Daredevil #15

By Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Francesco Mobili, Nolan Woodard, and Rachelle Rosenberg

The crime drama epic that is Daredevil continues this month in Daredevil #15 as Matt follows along a trail of clues explaining the inaction of the police in the Hell’s Kitchen area. Meanwhile, Wilson Fisk confronts the Stromwyns on their interference in his marijuana operation. By the end of the issue, these two stories will finally start to show how they will later converge. 

There are a lot of strengths Chip Zdarksy’s Daredevil run has had but the most satisfying aspect about this issue is seeing the connections fall into place. Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk have been kept pretty separate throughout this series but now we have a tie between the two, the Stromwyns. The Stromwyns have been slowly becoming a more noticeable presence over the past few months and now it feels as if we are truly seeing what they are capable of. Wilson Fisk is normally a man of power and control but the Stromwyns wield a different power that he is unused to and it is increasingly becoming more satisfying to hate them. This presents an interesting dynamic as we are essentially following two protagonists who hate each other, Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, work on their own to take down a common antagonist. What is yet to be seen is if Matt and Wilson will come together to take down the Stromwyns or try to take each other down in the process. 

Matt and Elektra’s rekindled romance has been another story point that has been slowly building up since Elektra first offered to help train Matt. Long-time Daredevil fans will be able to read the writing on the wall for how well this will go for the two of them. That being said, Elektra’s interest in Matt feels completely genuine, for as Matt becomes more competent in his fighting abilities, the more Elektra will begin to desire him.

The art team of Marco Checchetto, Francesco Mobili, and Nolan Woodard is always good and Daredevil #15 is no exception. This issue, Rachelle Rosenberg joins in on colors with Woodard and helps makes that aspect of the art the strongest. Much of the issue is brightly colored with Wilson visiting the Stromwyns and Matt checking in with Foggy. As the issue progresses, it begins to get darker and darker to fit in with the story. The use of blacks with Matt and Elektra are especially effective while they are sneaking in to the governor’s summer home. Wilson’s story also gets a gradual change in color tone as the issue progresses. The beginning of this issue seemed so hopeful for him to be able to reason and do business with the Stromwyns but alas the issue only ends in a bloody mess for Wilson in a surprising manner. 

Daredevil #15 has no problem with keeping up the pace set in previous issues and continues to prove that Daredevil is one of the best, if not the best, comics out there.