Taboo and B. Earl have been on a roll at Marvel Comics with their latest offering, Daredevil & Echo #1, out this week. Paired with superstar artist Phil Noto, they embark on a story revealing truths about Manhattan in the 1830s, embroiling Daredevil and Echo in a story like no other.
Right off the bat, this story is an intriguing one, thanks to the flashbacks. We get to see both Echo and Matt Murdock’s ancestors team up, which features men in top hats killing each other. There’s a strong Gangs of New York vibe to a few scenes, with a solo Native American entering the story to lend some guidance.
The captions are excellently written in this issue, putting us inside Daredevil’s head as he swings across New York. The first double-page spread gets you inside his head while also dazzling with some great costume details by Noto. He renders Daredevil in a realistic-looking and slightly baggy costume. A nice glow of light pierces Daredevil’s body, creating an angelic and heroic look.
This story is taking place at a specific time in the past.
Credit: Marvel
We soon learn a serial killer is taking a pound of flesh from their victims, and Elektra and Daredevil are on the case. The story feels grounded, with captions reminding us of the injustices of everyday life. That is juxtaposed well when a character animates buildings throwing a mega threat into Daredevil and Echo’s lap.
Noto crushes on these scenes, with eye-popping full-page spreads and a compelling layout design as the buildings crumble down. Noto is an expert in pace, too, with a quiet scene with the building moving perpetrator and our heroes.
Echo being deaf and Daredevil being blind also factor into the story. It’s nice to see those elements brought up and woven into the story. When Daredevil says, “see no evil,” and Echo says, “hear no evil,” at one point, it works thanks to the involvement of the church in the story. There are some religious undertones to this story which suits a Daredevil narrative, and it’s nice to see the Native American angle on it all too. It’s early yet, but I’m excited to see where the creators are taking these themes.
The only weakness of this issue is a slower-moving flashback near the tail end of the issue. Characters standing around delivering exposition in what feels like an overly long two-page scene that could have taken place over a page or less.
Daredevil & Echo #1 comes out swinging with revealing flashbacks of Manhattan’s past, a killer on the loose, and two team-ups worth investing in. If you dig superhero team-ups and past truths revealing themselves, pick this one up!
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