Warning! Contains Spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again!White Tiger is the latest super-powered vigilante to bolster the addressing Daredevil's retirement and Kingpin's successful run for New York mayor.
Additionally, New York seems to have become a hotbed of masked vigilantism. This isn't too surprising given the prevalence of New York-based superheroes in the MCU, causing more minor do-gooders and evildoers to get in on the act. White Tiger is among this throng of lesser-known MCU additions, though his Marvel Comics history suggests that he'll bring a little more to the table than hand-to-hand skills and an ostentatious costume.
White Tiger In Daredevil: Born Again And The MCU Explained
Daredevil: Born Again Features Hector Ayala As The Vigilante
Image via Disney+
While several individuals have carried the mantle in Marvel Comics, Daredevil: Born Again debuts the original, Hector Ayala, portrayed by the late Kamar de los Reyes. His first official appearance on the show comes in episode two, where Hector Ayala attempts to stop two men from beating up another. After a fight breaks out, one of the men that Hector was trying to stop is accidentally thrown in front of a subway train, and they are revealed to be police officers, leading to Hector's arrest.
Kamar de los Reyes tragically ed away in 2023 after filming for Daredevil: Born Again, making his role as Hector Ayala his last.
There is brief footage of White Tiger operating as a vigilante in the city, but through all three episodes of Daredevil: Born Again, it is only Hector Ayala that is focused on outside his crime fighting. Starting with his trial, it seemed like White Tiger would be a significant character within the MCU, especially when episode three ends with Hector Ayala being found not guilty in court.
However, things take a tragic turn when he is shot and killed while operating as White Tiger once again, ending the episode in truly shocking fashion. This throws the character's future in the MCU into question, but there are ways to continue Hector Ayala's legacy by ing on the mantle.
White Tiger's Marvel Comics Origin And History Explained
Hector Ayala Has A Tragic History In Marvel Comics
Hector Ayala first appeared in 1975's "Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19" and is one of many characters in the orbit of prominent New York-based street-level superheroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil. As a Puerto Rican, Ayala boasts the accolade of being Marvel's first Latin American superhero. There have been four successors who have since carried the White Tiger mantle, though it is the two most recent (Ayala's niece, Angela del Toro, and his youngest sister, Ava Ayala) who most closely resemble Ayala's original iteration as they draw their powers from the Jade Tiger amulets.
Hector Ayala found these three Jade Tiger amulets, comprising the head and two forepaws of a tiger, while attending Empire Estate University in New York City alongside Peter Parker. These amulets were originally worn by the Sons of the Tiger, three martial arts experts who fought in tandem to awaken the composite powers of the amulet. After the Sons of the Tiger disbanded, the amulets were discarded in an alleyway, whereupon they were discovered by Ayala and granted him the power of all three combined.
White Tiger was initially an entirely separate persona who fought crime unbeknownst to Ayala, who would awaken from the transformation suffering physical drawbacks. Eventually, Ayala was able to combine the two personas and fought crime alongside the likes of Daredevil, Spider-Man, and the Defenders throughout his street-level career. During this time, he also fought such notorious adversaries as Doctor Octopus and Prowler.
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Ayala's time as White Tiger was fraught with misfortune, causing him to relinquish the White Tiger identity after his family were specifically targeted and killed. Subsequently, just days after being compelled to return to his heroics, White Tiger was framed for murder and represented in his trial by Matt Murdock, though he would ultimately lose his case. Following his conviction, Ayala was then shot and killed on the steps of the courthouse as he attempted to escape.
White Tiger's Powers Explained
White Tiger's Abilities Are Fairly Commonplace
Hector Ayala is granted superhuman abilities when he dons all three Jade Tiger amulets. These powers include the typical array of superhuman abilities, including enhanced strength, durability, speed, and agility, though a more unique facet of the transformation is an inherent mastery of martial arts. This is despite Ayala having received no prior training in hand-to-hand combat, though his tenure as White Tiger would help to develop his overall prowess. While his physical abilities resemble Captain America's, the amulets can also heal grievous wounds, granting him an accelerated healing factor akin to that of Wolverine, though not as powerful.
Though he is never seen using the full scope of his powers, it is confirmed in the show that his amulet does give him them, showing that even a grounded show like Daredevil: Born Again won't shy away from talking about superpowered beings, fitting in with the rest of the MCU. With Hector Ayala getting killed at the end of episode three, it looks like White Tiger's powers won't be explored in the series, unless another character takes up the mantle at some point.
