Daredevil & Elektra, Vol. 3: The Red Fist Saga, Part Three

Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky #10

by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto (Illustrations)

A landmark era of DAREDEVIL comes to its thrilling conclusion! Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto have taken Matt Murdock to the deepest and darkest places of his entire history - and that's saying something! But before they bow out, they're going to drag him even lower! The Hand have made Matt Murdock's life a living hell for years, but the villainous cadre of ninja may have finally gone too far, pushing Matt and every relationship he has to their breaking points. When the end finally comes, will it be the end of a life? A love? A marriage? Matt's time as Daredevil? Or all of the above? Find out as one of Marvel's most celebrated modern sagas comes to a senses-shattering close! Collecting DAREDEVIL (2022) #11-14.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

112 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Chip Zdarsky is a Canadian comic book artist and journalist. He was born Steve Murray but is known by his fan base as Chip Zdarsky, and occasionally Todd Diamond. He writes and illustrates an advice column called Extremely Bad Advice for the Canadian national newspaper National Post's The Ampersand, their pop culture section's online edition. He is also the creator of Prison Funnies and Monster Cops.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uneven run, but I enjoyed mostly of it and the ending was a real good one for me.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an ending and I am finding words to find to describe what it was read (in a good manner).

The whole story in this volume starts with Matt being confronted by Cole to get up and do something and stop blaming himself and then we see him confronting the Libris and what he does next is brutal and then that #12th issue is just gorgeous, fighting Elektra while near the lair of the beast and then the cherry blossom fight wow so beautifully drawn and a great moment between him nd Elektra.

And then becoming an angel Guardians and confronting the beast of the hand and we find a fun secret of the fist too and it's fine I guess but damn what a fight is and how it changes so much for Matt and the return of someone really special.

And then the last issue which is just a love letter to Daredevil in a way and shows his progression and an interesting status quo for both Matt and Elektra but the last page.. yeah that's gonna be a fun status quo for the next creative team to handle and I am curious how they end up tackling it.

But amazing ending to an amazing run! Truly one of my favorite comic runs ever!!

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ending to the series. Looking forward to how the next team continues the adventures.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome ending to the series. I see where all the religious references from the series come into play in this book.

After the devastating loss of the last book. Matt Murdock is broken. Has he got the strength for one more fight? What if the final lesson from the book of the Fist?

The book brings everything full circle, I would be really interested to see if the next writer decides to build on this or start completely over. This is a must-read for any fan of the character or, especially, this series run. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

PT Uma conclusão sólida para uma fase notável. Os elogios que Chip Zdarsky tem recebido são absolutamente merecidos.

Gostei muito da forma como o Demolidor lidou com a libertação da Elektra e de todos os seus aliados presos — foi inteligente e fiel à personagem.

Agora estou genuinamente curioso para ver para onde a série seguirá sem Zdarsky ao comando.

--

EN A solid conclusion to a remarkable run. The praise Chip Zdarsky has received is absolutely well deserved.

I really enjoyed how Daredevil handled the release of Elektra and all his imprisoned allies — it felt clever and true to his character.

Now I’m genuinely curious to see where the series goes next without Zdarsky at the helm.

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what to make of this one. I really don’t.

The whole messianic "This is God’s will" aspect made me cringe all along but I can’t deny it was extremely well done. It was dark, it was violent and - most of all -not totally incoherent with Matt’s religious upbringing.

Some plot points irked me, particularly the going-nowhere retcon. Some were just great- most of all Elektra.
The last issue left me... nonplussed. I really liked the way it dealt with Foggy, Cole, Elektra (again, I know. What can I say? I’m in love.). Really. Then the last pages are... disturbing. What the hell was that? I reckon I’ll have to read Saladin Ahmed’s run to know.

The art is beautiful. Daredevil is beautiful. Elektra is beautiful. The costume designs are beautiful. The colors are beautiful. This creative team- Checchetto, Wilson- was made to do this book.

More 3,5 than 4* if I’m honest but rounding it down wouldn’t be.

