Daredevil: Black Armor

Daredevil: Black Armor (2023) #1-4

by D.G. Chichester, Netho Diaz (artist), Paulo Siqueira (cover_art)

Daredevil is back in black! Acclaimed writer D.G. Chichester returns to Hell's Kitchen for an all-new story set during his landmark 1990s run on the series! And Matt Murdock will need to push his extraordinary senses - and his stylish black-and-red armored costume - beyond their limits if he hopes to even stand a chance against what's coming. Because DD is about to be embroiled in a conflict involving the Hobgoblin, the Kingpin, Spider-Man and a mysterious foe whose powers trump them all! Who is the maestro behind the Machiavellian machinations plaguing Hell's Kitchen? Find out as the Man Without Fear, his friends and foes alike - face a battle for their lives beneath the city's busy streets! Collects Black Armor #1-4.

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

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

Dan G. Chichester

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good throwback story of the days of Daredevil in his black armour (though he never called it that). I liked the reminiscent of Matt/Jack of his father. There is lots of action and a lot of dialogue. I think this could easily have been a 5 issue miniseries.

Matt Murdock and Daredevil are dead. Jack Batlin walks the streets of Hells Kitchen. Conman and street lawyer by day armoured vigilante by night. One thing that has not changed is that he is still terrible at keeping his secret identity. Looking into a number of kidnappings in Hells Kitchen, he might have bitten off even more than he can chew. A number of guest stars and cameos.

I like the nod to Jack (especially considering Chip recent run) and the mention of the Snakeroot. An enjoyable adventure in the style of the Symbiote Spider-man, this book worked for me. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery and a sketchbook.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I was lacking the nostalgia boost for this era of Daredevil as I was a little out to sea -Jack Battlin as a pseudnonym? For real?- but the look is a pretty cool one (just don't call it armour, I guess).


I wouldn't stand under that engine block, evildoers. Lair health & safety first!

[Declan O'Keeffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm relatively new to Daredevil and have only read the modern stuff so far. So I never read the original Chichester run that this is supposed to tie into but I never felt I needed to to enjoy this mini series.

Edit, I have since read essential Daredevil and still enjoy this mini.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mini-series had a '90's vibe to it and reminded me of 1990's superhero comics, and now I know why. I had never read any of D. G. Chichester's run on the Daredevil comic during the 1990's and did not know that for a period of time Daredevil wore an armored costume. Although, not armored in the same way that Iron Man is, but rather some hard density padding in places of high impact, like shoulders, etc. The story occurs during Chichester's timeline on the title.
This reads like an action-packed, vividly illustrated comic of those earlier times. Main theme, conflict, and resolution. DAREDEVIL: BLACK ARMOR is elevated to a better-than-average ranking for me due to Chichester's writing. Now I'd like to find some of his original Daredevil stories and read them.
What made this most memorable to me were how Chichester used the flashback scenes of Matt Murdock's early days - - after first becoming blind and secretly watching his father train boxers and learning valuable lessons from doing so - - then showing how Matt used those lessons to get him through the dangerous conflicts. Heartfelt, touching, and well done.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, but not as good as I was expecting. I was thinking with Daredevil Vs. Sabretooth and Hobgoblin, I'd this one, but it fell a little flat. It was based on Chichester's Daredevil run from the 90s, specifically the Fall From Grace story arc. But the thing is, many comics from the 90s just weren't that good. We were still in the speculator phase where flashy art was everything and story took a back seat. (And looking back, a lot of the flashy art wasn't very good either.)

Anyway, this was still a pretty cool read, I think my expectations were just a little too high.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 2 out of 5]

D. G. Chichester (ou DG Chiclete como é conhecido aqui no Brasil) não é o melhor escritor do Demolidor nem de longe. Mas foi aquele que dominou a sua revista nos anos 1990, tendo criado para ele um visual que ficou conhecido como "a armadura negra" e que marcou a sua fase com Scott McDaniel. O desenhista ganhou destaque em seu estilo bastante contrastante de luzes e sombras. Este especial é desenhado por Netho Diaz, que tem um estilo bonito, mas que não tem a ver com o marcante traço de McDaniel. Mesmo assim o roteiro é bem básico e bobo colocando o Demolidor em rota de colisão com um bando de inimigos, comandados pelo Barão Von Struker e sendo auxiliado pelo vilão Mr. Hyde e pelo Toupeira. Esta linha Lendas Marvel, como a PaniniTM passou a chamar, tem trazido algumas coisas boas, mas são muito poucas delas que valem a pena mesmo o nosso dinheirinho investido. A grande maioria são muito mal feitas e acabam sendo um arremedo das fases que homenageiam, sendo que muitas delas não era a mesma coisa.

