Daredevil #8 is written by Stephanie Phillips and published by Marvel Comics. Artwork by Lee Garbett Colours by Frank Martin and Letters by VC’s Ariana Maher. Main cover art (left) is by Lee Garbett.
Daredevil #8 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
FEAR GRIPS NYC! MR. FEAR, that is! When a new drug infiltrates E.S.U., MATT MURDOCK faces a new challenge threatening the student body… as DAREDEVIL faces off against a resurfaced madman! The stakes continue to rise for DD in the runaway hit series by STEPHANIE PHILLIPS and LEE GARBETT! And if you haven’t taken the plunge, leap in with this new arc and jumping-on point!
Review
Matt Murdock is the Man Without Fear, but what happens when New York is a city without fear? Well, it produces terrifying results.
Stephanie Phillips continues her superb run on DAREDEVIL with issue #8. Her takeover of old Horn Head has been a breath of fresh air as she brings a strong narrative style, compelling new villains like Omen, and sharp character work to the series. Along with the immaculate art by Lee Garbett and inks by Frank Martin, Phillips and the team have once more made DAREDEVIL appointment reading.
The latest issue, City Without Fear Part 1, sees the return of Mister Fear! Since the character’s first appearance in DAREDEVIL#6 (1965), several men have taken on the mantle of Mister Fear. The latest being Larry Cranston, a ‘friend’ from Murdock’s days in law school. The two have clashed over the decades, but it has been a hot minute since Mister Fear and Daredevil have faced off! And his return promises to be torturous for DD.
Long gone are the tricks and fear gas that make up the villain’s M.O. Phillips’ spin on Mister Fear is a fitting update. Nevertheless, creating fear is no longer his game. He is peddling a new drug that strips people of their fear impulses. No more hesitation, anxiety, or doubt. A world without fear is a world of pure chaos.
Additionally, Phillip’s update on Mister Fear’s motives is not the only change. Notably, he comes with a terrifyingly delicious new design that is a cocktail mix of Muse, Leatherface, Hush, and the Joker, with nods to the classic design via the character’s skull belt buckle! Lee Garbett’s work, here, is simply fantastic. Daredevil is a character that perfectly straddles hard-boiled noir and horror genres, and Phillips and Garbett are making excellent use of this in this issue.
Just in time for Halloween, DAREDEVIL #8 is ripe for the season, and feels exactly right with the trajectory the book has been on. Phillips is playing a compelling psychological game with Daredevil. Since issue #1, Matt has been through the wringer, and he feels like he’s at a breaking point. But don’t just take my word for it; pick it up today and see for yourself!
Verdict
City Without Fear Part 1 is a tantalising new arc for Daredevil as Mister Fear comes to destabilise the city. Issue #8 is the perfect blend of grounded, steel level toughness and gothic horror. Phillips writing is as strong as ever, and Garbett’s art and Martin’s inks grab you by the collar and pull you in. Fans of the Man Without Fear are in for a treat.
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