Daredevil has long been the character in the Marvel Universe who’s attracted some of the best creators in the business. This means that he’s usually at the center of some of the biggest stories – everyone knows about Frank Miller’s run, which brought us the classic “Born Again” storyline, or Brian Michael Bendis’ run blowing the lid off of Matt Murdock’s secret identity, or how Chip Zdarsky’s run tests his faith. With Daredevil #1, Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett take the Man Without Fear in an entirely new direction.
Matt Murdock is now a teacher by day and a vigilante by night, teaching contract law at Empire State University. It’s a move that no one will see coming, and yet it’s rather fitting. Daredevil has taught others in various ways, whether by stopping Spider-Man from crossing a moral line or by teaching Blindspot to be a vigilante. His approach to contracts also makes sense, as we enter into different contracts every day, whether it’s signing paperwork for a new job or making deals with our friends. Matt himself has entered into different contracts throughout his life, so he’s definitely fit to teach others about their ups and downs.
It’s one of many ways that Stephanie Phillips makes Daredevil #1 feel truly fresh. Phillips has a gift for this, with her run on Phoenix exploring Jean Grey’s place in the universe and All-New Ghost Spider finding Gwen Stacy building a new life. She also finds a good balance between Matt’s teaching career and his life as Daredevil, whereas most comics lean in one direction or the other. We even get a new villain who’s out for Matt rather than Daredevil, which is a welcome change of pace. In one single issue, Phillips will hook the reader.
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Garbett’s artwork is equally amazing, especially in the action sequences. Every move Daredevil takes is calculated, making use of his agility and super senses to take out villains. There’s one page in particular that really stands out, with Matt narrating about the history of Hell’s Kitchen while he takes on a gang of thugs. Throughout each panel, Garbett draws Matt in a different costume: his black armored costume from the ’90s, his jet-black “starter” outfit, and his Silver Age red-and-yellow suit. It’s all drawn in a single, flowing motion that will give readers new and old alike a sense of Daredevil’s history.
I also have to give props to Frank Martin and Ariana Maher for their coloring and lettering, which fit the vibe of Daredevil. Martin has a great trick to separate Daredevil scenes from Matt scenes. The former take place mostly in the dark of night, with the Man Without Fear’s signature red suit being the only source of light. Compare that to Matt’s scenes, which often take place in broad daylight. Maher also crafts each sound effect to linger long after you turn the page, as if the reader’s stepped into Matt’s shoes and inherited his hyper senses.
Daredevil #1 feels like a fresh start in all the right ways, as a new creative team takes Matt Murdock in some unexpected directions. With a new comic and a new season of Daredevil: Born Again, it’s never been a better time to be a fan of the Man Without Fear.
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