REVIEW: ‘Daredevil,’ Issue #1

Daredevil #1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Chip Zdarsky, art by Marco Checchetto and Rafael De Latorre, colours by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Clayton Cowles. After the “death” of Matt Murdock, Daredevil is about to leave New York to deal with the Hand. But he does one last sweep of the city with Spider-Man before he goes. And in a backup story, Elektra has a meeting with Stick.

This is both a continuation of an old story and the beginning of a new one. After the huge events of Devil’s Reign, there are some loose ends to tie up. It allows us to settle into the comic. There are some surprises almost instantly in Daredevil #1 as Matt and Spider-Man begin their night shift. But there is also the beginning of some fascinating mysteries, with multiple new villains being hinted at. The start of the comic does feel comfortable, which is disrupted when Zdarsky decides to flip things. The ending has two things happening at the same time. One is this revelation, a new figure on the book that is also a massive distraction from the catastrophe that is about to happen. It is a sudden, heart-stopping shock.

The fantastic characters that survived from the last volume are set forward on new horizons in this comic. The first part of the issue is incredibly heartwarming. Daredevil and Spider-Man is one of my favourite friendships in comics and Zdarsky writes a wonderfully endearing script for their conversation. They completely understand each other’s difficulty with trust and yet trust each other’s ability to save lives implicitly.

There was a warmth to the start of the comic, but also deep-seated darkness. Daredevil has a menace attached to him, the grief from the end of the last series still enveloping him. In contrast, Elektra has also been altered. She has an aversion to killing, a feeling that is entirely alien to her. These are elements that are ripe for exploration. And then come these new characters that seem perplexing and full of depth.

The art in both stories is terrific. Zdarsky is reunited with Checchetto in the first story, who is such a perfect fit for this character. The realistic style breathes life into Hell’s Kitchen and those that reside in it. The facial expressions are believable and the little details add substance to the world. From individual strands of hair in Matt’s beard to the stretching of his mask when he puts it on, these specifics do so much. The action is also superb. There aren’t large amounts of the build-up to the action, often erupting in a panel. The ferocity of the impact is clear like a sudden crash out of nowhere.

The colours are stunning as Wilson covers both stories. There is an understanding and adapting of tones to fit the particular art styles for the line art in each tale. There is a distinct vibrancy when the colour red is involved, as all three heroes inside the comic have it on their regalia. Around them, the city is dark and gloomy, but rich with details in tones nonetheless. Daredevil’s radar sense looks awesome and intense, and the last character introduced is surprising, largely due to how Wilson presents them. The lettering remains identical to the style used for Daredevil books, maintaining consistency.

The backup story details Elektra paying Stick a visit. It consists largely of an extended fight that is exciting, but it also suggests a significant change going forwards. De Latorre depicts the confrontation beautifully. The design of Elektra’s costume gets better every time I see it, and De Latorre excellently captures the immense intensity of her athletic fluidity.

Daredevil #1 is a stunning start. It tries to close the door on Daredevil’s time in Hell’s Kitchen by having one last adventure in it. Zdarsky knows all of these characters completely at this stage, yet still tries to bring out new aspects to their personalities. From the start, it is evident that Murdock and Elektra come into this book with tortured souls and troubled minds. The art is gorgeous and it is so exciting to see this creative team back again.

Daredevil #1 is available where comics are sold.