DAREDEVIL #2 (MARVEL COMICS)
The Omen has arrived looking for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.
Matt Murdock’s life seemed to be taking a calm turn as an ESU professor. When a new serial killer shows up at his front door with a dark prophecy, any plans for “calm” are thrown out the window. Literally in Matt’s case.
Time is now ticking to stop the figure before they kill again, but is it already too late?
DAREDEVIL #2 by Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett, Frank Martin, & Ariana Maher (MARVEL COMICS) continues it’s epic relaunch.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the latest chapter.
DAREDEVIL #2 by Stephanie Phillips,Lee Garbett,Frank Martin, &Ariana Maher (MARVEL COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Phillips opens with the immediate ramifications of the Omen’ home invasion. Calling Foggy nelson for help is a natural reflex for Matt Murdock. In this case, it feels more of a panic reaction than planned move. Murdock’s hunt leads him to a familiar “friend” & some much needed stress relief. Taking a fight to the Owl gives readers a healthy dose of action. It also adds more to the mystery of Omen as clues are few and far between.
Once the story drifts back to the NYPD investigation of Omen’s murders, a true horror feel takes over. This is one of Phillips’s stronger writing themes and it shows here. The scenes show the police timid about what they are discovering. This mood carries over to a boatyard search. What they find in their work is a great twist in the overall puzzle. The writing makes each discovery feel more uneasy as events progress. This is amplified when Murdock is overwhelmed by his own thoughts. This leads into a frantic finish with a nice assist to move things along to the next chapter. A steady build of Omen while pushing Matt further into disarray.
Garbett and Martin begin with a quick phone call to Foggy to kick the story off. His reaction for the late night favor gives a small taste of humor before serving up a full meal of drama. The full shot of a beaten Daredevil on the rooftops sets the tone for the impending combat. Readers watch as the fighting lives up to the hype as DD takes out the henchmen before grabbing the Owl. The small closeup of Owl’s eye reflecting DD is excellent. It caps off events just enough before handing the baton to Omen’s role.
Readers watch as the investigation at the morgue offers up a few varied reactions. Panels echo the deadly remains of Omen’s vicious attacks. Seeing the police try holding it together as the bodies tell their own story is a strong moment. This is amplified when they go to the dockyard. Martin’s shadowy coloring makes each move more suspenseful . It leads to a shocking discovery. Panels compliment Murdock’s breakdown to close the show. Pacing moves fast until a swerve hits the last page. The full shot is a crowd pleaser as a turn in Matt’s favor appears to wing through. Solid work.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
Omen’s visions of Matt Murdock start turning into reality as the body counts rise. Phillips leans into the horror theme with great success. Garbett and Martin construct incredible art as Matt dives further into his own madness. The live and times of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen never cease to amaze!
Let me know your thoughts on DAREDEVIL #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
