By Zan Haider
Chip Zdarsky’s second issue in the Devil’s Reign story arc succeeds in raising stakes, implementing unique character arcs and development, and illustrating a pervasive tone of desperation. Mayor Wilson Fisk has outlawed superheroes, employed the Thunderbolts as his personal police force, and has captured Zebediah Killgrave for plans of not only using his mind control abilities to influence voters in New York City for his re-election campaign, but also for a Presidential campaign.
Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto (main artists) successfully implement extremely quick pacing in this issue, and as a result, the story benefits. Each page and panel focuses on how different heroes (Luke Cage, Tony Stark, etc) are handling the onslaught from Fisk’s litigations. While one page may focus on a heartwarming success, the next page drops a bombshell on the readers and our heroes. Readers truly feel the danger and mortality that every Marvel superhero faces, especially from the intriguing dialogue written by Zdarsky. Checcetto’s brutal yet detail-oriented illustrations of our heroes, from their facial expressions or the violence they face from the Thunderbolts/Fisk/Killgrave, create an atmosphere of inherent darkness and hopelessness. Fisk isn’t playing around this time, and it is, unfortunately for our heroes, absolutely successful.
The utilization of characters is extremely fresh in this issue as well. The surprising focus on Luke Cage, Ben Reilly, and Otto Octavius not only allows for new storytelling opportunities– it also piques interest. We’ve seen Tony Stark being the leader of the Avengers, but a focus on Luke Cage, connecting with the people? Sign me up!
It will be interesting to see how Peter Parker is utilized in this limited series. Currently, he is in the hospital for poisoning and seeing as Ben Reilly could use serious help, it remains to be seen if Miles will step up, or if Peter returns. Personally, having Miles step up to be Spider-Man, especially in this perilous political scheme, would be consistent with Zdarsky’s tone of focusing on underutilized heroes.
While this story has no connections to the MCU, Marvel Comics has an interesting trend of warming audiences to characters that they will see in the movies/Disney+ series. Fisk is going to tear it up in the MCU, if this trend is to be followed.
Furthermore, the story does not forget that at its heart, this is a Daredevil story. Kingpin, Elektra, and Matt Murdock are locked in a dangerous game of secrets and lies, and the main power that Kingpin utilizes is not his influence, but in classic Fisk fashion, his knowledge. What he knows threatens to dismantle Elektra and Matt, and Kraven’s involvement in the story fosters exciting new relationships.
The pacing, brilliant illustrations, unique character arcs, and dire circumstances help to elevate Devil’s Reign into an unforgettable, iconic story.
It’s not looking good for our heroes. However, in morbid fashion, it’s looking great for Marvel fans. Zdarsky is the face and future of Marvel Comics, and we are all the better for it.
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