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Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky #1
Daredevil, Vol. 1: Know Fear
Matt Murdock has clawed his way through physical therapy, but his near death experience that nearly left him crippled has left its mark on him. Reacquainted with pain and fear, the devil is back in hell's kitchen, but is the man who returned to the rooftops the same man who fell off them? Find out, in CHIP ZDARSKY'S new era of DAREDEVIL!
COLLECTING: DAREDEVIL (2019) 1-5
COLLECTING: DAREDEVIL (2019) 1-5
120 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2019
219 people are currently reading
1996 people want to read
About the author
Chip Zdarsky
871 books854 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
February 25, 2022
Daredevil is kinda too earnest & whiny for my taste.
Just beat some ass and move on, man. I'm not sure that there is an actual problem is with him, but I do think he's for a more introspective reader than me.
I'd heard this was a good DD run, though, so when it popped up as a freebie on Hoopla I thought I'd take a chance and check it out. Could this be the run that puts Daredevil on my list of favorites?
Nope.
There's nothing wrong with the storyline, but by the end of the comic, I disliked the character.
He's angsty and conflicted with a heaping spoonful of religious guilt.
If he sat down next to me in a bar, I'd scooch all the way down to the other side because this is the guy who ends up quietly sobbing into his drink by the time the joint closes.
Part of me wants to find out what's the story with the cop who's after him. But realistically? I doubt I'll continue.
Just beat some ass and move on, man. I'm not sure that there is an actual problem is with him, but I do think he's for a more introspective reader than me.
I'd heard this was a good DD run, though, so when it popped up as a freebie on Hoopla I thought I'd take a chance and check it out. Could this be the run that puts Daredevil on my list of favorites?
Nope.
There's nothing wrong with the storyline, but by the end of the comic, I disliked the character.
He's angsty and conflicted with a heaping spoonful of religious guilt.
If he sat down next to me in a bar, I'd scooch all the way down to the other side because this is the guy who ends up quietly sobbing into his drink by the time the joint closes.
Part of me wants to find out what's the story with the cop who's after him. But realistically? I doubt I'll continue.
August 21, 2022
Matt Murdock is back to being Daredevil after a near death experience left him in the hospital and physical therapy for months. But after his first night back goes horribly wrong, Matt may have to face the reality that Daredevil may have been better off dead…
A solid start to Chip Zdarsky’s and Marco Checchetto’s time on Daredevil. Builds off the events of Charles Soule’s DD run & Jed Mackay’s Man Without Fear miniseries perfectly, while also doing it’s own thing with the character. Zdarsky’s Matt is complex as fuck and proves Chip can write dramas just as well as comedies, while Checchetto’s art brings out so much humanity and believability to Matt and his struggles. Checchetto’s action scenes are also some of my favorite from any artist working at Marvel right now, and every single scene with Daredevil just moving around looks so fucking incredible.
Recommended for anyone who likes Daredevil or this creative team. This is the single best possible creative team that could be working on Daredevil right now, and I can’t wait to see how this run builds up to Devil’s Reign. Some of my friends who have been calling this run a spiritual successor to the Netflix show are starting to make sense to me now…
A solid start to Chip Zdarsky’s and Marco Checchetto’s time on Daredevil. Builds off the events of Charles Soule’s DD run & Jed Mackay’s Man Without Fear miniseries perfectly, while also doing it’s own thing with the character. Zdarsky’s Matt is complex as fuck and proves Chip can write dramas just as well as comedies, while Checchetto’s art brings out so much humanity and believability to Matt and his struggles. Checchetto’s action scenes are also some of my favorite from any artist working at Marvel right now, and every single scene with Daredevil just moving around looks so fucking incredible.
Recommended for anyone who likes Daredevil or this creative team. This is the single best possible creative team that could be working on Daredevil right now, and I can’t wait to see how this run builds up to Devil’s Reign. Some of my friends who have been calling this run a spiritual successor to the Netflix show are starting to make sense to me now…
August 19, 2021
"If I disappear, it's guilt. The costume stays on. People need to see it. To see me. I'm Daredevil. And I'm innocent." -- Matt 'Daredevil' Murdock
Awesomely bleak but action-heavy initial volume with the Big Apple's super-heroic crimson-clad vigilante being accused of murder he did not commit while interrupting an armed robbery, and then being pursued by a tenaciously tough-as-nails police investigator who just relocated from Chicago. Additional complications include his long-running antagonist Wilson Fisk (a.k.a the 'Kingpin of Crime') being elected as the city's mayor (!), and a threatening segment where Daredevil is abducted by The Punisher which results in some crazily off-kilter developments. All this, plus a nice cameo appearance from Spider-Man, too. This seemed like a solid foundation for a start of the new series.
Awesomely bleak but action-heavy initial volume with the Big Apple's super-heroic crimson-clad vigilante being accused of murder he did not commit while interrupting an armed robbery, and then being pursued by a tenaciously tough-as-nails police investigator who just relocated from Chicago. Additional complications include his long-running antagonist Wilson Fisk (a.k.a the 'Kingpin of Crime') being elected as the city's mayor (!), and a threatening segment where Daredevil is abducted by The Punisher which results in some crazily off-kilter developments. All this, plus a nice cameo appearance from Spider-Man, too. This seemed like a solid foundation for a start of the new series.
December 20, 2019
Who knew Zdarsky could do more than just quip? Zdarsky writes a flawed, erratic Daredevil trying to cope with the fact his body still hasn't fully recovered from being hit by a truck at the end of Soule's run. He goes into a downward spiral when someone dies during a battle due to the fact he's not at his best. I loved how Zdarsky brought in the rest of the New York street level heroes, especially Punisher and Spider-Man. Marco Checcetto's art rivals his run on Punisher. It's that good. He's fantastic at drawing gritty, street level heroes without denigrating his art to a scratchy, scruffy style.
