We are in Lock Down! The last arc of the current Daredevil series will be ending with issue #36, and then we can look toward a new event, Devil’s Reign, to continue the path. If speculation’s what you’re after, some fine folks here at AIPT have brought up their questions about these upcoming events and where to look, which could help us to refocus as we get closer to the end. But here, we’re going to be looking at Daredevil #34. Reading this issue, I felt that Chip Zdarsky was thinking the same thing about refocusing, as this issue brings the players up to speed and seems to put them on a collision course.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Daredevil #34!
Starting from the top: the cover by Marco Checchetto and Matthew Wilson evokes Catholicism nicely with the stained glass look. There seems to be a lot to analyze here, with characters at certain levels and locations, but what caught my eye were the bullet holes. We see Bullseye front and center, holding guns and the bullets aimed or fired through Matt’s head and two near the heart, while Elektra has one to her head and upper right chest area. Some covers foreshadow nothing, but I will be extra worried when it comes to the Daredevils.
In this issue, we have Stefano Landini on art, with Marcio Menyz providing color. While I was reading it, I didn’t even notice an artist change, and I have to credit that to Marcio’s palette as he is consistent with the visuals on the book. Stefano does a great job of keeping the action available while allowing the drama to set the scene. When characters interact, there is just as much emotion as there would be from a regular fight, which we get in Matt Murdock and Detective Cole, round 2! Marcio’s colors enhance those moments — nighttime in the city has a scary vibe, and the prison locations are hell with the aura he gives.
Zdarsky brings the action towards an intersection as we see Elektra go out to find Bullseye, yet she discovers she isn’t the only one on the case. I am very excited to see these two characters team up in the next issue as they’ll go up against the Bullseye gang. We also get to see why Matt was acting weird, and Cole mentions that Matt is under the influence of Re-Cid, which is much needed as I’m sure this will not help Matt get time off with good behavior. It was great to see Matt call out the sins of the warden as to his actions with the prisoners and forcing the drugs on them, but it did feel rushed to move Matt onto his next set of steps.
I would like to see the fallout from the prison and Matt’s time as an FBI informant wrapped up in a tighter bow, but we do have quite the action spree coming our way in future issues and events. I hope we get to see more of the Stromwyn Siblings, as they did put the hurt on Wilson Fisk and Hell’s Kitchen. Plus, it looks like Elektra is sporting some new tech from Tony Stark, but I hope we see more next issue. This issue sets the stage for a two-part blowout that will put this volume of Daredevil down.
Daredevil #34 is a great issue that serves as a breather before putting the main players on course for all the wild affairs that will be coming our way with the end of the volume and Devil’s Reign. Red skies are coming to Hell’s Kitchen!
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