Review: ‘Daredevil’ #33 Sets Marvel’s Hell’s Kitchen On Fire

Daredevil continues to explore Matt Murdock’s worst year since “Born Again.” After months of crime lords, riots, and prison time, things get very sci-fi as both Daredevils get in over their head.

I fell behind on this series the last few months, but I was excited to pick back up with it here, and I didn’t feel like I missed a beat. That doesn’t mean that things were static by any means as this epic continues from Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Marcio Menyz, and Clayton Cowles.

Bullseye has New York terrified in his violent grip. In her first big trial while wearing the Daredevil mantle, Elektra is desperately racing to stop him, but can she stand against a literal army of Bullseyes? Meanwhile, Matt Murdock has taken over his prison after the population was dosed with a dangerous behavior-altering drug. Can he make it out of his terrifying situation?

This issue just simply ruled. There is so much going on — so many elements to the plot — as Elektra faces the army of Bullseye clones and gains allies in the fight. Zdarsky is able to balance it all ably and set up some exciting things to come in future issues. Matt’s plotline doesn’t get a lot of page time, but considering that seems to be setting up the fantastic (and fantastically silly) final page reveal, it’s easily forgivable.

Checchetto and Menyz continue to be a fantastic draw for the series as a whole. Checchetto’s pencils are dynamic, no matter what is happening on the page. He lays out the pages in a way to draw the readers to whatever’s important on the page. He also uses some inventive shots like using the point of view to make Elektra feel small as she lapses into unconsciousness halfway through the issue.

Menyz continues to grow as a color artist. He does some incredible moments where the colors enhance the story, such as blood spreading through one of the tubes containing the Bullseye clones, the twilight spreading through the city, or the sun silhouetting Spider-Man and Iron Man as they come to Elektra’s rescue. Cowles shows why he’s one of the busiest letterers in comics, with speech bubbles that create a pace to the conversations and emphasis in just the right place.

Daredevil’s life (both of them) is getting more complicated by the moment, which continues to make for a hell of a read.

Daredevil #33 is available now from Marvel Comics.