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Chip Zdarksy surprised me with just how well written his first issue of Daredevil was. Luckily for us, he continues the tight characterization, themes, and plotting.
Matt Murdock is still reeling from the death he apparently caused. He refuses to believe he’s responsible and rushes around town in typical Daredevil (or Batman) fashion kicking ass and taking names. We can feel his desperation via the moody art from Marco Checchetto and especially Zdarksy’s sharp inner monologues for Matt.
But just as much, if not more, time is spent on Detective Cole North. He’s your archetypal Serpico type who hates dirty cops and swears to take down corruption, which puts him at odds with our red antihero in spandex. However, what elevates him is his interaction with Wilson Fisk. Despite his imposing build and personality, Cole is instantly emasculated by Kingpin’s towering presence. There’s a great moment where Cole tells himself to not let Mayor Kingpin get to him, yet we can see how his body language paradoxically reveals his insecurity.
Marco Checchetto succeeds in giving this series a grit without compromising his dynamic figures and layouts. Impressively, he gives each location a distinct aura. The alleys and streets of the city are crowded with fog and rising steam like in a pulpy ’70s flick while Mayor Fisk’s office is modern with wood paneling and sleek metallic surfaces.
If I have one major complaint, it’s that the issue ends on a dubious cliffhanger. I’d love to see Zdarksy not cop-out and use the cliffhanger as a major plot device moving forward–and he’s so talented, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. That being said, I’ve been burnt one too many times by hacky endings like this before. Even if it’s not a cheap device, it’s a cliché ending nonetheless that had my eyes rolling.
Daredevil continues falling into a hell of his own making, and Chip Zdarksy is doing a great job of attaching weights to Matt’s ankles for our own enjoyment.
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