Manslaughter Without Fear: Daredevil #2 Reviewed
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
New York City believes that Daredevil killed a mugger. All evidence points towards that allegation being true, but Matt Murdock doesn’t believe it. He knows that, somehow, Mayor Wilson Fisk or one of his other enemies is behind the death. Matt goes to Foggy to tell him that he’s okay before investigating the death as Daredevil, including going to the big man himself. Meanwhile, a new detective to the district, Cole North, is adamant about bringing Daredevil to justice–and this was before Hornhead may have killed someone.
Daredevil #2 finds our hero in very dire straits indeed. The city believes that he killed a mugger, but Matt knows that can’t be true. He’s always been more careful than that, but the evidence suggests otherwise in this instance.
From the perspective of the reader, it really seems like Daredevil killed a man, if only on accident. That’s an interesting starting point for a new Hornhead series, and it is very possible that Matt has just convinced himself of some grand conspiracy.
Cole North is a decent character in this. We learn that, despite his own grudge against vigilantes, he’s no friend to Mayor Fisk.
This issue ends with it seeming like Matt did commit that murder on accident, but it’s also very possible that the Owl, Purple Man, Bullseye, the Hand, or even Kingpin are the true perpetrators of the crime. That would feel like a bit of a cop out though, but time will tell.
Marco Checchetto’s artwork continues to be incredible, giving the expressiveness, texture, and atmosphere that Daredevil deserves. His style is distinctive and gorgeous, and I hope he sticks with this series for some time to come. Sunny Gho compliments the linework with a grim and noir-inspired color palette that really brings the visuals home.
Daredevil #2 is another interesting step for Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s take on the Man Without Fear. Daredevil may have to come to grips with a death by his hands, and we’ll see how this shapes Matt Murdock. This one gets a recommendation. Feel free to give it a read.
Daredevil #2 comes to us from writer Chip Zdarsky, artist Marco Checchetto, color artist Sunny Gho, letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles, cover artist Julian Totino Tedesco, and variant cover artists Matteo Scalera with Moreno Dinisio and John Romita Jr. with Richard Isanove.