[Peter Looles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daredevil & Elektra vol. 3: The Red Fist Saga Part Three

In the final volume of Chip Zdarsky and (usually) Marco Checchetto's Daredevil run, we start with Cole making Daredevil realise that forming a team wasn't a good fit for him and that he should try to do things on his own. So, he goes to the Stromwyns and forces them to free all the other vigilantes, including Elektra. After that, he realizes that in order to stop The Hand for good he has to go to hell, which they control and kill the Beast that leads them, while also freeing his friends who have been imprisoned there.
After the disappointment that was the previous volume (for the standards of this run), my expectations were not particularly high, but I was still hoping that Chip Zdarsky would be able to finish this great run in a satisfying way. Thankfully, even though I didn't love the ending and I don't think this volume is at the level of the first ones, it was a pretty decent way to end the run and it had some really great moments. First of all, I really liked the way Daredevil confronted the Stromwyns. They've inflicted so much pain on him and we finally see all his hatred for them unleashed. Besides that, Daredevil's small fight with Elektra, before killing himself to go to hell, perfectly showcases the love and the passion that they feel for each other. Finally, Daredevil's fight in hell was great and thanks to Chip Zdarsky's fantastic narration it became even better. In general, this volume had a lot more positives than negatives. The pacing is very good, considering it's the climax of many years of Daredevil stories, the dialogues are good (although they can become a bit cheesy at times) and the action actually works well, with the stakes being very high. Also, since it's the final volume of the run, we can see very well the tremendous character development that a lot of character have gone through. Of course, Daredevil has changed a lot since the beginning of the series, but that's to be expected. I'd like to put some more attention on the character development of Elektra and Cole. Elektra is known as an assassin, who's always stone cold, except from when she's with Daredevil. Now, she's not like that. Slowly, through Zdarsky's great writing, she stopped killing and became more similar to Daredevil than ever before. Even though this change was done very well, I'm not sure yet if it's a positive one, as it takes away from her character and it lessens the drama between her and Daredevil. Still, an interesting change that I'd like to see how future writers will use. On the other hand, Cole, as a new character, was introduced as a very annoying policeman who came in Daredevil's way, but he had ideals and morals, so quickly he saw the corruption in the police and he started working with Daredevil. The ending of this run finds him being a partner of Foggy, trying to help people who've been wronged by big corporations etc. This is truly a great character development, not only on the direction of his life, but also on how he approaches it. I sincerely hope that more writers will use him in the future. This volume didn't really have any big negatives that stood out to be, it's mostly the fact that certain things feel a bit repetitive and the ending isn't as great as it could be, considering how fantastic the beginning of this run was.
The artwork in this volume was very good, mostly because Marco Checchetto did most of the issues. I've talked in most of my previous reviews about his fantastic abilities as an artist and how much I love the way he draws Daredevil and Elektra, but here it's truly clear how much better this whole run would've been if he worked in all the issues, without all the other, inconsistent, artists doing so many issues.
Overall, this was a nice ending to what's probably gonna go down in comics history as a legendary Daredevil run. Even if some moments and some volumes weren't as good as others, I'm glad I was able to read the run as it was coming out.
8.5/10

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really sure why this didn't quite work for me.

The end of this creative teams run seemed a bit too ambitious for the 4 issues included in this volume.

I have to let this one sink in for a while...

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to a 3.5, uneven, but the last issue was REALLY good.

Basiclaly Daredevil goes to hell. Finds out he's being betrayed this whole time, but not a spoiler, we all knew that would happen. However, what happens to him is kind of unfair justice we come to expect with a ending that was a little cliche for me. However, the last issue honoring Matt's Legacy and determination in life as both a person and hero is excellent, and the art is fantastic as always. While this second half was shaky for Chip's run it's still a great run worth reading.

A 4 out of 5.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's get (meta)physical!

As with all ambitious runs it doesn't quite stick the landing but leaves the Daredevil-verse reset to a compelling state leading in to the next writer so I am well pleased on the whole.


Not burning bridges at least...

