The “Rites of Reconciliation” storyline continues with a major revelation that brings some real payoff to Saladin Ahmed’s steadily building arc in Daredevil. The mystery surrounding our new villain has been slow-burning and unsettling, and this issue pulls back the curtain just enough to leave us both satisfied and a little unnerved. With artists Jose Luis Soares and Carlos Nieto once again bringing tension and ferocity to the page, Daredevil #22 not only continues the arc, but also infects it.
Marvel
We jump right into the middle of the showdown between Daredevil and the strange, menacing villain who is given the name Lionsmane. At first glance, the name felt odd, more a feeling of strength than menace, but credit to Ahmed as it’s a reference to lion’s mane fungus, and suddenly the creeping infection motif makes a lot more sense. (Cue “The More You Know” gif.) Lionsmane is a villain who invades the body and scrambles the senses, and that’s a real problem when you’re gifted with heightened senses. Ahmed’s reveal of Lionsmane’s identity adds emotional weight, tying the fungus-fueled horror to a familial thread that could easily fray Daredevil’s already strained sense of purpose.
Marvel
Jose Luis Soares’ art brings the brawl to life with precision and grit. Lionsmane is an unsettling visual, a foe who seems to fragment and re-form with every hit, enduring Murdock’s fury while remaining eerily calm. It’s a stern test of Murdock’s “get back up” instinct. This isn’t a fight he can win with fists alone; luckily, that’s where Nyla steps in, shining in a few standout panels. Her entrance hits at just the right moment, punctuated by some chuckle-worthy “frat boy” banter between Daredevil and Lionsmane that walks the line between humor and horror.
As the battle draws to a close, Carlos Nieto takes over art duties to carry us through the resolution. There’s an emotional finality to Lionsmane’s fate that feels earned, and a rare kind of resolve that Murdock hasn’t had in a long time. But when you think it’s over, the next issue teaser cover suggests otherwise. Could there still be a spore of horror left behind? I found myself flipping back to those last two pages, looking for any hint of rot beneath the surface. It’s the kind of ending that lingers, quietly unnerving and terrifying.
Daredevil #22 delivers a payoff that’s been building throughout the “Rites of Reconciliation” arc, with Saladin Ahmed revealing the eerie truth behind Lionsmane, both in name and identity. With tense, visceral art by Jose Luis Soares and Carlos Nieto, the issue blends psychological horror with emotional stakes, forcing Daredevil to confront a threat that scrambles both his senses and his heart. A solid resolution is offered, but with one haunting image, you’ll be asking if the door is left cracked open just enough for a potential return.
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