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Daredevil (2019) #1-6
Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus, Vol. 1
Collects Daredevil (2019) #1-30 and Daredevil Annual (2020) #1.
After a dangerous brush with death, Matt Murdock must piece together his shattered life. Years of trauma have taken their toll, and becoming the guardian of Hell's Kitchen again won't be easy. Mistakes will be made - and one might prove to be the end of Daredevil! With a criminal dead, Matt must go on the run in a desperate bid to clear his name! Meanwhile, Mayor Wilson Fisk continues to make New York a dangerous place for vigilantes, the Owl turns his horrifying sights on Hell's Kitchen and a gang of lethal super villains runs riot. As Typhoid Mary and Bullseye return, DD makes a surprising stand…with a shocking outcome. Now Elektra must step up to fill the role Matt has vacated - and show that she is a woman without fear!
After a dangerous brush with death, Matt Murdock must piece together his shattered life. Years of trauma have taken their toll, and becoming the guardian of Hell's Kitchen again won't be easy. Mistakes will be made - and one might prove to be the end of Daredevil! With a criminal dead, Matt must go on the run in a desperate bid to clear his name! Meanwhile, Mayor Wilson Fisk continues to make New York a dangerous place for vigilantes, the Owl turns his horrifying sights on Hell's Kitchen and a gang of lethal super villains runs riot. As Typhoid Mary and Bullseye return, DD makes a surprising stand…with a shocking outcome. Now Elektra must step up to fill the role Matt has vacated - and show that she is a woman without fear!
700 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2021
About the author
Chip Zdarsky
951 books905 followersChip 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.
Source: Wikipedia.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 22, 2025
A pretty awesome run if it weren't for the inclusion of Matt's brother and his plotline. Not a fan. It changes nothing, I'm starting Vol. 2 today :)
September 7, 2024
(Zero spoiler review)
No, no, no. Don't let this overhyped, unmitigated garbage fool you for an instant. Quite how Zdarsky has managed to hoodwink so many people is beyond me. This run has possibly received more praise than any modern run within the last five or so years. It was the only reason I broke my no Modern Marvel or DC rule and purchased it. It seems I was momentarily hoodwinked as well, but no more I tells ya. I can now see why people have so quickly and completely turned on Zdarsky's Batman run. They may have been as Blind as Matt Murdoch when it came to old horn head, but the light shines bright on the Dark Knight, it seems.
I'm not wild for Chechetto's art, though I'm sure his pencils are far more appealing than the finished product, after so much modern digital slop (otherwise known as colouring) is applied to them, but it's Zdarsky's writing that is the true culprit here. That and whoever did those god awful cartoonish pencils for that five issue arc early on, and the editor that hired them.
This is more modern Marvel histrionics, somehow disguised within a middling plot that never had me interested or intrigued for a moment. Daredevil is routinely spoken down to by every woman he comes across, whether that be Elektra or the middling love interests thrust upon him. Never has Elektra been so thoroughly unlikeable than here.
Zdarsky fills the pages with his own social commentary, without any of the subtlety or nuance of past writers with far more talent. Instead we get his insufferable and consistent sermonizing, which couldn't have snapped me more out of the bang average story than if a hand had sprung forth from the page like a jack in the box and clipped me round the ear.
I was never invested. I was never entertained. I was never even able to finish it. A dozen or so issues was about all I could take. If this is supposedly the pinnacle of modern Marvel comics, then you can bet I'll be keeping an even greater distance from anything else they see fit to shit out in omnibus form. Don't buy into the hype. You deserve better. 2/5
OmniBen.
No, no, no. Don't let this overhyped, unmitigated garbage fool you for an instant. Quite how Zdarsky has managed to hoodwink so many people is beyond me. This run has possibly received more praise than any modern run within the last five or so years. It was the only reason I broke my no Modern Marvel or DC rule and purchased it. It seems I was momentarily hoodwinked as well, but no more I tells ya. I can now see why people have so quickly and completely turned on Zdarsky's Batman run. They may have been as Blind as Matt Murdoch when it came to old horn head, but the light shines bright on the Dark Knight, it seems.
I'm not wild for Chechetto's art, though I'm sure his pencils are far more appealing than the finished product, after so much modern digital slop (otherwise known as colouring) is applied to them, but it's Zdarsky's writing that is the true culprit here. That and whoever did those god awful cartoonish pencils for that five issue arc early on, and the editor that hired them.
This is more modern Marvel histrionics, somehow disguised within a middling plot that never had me interested or intrigued for a moment. Daredevil is routinely spoken down to by every woman he comes across, whether that be Elektra or the middling love interests thrust upon him. Never has Elektra been so thoroughly unlikeable than here.
Zdarsky fills the pages with his own social commentary, without any of the subtlety or nuance of past writers with far more talent. Instead we get his insufferable and consistent sermonizing, which couldn't have snapped me more out of the bang average story than if a hand had sprung forth from the page like a jack in the box and clipped me round the ear.
I was never invested. I was never entertained. I was never even able to finish it. A dozen or so issues was about all I could take. If this is supposedly the pinnacle of modern Marvel comics, then you can bet I'll be keeping an even greater distance from anything else they see fit to shit out in omnibus form. Don't buy into the hype. You deserve better. 2/5
OmniBen.
September 16, 2024
After so many years of tortured soul-searching, you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be time for Matt Murdock to catch a break. No such luck is to be had, though. From the start, it is evident that Murdock and Elektra come into this book with tortured souls and troubled minds. Chip and Marco are continuing their trailblazing run on Daredevil, but steal yourself as I think this will live up to the phrase, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." As Miller demonstrated with his landmark run on the character, and as Bendis and Brubaker would understand, much of the intrigue that comes from Daredevil is the shit that he has to go through on a daily basis, and the constant struggles and conflicts that he has to deal with inside of himself, it's something that the show did rather admirably and something that Zdarsky understands about the character and manages to add his own spin to him. He takes Daredevil in the most radical direction that I've seen from him since Bendis' take on him, asking the question on what would happen if a superhero decided to give up...just because he can't handle the stress of being one anymore. Certainly characters have been deconstructed, and few have been broken down quite as spectacularly as Daredevil has. His identity has been outed, he's lost lovers, and he's been completely broken down, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually, but what's enough? For Matt Murdock, there is no such thing as enough, it's his obsession, his need to keep doing what he does that keeps him from giving in and throwing in the towel, but Zdarsky has finally managed to crack him a bit, to cause him to question himself, and question his crusade as a costumed hero. Zdarsky keeps things tight and easy to understand, never getting bogged down in angst or getting to the point where it loses its impact. It's nice to see Daredevil being great again, and from a guy who seems to be having a lot of fun while doing it. He puts many writers to shame with his sense of tone and pacing, and I was consistently surprised by the depths that Zdarsky touched upon in this first volume, but it is only the beginning, and I can't wait to see what he does as I go along on the ride with him.
March 6, 2025
I read the individual trades that make up this collection but forgot a lot of details due to the magic of getting older. Zdarsky and Checchetto (and others) present Matt as being broken down after being hit by a car and years of crime fighting. After accidentally killing a man, Matt struggles to deal with it for 20 something issues before turning himself in.
This is great shit. A theme of the series is consequences, for Daredevil and everyone in his orbit, like Mayor Fisk, Electra, Izzy Libris and her family, Foggy, everyone. If Daredevil wasn't already one of my favorite Marvel characters, he would be after this run.
This is great shit. A theme of the series is consequences, for Daredevil and everyone in his orbit, like Mayor Fisk, Electra, Izzy Libris and her family, Foggy, everyone. If Daredevil wasn't already one of my favorite Marvel characters, he would be after this run.