May 30, 2019
Chip Zdarsky is slowly but surely becoming Marvel's low-key best writer right now. Which is weird to admit, because his early writing efforts were middling at best, but between this Daredevil run and the still ongoing but absolutely amazing Spider-Man: Life Story it's really a shock how much he's grown as a writer over the years. It's just a very solid Daredevil run that acts as a palette cleanser after the disaster that was Charles Soule, and continues the good old tradition of Matt being an absolutely miserable sack of pain and sadness. So yeah, this isn't the chirpy and cheery spiritual successor to the Waid/Samnee run that I was hoping for, but at least Chip seems to really understand the core mechanics of Daredevil and writes a very classic-feeling DD story the likes of which we haven't seen in a while. It's a welcome return to status quo, even if it borrows a bit too much from the TV show to my liking (yeah, I've fallen out of love with Marvel's mediocre Netflix efforts quite early in the game). If it keeps going like that, it may easily become one of the defining runs for the character on the same level with Bendis and Brubaker.
December 6, 2022
7.3/10
Matt Murdock's body is finally better, that means Daredevil is back to bring fear into criminal minds.
But is he really back? It seems that his body is not the only thing that's not 100% ok. His mind also took a hit and after an incident during an attempt to stop some criminals, things are getting worse.
A strong start for the Zdarsky - Checchetto team. I haven't read the previous runs, but didn't find hard to follow the story
Matt Murdock's body is finally better, that means Daredevil is back to bring fear into criminal minds.
But is he really back? It seems that his body is not the only thing that's not 100% ok. His mind also took a hit and after an incident during an attempt to stop some criminals, things are getting worse.
A strong start for the Zdarsky - Checchetto team. I haven't read the previous runs, but didn't find hard to follow the story
January 13, 2022
Still recovering from injuries, Matt Murdock’s not in the best shape, but Daredevil needs to be seen patrolling Hell’s Kitchen so he pushes through the pain and forces himself out. Which leads to Matt making a mistake he can’t take back: in stopping a robbery by three guys, he accidentally causes fatal head trauma to one of the robbers. Daredevil is officially a killer. Is it time for Matt to finally walk away from the vigilante life?
Chip Zdarsky’s first Daredevil book isn’t as impressive as I’d heard. The premise is an intriguing one but Zdarsky isn’t a talented enough writer to explore it deeply so alls we get is Matt doing the things you’d expect to see to show he’s feeling bad: going to confession, drinking, sitting in shadows looking moody. Nor does that treatment make for a gripping read. I mean, if there’s one Marvel character who we’ve seen enough of moping around being emo, it’s Matt “Catholic guilt/all my girlfriends are dead” Murdock.
There’s a new detective from Chicago, Cole North, who also boxes in his spare time, who isn’t impressed with the NYPD’s laissez-faire approach to Daredevil and makes it his job to bring him in for unsanctioned vigilantism, not least for murder one. All that means is that he’s someone for Matt to box in the streets and be a match for given his current weakened state.
Marco Checchetto’s art is definitely the best part of the book. The characters look cool, you can feel the intensity of the fight scenes, and the framing throughout makes for some dramatic visuals - despite the book taking place in NYC the whole time, Checchetto finds fresh ways to keep the urban scenery looking exciting.
It’s not that Zdarsky’s script is totally without merit - it has some moments that keep you guessing, like when North arrests Matt, or the various surprise cameos from Daredevil’s fellow superhero mates, and I’m glad there wasn’t a cop out on the premise. It’s just that it’s not that interesting a story overall. And it doesn’t help that Zdarsky overwrites nearly every page by half.
Strong art a good comic does not make however, and unfortunately Daredevil, Volume 1: Know Fear is an easy-to-put-down and forgettable outing for the Manfrom Del Monte Without Fear.
Chip Zdarsky’s first Daredevil book isn’t as impressive as I’d heard. The premise is an intriguing one but Zdarsky isn’t a talented enough writer to explore it deeply so alls we get is Matt doing the things you’d expect to see to show he’s feeling bad: going to confession, drinking, sitting in shadows looking moody. Nor does that treatment make for a gripping read. I mean, if there’s one Marvel character who we’ve seen enough of moping around being emo, it’s Matt “Catholic guilt/all my girlfriends are dead” Murdock.
There’s a new detective from Chicago, Cole North, who also boxes in his spare time, who isn’t impressed with the NYPD’s laissez-faire approach to Daredevil and makes it his job to bring him in for unsanctioned vigilantism, not least for murder one. All that means is that he’s someone for Matt to box in the streets and be a match for given his current weakened state.
Marco Checchetto’s art is definitely the best part of the book. The characters look cool, you can feel the intensity of the fight scenes, and the framing throughout makes for some dramatic visuals - despite the book taking place in NYC the whole time, Checchetto finds fresh ways to keep the urban scenery looking exciting.
It’s not that Zdarsky’s script is totally without merit - it has some moments that keep you guessing, like when North arrests Matt, or the various surprise cameos from Daredevil’s fellow superhero mates, and I’m glad there wasn’t a cop out on the premise. It’s just that it’s not that interesting a story overall. And it doesn’t help that Zdarsky overwrites nearly every page by half.
