Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Marco Checchetto
Published by Marvel Comics
The current status quo of Daredevil is that Matt Murdock is Daredevil no more, Elektra doesn’t know her former ex (or exes) are the same person, and there are copycat Daredevils running around Hell’s Kitchen.
Chip Zdarsky fully gets the essence of the character, and I hope this soon to be classic run continues for a long time. This volume has come full circle, embracing all that fans love from his history starting with Frank Miller through to runs from Kevin Smith, Andy Diggle, Greg Rucka, Brian Michael Bendis and more, including all we love from Charlie Cox’ portrayal on Netflix.
Now, he is teamed up with an all-star artist for what I consider to be the closest we can get to a MAX or Ultimate version of Daredevil in 2019.
Marvel is playing this one out without a Parental Advisory on the cover, and no such other warnings but there’s cursing and “adult situations”. Marco Checchetto of Punisher and Green Arrow fame is the perfect guy for this. The last few issues have been great, but inconsistent art styles that wasn’t setting a general tone for the book. Now we get gritty realism that Daredevil demands.
In an almost-too-good-for-tv move, Daredevil is back in his “Man Without Fear” look, but a white mask these days. He can’t stay away from danger as much as he likes to try. Daredevil look-alikes have been popping up in DD’s absence, and one is in trouble at the beginning of this book.
Not unlike The Dark Knight, a crew of would be vigilantes are trying to fight crime on their own but they are not professionals.
Matt tails Foggy to rescue one of these imposters from some dirty cops and things start to go sour. Our current Matt has an issue with cops, he killed one, or at least feels responsible for a cop’s death. He’s in his own head about it.
Currently, Wilson Fisk is the Mayor of NYC and pulling the strings all over the 616, including destabilizing a country oversees with his influence.
At the risk of selling this comic short, and I don’t want to do so, the reader feels like a continuation of Daredevil on Netflix, almost a Season 4 that we won’t get to see. If you enjoyed the show and love Daredevil, start with this volume and see where it is taking us. The Kingpin is cold, Elektra attempts to redeem Matt, and Matt is as conflicted as ever.
Marvel’s Daredevil #12 (Legacy #624) will be at the top of my stack this week in comics. The book is contender for my book of the year.
