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Karen Page is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett. She served as the original love interest for Daredevil, working as an office manager for him and Foggy Nelson at their law firm. Page was killed by Bullseye in Daredevil #5 (March 1999), and has remained dead since.
Karen Page was portrayed by Ellen Pompeo in the film Daredevil (2003), and by Deborah Ann Woll in television series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including Daredevil (2015–2018), The Defenders (2017), The Punisher (2017–2019), and (2025–present); initially a friend and confidant of Daredevil, this version of the character bonds with the Punisher.
In her first appearances, Karen is the secretary for the law firm of Daredevil's alter ego Matt Murdock and the mutual love interest of both Murdock and his partner Foggy Nelson. Her relationship with Murdock hits a downward spiral when he reveals his secret identity to her in Daredevil #57 (October 1969), setting off a long break-up which concluded with her departure from the series in issue #86 (April 1972). Within these final stories, she trades her profession of secretary to become a film actress.
After three years' absence from published stories, Karen returned for a considerable stint as a supporting character in Ghost Rider, starting with vol. 2 #13 (August 1975) and continuing through to #26 (October 1977). During this time, a crossover with Daredevil #138 afforded her a brief return appearance in the series where she got her start. A 1978 appearance in Marvel Two-in-One would prove the character's last showing for over seven years.
Karen returned in Born Again, an award-winning storyline beginning in Daredevil #227 (February 1986) that would ultimately restore her earlier role as Daredevil's love interest. Writer Ann Nocenti gave considerably more development to their relationship and even had Karen acting as a sidekick to Daredevil for the first time in issue #259, in which she goes undercover to help take down a child pornography ring. She was again dropped from the series in issue #263 (February 1989) for another long-term breakup from Murdock, but this time was brought back just two years later, for Daredevil #294 (July 1991).
Karen is killed by Daredevil's adversary Bullseye in Daredevil (vol. 2) #5 (March 10, 1999).
Paxton Page, Karen's father, fakes his own kidnapping and death to assume the guise of the villain Death's Head. Karen returns to her parents' home in Fagan Corners, Vermont, to investigate her father's disappearance. Daredevil follows her. In the ensuing battle between Daredevil and Death's Head, Death's Head spills a vat of molten cobalt over Daredevil but realizes that Karen is endangered. This brings Paxton back to his own senses, pushing Daredevil and Karen to safety. He appears to die in this act of self-sacrifice when he is coated in cobalt. After the battle with Death's Head, Daredevil's true identity is revealed to Karen. Daredevil #56–57 (September - October 1969) She constantly fears for Matt's safety, but Daredevil cannot give up fighting crime. Karen eventually leaves Matt and moves to California to pursue her dream of an acting career. She quickly finds work as an actress in a daytime soap opera. Daredevil #65 (June 1970)
Karen appears alongside Johnny Blaze in a film. After a scene is interrupted by Orb, Katy Milner (Karen's stuntwoman) confides in Johnny about Karen's history of "unhappy romances" including the ones with Murdock and Phil Hickock. Later on, Karen herself falls under the Orb's control. Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #14–15 (October - December 1975) Karen is later offered a role on The Incredible Hulk TV show which was on its first season at the time. She is kidnapped by three ex-stuntmen on the show but is saved by the Thing (who is looking for his own TV show) and the Hulk (who is annoyed at having this show). Marvel Two-in-One #46 (December 1978)
Developing an addiction to heroin, Karen's career falters and she is soon reduced to starring in cheap pornography films. Daredevil #227 (February 1986) In need of a fix, she sells Daredevil's secret identity to a drug dealer who in turn sells this to the Kingpin. Karen is forced to return to New York, where she meets up again with Matt. Having rebuilt his life after surviving the Kingpin's machinations, Matt helps Karen beat her addiction, and they resume their relationship and begin sharing an apartment. Daredevil #232 (July 1986)
Realizing that Matt is incomplete without work as a lawyer (having been disbarred), Karen founds a legal clinic, where she counsels drug addicts while Matt provides legal advice as a "ghost lawyer". Daredevil #248 (November 1987) The clinic is destroyed during a demonic invasion of Manhattan, and Karen discovers hours later that Matt has been having an affair with Typhoid Mary. These combined blows leave her psychologically lost, and she runs away. Daredevil #262 - 263 (January - February 1989)
She becomes an anti-pornography activist, Daredevil #294 (July 1991) assists Daredevil and Black Widow in fighting crime on separate occasions and reluctantly starts dating Matt again. At this point, she becomes a radio show host under the name Paige Angel. She eventually realizes that she is too dependent on Matt and that her past is a constant barrier between them. Karen leaves Matt to accept a talk show host position in Los Angeles. Daredevil (vol. 2) #1 (November 1998)
While in California, Karen has a routine blood test as part of an insurance policy application. The supervillain Mysterio, as part of a plan to psychologically destroy Daredevil for one last scheme, Daredevil (vol. 2) #7 (May 1999) disguises himself as a doctor, performs the blood test, and claims that she is HIV-positive. Devastated, Karen returns to New York and tells Matt about the diagnosis. Later, during a fight between Daredevil and Bullseye, Karen is fatally impaled by Bullseye using Daredevil's billy-club. Daredevil (vol. 2) #5 (March 1999)
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