MCU fans may be shocked at the brutality of Daredevil on TV, but readers of the original comics know that the Man Without Fear has been pushed to the brink on more than one occasion. There is one particular act of brutality that still lingers in many fans’ minds: a memorable encounter with the villain Bullseye where Daredevil took things a bit too far.

Published in 2003, Daredevil #49 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev was part four of the “Hardcore” storyline. During the course of the story, the presumed-dead Kingpin returns to New York and proceeds to make life a living hell for Matt Murdock - especially by making ample use of Bullseye, one of Daredevil's key villains.

One of the assassins Kingpin hires is Bullseye, who wastes no time in going after Daredevil. Bullseye targets Murdock’s new girlfriend, Milla Donovan, and Daredevil pulls no punches after giving the assassin a thrashing, ending their encounter by carving Bullseye’s target symbol tattoo directly into his forehead.

Daredevil’s Most Shocking Act of Brutality Occurred in the Comics, Not on TV

Daredevil #49 by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, Matt Hollingsworth, and Cory Petit

While it’s a brutal scene, Daredevil’s actions aren’t entirely unwarranted. Daredevil and Bullseye have a long history, and it's filled with blood and tragedy. Bullseye was a key player in one of the most shocking moments in comics history, when he killed Elektra with one of her own sais in Daredevil #181 by Frank Miller. At a time when the deaths of major characters were rare in mainstream comics, Bullseye’s murder of Elektra was one of the things that helped propel Miller’s run on Daredevil into the stuff of comic-book legend.

Bullseye would upend Matt’s life again some years later, when he coldly murdered Karen Page during Kevin Smith and Joe Quesada’s “Guardian Devil” storyline. Given his propensity for going after the people Murdock cares about most, the stakes are considerably higher than usual when Bullseye attempts to go after Milla. This time, however, Daredevil is having none of it, unleashing years of pent-up rage in his first confrontation with Bullseye since Karen Page’s murder. Daredevil then claims that each ring of the villain’s “bullseye” logo that he carves should act as a reminder of Bullseye’s victims.

Daredevil’s Act of Violence Isn’t Unwarranted in This Particular Story

Daredevil and Bullseye Have Serious History

“I went looking for you, Lester,” Daredevil says. “I decided I was going to find you and kill you in your sleep.” He goes on to explain that he looked into Bullseye’s past and found it completely unremarkable. Daredevil ultimately comes to realize that Bullseye doesn’t want to live, and the villain keeps coming after Daredevil so that the hero will end things for him. In what might be the ultimate act of cruelty, Daredevil refuses to cross that line, telling Bullseye that “No one cares if you live or die!” Daredevil’s mutilation of Bullseye is far more brutal than anything seen on the TV show.

Daredevil #49 is available now from Marvel Comics.