Review by Ian Keogh

With the help of some friends a conclusion was reached to end Know Fear. Matt Murdock would be Matt Murdock, not Daredevil, and as No Devils, Only God opens that’s been the case for almost two months.

A problem with Know Fear, good though it is, was it following the template of the Daredevil TV show too closely. Here Chip Zdarsky moves away from that and into some surprising territory, at a stroke removing every niggling doubt about his treatment of Daredevil. This is achieved with broadly the same supporting cast, using the same narrative voices. Detective North is brooding about his mistakes, and now a target for rogue police. Both the crooked ones and those who appreciate Daredevil’s help have it in for him. Despite now being Mayor, Wilson Fisk maintains his criminal operations, and Matt Murdock’s no longer practising law. He’s become a parole officer. It’s a clever move as his heightened senses can easily sift those with no intentions of reforming from the sincere. However, Zdarsky uses even that fresh start to turn the screw tighter on him.

New artist Lalit Kumar Sharma doesn’t quite have the flourishes Marco Checchetto provided to begin Zdarksy’s run, but he’s very good, defining people and where they are, with John Romita Jr an influence. This is seen on his layouts and slightly blocky figures. There’s one hell of a contrast with a final chapter drawn by Jorge Fornés, which is blocky cartooning with distinctive colouring, and making exceptional use of sound, but visually depicted.

This is a brave Daredevil graphic novel as there’s very little Daredevil. Zdarsky gambles the supporting cast and situations he’s put in place are dramatically compelling, and that Daredevil won’t be missed. He’s right, and fills the pages with fascination nonetheless. An ethical difference formed the heart of Know Fear, and another is exquisitely raised here, not in an alley somewhere, but around the dinner table. Are justice and the law always compatible? That’s not the only big issue discussed, and it seems Zdarsky has given more thought to who Matt Murdock is than Daredevil writers for some time, even the good ones.

By the end of No Devils, Only God, Zdarsky’s set one hell of a lot in motion, yet entirely naturalistically, and with various forms of guilt as the theme. It reads very well, has a great ending, and you’ll really want Through Hell next. If you prefer a luxury presentation, this contact is also available in hardback as the first volume of To Heaven Through Hell.