For all the excitement of Daredevil having recently relaunched with a new issue #1 and then jumping to an anniversary issue of issue #650, this week’s Daredevil #4 is easily the best of the series. Chip Zdarsky, Rafael de Latorre, and Matt Wilson come together to start the series’ next big adventure. You will want to talk with others about this issue as it has so much character drama, changes, and surprises.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Daredevil #4!
You may have seen the Checchetto Design Variant for issue #5, but that change actually happens in this issue. We quickly see that Matt has changed his costume to match Elektra’s Woman Without Fear version. It is a good look, and I enjoyed the new outfit in the action sequences in this issue. The uniform look also helps to validate Elektra being Daredevil. There is a part where we read Cole’s thoughts, and he goes from just thinking of Daredevil to thinking of the Daredevils. Yet, I also worry that there is too much of Elektra’s influence, so I will be excited to see how it plays out.
Detective Cole gets another big spotlight in this issue, and it is great to see how he is questioning himself and his place in this wild world. I like how he could recognize what he has accomplished and understands his core mission of control. He faces being an outsider who isn’t accepted, and the issue shows us two moments of meeting the rest of the Fist. The first one is comical and almost feels like a throwaway scene. Later, one of the characters returns, and this helps to get Cole in fit form to survive and potentially thrive with the Fist. I have to say Zdarsky has done such an excellent job with Cole that he is one of my favorite supporting cast members in Daredevil.
Following Matt Murdock, we see a confrontation by a mouthy Fist member. At the very start, one talks smack of Matt, and through enhanced hearing, Matt confronts and squashes it. This scene shows Matt with teeth; he knows he will have to be as hard and ruthless as he can be. While staying in Matt’s headspace, I enjoyed his torment between two lovers as he was distracted by Kristen and Elektra. His thoughts bring a question to my mind, and I wonder if Matt cares for Kristen or if he feels guilty about how he has handled everything with her.
Either way, it looks like that won’t matter much, as Matt is now a taken man. Yes, Matt and Elektra get married in this issue, which is the main reason why I think it will sell out. Zdarsky loves those secret weddings.
The art department continues to hold to their high standard. Rafael de Latorre and Matthew Wilson craft quite the world in this issue as we are deep in the mountains of mysticism. Rafael draws the scenes perfectly with his massively brutal action sequences and challenges himself by making the intimate moments just as exciting without losing the emotional connection. Matthew colors the art perfectly so you can feel lost in the world.
Don’t miss out on this issue that sets the stage for the new era of Daredevil. I am so surprised by the events here, and that they didn’t use this in the milestone #1 or #650 issues. Zdarsky has taken us through hell – what’s next? It starts here!
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