Strong art a good comic does not make however, and unfortunately Daredevil, Volume 1: Know Fear is an easy-to-put-down and forgettable outing for the Man
August 10, 2019
Daredevil is my favorite superhero ever. Not only do I believe he has the BEST runs ever but also the fact he's just one of the most compelling characters in any medium when done right. I even have a tattoo of him. So yeah, to say I'm a huge fan is a underestimated. However, it's been awhile since I loved a volume of Daredevil as much as this.
So Matt just doesn't have a easy life. We all know that by now if you read just one issue of Daredevil before. However, just when you think it can't get much worse, it does. Matt is out on his runs, beating up bad guys, when by accident while fighting a guy slips and cracks his neck. That happens in the first issue and the next 4 are him dealing with it.
What's so engrossing about this storyline is Matt's back and forth outlook on life. First trying to deny he did something, to meeting a actual killer like Punisher and his view on things, and then to his friends while finally meeting up with the city hero himself Spider-man. It's Daredevil's pain of dealing with his actions that make this so thrilling. On top of that the art is amazing, with some of the best fight scenes around, as well as the gritty feel of Bendis-era run or Brubaker's.
Overall, Daredevil is back on top. While I enjoyed Waid's and Soule's run for most part, it's this run that makes me super pumped to read more. Not since Brubaker have I've loved a Daredevil comic again as much. I'm ready for volume 2 NOW. A 5 out of 5.
So Matt just doesn't have a easy life. We all know that by now if you read just one issue of Daredevil before. However, just when you think it can't get much worse, it does. Matt is out on his runs, beating up bad guys, when by accident while fighting a guy slips and cracks his neck. That happens in the first issue and the next 4 are him dealing with it.
What's so engrossing about this storyline is Matt's back and forth outlook on life. First trying to deny he did something, to meeting a actual killer like Punisher and his view on things, and then to his friends while finally meeting up with the city hero himself Spider-man. It's Daredevil's pain of dealing with his actions that make this so thrilling. On top of that the art is amazing, with some of the best fight scenes around, as well as the gritty feel of Bendis-era run or Brubaker's.
Overall, Daredevil is back on top. While I enjoyed Waid's and Soule's run for most part, it's this run that makes me super pumped to read more. Not since Brubaker have I've loved a Daredevil comic again as much. I'm ready for volume 2 NOW. A 5 out of 5.
September 23, 2021
A deliberately wild, out of control spiral into what can only be every superhero-lover’s worst nightmare: the realisation that the hero is not so far from the villain.
The exploration of good and bad, black and white, and the very definition of morality by many characters throughout this volume was relentless. Watching Matt descend from disbelief to utter defeat was tragic. He started off with “I’m Daredevil. And I’m innocent.” and ended with “We’re all murderers.”
There really isn’t much more to say other than the art and colours were also beautiful and took an already great story to the next level. I can’t imagine what comes next for Daredevil in Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky, Vol. 2: No Devils, Only God, but I certainly want to see for myself.
The exploration of good and bad, black and white, and the very definition of morality by many characters throughout this volume was relentless. Watching Matt descend from disbelief to utter defeat was tragic. He started off with “I’m Daredevil. And I’m innocent.” and ended with “We’re all murderers.”
There really isn’t much more to say other than the art and colours were also beautiful and took an already great story to the next level. I can’t imagine what comes next for Daredevil in Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky, Vol. 2: No Devils, Only God, but I certainly want to see for myself.
March 2, 2024
First time readind a Daredevil comic. On to vol. 2!
March 21, 2022
A semi-origin retelling which acts as a stepping stone into the world of Daredevil. Zdarsky establishes who his version of Matt is right off the bat, presenting a broken, conflicted man who is trying to reclaim his place in Hell's Kitchen. Whilst most of the story is consistently paced, there are a few fight scenes that feel rather rushed or misplaced structurally. Regardless, it's a solid start to a promising run.
April 23, 2025
PT Há muito tempo que ouvia falar maravilhas desta fase do Demolidor com o Chip Zdarsky ao leme do argumento, e andava com bastante curiosidade para a ler. Finalmente aconteceu… ou melhor, começou a acontecer.
E sim, os rumores confirmam-se: é mesmo muito bom!
Aqui, Matt Murdock é um homem fora de forma, mas com a mesma chama de justiça a arder dentro de si. Como quem tem mais olhos que barriga, acaba por se meter em várias situações complicadas enquanto tenta renascer das cinzas.
E como não podia deixar de ser, há a participação de outras figuras bem conhecidas do universo Marvel, habituais nas andanças do Demolidor.
--
EN I’d been hearing great things about this Daredevil run with Chip Zdarsky at the helm for a long time, and my curiosity kept growing. It finally happened… or better yet, it started to happen.
And yes, the rumors are true: it’s really, really good!
Here, Matt Murdock is a man out of shape, but still burning with that same inner fire for justice. As someone who tends to bite off more than he can chew, he gets tangled up in several tough situations while trying to rise from the ashes.
And of course, a few familiar faces from the Marvel universe show up—characters who’ve long been part of Daredevil’s world.
E sim, os rumores confirmam-se: é mesmo muito bom!
Aqui, Matt Murdock é um homem fora de forma, mas com a mesma chama de justiça a arder dentro de si. Como quem tem mais olhos que barriga, acaba por se meter em várias situações complicadas enquanto tenta renascer das cinzas.
E como não podia deixar de ser, há a participação de outras figuras bem conhecidas do universo Marvel, habituais nas andanças do Demolidor.
--
EN I’d been hearing great things about this Daredevil run with Chip Zdarsky at the helm for a long time, and my curiosity kept growing. It finally happened… or better yet, it started to happen.
And yes, the rumors are true: it’s really, really good!
Here, Matt Murdock is a man out of shape, but still burning with that same inner fire for justice. As someone who tends to bite off more than he can chew, he gets tangled up in several tough situations while trying to rise from the ashes.
