REVIEW: ‘Daredevil,’ Issue #10

Daredevil #10 is published by Marvel, written by Chip Zdarsky, art by Marco Checchetto, colors by Matt Wilson, and letters by Clayton Cowles. The Avengers have arrived to clean up Daredevil’s mess and take down the criminals he broke out of prison. Everything he built is crumbling, and Daredevil isn’t ready to let go yet.

The plot of this issue is heavy but action-packed. After so much was revealed in the last issue, it is horrifying to see it fall apart. But it isn’t just that that is breaking, as trust, relationships, and reputation are evaporating. Almost the entire comic is a fight, and any part of the issue that isn’t is frantic and intense. Once this comic is picked up, the emotion of it makes it impossible to stop reading. There are some great matchups in this book, with what’s left of Daredevil’s brigade facing off against a small but exciting Avengers lineup. However, due to so much going on in the last issue, there isn’t the full force that would have led to even more exciting combinations. But instead, the previous part of Daredevil #10 is split in two. There is a cacophony of noise, a scramble to escape, and then a serene silence simultaneously.

The characters and the script for Daredevil #10 are simply stunning. This issue isn’t as utterly devastating as the previous chapter, with so much being taken away last time. But this is more of the consequences of Daredevil’s actions. In one way, Matt and Elektra’s actions are amicable. We’ve seen how some villains have changed, which is for the better. Even when they’re being taken away, people like Agony and their statements are horrifying. The Avengers are barging in, not knowing the whole story. But seeing the catastrophe unfolding, someone had to intervene.

The comic’s most tragic yet riveting side is the breakdown of the friendship between Spider-Man and Daredevil. As they scrap, the narration is gorgeous. It shows the pure respect they have for each other and still do by the end of the comic. It’s a fight filled with pain and regret. Zdarsky also notes how powerful Spider-Man is, reminding us he is superhuman. What I like is the writer also ensures that it is clear that everyone involved in this issue is heroes. Spider-Man has the book’s most epic and sacrificial moment, doing something just as awesome as you might see in a comic with his own name in the title.

The art is fantastic. The magnitude of the moment is magnificent. In some parts of Daredevil #10, the scale of the surroundings and the fight is bewildering, showing the mountains, the temple, and the sheer size of some characters. But the battle can also get intimate when the real emotion sets in. Spider-Man and Daredevil have a violent and vicious melee in the dark, with fists and their respective tools clashing. In another vein, Elektra is fighting with much less regard for the Avengers and is doing damage. The injuries are small but nasty. And while I may have mentioned the fight has lost players, those within it look phenomenal.

The colors are terrific. In the outside areas of the battlefield, there is a mix of orange heat from the fire and the sickly green of the gas dropped on the temple. When in a dark tunnel together, Peter and Matt have their costumes. Outside, there is much more variety and vibrancy to the shades. The lettering has been standard and brilliant for Daredevil comics.

Daredevil #10 is an issue powered by heartache. Friendships and alliances are erased in this comic as both Daredevil’s haven and his reputation disintegrate. Seeing the pain that Checchetto draws and Zdarsky pens is crushing. But also, you would be hard-pressed to find a more epic set of fight sequences elsewhere this week. The spectrum of scale, while maintaining the same intensity, left me mindblown.

Daredevil #10 is available now wherever comics are sold.