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zdarsky wraps up what was, on the whole, a great run of Daredevil. However, it started out a lot stronger than it ended. This just too metaphysical for me, bringing in religion, and Hell, and releasing people from Hell, etc. It just wasn't "Daredevil" to me, at least by the end. That being said, it was still very well done with great art, and I did like the finale. I'm very curious to see where things go from here.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Daredevil & Elektra: The Red Fist Saga, Part Three — an absolutely killer finale. Zdarsky and Checchetto bring their Daredevil run to a powerful close, balancing heart, grit, and stunning visuals all the way through. A beautiful end to one of Marvel’s best modern series. Really enjoyed this one. 4.5⭐️

[Mattthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good ending to a great run.
Recommend

[Rory Wilding · Rating 5 out of 5]

As this is the final volume of a landmark run, there will be SPOILERS.

Throughout the course of “The Red Fist Saga”, we have seen Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios, husband and wife, both donning the mantle of Daredevil, have been leading the ninja clan known as the Red Fist into a deadly battle against the evil Hand. For every small victory that the First achieves, the greater chance that the Hand will achieve more in the long run, and succeed they do. After the battle concluded, the Fist has collapsed, the Avengers have arrested Elektra for the president’s murder, and Foggy and Stick are trapped in hell, causing Matt to emotionally crumble in Hell’s Kitchen.

With a little assistance (and a good punching) from former police detective Cole North, Matt gets up from his emotional baggage and wears the red-horned mask to rectify his most recent mistakes. As this volume contains the final four issues, which might not be a lot, but each issue is nice and meaty with DD goodness. For starters, we get a resolution of sorts with Quinn and Una Stromwyn, the two recurring antagonists throughout Chip Zdarksy’s run. As we see Daredevil barging into their offices, begging to use their power to get Elektra out of prison, his methods are shocking and yet entertaining at the same time, showing how much pain he can take, he remains the controlling force.

Following a brief return in Hell’s Kitchen, Matt attempts to fulfil the Fist’s prophecy of defeating the Hand, which is to sacrifice himself in order to reach the Beast's hellish realm where he can find Foggy and Stick. However, Elektra is determined to save his husband from himself, even if it means clashing with each other. Along with Zdarsky’s writing that perfectly captures Matt’s inner monologue about his conflicted love with Elektra over the years, artist Marco Checchetto and colourist Matthew Wilson present a fight that is stunningly balletic, including a two-pager eight panels of the two lovers clashing throughout their comics history. In the end, Matt gets what he wants and descends into hell.

From reading this final saga of this run, Zdarsky and his artists have leaned into the supernatural element as opposed to the sprawling crime narrative from their initial era, and with the penultimate issue, what better way than to plunge the Man Without Fear into hell itself. Specifically, Daredevil is not dealing with Mephisto, which is Spider-Man's unfortunate problem, but he confronts Krahllak, who was introduced in Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz’s Elektra: Assassin. Considering the recurring metaphor of the comics is Matt facing his inner demons, it was great that Zdarsky and Checchetto made it literal by having our hero, in an all-white DD suit, battling actual demons with batons that ignite like lightsabers. All of that sounds stupid, but comics are fun, so shut up!

The final issue sees how his world not only restored, but how it has moved on after his sacrifice, from Foggy and North forming their own law firm, to Elektra continuing the DD mantle on her own whilst the people of Hell’s Kitchen see the red mask as a representation for their own heroism. Obviously, no one stays dead in comics, as we see Matt as an amnesiac priest, which is an interesting setup for what Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder are doing with their current run. What made Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s run on Daredevil one of the modern greats is how it always changed the status quo for the hero and his world, and I’m very curious to see of the next creative team can keep up that momentum, but Zdarsky and Checchetto’s stamp on DD will be a tough one to top.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thus ends such a landmark run....and I feel conflicted??!!

