REVIEW: ‘Daredevil,’ Issue #25

Daredevil #25 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Marco Checchetto. Colours by Marcio Menyz. Letters by Clayton Cowles. Daredevil is a convicted criminal. After accidentally killing a robber in the first issue of the series, Matt Murdock handed himself in. After preparing for the trial and enlisting the help of his twin brother, Matt pleaded guilty and was sent to prison. 

Doing so left Hell’s Kitchen defenseless. The Stromwyns, a dangerous and rich family, were looking to buy the entirety of the borough. At the last minute, the entire part of the city was bought by Elektra, Daredevil’s former lover, friend, and enemy.

In this issue, Elektra breaks into the prison where Daredevil has been sentenced, wanting to speak to him. They discuss her takeover of the Kitchen with Daredevil wary of her plans. After she leaves, she begins her patrol of her new domain as she springs into action.

The plot and structure of the issue are fantastic. The story moves slowly, a lot of it centred on Elektra’s conversation with Daredevil as they both lean over the railings in the cellblock. The conversation is brilliant as it shows how long these two have known each other. After that, Elektra returns to her new domain. The two scenes, one is her encountering a homeless woman on the streets while the other is full of action, are great examples of what readers may expect going forward. Intersecting with the present day are mysterious flashbacks that may unsettle the reader.

Daredevil #25 is based more around Elektra than it is about Matt Murdock, and Zdarsky is brilliant at her characterization. Throughout just one issue, the reader experiences several aspects of what makes her a remarkable character. She is capable of incredible affection and generosity, as seen by her buying Hell’s Kitchen to save it in the first place. But she is also considerate to people who need compassion. She is also as manipulative as it gets, as Murdock himself mentions many times. She is also shown as one of the best fighters in the Marvel Universe.

Checchetto’s depiction of Elektra is phenomenal. The artist captures both her beauty and her ferocity at the same time. Glares that could kill by themselves are shot towards any despicable comment made by the prisoners in their cells as she walks among them. Checchetto bestows her with an incredibly voluminous head of hair that would make The Inhumans’ Medusa envious. Her movement during the combat shows how powerful and acrobatic she is. A particular costume she wears at the end of the issue was equal parts surprising and amazing.

Matt Murdock’s design in Daredevil #25 should not avoid mention. Checchetto is one of the best artists at drawing the Man Without Fear. When Elektra finds him, he is dressed in prison overalls with his mask hiding his identity. But the reader can still tell he is disheveled, with long locks of scarlet hair breaching the bottom of the mask and the growing stubble on his jaw. The shading and lines of the mask always make it look imposing.

Menyz is superb on colours. Both Elektra and Daredevil stand out brilliantly against the cold blue of their surroundings. There is a lot of red within this comic but it never gets tiring or boring to look at, with a huge variety in the shades and tones depending on the costume and lighting. Daredevil’s cowl is not as bright as it once was, suggesting his mood has dimmed significantly since his imprisonment. When outside, the lights of the cars and streets seem to sparkle even within the shadows of the city. Menyz and Checchetto both manage to capture the soul of Hell’s Kitchen.

Cowles on letters is consistently brilliant. The thoughts of both Matt and Elektra are separated distinctly by unique caption boxes. 

Daredevil #25 is one of the best issues of this series so far. The changing of focus to a different character allows Zdarsky to explore two stories at the same time. Elektra is an enigma, she carries both energy and darkness with her when she is in the panel. Her design and dialogue solidify her place as one of the coolest vigilantes Marvel has at its disposal. Her relationship with Murdock and her own history brings huge potential to the series. 

Multiple heroes have taken over as protector of Hell’s Kitchen while their Guardian Devil is unable to defend it. Spider-Man and Black Panther have spent time within its streets, and Iron Fist wore the Daredevil suit for a small amount of time. But Elektra is possibly the most perfect fit as Matt’s successor.

Welcome to Hell’s Kitchen, Elektra.

Daredevil #25 is now available where comics are sold.