March 24, 2024
I’m always hesitant to count comic books toward my reading goals. Like, yeah it’s something I read, but it would definitely feel like cheating to include each issue as a book so it’s weird deciding how to count it. I feel like a TPB or Omnibus is a good compromise, where I can count my reading without feeling like I’m just padding the numbers. After all, a reading goal is about reading more, not about the goal number.
Anyway, this book is awesome. I haven’t read much Daredevil before, but a YouTuber I follow said he was planning on covering Chip Zdarsky’s run in a video and I just so happened to sign up for Marvel Unlimited so I figured why not check it out? And I am so glad I did!
This run of Daredevil seems to pick up right after a crazy storyline where Murdock dies and comes back to life. While this factors into the story quite a bit, it’s explained well enough that I never got confused or felt like I’d missed something. As such, this is definitely an accessible starting point for someone new to Daredevil.
Obviously since I haven’t read Daredevil before, I can’t say how this compares to other points in the series. But compared to a lot of other comics I’ve read, this one is pretty dark. It’s definitely an adult storyline, dealing with guilt and trauma, and getting into politics and morality in a messed up world. It’s handled very well in a way that makes the characters feel real. Nobody’s perfectly good or perfectly evil here, they’re just humans trying to live according to their own personal ethics.
This has turned me into a Daredevil fan, and I can’t wait to see how this ride ends.
Anyway, this book is awesome. I haven’t read much Daredevil before, but a YouTuber I follow said he was planning on covering Chip Zdarsky’s run in a video and I just so happened to sign up for Marvel Unlimited so I figured why not check it out? And I am so glad I did!
This run of Daredevil seems to pick up right after a crazy storyline where Murdock dies and comes back to life. While this factors into the story quite a bit, it’s explained well enough that I never got confused or felt like I’d missed something. As such, this is definitely an accessible starting point for someone new to Daredevil.
Obviously since I haven’t read Daredevil before, I can’t say how this compares to other points in the series. But compared to a lot of other comics I’ve read, this one is pretty dark. It’s definitely an adult storyline, dealing with guilt and trauma, and getting into politics and morality in a messed up world. It’s handled very well in a way that makes the characters feel real. Nobody’s perfectly good or perfectly evil here, they’re just humans trying to live according to their own personal ethics.
This has turned me into a Daredevil fan, and I can’t wait to see how this ride ends.
September 13, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)
What does a man do when doing the right thing repeatedly brings him closer to becoming the very thing he hates?
Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus, Vol. 1 is a powerful, uncompromising run that puts Matt Murdock through one of the most morally and psychologically demanding periods of his life. Zdarsky takes the essential ingredients of Daredevil—crime, Catholic guilt, vigilantism, friendship, violence, justice, and the endless conflict between Matt Murdock and the Man Without Fear—and pushes them into a story about consequences.
This is not a run where Daredevil can simply beat the villain and move on. Every punch matters. Every compromise leaves a mark. Every decision creates consequences that eventually come back to haunt Matt. That approach immediately gives the series a heavier and more mature tone, while still preserving the street-level energy that makes Daredevil so compelling.
At the center of the story is Matt Murdock himself. Zdarsky doesn't portray him as an infallible symbol of justice. Matt is intelligent, compassionate, stubborn, deeply principled, and frequently reckless. His greatest weakness is often the same thing that makes him heroic: he cannot stop himself from intervening when someone is suffering.
“Daredevil can survive a beating. What he struggles to survive is the weight of what he believes he owes to everyone around him.”
That internal conflict drives the run more effectively than any supervillain.
Zdarsky's treatment of violence is particularly strong. Daredevil has always been a hero who operates close to the edge, but here the physical brutality has genuine consequences. Injuries don't simply disappear at the end of an issue. The story repeatedly reminds readers that Matt is a human being throwing himself into fights against armed criminals, gangs, and killers.
This makes the action feel dangerous rather than decorative.
The run is also deeply interested in the question of whether vigilantism can actually coexist with Matt's belief in justice. Daredevil wants to protect Hell's Kitchen, but he increasingly has to confront the possibility that violence creates more violence. The distinction between stopping criminals and punishing them becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
That moral uncertainty is one of the book's greatest strengths.
Wilson Fisk is another major highlight. Rather than using Kingpin simply as Daredevil's recurring physical opponent, Zdarsky gives him an increasingly complex political and psychological role. Fisk understands power differently from Matt. He sees institutions, crime, reputation, and authority as interconnected systems. Matt fights individual criminals; Fisk thinks about the entire structure.
The tension between these two philosophies makes their conflict fascinating. Their relationship is not simply hero versus villain. It is a clash between two men who both believe they understand what their city needs.
The supporting cast is equally important. Foggy Nelson remains the person most capable of forcing Matt to confront the consequences of his choices. Their friendship gives the story much of its emotional strength because Foggy isn't simply there to support Daredevil—he is willing to challenge Matt when Matt becomes his own worst enemy.
Zdarsky also makes excellent use of the criminal ecosystem surrounding Hell's Kitchen. Gangs, vigilantes, criminals, police officers, and ordinary residents contribute to a world in which crime isn't something Daredevil can simply punch away. The story continually asks what happens to a community when violence becomes normalized.
The artwork complements this approach beautifully. Marco Checchetto's visual storytelling gives Daredevil a brutal, grounded physicality. Fights look painful. Characters carry the exhaustion of what they've experienced. New York feels grimy, crowded, and dangerous, while the quieter scenes receive enough visual attention to give the characters room to breathe.
The visual depiction of Daredevil's heightened senses is also handled effectively. Rather than turning his abilities into a generic special effect, the artwork frequently reminds readers that Matt experiences the world differently from everyone around him.
One of the run's most effective qualities is its willingness to let Matt fail.
Superhero comics can sometimes treat failure as temporary. A hero loses one battle, then returns next issue seemingly unchanged. Zdarsky instead allows Matt's mistakes to reshape his life. His failures influence his relationships, his reputation, and his understanding of himself. This creates a sense of continuity and emotional progression that makes the run especially rewarding when read in omnibus form.
The pacing benefits enormously from the collected format. Individual issues can be intense, but the larger story becomes more impressive when its moral and character threads are viewed together. What initially appears to be a series of separate crises gradually becomes a sustained examination of Matt's identity and the consequences of his philosophy.
There are, however, moments where the darkness becomes almost overwhelming. The story frequently places its characters under extreme psychological and physical pressure, and readers looking for the lighter, wisecracking version of Daredevil may find this incarnation considerably more severe. Some plot developments also lean heavily into superhero melodrama, and the sheer number of crises can occasionally feel exhausting.
But those issues rarely undermine the central narrative. The emotional through-line remains remarkably focused.
What works best
A deeply human and flawed portrayal of Matt Murdock.
Excellent exploration of guilt, morality, violence, and responsibility.
A sophisticated and dangerous interpretation of Kingpin.
Real consequences for Daredevil's physical and emotional choices.
Strong supporting-character writing, especially Matt and Foggy.
Grounded, brutal, atmospheric artwork.
A long-form narrative that rewards reading the issues together.
What could be stronger
The relentless darkness can occasionally become emotionally exhausting.
Some conflicts lean into familiar superhero melodrama.
The sheer number of escalating crises can make parts of the run feel crowded.
Spoiler-Filled Thoughts
Final Verdict
Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Omnibus, Vol. 1 is a superb modern interpretation of the character. It understands that Daredevil works best when his superhero abilities are secondary to the human being beneath the mask. Matt Murdock is at his most compelling when he is questioning himself, making mistakes, suffering consequences, and struggling to reconcile his faith with the violent reality of his mission.
Zdarsky's run succeeds because it refuses to make heroism easy. Matt doesn't protect Hell's Kitchen because he always knows the right answer. He protects it because he cannot accept a world in which people are abandoned—and that compulsion repeatedly forces him into impossible choices.
Brutal, introspective, emotionally charged, and remarkably grounded, this omnibus is one of the strongest modern Daredevil runs and essential reading for anyone interested in Matt Murdock at his most vulnerable.