[Hailee A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Need him

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 90s were all about dark reboots, costume changes, and replacements…with marvel REALLY going overboard. It’s only natural that Daredevil has his own…

Daredevil: Black Armor by D. G. Chichester is a throwback mini series set during a VERY brief period of Daredevil’s history.

D. G. Chichester had a decent run in the 90s of around 50 issues. I personally feel the issues were above average compared to 90s marvel comics at the time (at least non spider and x titles), but he needed a marketing stunt to get some new eyes.

The premise was that DD’s identity was exposed (a trope that has probably happened to Matt Murdock more than ANY OTHER superhero). Naturally Daredevil chose to fake his death to “solve” the problem (and he had a body double in the former of his infinity War doopelganger to serve as “proof”).

Matt Murdock then took the name “Jake Battlin” (a cheesy name based on “Battlin” Jack Murdock, his dad). He worked as a conman advising various new supporting cast members that went into limbo later.

Anyway, because Matt was posing as someone new and different, he needed a new costume. I know it’s called armor, but I feel that look was only due to the artistic interpretation.

The black and red daredevil didn’t really pop up or crossover with anyone during the is phase of his life that only lasted a year and a half (again very brief), so it’s easily forgotten if not for the fact that the entire story was also linked to the resurrection of Elektra (a lasting change that continues to this day).

Anyway this is decent escapism and it’s worth rereading some of D. G. Chichester run if you find them, but it might also dredge up old memories of the horrific 90s comic landscape…

[Nicko · Rating 1 out of 5]

*1.5 stars*

1
Wow this was really boring lol. I don’t like how Chichester write’s Matt’s thoughts. Maybe a little too metaphorical or something. Did an okay job of catching the reader up to speed if you didn’t read Chichester’s OG 90s run. I just thought the plot was lacking. Hardly any good structure in this.

2
This one was better. As the story is taking shape. Still not into the writing style. Art is okay, too. It’s a shame bc I do think the armor is a cool design for Daredevil. But don’t think I’ll check out Chichester’s OG run based on this.

3
I’m just not impressed with this story. I don’t think Strucker is at all compelling. I don’t think Matt getting trapped in an underground arena with other civilians that have to fight their way out is any moving. The only good thing about this issue was that beat and page with Matt’s Dad as a ghost punching Strucker along side him.

4
Yeah I didn’t enjoy this at all lol. Below average imo. Or maybe I’m supposed to have read Chichester’s OG run to sort of get the context. Idk. It is getting late and I’m sorta sleepy so that might have to do with it. But overall pretty boring. After basically binge reading Zdarsky and Checchetto’s run last Xmas, this is wack compared to that lol

[José Ignacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly decent return

After reading the Fall From Grace Epic Collection I expected this to be as convoluted and just not good as that book was, but color me impressed, Chichester has gotten better 30 years after the fact. It ain’t no masterpiece but it’s fun.

I will say that you have to had at least read up to Issue #327 of that original to fully understand some of the elements that show up here and not get lost, because there are some characters that have only ever appeared in Chichester-written DD stuff, along with hinting at some of the smaller subplots from that original run like Karen's whole situation.

Art is decent, nothing too spectacular or awful or out of the ordinary, just solid art that conveys the story and action along rather nicely.

Overall, it’s got some pacing issues and it ends rather anticlimactically imo, but yeah. A damn good throwback to an era that isn’t really all that great, and I’m happy Chichester got to come back to DD at least one more time.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continue Chichester's 90s run on Daredevil?

...the black armor. You remember it, if you read it then. It was a very polarizing decision. Think about it. Daredevil was much akin to Spider-Man, being the 'neighborhood' hero. Tights, fists, and small time hoodlums. Armoring him up (at least in 90s thinkspace) was all about getting him ready to fight Avengers level threats.