And of course, a few familiar faces from the Marvel universe show up—characters who’ve long been part of Daredevil’s world.
March 16, 2020
Now THIS was some very solid Daredevil-ry, reminiscent of the ill-fated Netflix series in many ways but also boldly pushing into fresh territory with the whole, "What if Matt straight up committed Manslaughter while apprehending some perps?" storyline and everything that spills out of it. The answers don't come easy, and it's hard to believe Our Hero will be quite so devil-may-care in the following volume(s)...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2019
It's been a few years since I've read Daredevil. I dropped out sometime during the Waid/Samnee run. Since then, Matt Murdock seems to have been through the wringer a time or five, because he begins this volume at another low point, feeling physically spent and on the verge of another bout of soul searching as he finds himself on the run from the police and accused of murder.
Zdarsky brings back some of the classic Frank Miller grit and street-level violence (which I read off the drug store spinner rack about 40 years ago! Yipes!). He uses some other Marvel heroes pretty effectively in cameos. It's pretty well done overall, but I have to admit I'm not particularly fond of the character anymore, and no matter how well done, this just seems to be yet another round of the never ending cycle of suffering for him. I'm just tired of seeing Battlin' Jack's boy used as a punching bag, I guess.
Zdarsky brings back some of the classic Frank Miller grit and street-level violence (which I read off the drug store spinner rack about 40 years ago! Yipes!). He uses some other Marvel heroes pretty effectively in cameos. It's pretty well done overall, but I have to admit I'm not particularly fond of the character anymore, and no matter how well done, this just seems to be yet another round of the never ending cycle of suffering for him. I'm just tired of seeing Battlin' Jack's boy used as a punching bag, I guess.
February 27, 2025
There are a lot of excellent Daredevil graphic novels out there, and this is one of them. The first volume from writer Chip Zdarsky, it has the perfect tone with gorgeous art. Readers who are fans of the streaming series can also see some influence, such as the part when he debates over morality with the Punisher...
One of the most interesting storylines of the recent era was having Wilson Fisk as mayor of NYC, which is a major factor from the start. That's just one of the many angles in which Matt Murdock's life is ruined and he further suffers, as the character goes. This is how it should be, and there are original takes herein, so one can see why Zdarsky is such a fan-favorite writer.
One of the most interesting storylines of the recent era was having Wilson Fisk as mayor of NYC, which is a major factor from the start. That's just one of the many angles in which Matt Murdock's life is ruined and he further suffers, as the character goes. This is how it should be, and there are original takes herein, so one can see why Zdarsky is such a fan-favorite writer.
January 8, 2021
There are a lot (probably too many, tbh) books about Matt Murdoch reaching the end of his rope. Maybe more than any other hero I can think of, writers seem to enjoy pushing him psychologically to the edge of breaking. It's always personal, it's always painful and it's always about a fight for his soul. (It also makes me wonder what Batman would look like if Bob Kane and Bill Finger decided he would be Catholic.)
In this book Chip Zdarsky surprised the hell out of me (pun intended) by really plumbing the depths of what Matt Murdoch, hero/lawyer, could really go through when his ultimate code is challenged. I didn't think there was a flat character in this book and I really liked that the rest of New York's "street level heroes" were able to cameo. It made sense and really filled out this world.
I think Marco Checchetto hit it out of the park with the art in this one. I fit the tone of the writing perfectly and really established an overall feel for this world that helped me immediately dive in.
In this book Chip Zdarsky surprised the hell out of me (pun intended) by really plumbing the depths of what Matt Murdoch, hero/lawyer, could really go through when his ultimate code is challenged. I didn't think there was a flat character in this book and I really liked that the rest of New York's "street level heroes" were able to cameo. It made sense and really filled out this world.
I think Marco Checchetto hit it out of the park with the art in this one. I fit the tone of the writing perfectly and really established an overall feel for this world that helped me immediately dive in.
March 2, 2021
Daredevil is the most human of all of Marvel's flawed heroes. His enhanced senses notwithstanding, the physical trauma from his vigilante crusade adds up eventually, losing the surgical precision he needs to avoid the accidental that inevitably comes from the punishment he dishes out on a regular basis.
The artist is really good, this is easily a 5 star book just for the art alone. The writer is no slouch, and it shows in his deep understanding of the guest star from issue 5. It is easily one of my favorite Spider-Man moments.
The artist is really good, this is easily a 5 star book just for the art alone. The writer is no slouch, and it shows in his deep understanding of the guest star from issue 5. It is easily one of my favorite Spider-Man moments.
August 30, 2020
Know Fear collects issues 1-5 of Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, and Sunny Gho. And it's pretty damn spectacular.
Daredevil has been one of my favorite super heroes in recent years. I loved Mark Waid's lighter run on the character and Frank Miller's Born Again is a masterpiece. I passed on Charles Soule's run but decided to give this a shot after enjoying Zdarsky's recent Spider-Man book.
Anyway, this is great stuff. Matt Murdock returns to his role as Daredevil a little too soon, setting off a series of mishaps that leave him in a pretty bad place by the end of the book. Since there are quite a few issues after #5, I'm assuming Zdarsky is going to rebuild Matt from the ground up but this would be a sad swan song for Daredevil if you left things here.
The art by Marco Checchetto and Sunny Gho is gritty but not overpoweringly so. Their Hell's Kitchen feels dirty as hell, no place you'd want to visit. Daredevil's costume has a few extra lines but looks a lot more realistic and practical than his normal iconic red duds.
Daredevil: Know Fear is one hell of a beginning to what looks to be a very promising run. Four out of five stars.
