The super-gangs of NYC have erupted in an all-out war across New York! Elektra’s Daredevil patrols the streets, helping where she can in Daredevil: Gang War #1 by Marvel Comics!

DAREDEVIL: GANG WAR #1

Writer: Erica Schultz
Artist: Sergio Davila and Sean Parsons 
Colorist: Ceci de la Cruz 
Letterer: Clayton Cowles 
Editor: Devin Lewis 
Publisher: Marvel Comics 
Cover Price: $4.99 
Release Date: December 13th, 2023 

Previously in Daredevil: Elektra left her ninja assassin ways and instead protected Hell’s Kitchen as a hero. She recently helped Matt Murdock against the Hand and took up the mantle of Daredevil! However, someone killed Tombstone, and Madame Masque was assassinated by Hammerhead. Elektra has joined some of the heroes to help defend the streets in the aftermath.

Daredevil: Gang War #1 starts with Elektra giving her perspective on the upcoming Gang War and that she is working to figure out who is behind the new Heat gang. She is working with some of the other heroes in New York, like Spider-Man and She-Hulk, but ultimately prefers to work alone. She chases Lieutenant Scarfe, an old policeman working with the Heat. When she interrogates him, a woman with a full mask and an X on it attacks her. She is trained and even gives Elektra a run for her money before retreating with Scarfe. Elektra was injured in the attack and had a small knife wound.

Back at her apartment, she finds Owlsley, who isn’t there to fight but to inform her that the gangs know something, and even Shang-Chi’s group is in on it. Owlsley also tells her about a shipment at the dock and constantly warns her about the knife wound she received. At the pier, she finds Scarfe making an arms deal with the woman who attacked her and turns Scarfe’s arm into a giant cannon!

Daredevil: Gang War #1 starts off very strong. The introduction of Elektra’s perspective with the visually stunning character chasing Scarfe is gorgeous on the page and attractive to the brain. The antagonist is interesting, and we learn more about the event as a whole. The entire tone feels down to earth, and I’m in the moment. Then Elektra goes to the dock, and a cannon grows suddenly on Scarfe’s arm, and I am immediately ejected out of the comic. It no longer feels like a small-scale street storyline; it suddenly feels larger than life. I wasn’t set up to experience a technology storyline and for a police officer to go into a supervillain. I thought I was promised that this was more about martial arts, assassins, and ninjas, but instead, I got a weird cyborg direction. This sucks because the art is so cool and Elektra, especially her hair, is dynamic on the page, and overall the writing is excellent. But I suddenly struggled to maintain interest in those last pages.

Elektra and Daredevil are fascinating characters, and I tend to read most comics about them. However, my favorite comics are about them fighting the Hand or low-level crime. Daredevil: Gang War #1 takes me out of my expectations. Despite that, the writing and art are solid. This comic receives a 4 out of 5 stars, but I am unsure if I will follow the rest of the title.

---

Dear Spoilerite,

At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

Daredevil: Gang War #1

77%

77%

On the Fence

Daredevil: Gang War #1 has excellent artistic direction and narrative structure but introduces a bad guy who feels out of place with what the introduction promised.

• Writing

  7
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0