Daredevil #1

Daredevil #1For the third time in five years Daredevil relaunches in a new title. Since the last time I checked in on the character a lot has changed. Matt Murdoch has relocated back to New York from San Francisco, he’s somehow made the entire world (with the exception of Foggy Nelson) forget that he’s Daredevil, he’s taken on a protege in Blindspot, he’s altered his trademark red costume, and he has forsaken his role as a defense attorney to accept a position with the District Attorney’s office. That’s a lot of change (not all of it good).

The opening arc introduces Daredevil fans to all the changes in the character (while being quite vague about how Daredevil made everyone forget his identity) while introducing a new street-level villain for our hero to fight. Beginning with Daredevil rescuing a witness from the river, the first bad guy on the new series’ hit list is small-time gangster Tenfingers whose men are so loyal they are willing to chop off their own fingers to show allegiance.

I’m glad to see Daredevil back in Hell’s Kitchen but this first issue with all of its changes and D-list villain doesn’t sell me on the new series just yet. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]