Daredevil has been one of my favorite super heroes in recent years. I loved Mark Waid's lighter run on the character and Frank Miller's Born Again is a masterpiece. I passed on Charles Soule's run but decided to give this a shot after enjoying Zdarsky's recent Spider-Man book.
Anyway, this is great stuff. Matt Murdock returns to his role as Daredevil a little too soon, setting off a series of mishaps that leave him in a pretty bad place by the end of the book. Since there are quite a few issues after #5, I'm assuming Zdarsky is going to rebuild Matt from the ground up but this would be a sad swan song for Daredevil if you left things here.
The art by Marco Checchetto and Sunny Gho is gritty but not overpoweringly so. Their Hell's Kitchen feels dirty as hell, no place you'd want to visit. Daredevil's costume has a few extra lines but looks a lot more realistic and practical than his normal iconic red duds.
Daredevil: Know Fear is one hell of a beginning to what looks to be a very promising run. Four out of five stars.
November 16, 2019
A random thug dies after an encounter with Daredevil. Is hornhead being set up, or did he just accidentally cross a forbidden line?
After Daredevil's last run where we got things like magic swords, mysterious clones, invisible side kicks, and the whole world being mind-wiped, it's very refreshing to get back to plain old street level adventures. In other words, this really feels like a proper Daredevil story.
Extra bonus points for all the fun cameos that pop up here and there throughout these five issues.
After Daredevil's last run where we got things like magic swords, mysterious clones, invisible side kicks, and the whole world being mind-wiped, it's very refreshing to get back to plain old street level adventures. In other words, this really feels like a proper Daredevil story.
Extra bonus points for all the fun cameos that pop up here and there throughout these five issues.
April 29, 2020
Although Spider-Man is probably Marvel’s golden child and is currently in safe heads with writers like Nick Spencer tackling the character, Daredevil has some of the best runs in Marvel history with some of the finest writers and artists putting their spin in the Devil from Hell’s Kitchen. Since Frank Miller’s redefining run in the 1980s, the majority of every subsequent creators has followed Miller’s approach of the flawed hero in the gritty streets of New York that rarely focused on superpowers than focused more on crime and politics.
When it was announced that Chip Zdarsky will be taking over Daredevil after Charles Soule, this felt like such an odd choice as Zdarsky’s approach to superheroes previously was lighter and funny as evidenced in Howard the Duck and Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man. Instead of taking cues from the likes of Mark Waid, who embraced Daredevil as a superhero that can hang out with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Zdarsky leans towards Miller more so and establishes him as the flawed hero that goes through Hell.
After a brush with death, the former lawyer Matt Murdock pieces together his shattered life, including returning to his vigilante alter ego after the brief hiatus. Still haven’t fully recovered physically, Daredevil’s skills are somewhat lacking, resulting in one night involving three muggers, two of which are hospitalised whilst the third had died from head trauma. Has Daredevil been framed, does he suspect his arch-nemesis Wilson Fisk, who is the mayor of New York, and what are the true attentions of the new police detective Cole North?
With every new run of a well-established Marvel character, you have to appeal to newcomers as well as long-time readers, the latter of which Daredevil has a long-devoted fan base. Based on this volume that covers the initial five issues, Zdarsky’s run has got the best of both worlds, from establishing our eponymous hero through his trademark inner monologue that talks about his flaws and past mistakes, to the flashbacks of his childhood where he discusses his crisis of faith with a priest, especially after losing his sight due to him saving a life.
In this pursuit of clearing his name for a murder, Matt Murdock is clearly not himself from the start as due to recent events, he has distanced himself from those he cares about, whether it is his best friend Foggy Nelson or fellow Defenders, all of which do appear here. From his inner monologue to his interactions with other people, Zdarsky establishes two voices for Murdock, one that is distant and secretive, and the other that reveals the flawed truth.
There are antagonists along the way, whether it is the Kingpin of Crime, who is now in the seat of New York’s most powerful figure, and the hard-ass detective from Chicago who seems to be on a solo mission to rid the city of vigilantism and corruption. Although you could apply vigilantism to superheroes in general, this idea feels more significant towards Daredevil, who wrestles with his own identity, especially when he is saved/confronted by the Punisher, a man who does not show mercy and is capable of great violence. In the end, Daredevil is his own worst enemy and has to come to terms with what he’s actually done.
Being no stranger to drawing the Man Without Fear in the past, Marco Checchetto has already proved to be one of the best artists on Daredevil as there is nothing glamourous towards Matt Murdock and his world, not least with his red costume that looks deliberately rough around the edges. Along with Sunny Gho’s colouring, there is a vibrancy that gives every page a unique look, from the highly-detailed New York streets to the impressive panel layouts that allow for some bloody but well-choreographed action sequences.
Having already established himself as one of the top writers currently working at Marvel, Chip Zdarsky may have done his best work to date – despite writing the six-issue masterpiece Spider-Man: Life Story – with an excellent initial volume that is the start of hopefully another great run for the Guardian Devil.
When it was announced that Chip Zdarsky will be taking over Daredevil after Charles Soule, this felt like such an odd choice as Zdarsky’s approach to superheroes previously was lighter and funny as evidenced in Howard the Duck and Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man. Instead of taking cues from the likes of Mark Waid, who embraced Daredevil as a superhero that can hang out with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Zdarsky leans towards Miller more so and establishes him as the flawed hero that goes through Hell.
