Daredevil #1 (2022) Review

Written by: Chip Zdarsky
Art by: Marco Checchetto
Colors by: Matthew Wilson
Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover art by: Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: July 13, 2022

Daredevil #1 begins the next phase in Matt Murdock’s career as The Man Without Fear when he says goodbye to NYC and his closest friends while Elektra searches for The Fist’s new base of operations. One of Matt’s acquaintances offers a surprising goodbye that changes everything.

Was It Good?

Daredevil #1 is a squirrely little issue to wrap your brain around because so much is happening that you either don’t see or happens without explanation. You’ll be left with more questions than answers by the last page, but there are so many questions that the intrigue and curiosity are mixed with a generous splash of frustration. Whether or not the overload of questions makes this issue, success is a matter of personal taste.

The two high points in this issue are the glorious art by Checchetto and the intricate scene transitions by Zdarsky.

Checchetto is a phenomenal artist; you don’t have to look further than this issue for proof. Even in their most outlandish spandex getups, the characters feel gritty, grounded, and formidable. This is a gorgeous issue from start to finish, mixed with Wilson’s fantastic coloring.

The story has a lot going on. There are roughly twelve separate scenes in thirty pages of content, so it’s a lot to take in. Still, Zdarsky keeps the scene transitions smooth as the narrative leaps from different locations and timeframes so you can clearly track what’s happening. Add on top some soulful dialog and heartfelt emotion, and this is a collection of potent scenes.

That said, roughly twelve scenes still jump back and forth to separate locations and timeframes with tissue-paper-thin connective tissue. Matt is taking advantage of his “death” to leave NYC, only saying goodbye to his closest friends before leaving. Meanwhile, his future self is under interrogation by a disembodied voice. Elektra meets Stick at a potential new base for The Fist, Spider-Man puts Butch Fisk on notice to behave himself, and Matt meets his guardian angel(?). Yeah, it’s a lot.

In fairness, no page is wasted, but you may want to take notes to keep it straight.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts:

Daredevil #1 (2022) hits the ground running as Matt Murdock ties up loose ends before saying goodbye to NYC for good. The art is jaw-dropping, and Zdarsky packs every scene with drama and emotion. However, there are a lot of settings to keep straight, some without any apparent connection to the main plot, so your enjoyment may be mixed with confusion.