REVIEW: ‘Daredevil Cold Day in Hell’ Issue 1

Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Charles Soule, art and colors by Steve McNiven, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

In a bleak alternative future, a powerless Matt Murdock struggles to live in a dystopian future. But he soon gets dragged back into the world of superheroes.

Two huge creators combine in a project that has taken a long time to craft. A massive issue in size, there is a slow pace to Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1. That creates a feeling of desolation and helplessness from the start. Something has happened, wiping out most of the heroes and the population. Yet most of the details are obscured, keeping the mystery high. Most of the comic sees Daredevil walk through the broken remains of New York City, perhaps the best way of building a new world.

Even though Matt says he is powerless very early in Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1, it takes a few examples of failure and struggles for it to hit home. He is genuinely blind, without his superpowers to see for him. The second half of the issue is when the action and more drama kick in. Daredevil is drawn underground, brought into something he had no connection to, or so he thought. The last stages are disturbing and uncomfortable, with fast-paced action ending unexpectedly because the characters are so much older.

The cast of Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1 is small, but each reveal is impactful. Daredevil is at the heart of it, with most of the issue focusing on him. Soule has already had a long stint writing the character, so he knows him expertly. He is comfortable letting Daredevil and his thoughts dominate the book. Even during a storyline filled with deep sadness, horror, and bleak surroundings, the main character has a calm attitude and a strange sense of positivity.

A motif keeps getting repeated, “all part of God’s plan”. It’s a beacon of hope during a comic that can be demented, dark, and disturbing. Oddly, the creepiest part of the comic is the heroes. They’re broken, messed up, and traumatized. It’s hard seeing them struggle with their age. Not just Murdock, but others find themselves prevented from doing what they’ve always done due to their frailty. It’s a sad sign of the passage of time.

The art is incredible in Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1, seeing a true legend of the craft return to the page. McNiven is no stranger to horrific dystopias, yet each one looks different and unique. New York is messy and broken, with remnants of past battles and secret histories. There is something very sinister and creepy about seeing superheroes grow old, particularly by McNiven. The man who illustrated Old Man Logan really makes the superhumans look decrepit and worn out. They haven’t been able to grow old gracefully; instead, they are covered in scars, long hair, and wrinkles. It’s unsettling and terrifying.

The ailments that Daredevil and other characters experience are drastic and captured perfectly by the art. They look painful and debilitating, which is precisely what chronic injuries and illnesses cause. But for these heroes and villains, they have a certain irony. This is a grim comic with nasty and grotesque imagery. McNiven keeps lines small and close together, creating more intense details.

The colors are fascinating because red is avoided as much as possible in Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1. This is rare in Daredevil comics. The only time scarlet can be seen is on Murdock’s glasses and his cane (which is an important feature of this series. The shades are muted instead of vibrant, making the book sickly instead of intense. Cowles has written well over a hundred Daredevil issues, and his lettering is consistently brilliant.

Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1 is something very different. Every once in a while, a character-focused dystopian comes around. This is Daredevil’s turn, and it is just as bleak and uncomfortable as the others. It has all of the elements of a typical Daredevil comic: religion, Hell’s Kitchen, and crime, but a time filled with pain and anguish has happened before the series begins. It is clear that this project is truly collaborative, with McNiven acting as a true storytelling partner to Soule. Reading this extra-large issue is a truly captivating experience, unlike any typical superhero comic.

Daredevil Cold Day in Hell Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.