REVIEW: ‘Daredevil: Gang War,’ Issue #2

Daredevil: Gang War #2 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Erica Schultz, with pencils by Sergio Dávila, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Ceci de la Cruz, and letters by Clayton Cowles. In the latest issue, Daredevil must protect the gangs from themselves as their longing for power could bring everything crashing down on their heads.

This is a tie-in that quickly deviates from what may have been expected on the last page of the previous issue. With a mysterious benefactor souping up a villain Daredevil had already bested, it appeared like Hell’s Kitchen’s protector would be outnumbered against an alliance. However, the greed of the criminals changes the direction of the book, making it a three-way fight.

The pacing is fantastic, with ticking time bombs set up around the book. The precarious nature of potential fatalities gives Daredevil: Gang War #2 a different tone. The weapons deal rapidly going south leads to a building that’s getting ever closer to collapse. It doesn’t take long for the most ferocious fighters to come out on top and maintain a rivalry that’s getting more intense by the page. The mysterious assassin displays new weapons. Their master becomes clear. It’s not an enormous surprise within the context of the wider Gang War event, but it does bring Elektra back to the main body of the crossover.

The differences between Elektra and Matt Murdock as Daredevil are evident, but there are also signs of the former trying to live up to the mantle. Elektra displays the most devotion to keeping people alive than we’ve ever seen before.  There’s an urgency towards saving lives, even if the person she’s saving repulses her.

The dialogue between the gangsters is gloriously corny, as they show zero loyalty towards anyone who claims to help them. But the real gem of this tie-in is the mysterious assassin. She speaks more within Daredevil: Gang War #2. This only changes when Daredevil turns up. Then, she becomes her silent and ruthless self. That similarity between Daredevil and this newcomer is the driving force of the book, and each of their battles is getting more contested and violent as it progresses.

The art is awesome. The fighting is delectable, with two incredible martial artists unleashing their full ferocity on both the criminals and each other later in the comic. Daredevil: Gang War #2 is bloody. There is a huge and shocking surprise, exposed in all of its grizzly glory. The secret weapon for the new assassin has suddenly altered any suspicions of who she is whilst also making her even more dangerous than how she initially appeared.

Daredevil is moving with speed, knocking the gangsters aside with ease and a variety of terrific moves. That frantic velocity energises the comic from start to finish, as there is always someone moving in it. The facial expressions of the gangsters are gory and ridiculously funny, excellently detailed by Dávila and Cruz. The inking is truly incredible. This is most apparent in Daredevil’s costume. The variety of line weights is immaculate. There is a brief cameo of the other Daredevil in the opening, and the design of Matt’s modern costume is also fantastic.

The colors are prominent and powerful. The most exhilarating tone is undeniably Daredevil. That red is so brilliantly vibrant and unrivalled by any other. Even the newcomer has more of a pinkish tinge to the red on her outfit, mixed with the black that stops it from being as bright as Elektra’s. Long-standing Daredevil letterer Cowles makes sure that the text within the word balloons is always easy to read.

Daredevil: Gang War #2 is one of the best Gang War tie-ins due to the strength of its lead character. What started as a clash against a single faction has become an intricate scramble for territory and power within her territory. But this is one of the most capable and strongest heroes in New York, and she is amazing even on her own. She has slowly been turning into Hell’s Kitchen’s protector and a hero in general, and that growth is as present in this issue as it has ever been. The villain of the book is fascinating and intriguing. Another writer may have revealed her identity towards the end of this issue, but Schultz is happy to keep making heads spin.

Daredevil: Gang War #2 is available where comics are sold.