuring out tone and fidelity to source material. His Batman, over a decade later, was shaped by the rise of cinematic universes and the direct influence of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.
The big question: which role nailed the comics more closely? Let’s break it down.
Daredevil: A 2003 Experiment
Affleck’s Daredevil film borrowed heavily from Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s 1980s run. The darker tone, Catholic imagery, and Matt Murdock’s obsession with balancing his faith against his vigilantism were all elements pulled from Miller’s influential work. On paper, the blueprint made sense: the brooding, guilt-ridden hero struggling to separate his personal life from his vigilante identity is Daredevil 101.
Where the film faltered was in execution. For example, Matt’s enhanced senses were shown in flashy CGI “sonar vision” sequences. While visually creative for the early 2000s, they exaggerated his abilities in ways that didn’t line up with the comics, making Daredevil feel closer to a superpowered mutant than a man compensating for blindness.
The Elektra subplot, also drawn from Miller’s comics, was rushed and underdeveloped. Bullseye’s portrayal leaned more toward cartoonish assassin than the cold-blooded, obsessive nemesis fans know. Affleck’s Matt Murdock did capture aspects of the lawyer-by-day, vigilante-by-night persona, but the balance was off: the movie leaned more into stylized fight scenes than courtroom drama or street-level grit.
Comic Accuracy Grade: C+. Ambitious source pulls, but muddled execution left Affleck’s Daredevil feeling like a surface-level adaptation rather than a true-to-panel character.
Batman: Snyder’s Frank Miller Vision
Affleck’s Batman was an entirely different story. Rather than attempting to capture every aspect of Batman’s decades-long comic history, Snyder zeroed in on one very specific portrayal: Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. This was an older Batman, scarred by years of war with criminals, angry at the world, and skeptical of gods walking among men. The massive build, shorter ears, and gray cloth suit were ripped directly from Miller’s panels.
From a combat standpoint, this Batman was one of the most comic-accurate we’ve seen. The warehouse fight in Batman v Superman felt like a page come alive—brutal, tactical, and almost too efficient. His gadgets, from grappling guns to voice modulators, also reflected the grounded, tech-reliant approach in modern comics.
However, Snyder’s Batman wasn’t without controversy. The willingness to kill criminals in BvS broke a cardinal rule of the character. While Batman has occasionally been written as lethal in certain Elseworlds or darker arcs, the mainstream comic canon firmly keeps him as a “no-kill” vigilante. This choice, while fitting Miller’s grim tone, alienated fans who value Batman’s moral code as central to his identity.
Comic Accuracy Grade: B+. Visually and tonally, it’s one of the closest Batman portrayals to the comics—at least the Miller version. But the lethal edge keeps it from being definitive.
Side-by-Side Comparison
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Costume Design:
Daredevil’s leather suit was more a product of early 2000s fashion than direct comic accuracy. Batman’s gray suit, thick cowl, and hulking frame were nearly panel-perfect from The Dark Knight Returns.
Advantage: Batman. -
Characterization:
Daredevil tried to show Matt’s Catholic guilt and dual identity, but often undercut it with awkward melodrama and rushed storytelling. Batman nailed the Miller-inspired interpretation but sacrificed broader comic faithfulness by allowing him to kill.
Advantage: Tie (depending on which version of the comics you value most). -
Supporting Cast and Villains:
Daredevil’s Elektra and Bullseye were recognizable but caricatured. Kingpin, while reimagined with Michael Clarke Duncan, at least carried gravitas. Batman’s Alfred (Jeremy Irons) was sharp, dry, and tech-savvy—one of the most accurate depictions of the character yet.
Advantage: Batman. -
Tone and Atmosphere:
Daredevil (2003) struggled to balance gritty noir with camp. Batman’s Gotham, though often overshadowed by Snyder’s focus on larger-than-life spectacle, felt closer to the oppressive urban jungle of the comics.
Advantage: Batman.
The Verdict
Affleck’s Daredevil was a sincere attempt at comic faithfulness hampered by poor direction and a lack of tonal control. It borrowed the right storylines but didn’t translate them effectively to screen. His Batman, on the other hand, was almost too faithful to one very specific interpretation: Frank Miller’s grim, older Dark Knight. That accuracy gave him iconic moments but also boxed him into a version of Batman that wasn’t universal.
So, who wins the comic accuracy battle?
Batman takes the crown. Affleck’s Daredevil is an interesting relic of early superhero cinema, but his Batman looks, fights, and broods almost exactly as Miller’s pages intended. While the killing controversy lingers, his Batfleck still stands as one of the most comic-authentic designs and portrayals ever brought to screen.
In short: Daredevil was a noble misfire; Batman was a faithful, if polarizing, success.
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