Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Lee Garbett
Release Date: 1st April 2026

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Writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Lee Garbett’s Daredevil #1 (2026) celebrates the legacy of Daredevil and brings the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen back to his street-level roots. Matt perfectly describes the new status quo, themes, and plot lines when he says, “Everything feels so similar, but it’s different.”

The book opens and closes with a mysterious cloaked figure, and an ominous prophecy. But the message is clear. It foretells of Matt Murdock’s death. Phillips’s version of Daredevil is confident, whereas we see an unsure Matt as a university professor. Detective Forte investigates a murder that would make Muse proud. These stories all feel like something we’ve seen before, but there’s a love, respect, and precision required to craft a story that feels right at home with some of the best Daredevil stories.

Garbett’s art pulls from all of Daredevil’s greatest poses. Whether it’s Daredevil leaping into the air, or hurling his billy club, or looking down from the rooftop to zero in on his prey, it all looks iconic. Garbett even illustrates all of Daredevil’s prominent costumes through the ages.

If a story is only as good as its villain, then this first installment is so-so. The hooded individual delivers the message Matt Murdock will die, but his voice is unrecognizable to Daredevil, and their movement is described as “…awkward but agile. A figure of contrasts.” We aren’t privy to who is under the mask, but it’s interesting that Daredevil uses the word ghost to describe them, which could be a clue to indicate this character is from Matt’s past.

Phillips and Garbett don’t reinvent Daredevil, but their story is more intriguing than worrisome. There’s potential for this series to turn into another epic Daredevil run. If you haven’t read Daredevil in a while, this might be the time to jump back in.

Rating: 3.5/5.

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The writer of this piece is: Laurence Almalvez
Laurence tweets from @IL1511

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