Recommended for fans of:
Daredevil
Marvel street-level heroes
Superhero noir
Crime fiction
Psychological superhero stories
Morally complex protagonists
Long-form character-driven comics
August 1, 2025
(Reseña de toda la etapa de Zdarsky)
Básicamente perfecto excepto por los últimos 15 números. Una etapa maravillosa, Daredevil teniendo problemas filosóficos, personajes que se evolucionan a causa de Daredevil, su propio dilema moral... Todo muy bien. La única pega que le puedo sacar es que tiene cambios bruscos de dibujante cada poco tiempo, pero aparte de eso todo bien.
Los últimos 15 números es que se le va la olla un poco, tampoco es que sean malos pero pierde bastante fuerza.
Básicamente perfecto excepto por los últimos 15 números. Una etapa maravillosa, Daredevil teniendo problemas filosóficos, personajes que se evolucionan a causa de Daredevil, su propio dilema moral... Todo muy bien. La única pega que le puedo sacar es que tiene cambios bruscos de dibujante cada poco tiempo, pero aparte de eso todo bien.
Los últimos 15 números es que se le va la olla un poco, tampoco es que sean malos pero pierde bastante fuerza.
April 22, 2026
Too sleepy to do a big review, but honestly this is one of the best Omnibus out there. Especially cause it's so damn good for the first 20-25 issues. It stumbles a bit at the end but man oh man, those golden times of the first 25 issues are really some of the best comics in the last 10 years.
August 18, 2024
Fantastic! I didn't want it to end! Looking forward to the next volume!
December 18, 2025
my first daredevil book and I have to say that starting at the end was certainly a choice, however, a choice well spent. my first chip zdarsky book as well, and I can see why this run was eisner-nominated!
July 21, 2024
~6 months after reading Charles Soule’s Daredevil run, I’m back at it with the Man Without Fear with the start of Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil run. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while as I’ve heard great things about Zdarsky’s run and I also enjoyed his “Spider-Man: Life Story” mini-series. This omnibus covers the run’s first 6 volumes, picking up where Soule left off - Wilson Fisk is still Mayor of New York/cracking down on superheroes, Daredevil’s secret identity as Matt Murdock is a secret again but Matt’s no longer deputy mayor or a lawyer, etc.). The omnibus ends with the start of the storyline where Elektra takes the mantle of Daredevil from Matt while he’s in jail. In general I’d say Zdarsky was trying to evoke the Netflix show (or Disney+ these days) with his approach to Daredevil, which I can’t complain about.
The first half of the omnibus was much more grounded (only in the later half do more fantastical Marvel content start appearing), giving more time for Zdarsky to have Matt contemplate the morality of his actions as Daredevil. It’s a tried and true DD theme and Zdarsky does well with it. Also done really well is the handling of Fisk and his struggles to become a legitimate politician that wants to cut ties to his villainous past. The whole Mayor Fisk storyline was great under Soule and great here (and I’m happy the MCU is building up to an adaptation of it). The rest of the cast is fine, although Detective Cole was the only real stand out for me with how everyone (crooked cop, superhero fan, etc.) is out to get him and his anti-superhero beliefs felt like a real world person dropped into the Marvel universe and trying to comprehend its relationship with superheroes.
As a whole the omnibus was fantastic. My particular thoughts on each “volume” in the omnibus though are as follows (SPOILERS) -
- Volume 1: The first arc deals with a criminal Daredevil fought who ends up dying after the fight, Matt’s attempts to figure out the cause of the death, the resulting manhunt for DD, and his personal internal debate about his methods. It’s a pretty standard debate Daredevil/superhero authors writers often explore (particularly when Frank Castle shows up as expected to drive the debate further) but as I said Zdarsky does do a good job with his spin on this tried and true debate.
- Volume 2: This picks up with Daredevil “dead”, Matt working as a parole officer, Detective Cole struggling in a hostile work environment, Mayor Fisk trying to move on and a spate of Daredevil copy cats running around Hell’s Kitchen. There’s a couple great parts to this, like a tense but fascinating encounter with a crime family because Matt wasn't thinking with his brain but with his d*ck. I also love the art for Issue #10 (in general I liked all of the art in the omnibus). The volume is ultimately a great follow-up to the previous one.
- Volume 3: The only volume I was kind of “eh” about even if I did enjoy it. Both Spidey and Foggy have some badass scenes in this one.
- Volume 4: This volume deals with the fallout on both Matt and Fisk’s perspectives from the revelation of how much the richest family in the United States are screwing things over for them and Hell’s Kitchen. The 1% of the 1% being the evil cabal felt appropriately realistic and is a nice change of pace from “undead ninjas controlling everything”, and it was fun seeing someone previously as untouchable as Fisk struggle so much against this family’s influence. Beyond that I liked Cole’s (who had grown on me at this point) rallying the troops moment to look for the kidnapped girl. I also liked how the run finally started getting a little less grounded with all the supervillains in the rampage through Hell’s Kitchen, the DD copycats coming together to defend the neighborhood and also that Matt and Fisk teamed up too.
- Volume 5: Daredevil is on trial in this one after turning himself in the last volume, so we got some good legal drama here. I also liked how this volume really brought back a lot from Soule’s run that are directly relevant to the trial (Matt’s effort to get secret identities legal) or otherwise (Mike Murdock officially retcons himself into Matt’s childhood). There were some good superhero team ups in this volume I like, such as DD asking Iron Man to buy Hell’s Kitchen properties to save the neighborhood from being taken over by the evil billionaires and DD and Spidey having a heart-to-heart over accidental murders
- Volume 6: The omnibus closes out the volume with Elektra now finally Daredevil and patrolling Hell’s Kitchen while straddling the line between how Matt would be Daredevil and how she would. Matt’s story in jail is engaging as well, and has one nice bit of commentary on the American justice system where someone like Matt (white and privileged) could go back to their lives afterwards but a Black Man has charges/a prison sentence staining them forever.
All 6 volumes of this omnibus ranged from good to great, justifying the earlier praise that I had heard about Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil work. I’m eagerly awaiting where he takes The Man Without Fear, Elektra, etc. in the subsequent collections.
The first half of the omnibus was much more grounded (only in the later half do more fantastical Marvel content start appearing), giving more time for Zdarsky to have Matt contemplate the morality of his actions as Daredevil. It’s a tried and true DD theme and Zdarsky does well with it. Also done really well is the handling of Fisk and his struggles to become a legitimate politician that wants to cut ties to his villainous past. The whole Mayor Fisk storyline was great under Soule and great here (and I’m happy the MCU is building up to an adaptation of it). The rest of the cast is fine, although Detective Cole was the only real stand out for me with how everyone (crooked cop, superhero fan, etc.) is out to get him and his anti-superhero beliefs felt like a real world person dropped into the Marvel universe and trying to comprehend its relationship with superheroes.
As a whole the omnibus was fantastic. My particular thoughts on each “volume” in the omnibus though are as follows (SPOILERS) -
- Volume 1: The first arc deals with a criminal Daredevil fought who ends up dying after the fight, Matt’s attempts to figure out the cause of the death, the resulting manhunt for DD, and his personal internal debate about his methods. It’s a pretty standard debate Daredevil/superhero authors writers often explore (particularly when Frank Castle shows up as expected to drive the debate further) but as I said Zdarsky does do a good job with his spin on this tried and true debate.
- Volume 2: This picks up with Daredevil “dead”, Matt working as a parole officer, Detective Cole struggling in a hostile work environment, Mayor Fisk trying to move on and a spate of Daredevil copy cats running around Hell’s Kitchen. There’s a couple great parts to this, like a tense but fascinating encounter with a crime family because Matt wasn't thinking with his brain but with his d*ck. I also love the art for Issue #10 (in general I liked all of the art in the omnibus). The volume is ultimately a great follow-up to the previous one.
