Warning: spoilers for Heroes Reborn: American Knights #1 by Paul Grist, Chris Allen, Marc Deering, Guru-eFX, and VC's Cory Petit are ahead.

Superhero names have evolved to become a type of shorthand for a character's motivations and beliefs, and this has long been at odds with Daredevil's persona. As both a lawyer and a vigilante, Matt Murdock is one of the strictest heroes in Marvel Comics when it comes to following the rules, seen in how he voluntarily incarcerated himself after killing a man. Knowing his violent tendencies, as well as his desire to do good, Daredevil holds himself up to a divine model of behavior in order to counteract his own imperfections. And while the Daredevil persona is undoubtedly fearsome, it has never represented Matt Murdock's ideals very accurately.

Given this, a new comic that is part of Marvel's Heroes Reborn event, Heroes Reborn: American Knights #1, explores an alternate world where Matt Murdock's vigilante has been dubbed The Saint by the people of Washington, D.C. (written by Paul Grist, inks by Chris Allen with Marc Deering, colors by Guru-eFX, letters by VC's Cory Petit). The Matt Murdock in Heroes Reborn is drastically different from the one fans are familiar with–instead of being a devout Catholic, this version of Matt is a cleric in the Church of Mephisto (a Satan-like figure in the Marvel Universe). Christianity in this universe is instead seen as a cult with a reputation akin to Satanist, flipping the moral axis of his character entirely. Moreover, this Matt Murdock voluntarily kills criminals and wears a serpent emblazoned on the front of his suit, citing that he keeps the world safer with fewer criminals on the street.

Related: Daredevil Stumped Marvel's Smartest Man With One Question

Though this version of Daredevil in Heroes Reborn is shocking to consider, there are aspects of this new persona that shed light on how the Daredevil moniker is a misnomer to begin with. Daredevil is driven by a desire to embody Christ's morality whilst fighting crime in his city, making his Devil-like presentation at odds with the forces that motivate him. Rarely has Daredevil ever had questionable intentions as a superhero, and his law-abiding behavior makes him the exact opposite of a daredevil. Matt Murdock is not perfect, but The Saint as a codename is more accurate in terms of his desire to become a better hero.

Moreover, The Saint provides an opportunity for Daredevil to step into his character's strongest arena–one where he negotiates between his ideals and the gritty ideals of putting on a costume every night to fight criminals. Characters like the Punisher have been quick to point out that the divide between Daredevil and the people he fights can collapse if he is not careful. Matt Murdock truly becoming saint-like is an impossibility in the circumstances he lives in, but he deserves the chance to be an aspirational figure like other superheroes.

Heroes Reborn Highlights The Sarcastic Origins of Daredevil's Name.

Daredevil/The Saint explaining his origins in Heroes Reborn: American Knights #1.

What is significant about Matt Murdock's relationship with the Daredevil name is that it began as a sarcastic childhood nickname, making it more than just an acknowledgement of his moral paradigm as a Catholic. Because his father, Jack Murdock, encouraged Matt to focus on his studies as a child, he became ostracized from his peers due to his bookishness. By calling him Daredevil, other children made fun of his lack of adventure.

Related: Daredevil Secretly Got His Name From SPIDER-MAN

In American Knights #1, a similar dynamic takes place with the name Matt is given by the public. He dislikes being called The Saint because it both misunderstands his costume choices as well as misrepresents his ideals as a cleric of Mephisto. Thus, Heroes Reborn recognizes that Daredevil as a name is at odds with the actual goals and beliefs of Matt Murdock, through its depiction of an alternate version of the character. In doing so, the issue shows the version of Matt that is far more deserving of the Daredevil title–one that could not be more different than the ones fans are used to rooting for.

The Saint Reflects Daredevil's Contradictions As A Hero More Accurately.

As a character, Daredevil is defined by his contradictions. He dresses as the Devil despite his righteous intentions, he uses violence in order combat violence on a systemic and interpersonal level, and he insists on conforming to a moral ideal that is next to impossible to achieve. It is these aspects that have made him such a compelling character across his publication history, because rarely is he able to resolve the ambiguities within himself.

Related: Daredevil Made Batman's Villains Seem EASY To Defeat

Taking on the mantle of The Saint would embrace the underlying tensions of Daredevil's character, without assigning a negative persona to his activities as a superhero. The Daredevil persona has made it difficult for him to be trusted by people in the past, likely due to the fact that the public is hesitant to trust anyone who willingly styles themselves after the Devil. Not only would The Saint be aspirational, but it would also be a powerful reminder that Matt Murdock remains dedicated to serving the greater good, despite his personal demons.

Daredevil in despair King in Black

Daredevil has never pretended that he is a perfect superhero. His wrestling between his faith and the messy reality of fighting evil has provided inspiration for some of his best stories. The specific, unresolved tension that underlies much of Daredevil's psychology has become one of the best weapons in his storytelling arsenal, one that Heroes Reborn plays off of with The Saint moniker.

Heroes Reborn has provided a twist on these core elements of Daredevil in order to bring larger thematic movements in his publication history into greater focus. While it is shocking to see a Matt Murdock devoting himself to Mephisto, American Knights #1 points out just how strange it is that he associates himself with Devil imagery in the first place. Ultimately, it is the gritty realism of Daredevil that makes him such a compelling character, and this alone could bring fresh perspective and meaning to the word, "Saint."

Next: The Version of Spider-Man Who Became DAREDEVIL Instead