We are at the penultimate chapter of Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s run on Daredevil. They have set-up their finale to revolve around the long-running and epic “The Red Fist Saga” storyline. The last issue of Daredevil ended with the results of Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios fighting to the death. Matt ended up getting what he wanted by dying and making his way to Hell where he now is prepared to face off against the Beast of the Hand. How will things go in the penultimate chapter? Let’s find out with Daredevil #13.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
SYNOPSIS
Daredevil fights his way through Hell against demonic versions of everyone he knows. When facing off against the Beast of The Hand Daredevil learns the Jack Murdock that was fighting with him was actually the Beast of The Fist.
Realizing that he was never a representative of God when leading The Fist, Daredevil is left in shock. Foggy Nelson, locked in a cage with Stick and others, tell Matt things will be okay. This breaks Daredevil out of his shocked state, and with love for life and everyone he knows flowing through him, he breaks everyone the Beast of The Hand captured.
Daredevil then pulls out mystic swords out of his head and faces off against both the Beast of the Fist and Hand while everyone escapes Hell. Even when one of his arms is cut off Daredevil is able to take on the two Beasts to get killing blows on both of them.
On Earth, Foggy and the others return without Matt with them. End of issue.
REVIEW
Predictability is not a bad thing. When you build a story with your readership knowing what the payoff for your narrative will be it can be a rewarding thing. That is what Daredevil #13 is. Thirteen issues into “The Red Fist Saga” the twist in this penultimate chapter were all something that was something Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto have been building towards. Its that payoff that makes this a successful penultimate chapter.
When Matt Murdock’s father, Jack Murdock, showed up in Hell at the end of Daredevil #12 you knew there was something more to it. Things have never been this simple for Matt. Everything about Zdarsky and Checchetto’s run has been about challenging Matt on a physical and spiritual level. “Jack Murdock” turning out to be the Beast of the Fist was yet another challenge for him. Because with this development its understandable that it would shake Matt, as a person of faith, that his belief of being an apostle of God as leader of The Fist was a lie.
This realization made the role Foggy Nelson played in all of this even more important. Because, as Foggy’s words reminded him, Matt’s ability to continue fighting even against the odds doesn’t just come from his faith. While he can consider himself a loner Matt is someone filled with love for others. That love has pushed him to ultimately save the day when things look their worst. We see that again here as all of Matt’s thoughts for the love he has for Foggy, Elektra, and everyone in his life gives him the actual power he needs.
With how wild things have gotten with “The Red Fist Saga” we got to give Zdarsky and Checchetto a lot of credit for making Daredevil fighting two kaiju-size demons in Hell make complete sense. This final fight never felt out of place. The same goes for all the mystic powers Matt gains throughout Daredevil #13. When you see the visuals of Matt battle it all came across as the true endgame for this story. This led to an ending with it looking like Matt, after defeating the two Beasts, is now trapped in Hell. That creates a lot of questions as to how Zdarsky plans to end his run and set-up Saladin Ahmed upcoming run.
Everything that happens in Daredevil #13 wouldn’t have worked without Marco Checchetto spectacular artwork. Every page and panel comes across an epic endgame to the story Checchetto has created alongside Zdarsky. The fight choreography is on point. Even when things grow chaotic with Daredevil fighting a horde of demons the action is clear and well-paced. The kaiju battle between the two Beasts and Daredevil equally has an epic scale that gets over how difficult this battle was.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Daredevil #13 is an incredible penultimate chapter for Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s “The Red Fist Saga.” Everything that happens in this issue has an epic scale that works to spotlight what drives Matt Murdock as Daredevil. It all sets up the final issue by Zdarsky and Checchetto to be a strong epilogue to their creative run on Daredevil.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 10 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10