Daredevil [2022] #5 - Marvel Comics

DAREDEVIL No. 5, November 2022

For those readers simply dipping into this ongoing series to witness its titular character completely ‘clean the clock’ of the ever- egotistical U.S. Agent, Chip Zdarsky’s script for Issue Five of “Daredevil” should have quite quickly brought them up to speed with Matt Murdock’s present-day life. Indeed, the Canadian author rather succinctly shows the Man Without Fear to have utterly embraced both his marriage to Elektra Natchios, as well as his seemingly formidable mission to establish “a new world order” as The Fist’s king.

Of course such bizarre cameos as Doc Samson making an appearance as a green-hued, giant yeti-turned-camp psychologist, and Foggy Nelson doing a disconcertingly acrobatic landing from a multi-storey rooftop takes a little bit of getting used to. But once these surprises are laid to rest and it’s firmly established that the now heavily-bearded horn-head is forming an army to fight a similarly-sized force of ninjas lead by a clearly crazed Frank Castle, the multiple Harvey Award-winner dedicates the rest of his narrative to simply telling a good old-fashioned tale of jaw-socking, covert infiltration; “You know the plan. We only have enough time to clear Block D.”

This edgily-penned penetration of The Myrmidon prison facility really lies at the heart of "The Red Fist Saga", and should wholly enthral its entire audience just as soon as Daredevil’s aircraft disgorges numerous bat-gliding warriors over the penitentiary's security perimeter. In fact, by the time Bill Everett’s co-creation actually confronts John Walker and a troop of Guardsmen in a dark, highly claustrophobic corridor, the tight tension in the air is already positively palpable; especially once the cocky West Coast Avenger begins piously claiming that God is on his side, and brazenly challenges Murdock’s alter-ego to simply “fight me like a man!”

Also helping to carry their fair share of this book’s storytelling duties is artist Rafael De Latorre, who provides some impressive, pulse-pounding panels throughout this publication’s climatic contest. Furthermore, the Brazilian illustrator’s layouts add plenty of pace to the proceedings, as well as somehow imbuing an onlooking Captain America with a genuinely dislikeable ‘holier than thou’ swagger when the Sentinel of Liberty sides with Tony Stark against Matt’s movement, and arrogantly declares that the Avengers are “bringing Daredevil in.”

The regular cover art to "DAREDEVIL" #5 by Marco Checchetto & Matthew Wilson