Daredevil #2 is a celebration of the character's history as an encounter with an old accomplice turns into a whirlwind journey of reminiscence.
It has been only a few months since Marvel's Devil's Reign event caused massive upheavals throughout the superhero community of New York City. Now Daredevil is back to patrolling the streets, sharing his title and duties with Elektra. But the reappearance of a past acquaintance seems to have shaken him up badly as if waking up from a bad nightmare. Superstar writer Chip Zdarsky is back with a fresh start for The Man Without Fear, looking to bring more changes to the Marvel universe. Drawn by Marco Checchetto with assistance from guest artists Rafael DeLatorre, Alex Maleev, Paul Azaceta, Phil Noto, Chris Samnee, Klaus Janson, Mike Hawthorne, John Romita Jr., and Scott Hanna, colors from Matthew Wilson, and letters by VC's Clayton Cowles, Daredevil #2 brings Matt before a "godly" presence.
Daredevil #2, or legacy issue #650, continues directly following the last issue's cliffhanger ending and depicts a harrowing incident that seems to have started it all. Matt Murdock finds the Assistant District Attorney and his former classmate from college, Robert Goldman, standing before him, basking in a golden aura. For the time being, Daredevil is distracted as he deals with the aftermath of the train explosion, pulling out survivors with the clock ticking. Soon after, he is stuck beneath a pile of rubble when Robert reappears and reveals how he has manipulated events that have led Matt down a heroic path, including the train blast. Shocked, Daredevil tries to track down Robert to interrogate him and bring him to justice.
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Daredevil #2 takes the reader on a journey through the titular character's illustrious crimefighting career, jumping back and forth throughout his decade-spanning history with the serious intent to retcon the past. A superhuman with supersensory powers, the issue's chaotic energy overwhelms the protagonist from the get-go, throwing him off with an emergency at hand and a mindboggling confession. The reader, like Daredevil himself, gets no time to process the string of information and is immediately drowned in a barrage of milestone moments and fresh memories that try to paint the whole picture of Robert Goldman's influences over the years. Matt's narration, full of self-doubt and cautious hope, coupled with Robert's account of his uncanny powers and grandiose motives, guides the narrative through a history of pain and loss. As bleak as this issue feels, Zdarsky keeps hope alive and argues that outcomes are often the direct result of one's actions, not the other way around.
Marco Checchetto's dynamic artwork gives the audience a full-blown cinematic experience with tumultuous scenes riddled with tons of destruction and carnage. Aiding him is Rafael DeLatorre, who draws the flashback sequence, giving the pages a clean, more minimalistic look in contrast to Checchetto's gritty inking. Meanwhile, some of the industry's best artists who have previously worked on the title go on to show snippets of the past in their distinct styles. Matthew Wilson's color remains exquisite as ever. His use of diffused light to illuminate the panels as a raincloud drenches Matt and Robert during a suspenseful stand-off scene elevates the reading experience.
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If fans can make their way through the smokescreen of drama and reminiscence, they will see that the oversized Daredevil #2 issue does not make much progress on the storytelling front. It is purely a celebration of the character's past. The action helps to divert the attention, but the gaping hole in the pacing is noticeable, partly filled by Zdarsky's strong aptitude for script and the non-linear structure of the narrative. The two supplementary tales at the end of the book need special mention, one about Daredevil's relationship with the denizens of Hell's Kitchen, kept short by Ann Nocenti and drawn fabulously by Chip Zdarsky himself. The final one is a full-page comic strip by the creator of Mini Marvels, Chris Giarusso, which is just as funny as anyone can expect. Daredevil #2 feels more like an anthology with a singular binding theme, but what takes the cake is its presentation and the shocking recontextualization of the hero's history.
Sayantan is a comic book fan based in India who loves good storytelling more than anything else. His power to bore people to death with Kaiju lore is only rivaled by his love for books and movies. He has a master's degree in Energy Tech and loves to watch soccer. You can take a gander at his artworks here: @kenichikyuro
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