Daredevil Just Introduced A New White Tiger?

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Warning: SPOILERS for the Daredevil: Born Again episode “The Hollow of His Hand” are ahead!

In the premiere episode of “Daredevil: Born Again,” viewers were quickly drawn into a whirlwind of emotions with Elden Henson’s character, Foggy Nelson, meeting an untimely end at the hands of Bullseye within just 10 minutes. The latest episode, airing on the 2025 TV schedule, delivered another emotional blow as Kamar de los Reyes’ Hector Ayala, aka White Tiger, was brutally murdered. This heart-wrenching conclusion to a two-episode storyline leaves us bereft, but it also opens up the possibility of a new superhero joining either “Born Again” or one of the upcoming Marvel TV series. It seems that the role of the new White Tiger is being set up for someone else to take on.

Hector Ayala Was Killed By Someone Wearing The Punisher’s Symbol

Last week’s “Optics” viewers might recall that Hector Ayala was taken into custody for allegedly attacking and fatally wounding an undercover police officer. However, it transpired that Hector had attacked the officer and his companion because he witnessed them brutally assaulting Nicky Torres, who happened to be their informant. Unbeknownst to Hector, the officers were corrupt, and he did not intentionally cause the man’s death by pushing him in front of an oncoming train; instead, it was the man who accidentally tripped. Furthermore, these actions took place when Hector was functioning as a civilian, not under the influence of his mystical amulet that empowers the White Tiger.

Matt Murdock took on Hector’s case following a disturbing incident where he witnessed Hector being assaulted by officers in an interrogation room. Known as Daredevil for now, Matt had a stroke of luck recently when he discovered Nicky’s hiding place. His investigator, Cherry, managed to bring the informant to court this week with assistance from her partner. However, facing an overwhelming presence of police officers in the courtroom, Nicky succumbed to pressure and lied about not being at the subway station where Hector had saved him. Determined to clear Hector’s name, Matt revealed his identity as White Tiger during the trial, a revelation that was previously agreed upon by himself, the prosecutor, and the judge not to be disclosed.

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Matt’s strategy proved successful when the jurors were persuaded by the testimonies of witnesses who detailed White Tiger’s heroic actions saving them. This led to Hector Ayala being acquitted of all charges… but his joy was fleeting. Shortly after, while on duty as White Tiger, Hector was fatally wounded in the head by an individual sporting the Punisher’s skull emblem on their chest. Could this have been Frank Castle?

I strongly believe it’s unlikely that Frank, the Punisher, would be responsible for such an act. Killing someone who is protecting the innocent, even if they are technically breaking the law, seems too extreme and hypocritical for him. Instead, it’s more plausible that a corrupt cop, as we’ve seen many with Punisher-themed tattoos on Daredevil: Born Again, was the one who pulled the trigger in the name of their distorted version of justice. Since Jon Bernthal is returning as Frank this season on Born Again and also has a Punisher special on Disney+ next year, I think it’s safe to assume he wouldn’t approve of these officers using his persona in this manner.

I Think Hector’s Niece Will Become The New White Tiger

Hector Ayala, also known as the White Tiger, is no longer alive (and regrettably, Kamar de los Reyes passed away in December 2023), but his legacy continues. During a court appearance, Hector mentioned that he and his wife Soledad resided with his sister and niece, and the girl was seen seated beside Soledad. Although Hector’s niece wasn’t explicitly named in the court proceedings, it seems reasonable to assume she’s Angela, given her name in the comics.

In 2004’s Daredevil #58, written by Brian Michael Dennis and Alex Maleev, Angela del Toro assumed the role of the fourth White Tiger character in Marvel Comics’ primary universe (Earth-616), a reality that mirrors the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this storyline, Hector Ayala was falsely accused of murder and, while attempting to evade imprisonment, was fatally shot. Before Matt Murdock could provide evidence of Hector’s innocence, he passed away. Angela, an FBI agent, inherited the amulets that granted Hector his powers and chose to step up as the new White Tiger.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Angela, who we’ll refer to as such for now, is portrayed as a teenager instead of an adult like Ava, Hector’s sister and the fifth White Tiger in the comics. This suggests that “Daredevil: Born Again” might offer a more flexible interpretation of this character. In fact, Angela didn’t have any dialogue in “The Hollow of His Hand.” If she appears again with a larger role in this series or elsewhere, it’s possible that a more recognized actress could be cast to play her.

Independent of any circumstances, the scene is now prepared for a fresh White Tiger to possibly rise, since the murderer of Hector didn’t claim his amulet. This artifact will likely return to Hector’s family, and if Soledad rejects it, it could fall into Angela’s ownership instead. Granted, she wouldn’t immediately transform into a superhero, but with proper guidance, couldn’t she follow in the footsteps of characters like Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel as a young superheroine? Although Hector may not have had much time to showcase his abilities as White Tiger within the MCU, it’s intriguing to envision his legacy being carried on by Angela.

In the second season of “Daredevil: Born Again,” it could be exciting if we discover who Matthew Lillard’s character is, or, if the series runs beyond two seasons, they might introduce Angela as White Tiger when her character has aged more. For now, I’m mourning Hector and looking forward to watching “Born Again” on Disney+ every week.

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2025-03-13 03:37