After a brush with death, the former lawyer Matt Murdock pieces together his shattered life, including returning to his vigilante alter ego after the brief hiatus. Still haven’t fully recovered physically, Daredevil’s skills are somewhat lacking, resulting in one night involving three muggers, two of which are hospitalised whilst the third had died from head trauma. Has Daredevil been framed, does he suspect his arch-nemesis Wilson Fisk, who is the mayor of New York, and what are the true attentions of the new police detective Cole North?
With every new run of a well-established Marvel character, you have to appeal to newcomers as well as long-time readers, the latter of which Daredevil has a long-devoted fan base. Based on this volume that covers the initial five issues, Zdarsky’s run has got the best of both worlds, from establishing our eponymous hero through his trademark inner monologue that talks about his flaws and past mistakes, to the flashbacks of his childhood where he discusses his crisis of faith with a priest, especially after losing his sight due to him saving a life.
In this pursuit of clearing his name for a murder, Matt Murdock is clearly not himself from the start as due to recent events, he has distanced himself from those he cares about, whether it is his best friend Foggy Nelson or fellow Defenders, all of which do appear here. From his inner monologue to his interactions with other people, Zdarsky establishes two voices for Murdock, one that is distant and secretive, and the other that reveals the flawed truth.
There are antagonists along the way, whether it is the Kingpin of Crime, who is now in the seat of New York’s most powerful figure, and the hard-ass detective from Chicago who seems to be on a solo mission to rid the city of vigilantism and corruption. Although you could apply vigilantism to superheroes in general, this idea feels more significant towards Daredevil, who wrestles with his own identity, especially when he is saved/confronted by the Punisher, a man who does not show mercy and is capable of great violence. In the end, Daredevil is his own worst enemy and has to come to terms with what he’s actually done.
Being no stranger to drawing the Man Without Fear in the past, Marco Checchetto has already proved to be one of the best artists on Daredevil as there is nothing glamourous towards Matt Murdock and his world, not least with his red costume that looks deliberately rough around the edges. Along with Sunny Gho’s colouring, there is a vibrancy that gives every page a unique look, from the highly-detailed New York streets to the impressive panel layouts that allow for some bloody but well-choreographed action sequences.
Having already established himself as one of the top writers currently working at Marvel, Chip Zdarsky may have done his best work to date – despite writing the six-issue masterpiece Spider-Man: Life Story – with an excellent initial volume that is the start of hopefully another great run for the Guardian Devil.
June 17, 2020
Daredevil is a special character to me.
Why? Because even though he's one of the heroes in Marvel with no superpowers, his personal life has been an emotional rollercoaster ride! Also, he's a character that brings out the best in writers, and Chip Zdarsky's latest run on him is proof of it!
In Know Fear, Matt Murdock is still healing from the accident that almost took his life at the end of Soule's run (which to me was not all that great), but is still determined enough to get back into his alter ego.
But he quickly finds out that he's not 100% up to the task, due to the accident, as when he tries to stop a store robbery, one of the thieves dies, and Daredevil becomes the main suspect, and wanted by the cops.
Now, obviously, Matt's gonna want to prove his innocence (because Daredevil doesn't kill, amirite?), and the streets of Hell's Kitchen becomes his battlefield once again. A lot of street-level heroes make their appearances (Punisher and Spidey among others), making the story all the more enjoyable. Kingpin also makes his appearance, being Daredevil's arch nemesis. And introducing Marvel's newest cop: Detective Cole North. Hope he survives the experience!
Now as for the plot, that's as far as I will go (because I don't want to spoil it). What I will say is, Chip Zdarsky's new take on dark superhero genre is gold (which is surprising for a guy who's mostly known for writing wacky, crazy, a fun comics) and not to be missed!
Zdarsky's writing is on point. It's clear that he really understands the character of Daredevil, and each issue has twists and moments that are emotionally charged.
Marco Checceto is also another reason I really loved the book. I've loved his art style since his Punisher run, and his talent with Sunny Gho's colours make each scene super realistic! You can feel punches and kicks of each character, it's that good!
Overall, this was the most fun I've had with a Daredevil comic since...feels like forever. I highly recommend it for people looking to get interested in the character. Although it would be kinda necessary to at least have an idea of what went down in Soule's run before reading this one.
4.5/5
Why? Because even though he's one of the heroes in Marvel with no superpowers, his personal life has been an emotional rollercoaster ride! Also, he's a character that brings out the best in writers, and Chip Zdarsky's latest run on him is proof of it!
In Know Fear, Matt Murdock is still healing from the accident that almost took his life at the end of Soule's run (which to me was not all that great), but is still determined enough to get back into his alter ego.
But he quickly finds out that he's not 100% up to the task, due to the accident, as when he tries to stop a store robbery, one of the thieves dies, and Daredevil becomes the main suspect, and wanted by the cops.
Now, obviously, Matt's gonna want to prove his innocence (because Daredevil doesn't kill, amirite?), and the streets of Hell's Kitchen becomes his battlefield once again. A lot of street-level heroes make their appearances (Punisher and Spidey among others), making the story all the more enjoyable. Kingpin also makes his appearance, being Daredevil's arch nemesis. And introducing Marvel's newest cop: Detective Cole North. Hope he survives the experience!
Now as for the plot, that's as far as I will go (because I don't want to spoil it). What I will say is, Chip Zdarsky's new take on dark superhero genre is gold (which is surprising for a guy who's mostly known for writing wacky, crazy, a fun comics) and not to be missed!
Zdarsky's writing is on point. It's clear that he really understands the character of Daredevil, and each issue has twists and moments that are emotionally charged.
Marco Checceto is also another reason I really loved the book. I've loved his art style since his Punisher run, and his talent with Sunny Gho's colours make each scene super realistic! You can feel punches and kicks of each character, it's that good!