Really this saga Zdarsky started us on kinda "ended" with Devil's Reign, that's where we got the playoffs. All this Red Fist saga felt like it was both rushed and a long time coming. I had gripes about pacing and plot threads, but I kinda love the finality of this final volume, how it serves as a culmination for Matt, his highs and lows of faith in God. Is it a bit too comic booky and on the nose? Sure, but it makes for a very clear picture.

While I feel Zdarsky never paid off Cole's whole beat in a satisfying way, that's kinda the norm for DD supporting cast by runs end. The real bitter sweet nature of Matt and Elektra's final meeting is a gut punch, and those final few panels both work as a wild "ending" and lead into Ahmed's run.

I have a lot to say about the final part, but for the most part I liked it.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chip Zdarsky's long, long run on Daredevil comes to an end. And, boy, if you thought Daredevil was dragged through the mud in previous volumes, wait 'til you get to this one.

With both the Hand and Fist being defeated and Daredevil a wanted man, there's really nothing else for him to do but bust his pals out of prison again and then go save Foggy and Stick from the Beast in Hell. So, uh, that's what he does.

This is a pretty insane volume with lots of "what the heck just happened" moments and way, wayyyy too much voiceover work about God's will. Somehow, though, it all comes together in an emotional conclusion that seems to be a gentle reset for the next author. Zdarsky's run overall was an up-and-down experience, but Red Fist Saga at least ends on an upswing.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! What an ending to this run!
Blaming himself for all that's happened (especially the death of Foggy), Matt wants to die. About to commit suicide, Elektra stops him, but only succeeds in ultimately helping him die. In Hell, Matt is able to fight through the demons that plague him (in a killer White Daredevil suit!) and rescue Foggy from Hell.
In the aftermath, we see that Foggy and Cole opened a law practice together, and both of them as well as Elektra keep seeing him wherever they go. She runs into Matt working as a blind priest in a Catholic church and he thinks he knows her. AND... we do see him responding to crime as he normally would.... new origin?
Overall, this was an excellent end to all that Chip Zdarsky set up with these characters. Very much looking to see where Daredevil ends up next.
Recommend.

[Edward Wilsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved this series from the 1st graphic novel and this was a fitting end to a great run. While I wasn't a massive fan of the God/religion theme that ran through a few of the books, it was a very minor theme and absolutely crucial in the internal struggle of daredevil. I will absolutely be re-reading this whole run in a few years time, something I almost never do!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

É meio que uma tradição, desde a fase de Brian Michael Bendis, toda a vez que um escritor de carreira (ou seja, que fique um bom tempo num personagem), deixa o Demolidor, precisa deixar o personagem numa enrascada difícil de o próximo escritor tirá-lo. Chip Zdarsky, na minha opinião, não é nem nunca foi aquele escritor que quase sempre acerta, um nome que é sinônimo de ótimos quadrinhos como querem vender pra você. Ele teve sim, bons insights em Demolidor, mas essa última parte do escritor com Matt Murdock deixou bastante a desejar. Tanto que aqui, no encerramento, ele faz com que o Demolidor enfrente a Besta do Tentáculo e não somente ela, a sua irmã, Selvagem, que estava por trás de tudo que ele viveu sob a batuta de Zdarsky. Então o "final apoteótico" da fase do escritor foi uma batalha no inferno entre duas bestas tartáreas. Algo bastante fora do que as histórias do Demolidor se consolidaram para ser. E a enrascada que o Zdarsky coloca o Demolidor é transformar ele em um padre, sem explicar de maneira nenhuma como isso aconteceu. Eu, hein?!

[Graham Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a penultimate stumble in the last volume, I think Chip Zdarsky brings his time with The Man and The Woman Without Fear to a satisfactory end. Compared to the relatively grounded approach his Daredevil stories started off on, this last volume of The Red Fist Saga definitely felt more fantastical and Biblical with Matt Murdock’s journey to Hell and confrontation with demons to save those he cared about . That said I do think this volume handled these elements better than the last volume as I derived more satisfaction out of Matt punching/stabbing demons. The religious aspects of the character have never been subtle but Zdarsky going all in with it was ultimately fun.

