When Does Karen Find Out Matt Is Daredevil?
Matt Murdock has done a very good job of keeping his identity a secret over the years. Only a handful of people figured out he was Daredevil. However, there are a few people in Matt’s life who he chose to tell his secret, both in the comics and the Daredevil TV show. One of those people is Karen Page. So, when does Karen find out Matt is Daredevil?
Karen found out Matt Murdock was Daredevil in Daredevil #57 when Matt decided to reveal his secret – at Karen’s father’s funeral. In the TV show, he tells her in the Season 2 finale, right near the end of the episode, leaving us with a cliffhanger, not knowing how Karen will react.
If you didn’t know, Karen Page was Matt Murdock’s secretary in his law firm, turned into his friend, and eventually a big love interest. The reveal ultimately led to them growing apart and a world of trouble for Murdock due to Page’s drug addiction. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about Karen Page and what happened when she found out Matt was Daredevil.
Who Is Karen Page?
Karen Page is a character appearing both in the Daredevil comics and the Netflix TV show. She was Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson’s secretary at their law practice, turning into their close friend, and eventually, Matt’s girlfriend and love interest.
Comics
Karen was a bright woman in the comics, finishing high school with all A’s while being the cheerleading captain simultaneously. After that, Page graduated summa cum laude from the University of Vermont.
Although her family was incredibly wealthy, and Karen was set to inherit all that money, she still moved to New York to find a job and make a name – and a living – herself, without anybody handing her anything on a silver platter.
Eventually, Page ends up working for the Nelson and Murdock Attorneys at Law firm as a secretary. A bit under her capabilities, but hey – a job is a job.
Karen fell in love with Matt, but uncertain if the love would be reciprocated, she kept it a secret for a long time. Little did she know that Matt has a secret himself – a much bigger secret, that is.
After a while, many things happen that make Page and Murdock very close, eventually becoming lovers. It lasted for a while until… well, you know what she found out.
TV Show
In the TV show, Karen Page’s story is quite similar to the one in the comics – she worked for Murdock and Nelson in their law firm but had more responsibilities. She played a vital role in bringing down the Kingpin, and she also helped immensely defending Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, in court.
That being said, she also got into a lot of trouble in the show – being Wilson Fisk’s assassination target, getting kidnapped by the Hand, and more.
There’s an obvious spark between herself and Murdock, but their relationship never got physical in the show. There was just too much going on mentally for both of them, as well as other love interests appearing; Karen and Matt just never found themselves on the same page (pun intended).
When Does Karen Find Out Matt Is Daredevil?
Comics
So, Matt and Karen are a happy couple for a while with normal ups and downs. But, when she learned about Murdock’s secret identity – and the fact he was lying to her all that time – things turned a bit sour.
In Daredevil #57, Paxton Page reappears as a villain. Paxton is Karen’s father, who was presumed dead. However, he dies quickly after reappearing, only this time, it is real. At his funeral, Matt decides it’s time to tell Karen who he is.
He was there as Daredevil and told Karen to take off his mask, and when she does, she is completely baffled to see Murdock behind it – mainly because everybody thought he was dead.
Their spark rekindles, but Karen struggles with Matt being a vigilante, so he promises to quit. Of course, it doesn’t happen, and Karen finally gives up on them, leaving for Los Angeles in Daredevil #63.
She was out of the picture for a long time, but it wasn’t the last we saw from her. Page’s life takes a turn for the worse as she becomes a heroin addict. Upon returning to New York, she tries to get her life straight, but the addiction gets the best of her.
In Daredevil #227, Karen sells the information about Daredevil to none other than the Kingpin himself, just to get a shot of heroin from him. Of course, Fisk uses the information to destroy Matt Murdock’s life completely. Not the smartest thing to do, am I right?
TV Show
Karen Page is in love with her employer, Matt Murdock, for the entire first season of the show. While there’s obvious sexual tension between them, it never materialized – and Season 2 was not much different.
They had their moments, but it felt like Karen was starting to let it go after meeting Frank Castle – just when Matt started to reciprocate.
It all led to a climax in the Season 2 finale, where Matt finally decided to reveal his identity to Karen. We don’t get to see her full reaction, and after the season finished, Murdock appeared in The Defenders before Season 3 of Daredevil aired.
We don’t get a hint that he and Karen are together after his big reveal, and, as it turns out, they really weren’t together – confirmed in Season 3.
Do Karen And Matt Stay Together After She Learns He Is Daredevil?
Comics
As I mentioned earlier, Karen had no idea Matt was still alive when he revealed his identity to her at Paxton Page’s funeral. She struggled with the idea of him being the Hell Kitchen’s vigilante, but she struggled even more to comprehend that Matt was alive and never reached out to her.
Still, they end up together again, provided that he gives up the Daredevil action. He never does, which ultimately leads to their final breakup. So, yes, Karen and Matt stay together for a while after she learns he is Daredevil, but after that moment, nothing was ever the same.
TV Show
In the TV show, Karen and Matt were never really together, and that didn’t change after he revealed his secret identity to her. Even if it would eventually lead somewhere, we never got to see it, seeing that the show was abruptly canceled after Season 3 of the show.
I hope Disney will reboot some of the canceled Marvel Netflix shows now that they have the exclusive rights, including Daredevil, the Punisher, and Jessica Jones.
Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll finally see that fatal love between Matt and Karen that’s been brewing for so long.
