Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #1

Daredevil: Woman Without Fear

by Chip Zdarsky, Chris Bachalo (Cover Art), Rafael de Latorre (Artist)

The next pulse-pounding chapter in the saga of New York City's Guardian Devil, this time starring ELEKTRA as Daredevil! Joined by Rafael De Latorre, Chip Zdarsky continues his landmark run and the DAREDEVIL story that spins directly out of the shocking revelations in the pages of DEVIL'S REIGN! Elektra is the world's deadliest assassin - and she's taken a vow not to kill. Someone puts themselves directly in her path with deadly consequences. What else would you expect from the MARVEL UNIVERSE'S GREATEST HUNTER?!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Action

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2022

About the author

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

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. I thought this was going to be a straight up Devil’s Reign tie in. It wasn’t. It was really random tho. Elektra was just going around doing a bunch or random stuff. Met someone for coffee, flashbacks or her training, went to go meet someone else and then more flashbacks. Then someone pops up at the end randomly. Why are you here? 🤷🏾‍♂️ this ended up being just ok.

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like this could become the BEST Elektra series ever (okay, maybe Frank Miller's is right there). I like the story and the art. I have a feeling I will like this series better than Devil's Reign. And the ending? When will issue #2 come out?

[Burton Olivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, I actually wasn't expecting that final page reveal, this is gonna be pretty cool. Besides that, this was a cool look into where Elektra is at mentally. They really need to make a toy of her Daredevil look already.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A okay tie in to devils reign. Some cool moments for Elecktra and a interesting new villain (old but new to elecktra) but not sure it's must read unless love her.

[zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

the man without fear panel references were a nice touch - the ending however was actually really unexpected and i very much look forward to what comes next

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comics issue was amazing! The first one to a series and irl honestly feels ripped right out of a daredevil comic and I love it!

I’m really liking comic books have been treating elektra lately!

[Eric Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here for the Bachalo Cover. Stayed from hype-ful potential. Guffawed at the Superman moment. Bemoaned the derivative story beats. Enjoyed the surprise ending. Overall, it was a 3 star book. Nothing groundbreaking in an artistic or authorial sense, simply digestible.

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I contemplated 5 stars, so let's say 4.5. Great artwork and, as usual, great writing from Zdarsky. Both fast-paced and introspective, we get a character study of Elektra that merges the past with the present and an unexpected twist at the end.

[Sid · Rating 5 out of 5]

new sexuality just dropped. it's called elektra being a daredevil (also yes, matt and elektra still remain THE superior comicbook ship because of course they do)

[kate elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love elektra she’s too badass for this earth

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of my getting back into reading comics again after about a year and some, some titles and characters I am trying to catch-up, others like the Daredevil books, I am not inclined as I stopped them for a reason other than time and life.

The story places this series smack in the middle of the Devils' Reign event and I have to say, I was surprised I had totally missed it, because I read almost that entire event and quite enjoyed it, flaws and all. BUT, it works out because aside from Elektras' relationship and interaction moments with Matt Murdock, the series places itself as a side story that has no real bearing on that event.

This brings me to the first issue of this series wherein the erstwhile assassin-extraordinaire for The Hand, Elektra Nachios, has distanced herself completely from her former profession and even been a Savage Avenger and such in recent years - now has temporarily taken on a Daredevil persona. She is trying to figure herself out and her current status with her on-again-off-again love of her life, Matt. She is on a bit of a mission of her own at this moment between things and that leads her back to the college where she and Matt met and where her life for many reasons, turned drastically - so this is a bit of a "dealing with your past" kind of storyline right from early on here.

The highlight by far and away for me was the artwork which was really pretty solid and de Latorre has really done a great job - be it the more dramatic looking shots or some action shots or even the quiet moments of Elektra in bed with Matt or with an old friend in a coffee shop - it all looks great and the panels and layouts flow well from one to another and the different settings all have colour and look that really makes each location and scene distinct and clean. Relatively muted colours are the books' style but it works.

The cover art though... not a fan personally but then again I have always had mixed reactions to Bachalos' style, even back when he was doing Spider-Man.

Overall it is a solid start to a storyline that does not seem all that unique for now but potentially a nice little add-on to the story of Elektra.

[R.J.K. Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just jumped into this one without knowing anything about what's going on with Devil's Reign or anything else, and I was pretty happy with it overall. The Elektra and Matt relationship is awesome. And the balance of present action and flashback scenes that helped immerse me in the story without needing to have read any other series within Devil's Reign or elsewhere. Embedded in lush coloring and slick action sequences, Elektra's introspection as she moved through every set piece of the comic hooked, made everything matter a bit more. Sadly, her investigation and the surprise it revealed at the end were unsatisfying. I didn't care about the final reveal as it had zero to do with her past and inner monologue--had really hoped to have more clash with her past/inner musings. Instead, it ended up being all set up for whatever her new rival wants to do. Meh. On the other had, the opening confrontation with Devil's Reign baddie and the sex scene with Matt all served to prep Elektra for tipping the tables on her new enemy, so that was cool. Everything really does hold together within the issue, just a shame it all ends up serving sent up for the whatever the lame end reveal leads to.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been so long since I picked up a Daredevil comic and the most recent stuff I've read now goes back to Brubaker's run which ended back in 2009 - but man the nostalgia is strong with that one, it was one of the runs I collected at the time, responsible for making me the comic book nerd I am today. I mention it because the art here is so close in style to Michael Lark's - maybe this has been a continuous thing in Daredevil since that time, but it's unlike Marvel not to change it up ... it looks good and brings a seriousness to this Elektra story I think is needed. She's not my favourite character to solo, purely because she's Miller's creation and typically a bit bats**t crazy but so far I'm digging this, particular as Zdarsky isn't out to hard to impress ... Daredevil stories usually win out on their psychological strengths as opposed to wall to wall action (he says, talking about the comic that most heavily features ninjas)

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Elektra has to be one of my favorite Marvel characters. I like her darker backstory and her relationship with Matt Murdock. Daredevil. I liked this issue a lot and this series was interesting to read.

Elektra meets with Wilson Fisk as he has outlawed all forms of superhero and vigilantism. As a result, she and Daredevil are on the run. There are several flashbacks to Elektra's past and how she came to be Trained by Stick, met Matt at Columbia University, etc. As Elektra is followed by a mysterious presence, she ends up battling a famous enemy Kraven

I like the art in this series. It's dark, gritty, and works well with the story.

[Matty · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah, okay, this was pretty good. served more as a companion to daredevil than anything-- introduced goldy (robert goldman) who's serving quite the role in daredevil (2022) and provided some background on zdarsky's elektra, which was interesting. could have been better but also could have bee much worse.

[Philip Schmohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Electra Unbound

I'm glad they gave us some background on Electra's involvement with the hand and her attempt to recruit Matt. They are always referencing it without going into detail. So in this issue we get it in spades - a good thing for continuity's same.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great art and great writing. Unfortunately a book many readers probably skipped over.

[Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
The ending... This could open up some doors...

[jane werther]

01/2022

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[David Cassady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the art a lot but the story feels a little lacking.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

That final page reveal this is gonna be SO good

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elektra goes thru changes

Good color artwork. Elektra and daredevil are pulling a switcheroo? It seems as if Elektra is back g a mid life crisis.

[ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful examination of elektra’s mental state and dealing with wanting to do good vs managing the bad in her past. love her costume too