Review by Ian Keogh

Chip Zdarsky’s handling of Daredevil has taken some strange turns, but the most unpredictable path of all is that followed by Internal Affairs police investigator Cole North, from avowed foe of Daredevil’s vigilante tactics to staunch ally. He’s seen at the start here providing the home truths Daredevil needs to hear after much of what he planned was ruined amid the deaths of some friends and the capture of allies in Part Two.

It can be viably argued that Daredevil hitting the depths of despair has occurred too often since Frank Miller first played out the scenario in the 1980s, but Zdarsky’s version is compact. The point is made, but it’s a means to an end rather than the beginning of prolonged soul-searching, and where Zdarsky takes it will be a cathartic release for anyone who’s thought one of the troubles DD has faced is something he might have dealt with before now under other circumstances.

That sequence is drawn by Rafaele De Latorre, who’s as fine a back-up artist as you’re ever going to see. He’s a deft storyteller, great with shadow and action, and defines people well, yet he’s still secondary to Marco Checchetto, artist of the remainder. Checchetto’s been the artist most associated with Zdarsky’s Daredevil since the beginning and he finishes the job stunningly.

It might have seemed in the chaos of the previous volume that Zdarksy had forgotten the prophecy of death looming over either Daredevil or Elektra. He hasn’t, and it’s integral to settling matters once and for all. It takes a little leap, and requires an absolute belief. While continuing themes run throughout such as faith, predestination and redemption, the settling of affairs also requires a leap from readers. It heads into very different territory from the remainder of what Zdarsky’s delivered and it’s not entirely successful. There are some very good moments, but it requires setting Daredevil against something infinitely beyond his power scale.

An extended epilogue is provided for the final chapter. It’s cleverly written for saying an awful lot about Daredevil and what he stands for without Matt Murdock as Daredevil prominently featured. It’s humane, sensitive and engaging. Were Marvel not in the business of publishing monthly comics about core characters, it would make a great ending to the entire series.

Zdarksy’s has been a defining run on an iconic character, with just a slight dip, only to average, never poor, over eleven graphic novels. It’s going to be a tough act for the next creative team to follow with Hell Breaks Loose.