Besides the central climatic set piece the rest of the volume is solid. Both the first and last issues of the volume are a run down of previous plot points from Zdarksky’s run (i.e., a walk by the place DD accidentally killed a robber, the bookstore owned by his mafia wife girlfriend, etc.) and I did appreciate the reminder of what Zdarksy covered in his tenure. As far as the resolution to the supporting cast I do like Cole’s tough love speech to Matt and to see how far they’ve come in their relationship as well as where Zdarsky leaves Cole. I did like the brief return of Blindspot from Charles Soule’s Daredevil stories (I never quite got why he was so disliked by some readers). As for Elektra, I like how she remains a Daredevil ( I haven’t read subsequent Marvel comics so I don’t know if she has given up on the role yet) after quite some time of her sharing the mantle with Matt.
As for the big death of the volume ? It’s a superhero’s death in a comic book, it has all the longevity of the time it takes for a papercut to heal. Still, unlike the deaths of Foggy and Stick last volume , this one did feel a bit more earned, and had better immediate payoff, even if the closing pages of the volume/run seem to have immediately reversed things without giving an adequate explanation to what is up/what comes next (although the Catholic priest bit is appropriate).

Ultimately I can’t say where Chip Zdarksy will fall on my rankings of Daredevil writers’ (he’s definitely behind Bendis and Waid) but I do think despite some issues in the final volumes his run is pretty great and this volume was a satisfying close to what he did with my favorite superhero.

[Jaye Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god this was so good I was screaming crying throwing up.

It's so heartbreaking this team is done but it has been a very good run.😭 The art is gorgeous and the story is so intense.

My girl Elektra has never been done better and I will be forever grateful fr. Especially my Matt x Elektra ship like y'all gave me everything and even though it's taken away now, it still was so good.😭 The art of them in the woods kissing was stunning.

This shit was BRUTAL. My man literally gouged out his own eyes to assert dominance and get Elektra out of prison like??? Then when they literally fight to the death... I was dead myself after all that.

It makes me laugh so hard because I've already read from the run that comes after this and they dropped the ball so hard.💀 This team set it up so perfectly for them only for them to waste it.

[Raül · Rating 5 out of 5]

Descens -literal- de Daredevil a l'Infern per a enfrontar-se al poder darrere de La Ma. Final èpic -i místic- de l'etapa de Zdarsky i Checchetto, una etapa llarga i molt bona, tant en guió com en dibuix. Se'ns dubte una etapa de referència per al personatge. Imprescindible.

[Sean Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manages to stick the landing with characters and plot points a plenty. Definitely a fitting end to this run and era of Daredevil.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I clearly like Daredevil at street-level over the more religious epic storylines. Does that make my 3 ⭐️ fair? Maybe not, but I can at least qualify my discontent.

[Luke Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wacky, epic, emotional, brutal, and darn near perfect. 5 stars because if you love Daredevil, this feels like an immensely satisfying ending. As in, if they ended the Daredevil series on this note, I'd be happy. Thankfully, there's more to come, but wow. Check this whole run out from start to finish if you live Daredevil, Marvel comics, or storytelling in general.

[R. Archer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate criticizing books, because I know that as an author, Zdarsky had many ideas he was passionate about putting into Daredevil. To even get a job as a Marvel author, you have to be hardworking and invested in the characters you're working on.
But unfortunately, I think Zdarsky had too many ideas for his own good.
No plot is finished or given a full conclusion in this run of Daredevil. Mike dies... or does he? Butch has turned good... or has he? Matt's trapped in hell... or is he? Matt's cultist follower is playing puppeteer... or is he? Matt confessed to Kirsten... OR DID HE?
It feels that Zdarsky prioritizes twists over substance. So many ideas are introduced, and none are finished. It destroys the emotional arcs that should be developed here. The way all of these twists are introduced as if they've always been a part of the plot also creates retcons that are messy at best and disrespectful to past authors at worst. While I appreciate Zdarsky's references to Noceti, Soule, and Death of Daredevil, his restructuring of organizations like the Hand is messy. It doesn't help when other comics (like Punisher) overlap with this Daredevil run and aren't consistent, creating plot holes worthy of tearing the fabric of a fictional universe apart. Marvel's latest trend of killing and resurrecting their characters as they please dampens the impact of character death AND makes their comics incredibly predictable. Between the latest Punisher, Spider-Man, and Ms. Marvel comics, our one-trick-pony known as Marvel Comics has telegraphed every major character's next character arcs.