- Volume 3: The only volume I was kind of “eh” about even if I did enjoy it. Both Spidey and Foggy have some badass scenes in this one.
- Volume 4: This volume deals with the fallout on both Matt and Fisk’s perspectives from the revelation of how much the richest family in the United States are screwing things over for them and Hell’s Kitchen. The 1% of the 1% being the evil cabal felt appropriately realistic and is a nice change of pace from “undead ninjas controlling everything”, and it was fun seeing someone previously as untouchable as Fisk struggle so much against this family’s influence. Beyond that I liked Cole’s (who had grown on me at this point) rallying the troops moment to look for the kidnapped girl. I also liked how the run finally started getting a little less grounded with all the supervillains in the rampage through Hell’s Kitchen, the DD copycats coming together to defend the neighborhood and also that Matt and Fisk teamed up too.
- Volume 5: Daredevil is on trial in this one after turning himself in the last volume, so we got some good legal drama here. I also liked how this volume really brought back a lot from Soule’s run that are directly relevant to the trial (Matt’s effort to get secret identities legal) or otherwise (Mike Murdock officially retcons himself into Matt’s childhood). There were some good superhero team ups in this volume I like, such as DD asking Iron Man to buy Hell’s Kitchen properties to save the neighborhood from being taken over by the evil billionaires and DD and Spidey having a heart-to-heart over accidental murders
- Volume 6: The omnibus closes out the volume with Elektra now finally Daredevil and patrolling Hell’s Kitchen while straddling the line between how Matt would be Daredevil and how she would. Matt’s story in jail is engaging as well, and has one nice bit of commentary on the American justice system where someone like Matt (white and privileged) could go back to their lives afterwards but a Black Man has charges/a prison sentence staining them forever.
All 6 volumes of this omnibus ranged from good to great, justifying the earlier praise that I had heard about Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil work. I’m eagerly awaiting where he takes The Man Without Fear, Elektra, etc. in the subsequent collections.
August 30, 2025
To all Marvel avid readers and fans who said that this is one of the best marvel runs, they're not lying.
I really enjoyed how the creators dived into the complexities of the characters (Matt/ Daredevil, Cole, Elektra, Fisk, etc.). Their drive, motivations to every action they took for their justified visions, and expound it to something that reminded me of a novel like storytelling, which just shows how great the story is. Obviously, I have a lot to say about the characters and how they were presented in this run.
I was looking for an Elektra run, but I found out that there's not much about her 😫. Really hoping she could get a solo run for herself. She's such an amazing and intriguing character.
Fisk and Mary– there's one panel at the hospital that I just find so sweet and cute 😫
I'm also gonna check for the Defenders comic run later to really get into Jessica, Luke, and friends.
I also did love how Tony Stark and Iron Man are here 😫 Can I just say the creator really did well in Tony Stark's design, LIKE PLEASE, I WANT THIS TONY STARK DESIGN. The same goes for the other characters, or let me just say THIS OMNIBUS IS A GLORIOUS CREATION 🤌🏽.
I'm thinking of reading the previous omnibus one before continuing the 2nd one, but let's see.
5⭐️ and a FAVE 👌
I really enjoyed how the creators dived into the complexities of the characters (Matt/ Daredevil, Cole, Elektra, Fisk, etc.). Their drive, motivations to every action they took for their justified visions, and expound it to something that reminded me of a novel like storytelling, which just shows how great the story is. Obviously, I have a lot to say about the characters and how they were presented in this run.
I was looking for an Elektra run, but I found out that there's not much about her 😫. Really hoping she could get a solo run for herself. She's such an amazing and intriguing character.
Fisk and Mary– there's one panel at the hospital that I just find so sweet and cute 😫
I'm also gonna check for the Defenders comic run later to really get into Jessica, Luke, and friends.
I also did love how Tony Stark and Iron Man are here 😫 Can I just say the creator really did well in Tony Stark's design, LIKE PLEASE, I WANT THIS TONY STARK DESIGN. The same goes for the other characters, or let me just say THIS OMNIBUS IS A GLORIOUS CREATION 🤌🏽.
I'm thinking of reading the previous omnibus one before continuing the 2nd one, but let's see.
5⭐️ and a FAVE 👌
February 18, 2025
Shit, man. This is one of those handful of things you wish you can experience for the first time again. So much emotion and risk and development packed into this one. Daredevil facing an identity crisis??? And I love the exploration on the ethics and philosophy of superheroes and vigilantes. I don’t doubt it will, but I’m hoping volume 2 rounds out this truly epic run!
April 24, 2025
I got like 10 issues in before I realized that Zdarsky actually had two different runs back to back and I was reading the second one so whoops but I went back to the actual start and wow I’m glad I realized. Zdarsky writes the catholic guilt of Matt Murdock in a way that I don’t really think has been properly captured by many if any other daredevil writers and I’m glad he really leaned into that strength because I think it defines this run. Everything Matt does can be tied back to the internal dialogue he’s having throughout the series and we see other characters call him out on his self loathing and we see him justify it to himself in real time. A lot of writers don’t really give the main character room to be flawed but Zdarsky did a great job with it. Matt is wrong more often than not in both of these runs and he has stuff blow up in his face because he’s so convinced and stubborn in his beliefs and ideologies that he can’t see (no pun intended sorry) the broken system that he’s playing into. And then when he is finally shown the truth of the corruption he’s facilitating he does a full 180 and does the wrong thing for the other side. The reader can see the flaws in logic but the story is also told from his perspective so we understand why he’s taking these steps even if we can see that they’re not totally correct. I think all of it was really really interesting. The ending was also really strong but I think it’s a testament to how you should read comics from a larger publisher like Marvel or DC. Every run of a character, while technically tied to “canon” should be more or less taken as its own story and the ending is a very unique problem. The end of a comic run is an ending but it’s also the start of the next run and the next writer needs to find a way to take that ending and find a way to bring the character back to what they want to do which usually kind of ruins the ending of the previous run. That’s fine, whatever, writers have stories they wanna tell. So, I just try to forget that honestly. This run has an amazing ending and I’m perfectly fine with pretending that ending is an ending and speculating on where it might go rather than reading onward and seeing it not pan out in a satisfying way. But tangent aside this was a great run and I love daredevil. Next up I am reading Mark Waid’s first daredevil run because I actually did the same thing with him and accidentally read his second run of the character so I’m going and reading his first okay bye
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2025
This was absolutely phenomenal. The writing is so good. I loved Daredevil, I loved Fisk, I loved Spider-Man, I loved Electra. Every single character was out of the park. I also really enjoyed Cole, and every single church segment. Zdarsky is a damned savant in writing dialogue.
The art, is stunning. Checchetto might be in my top 5 favorite artists of all time. He has this high octane new American comic style that reminds me of Jimenez, but also does gorgeous city landscapes that remind me of Earls. Every panel is beautiful. Even some of the guest artists were enjoyable.
I've always been intrigued by Daredevil, but Zdarsky really fleshed him out for me, gave him such an interesting personality.
Buy this omni, buy it now. It's one of the easiest 5 stars I've ever given a comic book collection.
God loves you, Matthew.
The art, is stunning. Checchetto might be in my top 5 favorite artists of all time. He has this high octane new American comic style that reminds me of Jimenez, but also does gorgeous city landscapes that remind me of Earls. Every panel is beautiful. Even some of the guest artists were enjoyable.
I've always been intrigued by Daredevil, but Zdarsky really fleshed him out for me, gave him such an interesting personality.
Buy this omni, buy it now. It's one of the easiest 5 stars I've ever given a comic book collection.
God loves you, Matthew.
