Warning! This article contains minor spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again episode 3.
Daredevil: Born Again’s reference to “Officer Morales” may have just teased Miles Morales' introduction to the MCU. Much ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 3took place inside a courtroom, with Matt and Kirtsen trying to prove that Hector Ayala was not guilty of the crimes for which he was falsely accused. As a means of winning the trial, Matt decided to unveil Hector’s identity asDaredevil: Born Again’s White Tigerto prove that the man is not a cop-killer but instead a hero of the community.
This story proves that Hector Ayala is a great addition toDaredevil: Born Again’s cast, despite his tragic ending in episode 3. Via this storyline, severalDaredevil: Born Againepisode 3 Easter eggswere found, be they more references to the dirty cops now using The Punisher’s skull-based logo or an interesting potential link to one of Marvel’s Spider-Man characters. The latter reference came in the form of a mention to one Officer Morales, potentially furthering the MCU’s set-up of Miles Morales eight years after he was first teased.
Daredevil: Born Again Episode 3 References Officer Morales
Linked To White Tiger’s Vigilante Activities
Firstly, it is worth exploring how Officer Morales was referenced inDaredevil: Born Again. After Matt revealed Hector’s identity as White Tiger to the jury, he changed his tactics to convince them that the latter was innocent. Given that Hector was falsely accused of killing a cop, the prosecutor’s main argument was that the man is someone with a vendetta against the law enforcement of New York. However, Matt and Kirsten delved into the various police reports that chronicled meetings with White Tiger, explaining how every cop who came across the vigilante only described him in one way: as a hero.
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Matt and Kirsten begin this defense by exploring a more detailed report from Officer Lucas Barlow that paints Hector in a heroic light. After doing so, Matt remarks that there are countless more reports of a similar nature from many NYPD officers.Matt lists some of these cops, including Officer Reyes, Officer Wong, Officer Morales, and Officer Grant, leading many to wonder if this included ties to the MCU’s Miles Morales. Little else is revealed about Officer Morales, though his alliance with vigilantes like White Tiger tracks with what is known of Jefferson Morales from most iterations of the character.
Is Officer Morales Referencing Miles Morales In The MCU?
The Reference Seems Too Pointed To Be Coincidental
For those unfamiliar with Marvel Comics, the connection between Officer Morales and Miles Morales is familial. The aforementioned Jefferson Davis is the father of Miles Morales in the latter’s various Marvel Comics stories, as well as movies likeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseandSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Jefferson Davis is married to Rio Morales, with the two then having Miles, who later becomes a version of Spider-Man. Despite the different last name of Davis,Daredevil: Born Againcould be referencing Miles' father.
Jefferson Davis has been known to legally change his name to Jefferson Morales…
In recent iterations of Miles' story in Marvel Comics, Jefferson Davis has been known to legally change his name to Jefferson Morales. This was also the case inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, meaning it would not be a stretch for the character to have done the same in the MCU. Regardless of his name, Jefferson has always been depicted as an NYPD officer, further enforcing the possibility thatDaredevil: Born Againhas referenced the family member of Spider-Man.
Marvel Has Been Setting Up Miles Morales In The MCU For 8 Years
Spider-Man: Homecoming First Referenced Miles
If, indeed,Daredevil: Born Againwas referencing Miles Morales' family, it would be the second hint at the character’s existence in the MCU. The first came eight years ago during the story ofSpider-Man: Homecomingvia one small scene. The scene saw Tom Holland’s Spider-Man meeting up with Donald Glover’s Aaron Davis, the brother of Jefferson Davis/Morales. In Marvel Comics, Aaron Davis is also known as the villain the Prowler, withSpider-Man: Homecomingshowing the character trying to buy weapons to protect his family.
Aaron simply states that he wants something low-key to protect himself and his family from unsavory people, not that he is looking for high-tech weaponry. He insists he doss not want anything too dangerous as he has a nephew who lives in the city, featuring the first proper reference to Miles in the MCU. Eight years later, in 2025,Daredevil: Born Againmay have provided another Miles reference via the mention of his father, with the MCU setting up two important father figures in Miles' life before potentially introducing the hero himself.
When Miles Morales Could Appear In The MCU
There Are Many Opportunities For A Miles Morales Story
AfterDaredevil: Born Againepisode 3’s potential reference, the burning question is where Miles Morales could appear in the MCU’s future. Admittedly, it is unlikely for Miles to show up inDaredevil: Born Againseasons 1 and 2, as the MCU is likely to tie his story to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man first. Therefore, thestory ofSpider-Man 4could see Miles Morales be included, paying off the references from bothSpider-Man: HomecomingandDaredevil: Born Again. If not, several other upcoming MCU movies could debut Miles.
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One of these movies isAvengers: Secret Wars. After all, that film will be based on the Marvel Comics storyline of the same name that sees several universes clashing together to create Battleworld. Miles Morales became a permanent resident of the mainline Marvel Comics universe afterSecret Wars, meaning the film adaptation could take a similar route to introduce the character. However, this would render the references to a Miles Morales that already exists in the MCU inert.
Therefore,Spider-Man 4or any otherupcomingSpider-Manmoviesin the MCU are the most likely projects to introduce Miles. That said, it would be a neat subversion of expectations forDaredevil: Born Againseason 2 to introduce Miles Morales, given the regular desire of audiences to see a Daredevil-Spider-Man team-up. If this was done in the form of Matt Murdock and Miles Morales,Daredevil: Born Again’s potential reference to the latter would be fulfilled.
