Daredevil: Know Fear (Comics) | Review

After barely surviving the events of Death of Daredevil arc, Matt Murdock is back in Hell's Kitchen broken beyond physical injuries. Know Fear storyline by writer Chip Zdarsky (Batman: Dark Prisons, Batman: Failsafe) doesn't ease Matt back into the costume. It throws him directly into the worst scenario on his first night back.

This arc pulls from Daredevil issues #1-5 of the 2019 series. Artist Marco Checchetto (Gamora: Memento Mori, Star Wars: Screaming Citadel) delivers career-defining artwork throughout, with his gritty, cinematic style perfectly capturing Matt's deteriorating mental state.

The story builds directly on the previous run by Charles Soule (Inhuman: Genesis, Inhuman: Lineage) and the Man Without Fear mini-series by Jed MacKay (Avengers: The Impossible City, X-Men: Homecoming), picking up with Matt physically recovered but psychologically shattered.

Here's what makes Know Fear essential reading: Zdarsky doesn't let Matt off easy for a single page. Most Daredevil re-launches position Matt as battered but ready to fight back. This one questions whether Matt has any business being a vigilante anymore and whether his Catholic guilt has finally broken him down beyond repair.

Matt returns to action after months of physical therapy following a brutal injury that nearly killed him. He's weak, clumsy, nowhere near his physical prime. His personal life is a wreck: hookups with strangers, no career direction, no plan beyond putting on the costume again.

His first night patrolling Hell's Kitchen goes horribly wrong during a routine robbery bust gone sideways. Through miscalculation, carelessness or just terrible luck, one of the criminals dies during the confrontation. The man's neck snaps and Matt realizes with horror that he's killed someone for the first time in his vigilante career.

Overnight, Daredevil transforms from protector to murderer in the public eye as news spreads rapidly. The remaining issues follow Matt as a fugitive while he processes what happened. Detective Cole North transfers from Chicago to bring Daredevil down and restore order.

Matt's guilt spirals beyond normal self-recrimination and regret over a mistake gone wrong during patrol. Zdarsky leans hard into Matt's Catholic upbringing, using flashbacks to show how deeply religion has shaped his moral compass. The theological weight feels genuinely heavy rather than just superficial character motivation.

The Punisher confronts Matt, forcing him to examine the line between justice and vengeance. Frank represents everything Matt fears becoming: solving problems through death rather than redemption. Their encounter crystallizes Matt's crisis in ways that pure introspection couldn't.

Matt faces the Owl and his goons while physically outmatched and mentally exhausted. Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones arrive to save him from getting killed. They tend his wounds and remind him that he doesn't have to carry Hell's Kitchen's weight alone anymore.

The arc explores whether Matt's vigilantism stems from heroism or unresolved trauma masked as righteousness. Zdarsky doesn't provide easy answers or comforting resolutions. He presents a character study of someone who might actually be broken, using violence to process grief and guilt rather than just protecting innocent people.

Matt's friends try intervening but he pushes everyone away with desperation. His isolation becomes a self-imposed prison. Zdarsky shows how Matt's stubbornness and martyr complex prevent healing. The cast represents paths Matt refuses because suffering feels more familiar.

Pacing stays tight across five issues, building psychological pressure rather than advancing plot. Readers expecting traditional superhero action might find the introspective focus slow. Zdarsky prioritizes character over set pieces, trusting Matt's internal collapse is compelling enough.

Zdarsky sets up Detective North as a recurring antagonist who genuinely believes he's doing the right thing by hunting Daredevil. Cole isn't corrupt or evil; he's a dedicated cop who sees a vigilante killer and wants justice served. The moral ambiguity makes the conflict richer than simple hero-versus-villain dynamics throughout.

The volume ends on a bleak note refusing to offer comfort or resolution to Matt's spiritual crisis. He's alive but not okay. He's still Daredevil but questions whether that's a good thing after all. Zdarsky commits to leaving Matt in a dark place, setting up long-term character arc.

Marco Checchetto's artwork defines modern Daredevil visually, with noir-influenced shadows and cinematic layouts that feel like freeze-frames from a crime thriller. His expressions carry scenes, particularly where Matt barely holds it together. The art brings readers into Matt's crumbling headspace through visual storytelling.

Chip Zdarsky writes Matt Murdock as someone drowning in guilt who insists he's fine while falling apart. The dialogue balances noir narration with authentic conversation. Zdarsky slows down for quiet moments that reveal Matt's psychology more than action sequences could.

The collaboration between Zdarsky and Checchetto produces a bleak, atmospheric Hell's Kitchen that reflects Matt's psychological state. Issue #5 features Lalit Kumar Sharma on art and the sudden change disrupts visual consistency. The restored colors in collected edition enhance mood without overwhelming Checchetto's work.

Know Fear earns its place as essential Daredevil by asking difficult questions about Matt's heroism. Zdarsky deconstructs Matt in ways that feel earned. This won't appeal to readers seeking traditional superhero stories with clear victories and heroic moments throughout.

The psychological focus and bleak tone demand patience from readers expecting constant action. Zdarsky prioritizes character over plot, which works for those invested in Matt's journey. Those wanting traditional Daredevil adventures might find this too introspective and slow.

This demonstrates how compelling superhero comics become when writers trust psychological complexity over mere spectacle. Zdarsky proves Matt Murdock works best when stripped of everything comfortable and forced to question his fundamental identity. Know Fear starts a run that redefines what modern Daredevil could be.

Read it if you appreciate storytelling prioritizing psychological depth over superhero formula. Know Fear isn't comfort food; it's an examination of a hero at his lowest. Checchetto and Zdarsky create something vital for anyone serious about understanding modern Daredevil.

Know Fear is collected in Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Vol. 1: Know Fear trade paperback, which gathers Daredevil (2019) #1-5. Physical editions are available at local comic-book shops while digital editions can be read on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and Marvel Unlimited platforms.