November 4, 2024
This was my introduction to Chip’s writing and while it flowed, I wasn’t captivated by the storyline. At times forcing myself to finish an arc. Jorge, the cartoon artist who filled in for a few issues was a horrible choice during a somewhat “serious” episode. Both Daredevil and Kingpin have been entirely cucked. Anyways, I’ll reserve my full judgement after I read the conclusion to this run on DD but if this is the best Marvel has to offer these days then comics just may be officially doomed. 3.5/5.
June 18, 2025
Highly enjoyable and super approachable as my first foray into Daredevil. Very easy to get into after watching the Netflix show. Great writing, great art, and a great cast of characters including cameos by many familiar faces.
The many moral debates that I'm sure are a character staple continue to be present and the reveal of Elektra taking over the mantle after Matt willing sends himself to prison was a great plot point. Can't wait to dive into volume 2 and see how the story rounds out.
The many moral debates that I'm sure are a character staple continue to be present and the reveal of Elektra taking over the mantle after Matt willing sends himself to prison was a great plot point. Can't wait to dive into volume 2 and see how the story rounds out.
September 5, 2026
*switching to this edition
vol 1: 5
“Cast the Devil out” holy aura (literally)
SO GOOD I love how it tackles his complicated relationship with God and Catholicism
vol 2: 3
meh. i don’t really like the art style and it felt like it was used to introduce the libris family. also matthew is REALLY easy isn’t he
vol 3: 4
Marco Checchetto should be the only artist for Daredevil
vol 4: 4.5
Oh we are so back
vol 5 & 6: 4
vol 1: 5
“Cast the Devil out” holy aura (literally)
SO GOOD I love how it tackles his complicated relationship with God and Catholicism
vol 2: 3
meh. i don’t really like the art style and it felt like it was used to introduce the libris family. also matthew is REALLY easy isn’t he
vol 3: 4
Marco Checchetto should be the only artist for Daredevil
vol 4: 4.5
Oh we are so back
vol 5 & 6: 4
April 20, 2025
After reading Chip Zdarskys Batman run from DC I had my expectations set high for this run. I can´t believe I had this book rested on my bookshelves for almost a year before starting reading it. because I knew that once I´ve started, I wouldn´t be able to stop. And that is how it went down. I read the entire run within two weeks.
When you start to thunk that they can´t turn Matt´s life into more of a living hell they go ahead make this! That is what I love about the DD comics. This run takes respectful parts of past DD runs making them all feel canon and interconnected (much like Zdarskys Batman).
They split up the run perfectly in the middle where you just had to start reading the next volume right away, so I did!
When you start to thunk that they can´t turn Matt´s life into more of a living hell they go ahead make this! That is what I love about the DD comics. This run takes respectful parts of past DD runs making them all feel canon and interconnected (much like Zdarskys Batman).
They split up the run perfectly in the middle where you just had to start reading the next volume right away, so I did!
January 7, 2025
Overrated to the extreme. A confused and directionless mess, just like its main character. Far from the masterpiece it's made out to be.
February 3, 2025
This is only the first half of the run, but I’ve never read a comic book run from a single creator that swings so drastically in terms of quality.
February 5, 2025
Rarely do I start an omnibus and finish it within a week. Oftentimes, I read these things over the course of a month, but perhaps it’s the building hype over the upcoming season of “Born Again,” or watching the original Netflix series with my girlfriend, or the fact that Chip Zdarsky is one of my favorite contemporary comic writers, and Marco Checchetto is one of my favorite artists in the industry right now but — agh, okay, I just loved this.
Zdarsky knows his history. Whether it’s in this, his issues of “Howard the Duck,” “Spider-Man” or the current Batman saga he’s about to wrap up next month, Zdarsky brings out references to previous volumes, earlier issues, and the character’s mythos to really change up the status quo. In this first omnibus of “Daredevil,” it’s no different. A lot of Matt Murdock’s past is brought to the forefront in a natural way. In particular, I liked Wilson Fisk as Mayor, and the introduction of Cole North and (correct me if I’m wrong) the business Kingpin siblings of the Stromwyns, the people that rule parts of New York beyond the Kingpin’s own knowledge.
I really enjoyed the art, even when it was a guest artist filling in. The looks for this version of Matt and Fisk are really cool to look at, and I enjoyed the design decisions during the (pretty edgy) king in black event. However, that two issue arc kind of took me out. Though it dealt with a lot of the themes Matt, Elektra, and Fisk were dealing with for the entire run, event tie-in’s really break the pacing. It’s not really the writer’s fault so much so the editors and behind-the-scenes decisions, but I’m glad those two issues ultimately progressed their plots. (I gotta say, though, “Batman” has been dealing with this problem, as things like “Beast World” and “Absolute Power” keep interrupting the main book.)
Now I have to decide. While I own the Devil’s Reign omnibus, do I buy the second volume to complete this run in the Omnibus Hardcover Format? Or do I read the remaining issues on Marvel Unlimited? Decisions, decisions.
Definitely check this out. I’m trying to read all of the omnibuses I own (and even some that I’m buying), but this is absolutely #1 this year. I am excited to read more, if I justify the purchase enough (I most likely will).
Zdarsky knows his history. Whether it’s in this, his issues of “Howard the Duck,” “Spider-Man” or the current Batman saga he’s about to wrap up next month, Zdarsky brings out references to previous volumes, earlier issues, and the character’s mythos to really change up the status quo. In this first omnibus of “Daredevil,” it’s no different. A lot of Matt Murdock’s past is brought to the forefront in a natural way. In particular, I liked Wilson Fisk as Mayor, and the introduction of Cole North and (correct me if I’m wrong) the business Kingpin siblings of the Stromwyns, the people that rule parts of New York beyond the Kingpin’s own knowledge.
I really enjoyed the art, even when it was a guest artist filling in. The looks for this version of Matt and Fisk are really cool to look at, and I enjoyed the design decisions during the (pretty edgy) king in black event. However, that two issue arc kind of took me out. Though it dealt with a lot of the themes Matt, Elektra, and Fisk were dealing with for the entire run, event tie-in’s really break the pacing. It’s not really the writer’s fault so much so the editors and behind-the-scenes decisions, but I’m glad those two issues ultimately progressed their plots. (I gotta say, though, “Batman” has been dealing with this problem, as things like “Beast World” and “Absolute Power” keep interrupting the main book.)
Now I have to decide. While I own the Devil’s Reign omnibus, do I buy the second volume to complete this run in the Omnibus Hardcover Format? Or do I read the remaining issues on Marvel Unlimited? Decisions, decisions.
Definitely check this out. I’m trying to read all of the omnibuses I own (and even some that I’m buying), but this is absolutely #1 this year. I am excited to read more, if I justify the purchase enough (I most likely will).
August 7, 2024
Revisiting this story in omnibus format is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done, this story is AMAZING. Daredevil seems to have some of the greatest luck on writers cause man has it been an amazing journey.
Chip Zdarsky created some of the most darkest, emotional, and satisfying stories in this book. And it made me even more fall in love with the character of Matt Murdock. You seem to him go through multiple moments of failure, feeling sorry for himself while yet try to pursue perseverance. Awesome villains are in this book, and what’s a DD book without Wilson Fisk in it?
It’s nice to also see this story unfold with some of these crime lords tryna become the new kingpin of Hell’s Kitchen. Ahhhh man I can’t wait revisit this story more in volume two. This is a deep crime noir story that will leave at the edge of your reading seat. Oh yeah and Marco Checchetto ?!?! My Gawd his artwork makes the stories in here look 10 times more CINEMATIC. That’s what I always nicknamed this run: “Cinema on paper”. There’s a storyline in here called INFERNO which is my favorite, woooooo what an experience. Well done Zdarsky/Checchetto. 🔥
Chip Zdarsky created some of the most darkest, emotional, and satisfying stories in this book. And it made me even more fall in love with the character of Matt Murdock. You seem to him go through multiple moments of failure, feeling sorry for himself while yet try to pursue perseverance. Awesome villains are in this book, and what’s a DD book without Wilson Fisk in it?
