After his designated patsy and best friend Wilson Fisk is falsely arrested by George Stacy as the Kingpin, Murdock has a midlife crisis and considers suicide before sensing a kindred spirit in passing superhero (and wanted murderer) Spider-Woman, and electing to attempt to mold her into his apprentice, personal enforcer, and eventual successor.

In the primary continuity of the comic books constituting the Marvel Universe, blind lawyer Matt Murdock is the superhero Daredevil, whose archenemy is the crime lord Kingpin.

[3][4] The concept of an alternate-universe, supervillain Matt Murdock-incarnation of Kingpin was first conceptualised by Jason Latour,[5][6] after he was approached by Spider-Man editor Nick Lowe on request of writer Dan Slott to write a stand-alone issue for the 2014–15 "Spider-Verse" event, following a similarly alternate-universe superhero "spider-powered Gwen Stacy", conceiving of Murdock as their nemesis,[6][7] with Robbi Rodriguez approached to design Murdock and the title character.

[10][11][12][9] In October 2014, Nick Lowe announced at New York Comic Con 2014 that a Spider-Gwen ongoing series would be released, retaining Murdock as its main antagonist.

Suffering from a midlife crisis as a result of growing bored with his absolute power and personal moral corruption, Matt decides to commit suicide.

After prompting Gwen to be led into an ambush, injuring her and destroying her power-ups and web-shooters, Matt reveals his presence and his knowledge of her lost powers, having been informed by Cindy, who had designed the spider which had given her superpowers.

[29] After Spider-Woman refuses to hand Harry over to Matt upon finding him, he has the Rhino beat her father to near-death in his prison cell, rending him comatose, before confronting her himself in Madripoor.

With a response of "Attagirl", Matt draws his katana and cuts through her webs, dropping back down to the roof and informing her that an "easy death" is the last thing he wants.

As the pair battle, Captain America (Samantha T. Wilson) suddenly shows up and punches (and kicks) Matt in the face, telling Spider-Woman that she is aware of his crimes and will arrest him.

Satisfied that he has finally taught her the meaning of "true power" and that he can die knowing he is not alone, Spider-Woman decides to keep him alive to spite him, tossing Matt aside.

[33] Sometime later, on conference call with the leaders of the Hand, Matt openly defies them after they berate him for putting them at risk of exposure through his public conflicts, before preparing to face the ninja they will send to assassinate him.

Gwen then mocks Matt for lying to himself and secretly wanting to be stopped, for being so bored and empty that only other people's misery is interesting, and for thinking himself caged when he's the freest person in the world.

[34] Noting his perceived terror at being so overwhelmed and drowned out, Spider-Woman tells Matt that knowing sound was the symbiote's weakness also displayed it at is own, and that on some level he wanted her to figure that out and stop him.

Turning off the music, Gwen states that the world now knows the truth about the both of them, and that her love for her friends was what helped her truly tame the symbiote, transforming it into a replica of her original costume.

Unceremoniously taking back her portal-watch, Gwen tells Matt that he has picked his fate before leaving him to wait for ninja to arrive and end his life.