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Man Without Fear #4: The Devil is Dead, Long Live the King

Derbs
9.4/10

Man Without Fear #4

Author(s): Jed MacKay

Artist(s): Paolo Villanelli; Cover: Kyle Hotz & Dan Brown

Colorist(s): Andres Mossa

Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Marvel

Genre: Action, Drama, Superhero

Published Date: 01/23/2019

By Derbs

 on 

Recap

***WARNING: This review contains major spoilers!***

In the dead of night, Matt Murdock has an unwelcome visitor in his hospital room. Wilson Fisk has come to gloat over the broken body of Daredevil’s greatest ally. Feigning unconsciousness, Fisk and Mat ruminate over a fight they once had, a fight Fisk nearly won by ambushing Daredevil in a heavy snowstorm. Fisk continues his gloating, which pushes Matt into anger, brushing aside his pain and fear he dares Fisk to either kill him or leave him alone. Then the unexpected happens; fear palpitates Fisk’s heart rate, and Matt knows he’s afraid of the repercussions from Daredevil if he were to kill Murdock. Fisk slinks away with an avatar of fear at his own back.

 

Review

Art: Villanelli’s simple line work conveys both nuance and action very well, and Mossa brings the most out of every mindfully-wrought panel. Hotz and Brown knock another cover out of the park.

Writing: This MWF mini has been a fantastic rollercoaster, and issue four was MacKay’s highest apex crest before the thrilling plunge. It’s been a while since I’ve thought “oh shit, here we go” while reading the first page of a comic from the Big Two (in fact I’m pretty sure I uttered it out loud). I could feel Matt’s terror and rankling discomfort as he lay there silent while the great-white monster hulked by his bedside. The narrative and context MacKay conveyed for the blizzard fight made it feel real and brutal in a way only comics can, but don’t always succeed in doing. Though I loved the issue overall, it was the genius in the ending that convinced me that the greatness of this mini wasn’t just a fluke, MacKay has legitimate chops.

Final Thoughts

This “Kingpin issue” of MWF was absolutely wonderful, making me wish this was the new ongoing Daredevil, but I will have faith in Chip Zdarsky (who is coming off of the highly rated Invaders series) and artist Marco Checchetto. Going forward I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for MacKay’s next offering.

Man Without Fear #4: The Devil is Dead, Long Live the King
  • Writing - 10/10
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  • Storyline - 10/10
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  • Art - 8/10
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  • Color - 9/10
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  • Cover Art - 10/10
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9.4/10
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