Did he need it? Probably not. It still lead to some great stories during that time.

This is Chichester's chance to go back in time and write one more piece that encapsulates that era.
------
Bonus: If you're into Marvel's 'flashback' miniseries with the OG writers, then give it a shot...
Bonus Bonus: There should be more Jack Batlin

[Jaye Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ass but at least it was short so it didn't take me long!

So this is a boring fun little story from a previous Daredevil author, and this story is set during that run. Fascinating idea but then not really because it was the 90s and comics were kinda garbage in that era.

This black armor (that he doesn't call armor but everyone else does) is so ugly lol. Honestly the art felt really ugly to me. It did feel very 90s though!

You'd think a fight between Sabertooth and then Green Goblin would be interesting but it all felt so random, along with Spider-man dropping by like okay cameos.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. It fits right in to Chichester's original run. In fact it has me wanting to go back and read it all over again. It could have even been a little longer. During the black armor era, Matt had faked his death and was living under an alias where no one knew he was blind. Yet, he was still terrible at keeping his identity a secret. This story has him looking into a bunch of missing people and ultimately going up against a whole bunch of villains. Netho Diaz's art was very good. Marvel needs to get him on a regular book.

[Frédéric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Straight out of the 90s, Daredevil is back with his infamous black armor. It's probably only of interest to forty/fifty-somethings like me, but why not?

But it's only worth it if the plot holds up, and unfortunately that's not the case. If the pure "Jack Batlin" part is well done and sounds right, the pure "Daredevil" part and his Baron Von Strucker in "mwah-ah-ah" mode borders on the ridiculous.

If you add mediocre drawing to the mix, you end up with a mini-series that I definitely don't recommend.

[Daniel Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

desenhos bonitos, roteiro pifio
entreterimento vazio raso e sem proposito
podia ser uma releitura da fase deste autor nos anos 90
mas foi só um monte de ideias entulhadas como um fanfic que eu teria escrito com 14 anos
enfim esse ano ja li coisa bem melhor

[Mike Jozic · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Markus Seaberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little retro Daredevil tale.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 3 out of 5]

One off story that is pretty cool with the black armor and what’s going on with Daredevil during that time.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good graphic novel.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it.

[meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

he truly is my every thought

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 ⭐️ maybe it's just because I hate '90s comics but this was so boring and ugly and pointless I had to force myself to finish it 😭

[Andy Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art was fun but the story felt like someone had to force a story with a handful of random action figures.

[Jeff Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art is really good. Story is pretty bad.

[· · Rating 3 out of 5]

(4 March, 2025)

Matt is thought dead and he poses as another guy posing as the new Daredevil, for some ambiguous reason, forging ‘new’ friendships along the way. Both of his personas, the savvy lawyer and the brawny vigilante, help in their own unique ways. He evinces a preference, stating:

“What the courts can’t fix, fists can.”

“But what violence can solve - - the law should.”

Violence might be a fallback option but it is one he uses often. Even when uttering a quip on truth, the end goal of all court proceedings, he does so as Daredevil:

"And there’s no escaping the fact --
-- the truth will hurt!”

I am undecided about the villains, are they poorly chosen or just misused (with very little characterisation)? Von Strucker is too cartoonish to be a viable opponent, stuck as he is on strength and power and obsessing on the amoral superman. Sabretooth and Hobgoblin are ho-hum. Mole Man is intriguing but more of him can easily become counterproductive.

Spider-Man, as tentative ally, is always awesome. What more can I say here that hasn't been said before? Bravo! There is also a great moment where Matt, ever the man of faith, contemplates the human condition in difficult times:

"'Look for the helpers,' Fred Rogers said.
Where there's hurt.
When everything says to run.
They step forward."

Great art, awesome cameos and much discussion and exposition on how personal identity is developed elevates a middling story: over-the-top villain threatens public safety, the 'Man Without Fear' to the rescue! Yawn, it’s been done - and done better.

[Cinthia Fukuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comecei sem nem fazer ideia do que estava acontecendo. A história é muito boa, mas sem o aspecto lei/ religião, nn parece tanto o demolidor, ou pelo menos, parece que o Matt tá com menos conflitos internos, uma parte crucial dele