(Late Review) Killing Daredevil: A Capsule Review of Daredevil #609-610

written by Charles Soule
illustrated by Phil Noto

After Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil and his cadre of allies consisting of Inhumans Frank McGee and Reader (and his dog Forey), and former New Mutant Cypher encounter a bit of a curve ball in the form of Mike Murdock, Matt's fictional twin brother whom Reader's unique powers have magically brought to life, they get back to the business of trying to take down Wilson Fisk, the elected Mayor of New York City who, Matt learned sometime recently, has cheated his way into office. Matt determines that they can't approach their crusade like a simple investigation, but rather like an actual war, which means a radical shift in tactics. Matt's first big salvo is as radical an idea as they get: he proposes to kidnap Fisk's right-hand man, James Wesley and recruits no less than his former flame and fierce foe, Elektra Natchios, to do it. Things almost look like they're going to work out until a mysterious new hitman, one going by the name of Vigil, wielding bone knives and dressed up like a modern-day crusader, shows up.

As Charles Soule's last big hurrah on this title, the Death of Matt Murdock is off to a pretty intriguing start, with Matt just barely escaping with his life after having been hit by a truck in a non-Daredevil-related incident in which he saved someone's life, an odd bit of deja vu considering that was how he started life as Daredevil that way. It's his realization of how little time he has left on this earth that prompts him to put everything on the line in his war against Fisk, and judging by the title of the story he may end up making one wager too many.

If I'm honest, while Soule's pacing is decent I can't escape the feeling that this story could have been just as effectively told in one issue, even though two works, especially for the inevitable collected editon. I am genuinely intrigued by this new character, who continues Soule's apparent fascination with Catholic-themed characters in DD's corner of the Marvel Universe.

Phil Noto, who's been a regular artist on the book for several issues now, is still far cry from my favorite DD artist, but his work has grown on me a bit, and I find his consistency remarkable. I'll review the next DD issue immediately after this, and I have to say, I'm intrigued to see where this goes.

8/10