Of all of Marvel's TV projects, Daredevil has one of the best track records with established characters. Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock was widely seen as a flawless take on the Man Without Fear. Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk is still considered one of the finest villains in modern memory. Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle redefined the character. They may still have more comic book icons to bring to the screen. Daredevil: Born Again is rumored to introduce Hector Ayala, the White Tiger.
Daredevil may have been Marvel's most talked about project, but not always for good reasons. The show ran for three seasons on Netflix before the destruction of its overseers. As Disney consolidated TV projects onto its streaming service, it ended the Defenders universe and everything it implied. Fans demanded Daredevil and its characters back. Eventually, after a few cameos across the franchise, Marvel announced its return in a new form. Just last month, Daredevil: Born Again was overhauled to fit the new Marvel TV model. Some ideas were left behind in the shuffle.
White Tiger is rumored to appear in Daredevil: Born Again
According to a leak on Twitter, Born Again's first story arc would follow Matt Murdock defending a vigilante named Hector Ayala. Matt has made a name for himself as a superhero lawyer, offering free counsel to Peter Parker and working with Jennifer Walters. His unusual branch of legal theory made him perfect to work with Ayala. The leaker goes on to explain that Ayala would have been on the stand for attempting to stop a mugging. The event involved two corrupt cops, one of whom ends up dead. This mirrors Daredevil Vol. 2 #38-40, in which Murdock tries to get Ayala off a similar charge. That story doesn't work out for either of them in the comics. This rumor dropped on October 13th, 2023, shortly after Disney announced the reworking of the series. White Tiger could still be a fundamental part of the series, but Hector Ayala may have been tossed with the writing and directing crew.
Who is White Tiger in Marvel Comics?
White Tiger was created by Bill Mantlo and George Pérez in 1975. He first appeared as the second protagonist of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, a classic 70s black-and-white comic series that would later star Shang Chi and Iron Fist. Mantlo and Pérez wanted Hector Ayala to reflect the gritty inner city life of New York in the 70s. He was the first Latin American character to star in a comic book. After his debut, he became a supporting character in Spider-Man comics. His costume was described as a version of Peter Parker's outfit without any detail. His appearance in Daredevil was one of his final depictions. Ayala disappeared for over a decade after his two Daredevil storylines. Recently, Marvel has dedicated a couple of one-shot issues to the first Latino hero in the franchise.
Hector Ayala hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Little is known about his early life. Hector left his home and moved to the United States to study at Empire State University. By chance, a trio of superhuman martial artists called the Sons of the Tiger disbanded their team and threw away their magic amulets. Hector found them in the trash and put on all three, transforming him into the mighty White Tiger. He fought Prowler and a crime cartel called the Corporation. He worked with Spider-Man and Daredevil. Ex-military gangster Gideon Mace shot Hector, nearly killing him. Surgeons saved his life, but he soon gave up the amulets to avoid becoming addicted to their power. Hector became the White Tiger again sometime later but was embroiled in the murder scandal of Daredevil's "Trial of the Century" event. He was convicted and shot dead trying to escape. Evidence absolved him posthumously.
How many versions of White Tiger are there?
Marvel has five versions of White Tiger. Hector was the first, and most who wear the amulets share his blood. The second was a natural white Bengal tigress forcefully changed into a human woman by the High Evolutionary. White Tiger has always been connected to Black Panther. They're groundbreaking examples of racial representation who share similar powers and nearly identical costumes. The third White Tiger, Kaspar Cole, becomes Black Panther's nemesis after a deal with Killmonger. He wears a vibranium suit and eventually abandons the White Tiger gimmick to work with T'Challa. Hector's niece, Angela del Toro, and his youngest sister, Ava Ayala, become the last two White Tigers. Ava is the most prominent version of the character, appearing in games like Marvel Snap and several recent comics.
The White Tiger is a landmark figure in Marvel history who rarely gets the attention he deserves. A showcase in this hotly anticipated Daredevil revival would be the brightest spotlight Hector Ayala has ever received. White Tiger may or may not appear in Daredevil: Born Again. The show was completely reimagined, leaving any old rumors potentially abandoned. White Tiger deserves a showcase, even if he doesn't become Matt Murdock's latest client.