It’s nice to also see this story unfold with some of these crime lords tryna become the new kingpin of Hell’s Kitchen. Ahhhh man I can’t wait revisit this story more in volume two. This is a deep crime noir story that will leave at the edge of your reading seat. Oh yeah and Marco Checchetto ?!?! My Gawd his artwork makes the stories in here look 10 times more CINEMATIC. That’s what I always nicknamed this run: “Cinema on paper”. There’s a storyline in here called INFERNO which is my favorite, woooooo what an experience. Well done Zdarsky/Checchetto. 🔥
December 12, 2024
Wow. As someone who was never really a Daredevil fan, this was amazing. I've heard very good things from Zdarsky's run and I'm happy to say that none of it was overhyped.
Zdarsky's writing was spectacular. From the pacing to the dialogue, it was great. I havnet read anything like this in a comic in a very long time.
And don't get me started on Checchetto's art. BRILLIANT. Nuff said.
What a fantastic intro to Daredevil.
Zdarsky's writing was spectacular. From the pacing to the dialogue, it was great. I havnet read anything like this in a comic in a very long time.
And don't get me started on Checchetto's art. BRILLIANT. Nuff said.
What a fantastic intro to Daredevil.
February 24, 2025
I'm not really a person to write reviews, or to put my thoughts into words, and this will be my first review of any book I have ever read, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt. After finishing this Omnibus, I felt the need to write one for it.
I just recently completed reading the below Daredevil Omnibuses one after the other:
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus, Vol. 1
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus, Vol. 2
Daredevil by Ed Brubaker Omnibus, Vol. 1
Daredevil by Ed Brubaker Omnibus, Vol. 2
I did my research on different forums, reddit, Youtube, etc., on what comics and stories were considered the best for Daredevil, and the general consensus was reading Bendis, and Brubaker, to get the complete experience. But because I'm more into dramatic and exaggerated stories, especially modern, I caved in, and also purchased the Zdarsky Omnibuses. These were also highly recommended for modern DD (I grew up watching Batman, Superman, Justice League, X-Men, Spider-Man, the usual 90's animated series and a lot of Japanese animes, so I might be a bit biased), and man I'm so glad I did.
I'm just going to be honest right from the start, Zdarsky vol 1 Omni, completely blew out of the water the previous Omnis I read.
The plot and general vibe of the stories are similar (you probably already know the typical dark, broody, gritty DD story), but you feel the stakes, the pain, things happen and they catch you by surprise, unlike the other Omnis that are very cliche and you see them coming from a mile away. There are moments that feel like a high octane movie, while in the other Omnis everything is so slow and you keep waiting for something amazing that never happens (Brubaker specially made me snooze a few times).
Previously, I've read Zdarsky Spiderman and while it is good, it didn't have that oomph (like that OMG this shit is so good feeling), it was very friendly and funny but never had a serious high note with the plot/action, apart from Life Story & Spider's Shadow. But here with DD, this feels so different, maybe he was in his element writing these types of stories, everything combined makes me want to personally tell him "man you set the bar so high by writing such a story". It checked all of the boxes of what makes a brilliant omnibus for me.
I can definitely see some influences from the Netflix show interwoven beautifully in this work.
The art from Marco Checchetto, HOLY SHIT, this guy managed to capture on his drawings everything in such a detailed way (for me, he is right up there with Dan Mora and Jorge Jimenez with such amazing artwork) that makes you think you are actually watching a high budget animated comic with jaw dropping action sequences, and some of the full page drawings and covers makes me want to have them framed in the walls. I can't wait to see his artwork on Ultimate Spider-Man, with Jonathan Hickman, which will definitely get an Omnibus one day.
I cannot say much more without talking bad about the other Omnis, don't get me wrong, they are good in their own rights, but for me they are not up to the same level. Maybe it is due to the age of the stories, they were created between 2000 to 2010, or maybe is a combination of the story and graphics that pushed this omnibus over the edge for me.
Regardless, if you want a modern story, excellent artwork and a feeling of fulfillment, I totally recommend this Omni.
Hoping that the second volume is as good as this one or even better.
I just recently completed reading the below Daredevil Omnibuses one after the other:
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus, Vol. 1
Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis Omnibus, Vol. 2
Daredevil by Ed Brubaker Omnibus, Vol. 1
Daredevil by Ed Brubaker Omnibus, Vol. 2
I did my research on different forums, reddit, Youtube, etc., on what comics and stories were considered the best for Daredevil, and the general consensus was reading Bendis, and Brubaker, to get the complete experience. But because I'm more into dramatic and exaggerated stories, especially modern, I caved in, and also purchased the Zdarsky Omnibuses. These were also highly recommended for modern DD (I grew up watching Batman, Superman, Justice League, X-Men, Spider-Man, the usual 90's animated series and a lot of Japanese animes, so I might be a bit biased), and man I'm so glad I did.
I'm just going to be honest right from the start, Zdarsky vol 1 Omni, completely blew out of the water the previous Omnis I read.
The plot and general vibe of the stories are similar (you probably already know the typical dark, broody, gritty DD story), but you feel the stakes, the pain, things happen and they catch you by surprise, unlike the other Omnis that are very cliche and you see them coming from a mile away. There are moments that feel like a high octane movie, while in the other Omnis everything is so slow and you keep waiting for something amazing that never happens (Brubaker specially made me snooze a few times).
Previously, I've read Zdarsky Spiderman and while it is good, it didn't have that oomph (like that OMG this shit is so good feeling), it was very friendly and funny but never had a serious high note with the plot/action, apart from Life Story & Spider's Shadow. But here with DD, this feels so different, maybe he was in his element writing these types of stories, everything combined makes me want to personally tell him "man you set the bar so high by writing such a story". It checked all of the boxes of what makes a brilliant omnibus for me.
I can definitely see some influences from the Netflix show interwoven beautifully in this work.
The art from Marco Checchetto, HOLY SHIT, this guy managed to capture on his drawings everything in such a detailed way (for me, he is right up there with Dan Mora and Jorge Jimenez with such amazing artwork) that makes you think you are actually watching a high budget animated comic with jaw dropping action sequences, and some of the full page drawings and covers makes me want to have them framed in the walls. I can't wait to see his artwork on Ultimate Spider-Man, with Jonathan Hickman, which will definitely get an Omnibus one day.
I cannot say much more without talking bad about the other Omnis, don't get me wrong, they are good in their own rights, but for me they are not up to the same level. Maybe it is due to the age of the stories, they were created between 2000 to 2010, or maybe is a combination of the story and graphics that pushed this omnibus over the edge for me.
Regardless, if you want a modern story, excellent artwork and a feeling of fulfillment, I totally recommend this Omni.
Hoping that the second volume is as good as this one or even better.
July 26, 2026
Zdarsky's run on Daredevil is as overrated as the author himself. Its main saving grace that keeps this book at 3 stars for me is the fact that it's an easy and quick read.
This run reads like a bad pastiche of the Netflix show and previous Daredevil comics put together. So much of Zdarsky's writing is just unoriginal and uninteresting. It's strange how novel this run tries to present itself. Zdarsky tries to clumsily deconstruct Daredevil, the violence he employs, and superheroes at large when that has literally been a mainstay of Daredevil comics since Miller's seminal run. Everything this comic tries to do has been done better in a previous Daredevil run.
Another problem with the writing is its blatant character assassinations of multiple characters. Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones are given Garth Ennis-tier writing with how easily they treat incidental deaths in superhero work as simply a "workplace hazard" and just shrug their shoulders at such incidents. The worst character assassination has to be Punisher though. Not only is he stripped down into a caricature of himself, but Zdarsky literally can't have this dude say anything other than "you're a phony, Red", and somehow it becomes the most repetitive and annoying thing in the span of one issue.
