For the first three issues of the latest Daredevil series, we’ve seen Matt Murdock wrap things up in New York City and his previous life before fully joining Elektra Natchios and The Fist. Matt wasn’t as successful as he was hoping he would be. Because of that Matt has gone to both Cole North and Foggy Nelson for some help. With it looking like both Cole and Foggy are going to be joining Matt in his journey with The Fist what surprises are we in store for next? Let’s find out with Daredevil #4.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
SYNOPSIS
With Cole North and Foggy Nelson by his side Daredevil (Matt Murdock) arrives at the new The Fist mountain compound Elektra Natchios has built using the billions of dollars she stole from the Stromwyns (event took place in Daredevil (2019) #16).
Daredevil is not happy to see Stick there but Elektra vouches for him. When he senses one of the new members of The Fist questioning him Daredevil quickly intimidates the guy to keep him in his place.
Daredevil’s disposition changes when he notices Dr. Leonard Samson has accepted his offer to join The Fist.
Later Matt talks to Elektra and Stick about his recent clash with Aka and her revealing that Frank Castle is “The Fist Of The Beast” for The Hand. He goes on to say that Aka called him “The Beast of the Fist” but Stick corrects him by saying both Matt and Elektra share that title but must first survive a trial to gain the title of King and Queen of The Fist.
In another part of the compound Cole runs into Jab, the guy Daredevil intimidated earlier. Cole and Jab decide to have a fight that Cole ends up winning after an extended period.
Meanwhile Matt, in a new Daredevil costume, tells Foggy he and Elektra are going on a journey alone together that is too dangerous for Foggy to join them on.
After climbing a mountain Matt and Elektra reach the point where all the souls of The Hand’s dead reside. Matt and Elektra fight their way through the horde of zombie soldiers and ninjas until they are the only ones left.
Stick finds Matt and Elektra laying on the ground. Stick decides this is the time to hold Matt and Elektra’s wedding ceremony. Both accept and after the ceremony Stick tells the newlyweds that it’s time to get to work. End of issue.
REVIEW
After everything that has gone down in New York City for Matt Murdock, there was a bit of a reset needed for his character. There was a reminder of why Matt made the decision he went with at the end of Devil’s Reign. Daredevil #4 does just that as Matt finally reunites with Elektra Natchios to start up The Fist alongside her.
Given the events of the first three issues for this volume of Daredevil that was all going to be easier said than done. Chip Zdarsky gave a lot of weight to why this was a heavy decision for Matt to make. The recent reunion with Kirsten McDuffie is a symbol of that. We see how throughout Daredevil #4 Kirsten is still in Matt’s thoughts. A major reason for that is his love and unresolved feelings for her. Another reason is that Kirsten represents the life he has left behind after his decision to be Daredevil full-time and lead The Fist with Elektra.
The weight of all this makes the roles that Cole North and Foggy Nelson are set to play even more important. Because while Matt is now Daredevil full-time Cole and Foggy are his connection to his previous life that he sees as helping ground him when needed. This gives Cole’s development an even bigger spotlight as we see how he is getting directly involved in training. Cole’s perspective as he gets more involved in The Fist since he only knows Matt as Daredevil makes his role will be something to keep an eye out for.
But while Cole and Foggy have been brought along for this journey this is still about Matt and Elektra leading The Fist against The Hand. Throughout Daredevil #4 we see that while Matt has a hard time completely letting go of his previous life it has not shaken his love for Elektra. The more time he spends with Elektra the more Matt remembers why he decided to go on that path.
What makes this switch work so well is the aura Rafael De Latorre gives both Matt and Elektra when they are Daredevil together. In his new Daredevil costume, Matt carries himself in a much different way than how we see him earlier in the issue which is more his typical superhero self. In the second half, he is much more in full ninja mode with Elektra. This extra edge Matt now has enhanced how he and Elektra work with each other. Latorre does a great job showing that both Matt and Elektra are in this as equals through the way they stand side-by-side and complement each other when fighting the horde of zombies.
Matt and Elektra establishing themselves as the new King and Queen of The Fist are complimented by how Stick continues to be his old cranky self. Even though we saw Elektra put him in his place in the first issue of this series it does not mean he won’t be in maximum asshole mode when talking to Elektra and Matt. Zdarsky and Latorre perfectly capture the tone in Stick’s voice when revealing the truth about how Matt and Elektra are both the keys in The Fist prophecy.
And while they weren’t physically present in this issue Zdarsky does a good job in building up both Punisher and Aka as antagonists for this series as the leaders of The Hand. There are questions now created as to what it means for Punisher being the sole Fist of the Beast for The Hand while Matt and Elektra share that title for The Fist. Playing more into the prophecy should make the eventual clash between The Hand and The Fist even more dynamic as we know Matt, Elektra, and Frank have a deep shared history.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
With no more time to waste Matt Murdock gets right into his mission with The Fist and establishes what his partnership with Elektra Natchios means moving forward for both of them. In the journey both Matt and Elektra go through in Daredevil #4 Chip Zdarsky and Rafael De Latorre build up the new war with The Hand to be a major event.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10