To hell and back again: A Daredevil’s story.
Daredevil is one of the few Marvel superheroes to be consistently blessed with superb writers over the years, and I’ve read them all. Matt Murdock is my favourite Marvel superhero, so when a new creative team takes over the character, I get excited and nervous in equal measure.
Recently, Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto wrapped up their excellent run with the character, making way for Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder to take the reins. Generally, a new lead writer means a fresh status quo and new jumping-on point for new readers.
As someone overly familiar with Daredevil’s legacy and history, I don’t have to worry about not understanding story beats and references like new readers do, but how might a new reader fare with Hell Breaks Loose, the first volume in Saladin Ahmed’s run, collecting issues #1 through #5? And for the fans of Daredevil comics , is this a faithful continuation of Matt’s journey?
Born Again
Following Matt Murdock’s sacrifice to save his friends from the clutches of The Beast—a sacrifice which resulted him trapped in Hell—Matt has reappeared in New York City as ‘Father Matt’, a Catholic priest with no memory of his time as the crimefighter Daredevil. But when a demon possesses a loved one, things mightn’t stay that way for long.
New first issues are generally made with new readers in mind. That said, no new reader will be able to fully grasp everything a first issue has to offer. In this case though, I worry that new readers might come away from this volume more confused than thrilled.
Saladin Ahmed certainly does a great job continuing Matt’s story, but there are some major speedbumps baked into the premise of the current status quo that could threaten to distract a new reader. Matt being a priest rather than a lawyer is a major shift from what a casual reader might expect to find in a Daredevil book, and the fact that the reason he came to be a priest at all—or managed to return from the dead—is totally unexplained (for now) might make this a muddy read for some.
There’s also the fact that Elektra—Matthew longtime love interest/enemy—has taken up the mantle of Daredevil during one of Matt’s recent absences, which is another piece of lore that might confuse new readers. Ahmed acknowledges all of these problems though, and offers quick explanations for everything that’s happened in Matt’s life recently for the benefit of new readers. It can’t replace the experience of reading those stories for yourself, but I think Ahmed does a good job of providing enough context to keep a new reader from feeling totally lost.
That said, there are a few reveals—especially at the end of issues—that won’t carry much weight without some previous Daredevil experience behind you.
A Devil of a Good Time
Let’s get back to what I said earlier about Ahmed doing a great job though, because as a big fan of Daredevil comics, I really enjoyed this collection, and it’s not for the fan-service-y, last-page-reveal moments in the slightest. First, I’m really enjoying how we don’t find out how Matt has come back from the dead. If it had been revealed in the first collection, it would’ve made his death seem like not such a big deal. As it stands though, I love the mystery.
Second, there are two parallel plotlines running through the series that work really well. In one, Matt fights demons that have possessed his old friends and acquaintances, which leads to some really fun scenes. The second plotline involves a new gang called The Heat that is moving in on Hell’s Kitchen, which leads to some beautifully kinetic fight scenes (especially, issue #3 has some killer art by Farid Karami and Aaron Kuder that rivals the unbelievable work Checchetto did on the last run).
Again, I love the mystery surrounding the reasons why these things are happening. There’s a decent amount of tension and suspense which I really enjoyed. I think the whole Matt recovering his memories aspect of the series could’ve been done at a more measured pace, but enough about Matt’s mind, body, and soul remains enough of a mystery that this wasn’t too disappointing.
I also really liked Matt’s position not just as a priest but as a father figure to a collection of orphaned children at a shelter where he lives and works. These kids all feel distinct, and it’s nice watching Matt put in a patriarchal position that we don’t usually see him in. I’m looking forward to seeing how Matt’s turbulent secret life affects these kids further down the line. (I wouldn’t be totally opposed to a sidekick…)
Conclusion
This is an excellent Daredevil collection. The grander story is still getting into gear, but if you don’t mind a slower burn filled with some excellent art and unique Daredevil scenarios, you’ll have a great time with Hell Breaks Loose. Fully recommended for both fans of Daredevil and new readers looking to dip their toes into the chaotic world of Matt Murdock.
***
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