The writing in general is so shoddy and serves no purpose than to create "hype moments and aura". There is actually little that connects one plot point to another nor is there much logic to any of what is written. For example, Elektra literally shows up out of nowhere a completely different character than before, with little showing how she developed into that character. There is little to nothing actually explaining her motivations -- e.g. why the hell does she care about things she previously didn't -- that just makes it hard to actually buy into the story. So much more time is dedicated to Elektra having some random hype moment that is meant to be cool rather than well written.
Even the spiritual journey Zdarsky tries putting Daredevil through feels like it's waffling half the time. Zdarsky also writes one of the most annoying and unlikeable version of Matt. Daredevil is so self-important and self-aggrandizing in how he takes ownership over everything around him, which isn't new for him and is one of his character flaws. But this run takes it to the next level that genuinely makes me not want to care about this character.
Zdarsky also goes really heavy on the religious themes and Daredevil's Catholicism in this. He makes it way more important than previous writers have, and it ruins the character of Daredevil a bit. Daredevil does what he does out of his own personal perceptions of what is right, not out of his religious conviction. His Catholicism loosely guides him and teaches him lessons to learn from, but it's not the foundation of his ethics by any stretch of the means.
Lastly, Zdarsky tries so hard to add complexity and introduce all kinds of social and religious commentary throughout his run. Unfortunately, Zdarsky doesn't have the intelligence, knowledge, or skill he thinks he does to tell such a story well, an issue that I think is making itself apparent again in Zdarsky's current Captain America run.
As for the art, Chechetto's art is beautiful, but a lot of the art in this run is actually from other artists filling in for him. The inconsistency in art really held this run back in my opinion, and every time Chechetto wasn't on art (which is a lot), I was just dying for him to resume art duties to have that continuity back.
This run reads like a bad pastiche of the Netflix show and previous Daredevil comics put together. So much of Zdarsky's writing is just unoriginal and uninteresting. It's strange how novel this run tries to present itself. Zdarsky tries to clumsily deconstruct Daredevil, the violence he employs, and superheroes at large when that has literally been a mainstay of Daredevil comics since Miller's seminal run. Everything this comic tries to do has been done better in a previous Daredevil run.
Another problem with the writing is its blatant character assassinations of multiple characters. Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones are given Garth Ennis-tier writing with how easily they treat incidental deaths in superhero work as simply a "workplace hazard" and just shrug their shoulders at such incidents. The worst character assassination has to be Punisher though. Not only is he stripped down into a caricature of himself, but Zdarsky literally can't have this dude say anything other than "you're a phony, Red", and somehow it becomes the most repetitive and annoying thing in the span of one issue.
The writing in general is so shoddy and serves no purpose than to create "hype moments and aura". There is actually little that connects one plot point to another nor is there much logic to any of what is written. For example, Elektra literally shows up out of nowhere a completely different character than before, with little showing how she developed into that character. There is little to nothing actually explaining her motivations -- e.g. why the hell does she care about things she previously didn't -- that just makes it hard to actually buy into the story. So much more time is dedicated to Elektra having some random hype moment that is meant to be cool rather than well written.
Even the spiritual journey Zdarsky tries putting Daredevil through feels like it's waffling half the time. Zdarsky also writes one of the most annoying and unlikeable version of Matt. Daredevil is so self-important and self-aggrandizing in how he takes ownership over everything around him, which isn't new for him and is one of his character flaws. But this run takes it to the next level that genuinely makes me not want to care about this character.
Zdarsky also goes really heavy on the religious themes and Daredevil's Catholicism in this. He makes it way more important than previous writers have, and it ruins the character of Daredevil a bit. Daredevil does what he does out of his own personal perceptions of what is right, not out of his religious conviction. His Catholicism loosely guides him and teaches him lessons to learn from, but it's not the foundation of his ethics by any stretch of the means.
Lastly, Zdarsky tries so hard to add complexity and introduce all kinds of social and religious commentary throughout his run. Unfortunately, Zdarsky doesn't have the intelligence, knowledge, or skill he thinks he does to tell such a story well, an issue that I think is making itself apparent again in Zdarsky's current Captain America run.
As for the art, Chechetto's art is beautiful, but a lot of the art in this run is actually from other artists filling in for him. The inconsistency in art really held this run back in my opinion, and every time Chechetto wasn't on art (which is a lot), I was just dying for him to resume art duties to have that continuity back.
September 19, 2025
I am going to just throw review all of Zdarsky's run here, since the Omnibuses break out the story right down the middle of the "runtime" as opposed to the easy divide between the two story arcs.
The first Arc "To Heaven Through Hell" was easily a 5/5. The only complaints I have are the sudden appearance of Elektra and the King in Black tie-in interrupting the story. The first is just build up to the second arc, and the other is simply the cosmic orders of a shared universe. Sometimes aliens attack New York and the streets have to deal with it, although this is the first one that has affected Daredevil, so if you are just reading his solo material, it can be a bit jarring. Additionally, the arc ends with the crossover event "Devil's Reign." I'm discovering these events aren't nearly as good as the main story. It was a great ending, but a lot of the random side-action felt shoehorned in. Luckily, the further the event went, the more focused the character work got.
Now, everything else about this arc was phenomenal. Both Matt and Fisk are challenged, uniting against a common enemy before clashing for the last (for now) time. All the character work over the last twenty years comes to head as both the hero and antagonist have oddly satisfying endings. Plus the initial issues were easily the best Daredevil I have ever read. It felt very in line with the Netflix series (complete with improvised costumes and Matt getting his butt beat against normal dudes). I love all the steps that happened in the explosive first few issues that lead to Matt hanging up the mask and retiring, as well as what it took for him to take up being Daredevil again in perhaps the most climactic mid-story battle. Fisk also has some great character development. Foggy remains a great supporting character, plus we get Detective Cole North, who feels like a GCPD officer (if you have read Gotham Central or No Man's Land, you know how high of a praise that is). I also loved how Matt's faith is finally explored with him wrestling with doubt and faith. In short, this is what happens when an adaptation outshines the source material, then the source material rises to meet it.
As for the second arc, "The Red Fist Saga" was actually a good Hand story (and please hopefully the last one). Oddly enough, it didn't have the Hand in it too much, probably due to them doing stuff in the Punisher. Which leads to my first complaint... this felt like a Punisher Daredevil crossover that just didn't make sense. I don't know who thought Punisher becoming a magic ninja assassin was a good idea, but this passed through too many hands for the blame to solely be placed on them. Additionally, the action wasn't that spectacular, especially when Daredevil and Punisher finally do fight. And a lot of the story seemed focused on Matt going directly against superhero tropes for the sake of political commentary. I did like a lot of the story beats, especially Matt's confrontation with U.S. Agent, but a lot of the cool moments were rushed to a halt and the thrills of the action felt very abridged (think the comic version of shaky cam/quick cuts). I don't know how the run was able to take such a dive in quality, but it felt very abrupt.
In short, we get some of the best Daredevil stories we have ever gotten with some amazing consequences to his character and the Marvel universe as a whole... but the Hand once again comes in to ruin things, this time stretching beyond Daredevil's book. To Heaven Through Hell was phenomenal, The Red Fisk Saga was only great. As weird as it sounds, the jump from 5 to 4 stars felt jarring. Still, I loved the ending and think if someone wanted to stop reading Daredevil, this was a VERY satisfying conclusion to his character.
The first Arc "To Heaven Through Hell" was easily a 5/5. The only complaints I have are the sudden appearance of Elektra and the King in Black tie-in interrupting the story. The first is just build up to the second arc, and the other is simply the cosmic orders of a shared universe. Sometimes aliens attack New York and the streets have to deal with it, although this is the first one that has affected Daredevil, so if you are just reading his solo material, it can be a bit jarring. Additionally, the arc ends with the crossover event "Devil's Reign." I'm discovering these events aren't nearly as good as the main story. It was a great ending, but a lot of the random side-action felt shoehorned in. Luckily, the further the event went, the more focused the character work got.
