This is the last issue of this incarnation of Daredevil before Devil’s Reign, and it’s all about setup. Chip Zdarsky brings Matt Murdock’s jail time to a conclusion, bringing some problems to the public and the superhero communities. We are also treated to some excellent character growth, romance, and rejection, along with vibrant art by Manuel Garcia, as this issue helps build up the hype for the upcoming event. There will be some SPOILERS, so let us dig in! (You’ve been warned and enticed!)
According to Marvel math, this is legacy issue #648, so we are very close to a monumental #650, and I wonder how Marvel will do that? Start with a new volume issue #1 (legacy #649) and then issue #2 will be the big 650th? It will be interesting to see as that should all be coming after Devil’s Reign. Looking at that cover, I love the layout of the two Daredevils posed for action; they both look so confident in their stance, which is an excellent showcase of how much both Matt Murdock and Elektra have grown as characters in this volume.
When the issue opens, we get a recap of the last issue’s tense standoff with the heroes and the police after the takedown of Bullseye, who was basically Kingpin’s failed experiment in cloning a human weapon and instead unleashed a menace on Hell’s Kitchen. I’m sure that plot point will come in handy for future issues and events, so don’t forget. I like how Manuel Garcia uses TV screens to help deliver the recap, and they do a great job along with the words to present a tense situation with the superheroes and the police. That last haunting question of “do superheroes believe they’re above the law?” is strong foreshadowing.
There is a time jump of five weeks, and we see Matt’s release from prison. Here he has a welcoming committee of his best friend Foggy and ex Kirsten McDuffie, but sadly he passes them both up to take a ride with Elektra. Manuel Garcia does a fantastic job of showing how Kirsten feels, capturing that hint of rejection perfectly. I can’t wait to see the follow-up in the future.
Next up is some quality time with Wilson Fisk and Typhoid Mary. To be honest, I can’t believe they are getting married, but here we are. I can see that their love is deep and for them both being psychopaths, they sure do showcase their feelings intimately. I have enjoyed that Mary can now control her anger and look out for someone outside of herself, and Wilson overcoming his fears and stand tall again. We also get a tense meeting between Wilson and Butch — readers of the annual will know their connection, so I’m wondering if Wilson has put two and two together?
Showcasing relationships, I enjoyed the shared moment with Matt and Elektra. I’ve never really been a fan of Elektra, but this volume has won me over, and I believe that when she put on the cowl of Daredevil, she caught feelings for Hell’s Kitchen and is a different kind of vigilante trying to follow Matt’s way. Even Matt himself has been acting differently since being released, and I enjoyed how Matt handled his first night back on patrol. How he dealt with the criminals and offered them more than jail, and even his discussion with Reed Richards was an excellent “full circle” since those two last talked back in issue #9 of this volume.
There is an important moment with Daredevil (Matt) and Wilson right before the wedding, and it showcases their growth as men and how they could overcome their constant conflict. The rest of the issue plays out just like a television show touching up on character interactions that I won’t spoil here, but they are great ways to revisit those situations and create more questions for future issues.
Daredevil‘s finale issue is a perfect ending for this current volume of Daredevil. There was intense drama, romance, rejection, and character growth. Zdarsky and the team have taken these characters and lifted them to excellent levels. The issue has me impatiently waiting for the Devil’s Reign event to continue this roller coaster of emotions and entertainment!
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