The Defenders reunite to fight The Owl in Daredevil No. 5

After escaping from The Punisher, Daredevil is out on the hunt, looking to prove that he isn’t what Frank says that he is. Spoilers for Daredevil no. 5 follow.

Daredevil is at a crossroads. He’s broken. And nothing is more apparent than having Matt brandishing a Punisher shirt for the entire issue here. He wants to prove to himself that he’s still doing good, but he doesn’t actually believe that. He believes that he’s completely lost his way and he wants to do one last good thing before he’s taken in. And that is taking down Leland Owlsley’s new operation.

It doesn’t take long before Daredevil gets overwhelmed by the Owl’s forces and nearly killed by all of the goons attacking him. As soon as he’s nearly down though, the rest of the Defenders, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, come to rescue him from being killed, which they do. After Daredevil’s knocked unconscious though, they take him back to, presumably Danny’s, apartment.

Image by Marvel Comics/Art by Marco Checchetto

Once there though, Daredevil believes that the others are there to take him into custody, only to find out that they just wanted to keep him safe. While Matt thinks he’s a murderer, the rest reveal that people have died on their watch too. They’re not perfect, which throws Matt over the edge. He escapes through the bathroom window and heads to his apartment.

Once Matt arrives home though, he’s not alone in his apartment, Spider-Man is waiting there for him. Peter tells him that, because of his actions, if he’s seen out in the vigilante world again, he’s going to get stopped because of his recent behavior. Daredevil not only understands where Peter’s coming from, but also willingly agrees to give up the mantle.

Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto have started off their run on Daredevil magnificently and this issue concludes their first arc in an emotionally resonant, powerful way that few comics are able to accomplish. The writing captures every bit of plotting, exposition, and dialogue perfectly, while the art is absolute gorgeous to behold.

9.5/10 

Daredevil no. 5 ends the first arc of this new volume on a spectacular note.