White Tiger's Amulets Explained
Daredevil: Born Again Only Uses The Tiger Head
Known as the Amulets of Power, the three amulets are power-granting artifacts that are used by the avatars of the Tiger God. These amulets originated in the hidden city of K'un-Lun, a place commonly associated with Iron Fist, where he once trained and eventually served as its protector. They were made from the same magical elements as the Great Emerald Crystal, which allows the hidden city to periodically appear in other dimensions.
In Marvel Comics, Hector Ayala comes into possession of the three amulets after they are discarded by the Sons of the Tiger when they disband and throw them in an alley. Daredevil: Born Again is possibly changing a few things about the amulets, given that it Hector Ayala is only shown to be in possession of the tiger head instead of all three. It's possible that Marvel Studios just decided to merge all three amulets into one, and they retain the same powers, but the questions will remain for a while, given Hector's fate in the show.
How White Tiger Fits Into Daredevil: Born Again's Story
Daredevil: Born Again Has Wielded Some Creative License
The beginning of Daredevil: Born Again starts with Matt Murdock choosing to walk away from being Daredevil after Bullseye kills Foggy Nelson and Karen Page leaves New York for San Francisco. In Daredevil's absence, others have taken up being vigilantes, with Hector Ayala operating as White Tiger. After he is accused of murdering a cop, he finds himself with Matt Murdock as his lawyer, who believes that he didn't do it, quickly learning that he is running around as a vigilante.
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Like the original Netflix series, Daredevil: Born Again explores corruption within the police force, and the final moments of episode three see Hector Ayala, widely known as White Tiger despite being found not guilty, get shot and killed by an unknown assailant. Like Marvel Comics, the mantle of White Tiger could possibly get ed to another character in Daredevil: Born Again, or some other point in the MCU, with the most likely candidate being Hector's niece, Angela del Toro.
Who Kills White Tiger?
Punisher Makes His Appearance On Born Again
The shocking ending of Daredevil: Born Again episode three completely blows open the doors to the rest of the season's narrative, including the ramifications of being a vigilante and Wilson Fisk's crusade to rid New York City of them. Hector Ayala's death also sets the table for Frank Castle to finally appear in the show, as he is killed by someone who was wearing the Punisher logo on their chest. This comes after Hector Ayala was outed by Matt Murdock as being White Tiger when they were on the verge of losing the court case.
Though it doesn't show exactly who is the one to kill White Tiger, Matt Murdock investigates the crime scene to find the bullet casing, which is engraved with the Punisher logo. This leads to Matt confronting Frank about it, with both of them acknowledging that it was likely a corrupt officer that had appropriated Frank's logo, which has been shown several times throughout the show. After a heated exchange, the two parted ways, and could set Frank up on a collision course with those who use his logo for their own.
How Born Again Sets Up Angela Del Toro To Become White Tiger
She Understands The System Is Corrupt
Angela Del Toro was first seen during her uncle Hector Ayala's trial, but she finally had a speaking role in episode 4. Played by Camila Rodriguez, Angela Del Toro is officially introduced after she goes to see her uncle's body following his death. She has an emotionally powerful moment with Matt Murdock, where she knows that the police killed him, and tells him that she hates them and the city. She understands that no one will do anything about it because, "he was just Hector from the Heights, and they are the f*cking cops."
Angela Del Toro becomes White Tiger in Marvel Comics after Hector dies, and is mentored by Daredevil. This seems to be exactly what Daredevil: Born Again is wanting to do, especially with Matt being on the verge of taking up the mantle of Daredevil once again. It's possible that she will be inspired by Daredevil to become White Tiger, hoping to change the system in her own way. All signs point to her taking up the mantle at some point. If it isn't in the first season, it could possibly be in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, or even another MCU project.
Daredevil: Born Again
- Release Date
- March 4, 2025
- Network
- Disney+
- Showrunner
- Chris Ord
Cast
Matt Murdock / Daredevil
Wilson Fisk
WHERE TO WATCH
Daredevil: Born Again follows blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who uses his heightened abilities to pursue justice in New York. As he manages a bustling law firm, former mob boss Wilson Fisk navigates political ambitions, leading both men toward a confrontation as their pasts resurface.
- Writers
- Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree
- Franchise(s)
- Daredevil, Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Number of Episodes
- 9
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
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