Daredevil #18: Getting There….

After the last issue was a little on the slow side, Chip Zdarsky decides to really turn it up a notch. He steers all the storylines that have been running the last eight issues into one, big-ass, giant storyline that’s now headed 500 miles an hour towards a brick wall of resolution. This literally feels, at times, like a roller coaster ride. Zdarsky brings all the story elements together beautifully. When you read previous issues of this series, all the storylines feel about 100 miles apart. This issues, they all melt naturally into one. It’s absolutely amazing. We also get a few nice returns of actual super-villains. It’s nice to see someone besides gangsters and drug dealers. I had a few big takeaways from the issue. Actions happen that have permanent consequences, and Daredevil gets to use his powers in a way that I’ve never seen him use before. There’s also a lot of ancillary characters this issue, Zdarksy gives them all memorable and distinctly different personalities. These aren’t just thugs, they’re people, and that makes them and the book a whole lot better.

Artist Jorge Fornes delivers a great issue. Almost 100% of this issue takes place in the rain, and he absolutely nails it. He’s able to portray the weather perfectly, while not making anything hard for the eye or muddled. There’s also some very intense emoting this issue, and as per normal, Fornes pulls them off perfectly. He seems to put some extra effort into the “silent” panels this month, as there’s a couple that will thrill you. Both Zdarsky and Fornes work really well as a team this issue, and that means that we all win.