Matt Murdock has lived his life as the Man Without Fear, Daredevil. Recently, adventures took him to the depths of hell and ended in the ultimate sacrifice. Matt surrendered his life to save his friends and loved ones, but the story can't end there. As has become a tradition at the House of Ideas, the previous run of Daredevil left Matt in a perilous new position. His friends and family may be safe, and Matt is somehow alive, but he's no longer operating as Daredevil. Daredevil #1, written by Saladin Ahmed with art by Aaron Kuder, colors by Jesus Aburtov, and letters by VC's Clayton Cowles, invites readers to a thrilling new beginning for one of Marvel's premiere characters.
Daredevil is no stranger to being born again. This time, Matt has returned to life with no memories of his past adventures. This issue establishes Matt's current day-to-day as he tries to live a normal life. However, things quickly veer from normalcy as Matt regains memories and inclinations about his past. Throughout the issue, Matt crosses paths with Elektra -- currently operating as Daredevil after Chip Zdarsky's run -- and begins to step back into the superhero world.
Ahmed does an excellent job with this oversized first issue. The story balances covering old, pertinent information with establishing the new status quo. The character work for both Matt and Elektra is a consistent highlight. Elektra operates as a co-lead here, and the book greatly benefits from it. The interplay between the two heroes is captivating, and Ahmed delivers stellar narration from both. There's a compelling villain that gels well with the religious themes of Daredevil and helps naturally further Matt's character progression.
Kuder delivers an expressive and propulsive first issue. His characters move with palpable weight, and their expressions carry incredible nuance. Cityscapes are rendered with immaculate detail. Rock-solid action is a must for a good Daredevil book, and Kuder brings his A-game. Double-page spreads, creative panel composition, and dynamic angles create a kinetic and powerful reading experience.
Aburtov's colors bring the art to life with a particularly warm palette. Daredevil's visual aesthetic operates through shades of red, and Aburtov brings that to the interiors with style. Even in sequences with cooler tones, red always appears as a striking highlight. There's a smooth application of the colors across the board. Highlights pop against the heavier shadows that are present. Cowles handles the letters with precise efficiency. Daredevil and Elektra feature distinctly different narration boxes that make it easy to discern who's speaking at a glance, while the villain also gets a stylized speech bubble.
Daredevil is a character known to have some of the best creative runs in the industry. The release of a new #1 is exciting but also brings lofty expectations. It has to attract new readers, engage the old, and pay respect to what's come before while forging ahead into the new. This issue balances the core elements of Daredevil while continuing to put the character through trials and tribulations. With Daredevil #1, Ahmed and the rest of the creative team deliver a character-driven and action-packed start to a new era for the Man Without Fear.