Review by Ian Keogh

As Know Fear begins Daredevil must feel the world’s turned upside down, what with Kingpin Wilson Fisk now New York’s mayor and instituting an anti-vigilante policy, while he recovers from injuries sustained at the end of Back in Black. Newly transferred police detective Cole North is determined to bring him down, suggesting Daredevil’s vigilante activities are prompted by a man addicted to the violence, and the opening chapter might prove him right.

Chip Zdarsky’s version of Daredevil very much mirrors the TV show where violence has consequences and takes its toll on Matt Murdock, and where there are frequent references to a Catholic faith, here represented by flashbacks. The Kingpin has a lackey seen with him at all times, even named Wesley, and there’s a further connection to the TV show, but that’s dropped in as a surprise midway through. The core issue is that a criminal dies after being battered by Daredevil. It’s established that there’s a precision to Daredevil’s violence, and he’s very careful not to endanger life, yet with his brutal methods who’s going to believe otherwise when he’s labelled a killer?

After Charles Soule’s disembowelling of Daredevil it might not seem the series could become any darker, but emphasising the toll Daredevil’s career takes on Matt Murdock’s body makes that so. It’s also accentuated by the astonishingly good art of Marco Checchetto, who poses Daredevil awkwardly during fights in snapshot realism. He’s the full process artist, almost producing a scratch and sniff version of New York’s grimy backstreets, and bringing every location to life. His character designs hit the mark also, with North a role just made for Idris Elba.

For all the quality, there’s the feeling of drawing too much from the Daredevil TV show, down to individual scenes being repurposed, especially one discussing ethical imperatives, although the repercussions from that play out very differently. Is this just being too picky? It still reads as the intended thriller, the art is stunning, and surely no-one wants to see Daredevil fighting the Matador or Leap-Frog again, but a greater infusion of the unpredictable would be welcome. Perhaps in No Devils, Only God, with which it’s paired in the hardcover To Heaven Through Hell Vol. 1.