Daredevil: Gang War #1 is a solidly written and exceptionally drawn first issue. It sets up its main character, her unique position during the event, and a mystery worth resolving. This is an intense vigilante action comic at its best. Read Full Review

Davila matches the energy and suspense of the story with awesome art that is filled with great intensity and energy. Read Full Review

A solid Daredevil story that doesnt take a lot of risks and has to fit within a larger event, but it lets Elektra be her own Daredevil and hurt a lot of people who deserve it. Read Full Review

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. Read Full Review

Daredevil: Gang War#1 is a strong tie-in that doubles as an equally strong Elektra story. Erica Schultz impresses here with her interpretation of Elektra, this series filling the gap between the current main Daredevil run and the role of Hell's Kitchen withinGang Warwith grace. Strong, character-driven storytelling overall wins this issue a glowing reccomendation, even if you aren't following the main event. I hope Schultz gets to continue on writing Elektra after this event, as Marvel may have just found the character's next great stewardess. Read Full Review

With artwork and story that seem to color by numbers, the only compliment that can be afforded to Daredevil: Gang War #1 can be shared with many merchandising promotions featuring Marvel characters: it is competently displayed. Read Full Review

(Cover Date: February, 2024)

Elektra, donning the Daredevil mantle, finds herself in the midst of the Gang War chaos. The weight of responsibility for Hell’s Kitchen is evident on her face, the city's desperation mirrored in her steely gaze. While the action is exhilarating, Erica Shultz ensures that the issue isn't just about punching bad guys. We see Elektra wrestling with the burden of the Daredevil role and the promises she made to Matt, questioning her own methods and motivations. The internal conflict adds depth and complexity to the character, making her more than just a masked vigilante.

Sergio Davila's art brings the gritty streets of Hell's Kitchen to life. Daredevil's acrobatic combat is rendered with a dynamic clarity, each punch and kick feeling impactful. The fight scenes are brutal and ballet-like at the same time, showcasing Elektra's lethal skill and unwavering resolve. more

A really solid first issue for this Daredevil tie-in series. I really liked Davila's art throughout and I think Schultz provided a good voice for Elektra. I do think this story has all the potential to become better as things progress, and I hope that's exactly what this series does over the next three issues.

Art:4/5
Story: 3/5
Total: 7/10

Schultz is not a writer I'm terribly familiar with. Her X-23 series I remember being somewhat forgettable, but I'm a sucker for early Laura, so appreciated the effort in revisiting that period. it felt like trying to capture the spirit of her second series(as far as I remember), but it really was just that, it was obvious that Schultz understood the source material but did not build much upon it and it came more as just a reproduction of it. I feel somewhat similarly here, Elektra has a great voice and also a great look, both of which are the basis Zdarsky established. She was one of the big winners for me from his run, so using the same pattern of speaking is understandable. That's good. She has her type of introversion and when she was with the team, her feeling of not belonging was greatly portrayed, even if was for a bit, but still, I don't think it capitalizes that well on this particular situation. That's the thing about reproduction without anything else to it, it can work in the exact same setting and that's not it, making Elektra here not a fully breathable character for me, that can react adequately to the thing happening here. I don't see her as well motivated here and even tho she has a good voice, again it's too straightforward, without going anywhere really which is different from Zdarsky. So on the surface is the same, but on the inside not really IMO. But it's the first issue, I would love it if the next issues focus more on the current status quo of Elektra being without Matt in her fight, etc.

The plot also really does not have anything that I can get excited over. I like the owl, but he feels somewhat separated from the main threats, which are not threatening. Again part of the reason is because the perception of them by Elektra is not that strong. The gang war has so many players and idk I don't see the reason at least right now to explore that.

So in conclusion the issue does not have much drive behind the pages, it's mellowly slow. Does not have a strong vision direction, but the art pops out the page, has somewhat of a cartoony feel, and does not have much weight to it, as for coloring especially reminds me of the current Daredevil. The issue shows respect towards the last run of Daredevil but does not bring much new to the table for Elektra, but it's just the first issue, so it's somewhat forgivable and maybe just sets the scene. The end shows that this comic may end up important for the event. But as for right now it feels forgettable and not really necessary. more