Review by Ian Keogh

The Fist has latterly been introduced as opponents of ninja organisation the Hand, their idealistic conflict stretching back centuries. Under Chip Zdarsky a decisive final battle is brewing. Daredevil and Elektra have been appointed king and queen of the Fist, yet an ancient property predicts only one of them will survive the coming conflict. To help them they’ve recruited a bunch of super villains who’re being trained. If that didn’t look good to the outside world, even worse is the optics on Daredevil targeting important people who’ve been replaced with the new versions controlled by the Hand. Oh, and the Hand are now led by the Punisher.

Much of The Red Fist Saga Part One was set-up and for a while it looks as if Zdarksy is going to continue the tease without any fulfilment, but that’s not the case, and a battle against the Punisher erupts. It’s not the only conflict with former allies because how what Daredevil’s doing looks to the outside world brings the Avengers to his door.

Both conflicts are spectacularly drawn by Marco Checchetto, whose layouts just keep improving. His panels often present combatants from distance, bringing out the immensity of the surroundings that become important in the final chapter. The action is balletic and cinematic, but the effort required to stun with every page means he only draws two chapters of five. Rafael De Latorre is also excellent, but draws the short straw in being allocated the two set-up chapters, involving much heart-searching and conversation, but far less action. Manuel Garcia’s contribution is standard in comparison, but all three artists benefit from the colour thoughtfully applied by Matthew Wilson.

Much of what Daredevil achieved in the first volume collapses here, although it’s not a book without victories. Those, though, are only opening skirmishes, and there’s more to come when Part Three concludes The Red Fist Saga.