Overall, this was the most fun I've had with a Daredevil comic since...feels like forever. I highly recommend it for people looking to get interested in the character. Although it would be kinda necessary to at least have an idea of what went down in Soule's run before reading this one.
4.5/5
Want to read
October 7, 2022Thanks MCU for reminding me to read this.
November 6, 2022
4.5 star one of the better opening volumes I've read from a marvel comic this year. I haven't read Daredevil since the dark knights Max Era pretty dang good and Chip Zdarsky has come up with a really meaningful story. This run should be great.
Read
January 13, 2021A common issue that I find with a lot of comics today is a considerable lack of coherent pacing. I can't tell you how many times I've sat down to read a book, only to put it down in disgust because of horrific pacing. There seems to be a trend in comics where writers and artists can't seem to come to a careful balance in terms of pacing, a lack of cohesion between fast paced action and the slower, more character driven moments. There's even writers that I like who can sometimes fall into this trap, like Lemire or even Aaron in his earlier days.
There's even writers that I've found interest in, like Cullen Bunn and Kieron Gillen, who have great ideas and imaginative concepts, but can't seem to find a good pace, often oscillating wildly from one moment to another, but then on the other side there's writers like King, Snyder, or even Moore from time to time who can sometimes get too bogged down in moments, going on and on when it's not always needed. There are a few writers who I've found who can write at a nice pace, creating a neat balance between slower, more character driven moments and good, fast paced action like Brubaker and Ennis, but I've found that they're the exceptions rather than the rule. But, it's safe to say that I can stick my thumb up and give my thanks to Chip Zdarsky, who's managed to create a book that's well paced, enjoyable, and well written and drawn.
I, like many others, was intrigued to see what Zdarsky would do with the character, considering he had garnered a reputation as a humorist and Daredevil is not exactly a humorous character. I was even more worried considering Daredevil has been in a tight spot over the last few years, going through mediocre run after mediocre run. I was even disappointed with Mark Waid's much lauded Daredevil run, which I found, asides from Chris Samnee's superb artwork, to completely miss the mark (no pun intended) when it came to the character of Daredevil. I found cringey jokes, awkward moments, and contrived storytelling. I understand what Waid was attempting to go for, but I found that said style was done much better (and in a much more touching way) in Loeb and Sale's Daredevil: Yellow. Soule came in and gave some solid work to the character, bringing him back to his roots as a down and out lawyer who's struggling to get by, but my oh my was I surprised to see that Zdarsky is bringing Matt Murdock back to his former glory.
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. It's what Tom King's Batman should have been, if he didn't go on relentless diatribes explaining Batman's angst and dragging out from arc to arc. Zdarsky keeps things tight and easy to understand, never getting bogged down in angst or getting to the point where it loses its impact.
Checchetto's artwork is also very good, keeping a dark, grim tone throughout the arc, I was quite impressed with the evocative tone that he brought with this series, and you can tell that a lot of effort was put into making this series look as great as possible, and it works well with Zdarsky's writing.
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 arc, 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.
There's even writers that I've found interest in, like Cullen Bunn and Kieron Gillen, who have great ideas and imaginative concepts, but can't seem to find a good pace, often oscillating wildly from one moment to another, but then on the other side there's writers like King, Snyder, or even Moore from time to time who can sometimes get too bogged down in moments, going on and on when it's not always needed. There are a few writers who I've found who can write at a nice pace, creating a neat balance between slower, more character driven moments and good, fast paced action like Brubaker and Ennis, but I've found that they're the exceptions rather than the rule. But, it's safe to say that I can stick my thumb up and give my thanks to Chip Zdarsky, who's managed to create a book that's well paced, enjoyable, and well written and drawn.
I, like many others, was intrigued to see what Zdarsky would do with the character, considering he had garnered a reputation as a humorist and Daredevil is not exactly a humorous character. I was even more worried considering Daredevil has been in a tight spot over the last few years, going through mediocre run after mediocre run. I was even disappointed with Mark Waid's much lauded Daredevil run, which I found, asides from Chris Samnee's superb artwork, to completely miss the mark (no pun intended) when it came to the character of Daredevil. I found cringey jokes, awkward moments, and contrived storytelling. I understand what Waid was attempting to go for, but I found that said style was done much better (and in a much more touching way) in Loeb and Sale's Daredevil: Yellow. Soule came in and gave some solid work to the character, bringing him back to his roots as a down and out lawyer who's struggling to get by, but my oh my was I surprised to see that Zdarsky is bringing Matt Murdock back to his former glory.
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. It's what Tom King's Batman should have been, if he didn't go on relentless diatribes explaining Batman's angst and dragging out from arc to arc. Zdarsky keeps things tight and easy to understand, never getting bogged down in angst or getting to the point where it loses its impact.
Checchetto's artwork is also very good, keeping a dark, grim tone throughout the arc, I was quite impressed with the evocative tone that he brought with this series, and you can tell that a lot of effort was put into making this series look as great as possible, and it works well with Zdarsky's writing.
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 arc, 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.
August 3, 2019
Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto are the latest creative team to tackle Daredevil, and the first volume of their take on the character already has the potential to set them alongside Bendis, Brubaker, and Waid as one of the greats (I'm also a big fan of Charles Soule's run, personally).
Coming off the back of his near-death experience at the end of Charles Soule's run, Matt Murdock makes a mistake and accidentally kills a petty criminal. Or does he? As he attempts to work out if he's actually gone over the deep end or if he's being framed, Matt spirals further and further into despair as a new NYPD officer sets their crosshairs on him, as does the Punisher. It all culminates in a confrontation with his fellow Defenders, and a turning point in Matt's life that shows that Zdarsky isn't afraid to take big swings.
