Warning! This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again season 1, episode 3.
Daredevil: Born Againintroduced the incredible White Tiger to the MCU, but this version of the character has some striking differences to the character that appears in Marvel Comics.Daredevil: Born Againmay be the show that is bringing Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock into the MCU as a hero in his own right, but it’s also laying the foundation for other heroes to join the fray on a street level. And while Matt has decided to retire from his vigilante hero days, that doesn’t mean he isn’t working hard to try and support others who have chosen to follow a similar path, such as Hector Ayala, aka the White Tiger.
In Hell’s Kitchen, Matt has given up being the Daredevil after witnessing the death of his best friend, Foggy Nelson, and being pushed to the point where he decided to fatally injure the killer, Benjamin Poindexter, aka Bullseye. Now, while Poindexter managed to walk away from that incident, Matt decided things had gone too far, and his work as Daredevil was inviting too much danger into his life and the lives of the people he loves. Despite this, whenKingpin is elected mayor, andHector Ayala finds himself caught in the middle of a trialwhere he is accused of murdering a police officer, Matt rushes in to help the vigilante, and aggravate the new mayor.
The White Tiger Has Enhanced Senses In The Comics
White Tiger Would Have Been Able To Avoid His Fate In Daredevil: Born Again
Matt manages to get Hector Ayala released from police custody, and, thanks to his incredible skills as a lawyer, Hector is found not guilty on all charges that were put against him. However, this is already a departure from the way things play out in the comics, where Hector is in a court case being represented by Matt. Unfortunately, he is convicted in the comics, and this leads to Hector having an extreme outburst in the courtroom, as he raises a gun against his lawyers, Matt and Foggy, before he is eventually gunned down trying to run away after being found guilty. TheDisney+ show takes liberties with this storyline, and while there is a lot in common with the source material, there are significant changes.
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The Punisher is looming in the background of Daredevil: Born Again, with the show setting up the perfect comeback story in the meantime.
For instance, after the charges are dropped, Hector suits up in his White Tiger outfit, dons his amulet, and hits the streets, where he is swiftlyshot in the head at point-blank by a masked passerby wearing the Punishers signature skull. In the comics, the White Tiger has extremely enhanced senses such as hearing and vision, which allow him tosee in the dark thanks to being able to pick up on ultraviolet and infra-red rays, which makes the dark completely meaningless for the hero. Evidently, the TV show version of the White Tiger did not have this ability, otherwise they would have spotted their attacker in the dark.
The White Tiger Amulet Is Physically Different In The Comics
The Source Of Hector’s Powers Has Been Changed For The Show
Looking more closely at the actual source of the White Tiger’s powers, theWhite Tiger amulet is featured prominently in the show. The design appears to be a solid chunk of metal fashioned to look like a tiger with small paws extending from the bottom. And while this does have some elements in common with versions seen in the comics, there is a distinct difference that is present in the source material, which appears to have been left out of the show. Namely, the fact that the amulet should be split into three distinct parts, with one tiger’s head piece, and two paws. It should also be made of jade stone, and imbued with magical, mystical powers.
Daredevil: Born Againalso emphasizes the fact that Hector has no powers while not wearing the amulet.
The amulet in the show does provide Hector with mystical powers, but as far as the actual appearance of the magical jewel is concerned, it’s a very different item. This is significant in a couple of ways. The amulet being in three separate parts allows Hector to share the pieces with others, likehis sister, Ava Ayala, or Angela Del Toro, Hector’s niece. While the three may have taken on the role of the White Tiger at different times, the fact that theamulet could be split up did allow the powers to be shared, and used consecutively by others at the same time.
Hector Ayala Must Wear The Amulet To Use Its Powers
Hector Possessed Extraordinary Powers In Marvel Comics
Daredevil: Born Againalso emphasizes the fact that Hector has no powers while not wearing the amulet. Sure, he continues to be brave, and to act with the same desire to help the helpless, but his powers come from the amulet, and without it, he is just an ordinary man. But in the comics, this is not exactly how it works. Yes,Hector’s powers increase dramatically when wearing the amulet, and he can even place the amulet on specific body parts to enhance its powers, such as healing wounds and injuries by placing the amulet on them, but even when he is not wearing the amulet, Hector continues to have some power.
Who Is Marvel’s White Tiger? Origin, Powers & MCU Future Explained
White Tiger is one of Matt Murdock’s oldest allies whose origins in Marvel Comics involve mystical powers within a street-level narrative.
The powers in the amulet actually stem from the spirit of the Tiger God, and that is the being who grants Hector a portion of his powers. It’s very similar to how Khonshu grants Marc Spector the power to become Moon Knight. But whether that has not been established in the MCU for the White Tiger and its powers, or if the amulet is simply a magical artifact, likeDoctor Stephen Strange’s cloak of levitation, remains to be seen. As it stands, Hector was only able to access his powers with the amulet on, while his comic book counterpart became imbued with the powers, and they werefurther enhanced by wearing the amulet.
The Amulet Provides Hector With A Thorough Knowledge Of Martial Arts In The Comics
White Tiger Is A Skilled Fighter In Daredevil: Born Again
Finally, Hector also appears to be a pretty competent fighter inDaredevil: Born Again. When he first appears, without the amulet, Hector manages to put up an intense fight against two police officers who are more than willing to use brute force. Hector brawls well, and manages to get the upper hand, despite his advanced age, and the fact that he is outnumbered. Now, in the comics,Hector also became a confident and competent fighter, but initially, his fighting abilities came largely from the amulet. Hector becomes a master martial artist while wearing the amulet, and the repeated use of the amulet means Hector learns the basics of hand-to-hand fighting.
Meanwhile, in Daredevil: Born Again, it seems as though Hector is a skilled fighter with or without the amulet. While he certainly does the majority of his vigilante work with the amulet, and it could allow him to access even more fighting powers, the show only revealed his skill fighting without the amulet on. Meanwhile, he meets an unfortunate and swift end while wearing the amulet, which does not instill much confidence in his fighting prowess being improved by the wearing of the White Tiger amulet. Regardless, the depiction of theWhite Tiger inDaredevil: Born Againis an interesting one.