Also, not in any way related to the quality of this comic, but my friend Sophie finally getting me to fold and read fanfiction willingly for the first time (it was called pray for us icarus, iirc), only for the last Daredevil issue to echo said fanfiction NEARLY WORK FOR WORD felt like someone just went for my neck. It was so weird.

[Comics Instrucciones de uso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desde hace algunas semanas ya está en circulación el tomo recopilatorio que cierra la elogiada etapa de Chip Zdarsky y Marco Checchetto al mando de Daredevil. En los últimos números, Matt se había aliado con Elektra para luchar contra la clásica agupación villana, "The Hand", cuyos propósitos ahora son mundiales. En el camino, Matt y Elektra contrajeron matrimonio y fundaron su base en una isla desconocida junto a un puñado de villanos liberados a la fuerza (y reformados), además de algunos de los cercanos a Daredevil como Foggy, Stick y Cole. El asunto es que en el tomo anterior todo se fue al carajo: los Avengers allanaron la isla, y Daredevil descubrió que Foggy y Stick, en realidad, eran zombies manipulados por The Hand. Ahora bien, a pesar de que en la página final del tomo anterior se nos mostraba a un Daredevil luchando por su vida mientras la isla era bombardeada, este tomo final comienza mostrándonos a Matt sumido en la decepción y viviendo en el departamento de Cole, quien renuncia a la policía. Matt, naturalmente, se encuentra abatido por los acontecimientos de la isla, pero Cole, en un par de viñetas lo convence de que se ponga de pie. Entonces Matt busca consejo en uno de los elementos menos interesantes del run de Zdarsky: el libro de profecías de "The Fist", en el cual lee que si quiere recuperar todo lo que ha perdido debe descender a los infiernos. A partir de ahí, Matt enfrenta a la familia Stromwyn y los derrota de modo épico, si bien uno se pregunta ¿por qué no lo hizo antes en lugar de marcharse a aquella isla? Luego se dirige hacia un lugar remoto que alberga literalmente una puerta hacia el infierno. Matt ha comprendido que, literalmente, debe morir para ir en busca de Foggy y todos los demás que han muerto por él. Hay una pelea con Elektra (ya liberada por los Avengers), quien quiere detener a Matt, una pelea que busca ser emotiva, pero que acaba siendo predecible. Al final Matt vence, se quita la vida (!!) y desciende a los infiernos donde se reencuentra con su padre y Foggy y el resto.
Hay una simetría deliberada acá dedicada a quienes hemos seguido el run de Zdarsky desde el inicio: en el primer número se revelaba que Daredevil había matado involuntariamente a un ladrón. Y ahora, en el último, es Daredevil quien muere para que los demás vivan. Cierre perfecto. Y es toda esta parte final -junto con la ulterior transformación de Matt, que no revelaré, pero que cambiará para siempre al personaje- la que salva el tomo. En general, toda la "Saga del puño rojo" ha sido poco consistente, y Zdarsky ha dejado muchos cabos sueltos (¿qué pasó con Goldie? ¿Qué pasó con The Punisher, quien lideraba a "The Hand"?), pero el final, por impacto y épica, es de lo más destacado que ha escrito. Checchetto, por su parte, está brillante, como en toda la serie y espero que su versión de Elektra, con ese cabello enorme al viento, se imponga.
Como corresponde, Zdarsky se marcha habiendo dejado una huella enorme en el personaje. Daredevil se ha casado, ha muerto, y ahora su lugar lo ocupa una Elektra reformada. A esperar qué viene a continuación.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aún empezando con un "back to basics" "Millerianos". La etapa del Diablo Guardián por parte de Chip Zdarsky fue internándose cada vez más en una escala y ambición que superaba esa "épica personal" en el auto castigo de Matthew por segar de forma involuntaria una vida en una de sus incursiones nocturnas como Daredevil. Así hemos presenciado ese evento conocido como "Devil´s Reign" que ha afectado la percepción pública de los superhéroes (sobre todo los vigilantes enmascarados). Pero sobre todo, Zdarsky ha recuperado para esta última etapa de la serie la mística ninja sobrenatural de la disputa ancestral de La Mano y el Puño. Pero esta vez, Matthew se implica totalmente al comprometerse en cuerpo y alma a Elektra Natchios como esa pareja guerrera que podría poner fin a la presencia de La Bestia en el mundo. En esta desesperada lucha, las víctimas inocentes ya pesan sobre la conciencia de Matt. Teniendo nuevamente a Foggy Nelson como ese preciado ancla del Diablo Guardián que está dispuesto a sacar de las mayores profundidades a riesgo de todo. Es así como esta 3º parte de La Saga del Puño Rojo pasa por unas crudas escenas terrenales donde Matthew muestra una desesperación que le acercan más que nunca a esa alusión diabólica de su alter ego saltimbanqui ante sus enemigos, pera pasar a tener que ser ese guerrero de Dios literal en los dominios de La Bestia. Aquí, el arte de Marco Checchetto encuentra una última sinfonía de arrolladora acción que, si bien espectacular. Termina quedando como fanfarria exagerada. Aunque el epílogo llega a pegar fuerte. Aunque ya asentada la nueva etapa del personaje, este inmejorable "final" para Matthew Murdock queda como desmerecido hiatus. No pasa con la mejor decisión de esta etapa que ha sido el que Elektra Natchios remate su incursión heroíca asumiendo a su manera la faceta de otro Diablo Guardián titular para las buenas gentes de Hell´s Kitchen. Ella muestra las mejores virtudes de esta cabecera que ha ido alcanzando ese hito para el personaje de serie más longeva con mismo autor aún a expensar de forzar ciertos límites argumentales como ha sido esta última saga.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all ends here. Matt faces off against all of his remaining foes - the Stromwyns, the Hand, and even the Beast itself as he descends into Hell for the final battle!