It's all very well executed, and Zdarsky has Matt's inner voice down to a tee even at this early stage. The character work is very, very strong here, especially when Matt's talking to other heroes - the parallels between his current state and the Punisher are especially worth noting. And of course, what's a Daredevil story without some Kingpin in the background? Zdarsky handles him like a seasoned pro as well. This just seems like the series he was born to write at this point.
Marco Checchetto's artwork is also as gorgeous as always. His detailed style is one of my favourites in comics, and it always has a grit to it that makes it feel real without sacrificing that comic book sheen.
Chip Zdarsky seems to be working his way across Marvel's stable of characters and leaving his mark - I'm hoping he's not going anywhere soon with Daredevil though, because this is super promising, and looks beautiful to boot.
Coming off the back of his near-death experience at the end of Charles Soule's run, Matt Murdock makes a mistake and accidentally kills a petty criminal. Or does he? As he attempts to work out if he's actually gone over the deep end or if he's being framed, Matt spirals further and further into despair as a new NYPD officer sets their crosshairs on him, as does the Punisher. It all culminates in a confrontation with his fellow Defenders, and a turning point in Matt's life that shows that Zdarsky isn't afraid to take big swings.
It's all very well executed, and Zdarsky has Matt's inner voice down to a tee even at this early stage. The character work is very, very strong here, especially when Matt's talking to other heroes - the parallels between his current state and the Punisher are especially worth noting. And of course, what's a Daredevil story without some Kingpin in the background? Zdarsky handles him like a seasoned pro as well. This just seems like the series he was born to write at this point.
Marco Checchetto's artwork is also as gorgeous as always. His detailed style is one of my favourites in comics, and it always has a grit to it that makes it feel real without sacrificing that comic book sheen.
Chip Zdarsky seems to be working his way across Marvel's stable of characters and leaving his mark - I'm hoping he's not going anywhere soon with Daredevil though, because this is super promising, and looks beautiful to boot.
June 4, 2019
Very good! So I have never really found a solid Daredevil run I could get into until this one! I was very sad when Netflix cancelled their groundbreaking Daredevil series which I really enjoyed, but like Jessica Jones: Purple Daughter, this series wisely feels like an extension of the Netflix series to fill the void! So the story has Daredevil accidentally kill someone and because of that he's ridden with guilt and has the police on a manhunt for him.
To start with the pros, the writing is just completely on point! This is my first Chip Zdarsky comic I've read and it's honestly a great first impression! Zdarsky gets the character of Daredevil to a T and he knows how to balance good writing and dialogue with action-packed fight scenes. The artwork by Marco Checchetto is phenomenal and joy to look at with every panel! My only real disappointment with this volume is the artist change at #6, which felt very sudden and unwelcomed. The art itself was fine, but I just hate it when a series has one artist and then changes before the story arc is even finished.
Overall though, this was a great first volume. Whenever I read a monthly title I ask myself if the book is worth reading every month and this one definitely is! Highly recommend it!
To start with the pros, the writing is just completely on point! This is my first Chip Zdarsky comic I've read and it's honestly a great first impression! Zdarsky gets the character of Daredevil to a T and he knows how to balance good writing and dialogue with action-packed fight scenes. The artwork by Marco Checchetto is phenomenal and joy to look at with every panel! My only real disappointment with this volume is the artist change at #6, which felt very sudden and unwelcomed. The art itself was fine, but I just hate it when a series has one artist and then changes before the story arc is even finished.
Overall though, this was a great first volume. Whenever I read a monthly title I ask myself if the book is worth reading every month and this one definitely is! Highly recommend it!
August 24, 2025
Zdarsky’s Daredevil: Know Fear is a raw, gripping relaunch that drags Matt Murdock back into the shadows of Hell’s Kitchen. After a near-fatal accident, Daredevil struggles with guilt, doubt, and the weight of his choices — and Zdarsky leans into that inner conflict with precision.
Checchetto’s art is moody and cinematic, every panel soaked in tension and atmosphere, bringing striking flair to the overall presentation. The story balances brutal street-level action with deep character work, making it both a reinvention and a love letter to the Man Without Fear.
A bold, bloody, and emotional start to Zdarsky’s acclaimed run — one that shows Daredevil at his most vulnerable, and maybe his most human.
Checchetto’s art is moody and cinematic, every panel soaked in tension and atmosphere, bringing striking flair to the overall presentation. The story balances brutal street-level action with deep character work, making it both a reinvention and a love letter to the Man Without Fear.
A bold, bloody, and emotional start to Zdarsky’s acclaimed run — one that shows Daredevil at his most vulnerable, and maybe his most human.
May 15, 2021
Buen comienzo de etapa. La muerte de un criminal con el que estaba peleando sacude al personaje desde el autocuestionamiento de su vigilantismo. Para ello, Zdarsky dispone su reencuentro con una serie de superhéroes recurrentes en su vida (El Castigador, Los héroes de alquiler, Spiderman...), la policía, un sacerdote y un Wilson Fisk que (¡oh!) es el nuevo alcalde de Nueva York (Si lo fue Guliani, es hasta más razonable que se arrojarían en los brazos de un hampón convicto y confeso). Un buen gancho para interesarme por los siguientes números. Checchetto bien.
February 21, 2022
A truly impressive story arc exploring the conflicted soul of Daredevil, his pursuit of purpose, and his search for redemption. Writer Chip Zdarsky outdid himself with a gritty and dark look at a hero's downfall.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
August 23, 2019
This is amazing!! Great tormented Matt. Cool action, perfect characterisation and great art. This is a must read.
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