Now, everything else about this arc was phenomenal. Both Matt and Fisk are challenged, uniting against a common enemy before clashing for the last (for now) time. All the character work over the last twenty years comes to head as both the hero and antagonist have oddly satisfying endings. Plus the initial issues were easily the best Daredevil I have ever read. It felt very in line with the Netflix series (complete with improvised costumes and Matt getting his butt beat against normal dudes). I love all the steps that happened in the explosive first few issues that lead to Matt hanging up the mask and retiring, as well as what it took for him to take up being Daredevil again in perhaps the most climactic mid-story battle. Fisk also has some great character development. Foggy remains a great supporting character, plus we get Detective Cole North, who feels like a GCPD officer (if you have read Gotham Central or No Man's Land, you know how high of a praise that is). I also loved how Matt's faith is finally explored with him wrestling with doubt and faith. In short, this is what happens when an adaptation outshines the source material, then the source material rises to meet it.
As for the second arc, "The Red Fist Saga" was actually a good Hand story (and please hopefully the last one). Oddly enough, it didn't have the Hand in it too much, probably due to them doing stuff in the Punisher. Which leads to my first complaint... this felt like a Punisher Daredevil crossover that just didn't make sense. I don't know who thought Punisher becoming a magic ninja assassin was a good idea, but this passed through too many hands for the blame to solely be placed on them. Additionally, the action wasn't that spectacular, especially when Daredevil and Punisher finally do fight. And a lot of the story seemed focused on Matt going directly against superhero tropes for the sake of political commentary. I did like a lot of the story beats, especially Matt's confrontation with U.S. Agent, but a lot of the cool moments were rushed to a halt and the thrills of the action felt very abridged (think the comic version of shaky cam/quick cuts). I don't know how the run was able to take such a dive in quality, but it felt very abrupt.
In short, we get some of the best Daredevil stories we have ever gotten with some amazing consequences to his character and the Marvel universe as a whole... but the Hand once again comes in to ruin things, this time stretching beyond Daredevil's book. To Heaven Through Hell was phenomenal, The Red Fisk Saga was only great. As weird as it sounds, the jump from 5 to 4 stars felt jarring. Still, I loved the ending and think if someone wanted to stop reading Daredevil, this was a VERY satisfying conclusion to his character.
April 8, 2026
Finally got around to finish this beauty of an omni (through collected editions), and my God was this exceptional. I'm going to try and keep this short and concise, but I loved so many things from this first half of Zdarsky's run. The overarching story of Matt coming to terms with the fact that he accidently killed someone and the personal journey he goes through was incredibly compelling, layered, and profoundly thought-provoking. I love how different heroes were involved with this; from Matt asking Reed if he believes in God, to Peter confronting him and telling him his time is up to the Defenders sharing their own story about their fatal accidents adds a lot to how Matt processes this event and what he will do to set his soul at ease. The ups and downs mentally he go through is believable to the point where I was thinking on the morality of the situation and how it sets an example to other heroes to be better (which is a key point for him wanting to go to prison to pay for his crimes). The subplot of the crime families scrambling for control now that Fisk is mayor of NYC as much more complexity to the life of Daredevil/Matt Murdock, and it was great seeing Owsley become this dangerous threat to Hell's Kitchen, leading to a full-blown gang war. Usually with side-plots, I'm more invested in the main story, but with this, I was fully enthralled with both; one couldn't exist without the other. The Stromwyns as the "untouchable" villains for both Fisk and Daredevil gives a sense of tension that affects everyone and I'm excited to see how either of them takes them down. The fact that they're so confident in their power and wealth shows how much of a danger they will be for both parties. I do think the King in Black tie-ins, though the weakest, were still very solid. Not to mention, Elektra taking up the mantle of Daredevil is something I'm very excited to see that in the future. The art is consistently incredible, with the exception of the KiB tie ins. There are some panels that I need hung up on the wall, they're that incredible. Overall, I'm in love with this run and I cannot wait to read the other half of this. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
Started reading this run during the middle of Zdarsky’s run digitally back in 2021. At the time, there had been only 5 trade paperbacks out and Elektra had just been announced as the new daredevil. With the new show out, I’ve been getting back into my DD mood and I decided to lock back into Zdarsky’s run by finishing Vol. 6, which completes this omnibus, tonight.
Daredevil is one of the most interesting characters in comics and, I would argue, all of media. He started in the 60s, was fully defined by Frank Miller in the 80s, and has been the most consistently well written character in comics since then. There are countless creators who have written amazing Daredevil runs. 30 issues in, we can add Zdarsky to that list.
Zdarsky fundamentally understands Daredevil and like most writers, decided to screw up his life frame one with Matt accidentally killing a criminal. This is a moment that has defined this run and the guilt works so well with the mythos of Daredevil’s character. Zdarsky has done his homework and has made characters outside of the big 4 DD regulars feel big and like threats. The art is amazing and everything has worked so well.
Miller’s run has been my favorite as a reader as he defined the character forever. Bendis and Brubaker have left their mark with legal dramas and important characters that stay in audience’s minds. But Zdarsky, so far, is doing something with Daredevil that I feel like none of the other writers have done as well. One big overarching storyline. And what a storyline that is.
Excited to get my hands on the second omnibus that I ordered physically. I hope it can keep at such a high bar that this storyline is. I only own the Miller omnibus, so it’s high praise that I would be willing to spend that type of money on any comic run. I hope to own this omnibus in later years.
Daredevil is one of the most interesting characters in comics and, I would argue, all of media. He started in the 60s, was fully defined by Frank Miller in the 80s, and has been the most consistently well written character in comics since then. There are countless creators who have written amazing Daredevil runs. 30 issues in, we can add Zdarsky to that list.
Zdarsky fundamentally understands Daredevil and like most writers, decided to screw up his life frame one with Matt accidentally killing a criminal. This is a moment that has defined this run and the guilt works so well with the mythos of Daredevil’s character. Zdarsky has done his homework and has made characters outside of the big 4 DD regulars feel big and like threats. The art is amazing and everything has worked so well.
Miller’s run has been my favorite as a reader as he defined the character forever. Bendis and Brubaker have left their mark with legal dramas and important characters that stay in audience’s minds. But Zdarsky, so far, is doing something with Daredevil that I feel like none of the other writers have done as well. One big overarching storyline. And what a storyline that is.
Excited to get my hands on the second omnibus that I ordered physically. I hope it can keep at such a high bar that this storyline is. I only own the Miller omnibus, so it’s high praise that I would be willing to spend that type of money on any comic run. I hope to own this omnibus in later years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
This really is a phenomenal Daredevil story. It encapsulates everything that I love about the character and does so many new interesting things to further his story. Matt Murdock is such a complex character with so much to him, and I love just how consistent he is in almost any piece of Daredevil media I look into. This story takes a big look into the morality of Daredevil, what it means to go too far, and how Matt can deal with that. Seeing him try to atone, try to be better, and punishing himself more than anyone else would, is just great. The religious aspect of his character also always plays so heavily into the man he is, and I love how some of these comic issues will have little or no action at all and just be Matt walking around with a bunch of speech bubbles of his inner monologue asking questions about what kind of man he is. It also does a great job of bringing other comic characters into this story and having them fit the tone that’s been set. With Spiderman confronting Daredevil in a serious matter, to then having a heart to heart between the two deepening their friendship. Then another scene where Matt Plays chess with Mr Fantastic of all people and has a discussion on whether or not he believes in God and why. I’m looking forward to seeing how Zdarsky finishes out his run, and it’s definitely not an exaggeration to say that this is probably one of the best comic runs of all time, and will go down as a classic piece of Daredevil’s history.
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