Talk about everything and the kitchen sink, huh? If Chip Zdarsky had any stories left after this one, I dread to think what he would have thrown poor Matt Murdock up against next. This last arc of Daredevil pulls out all the stops that hadn't already been pulled in one cataclysmic battle after another, with a few kicks in the teeth along the way because it wouldn't be Daredevil without that, would it?

I think the only complaint I have is that the big status quo change Matt undergoes, as is the way when a big Daredevil writer leaves, is resolved within the same issue that it's introduced, rather than at the beginning of the next run. A silly little thing, because we all know this specific change wouldn't ever stick, but it would have been nice to dream for a little.

Zdarsky, as well as Marco Checchetto and Rafael De La Torre, bring it home as they see out yet another impressive run in the hallowed halls of impressive Daredevil runs.

[Shevek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tras lo acontecido en El Reinado del Diablo, Zdarsky culmina su etapa con unos números que vuelven a tener olor a evento. Hay muchos personajes implicados, aunque la mayoría sean villanos de segunda fila dentro del universo Marvel, e incluso se produce un crossover con la serie del Castigador. Todo es una excusa para revolcarse en el papel de mártir salvador de Matt. Hay momentos apreciables, como la mini-trama de Bala o, especialmente, el número en que Daredevil va donde los Stromwyn tras acabar la lucha entre Puño y Mano. Es un momentazo con algunas frases muy buenas (e.g., "sólo un hombre sin miedo puede infundir miedo"), especialmente por la situación en que está el personaje y por los destinatarios. Por lo demás, son cómics que se leen bien y ya está. El dibujo de Checchetto es genial, como siempre. El resto de fillers lo tienen difícil para llegar a su nivel.