Frank Miller had nothing to do with Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 beyond crafting a cover for it. Yet, the spirit of that legendary comic creator is imbued within every page of this issue. Despite this, the final effect is one of honest tribute rather than shameless imitation.
The story of Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell opens in the not-too-distant future of Manhattan. Matt Murdock is no longer the Man Without Fear. He lost his super senses several years earlier. Despite this, Matt still does what he can to help the needy in a time when War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death are a grim reality rather than metaphorical boogiemen.
(Image Source: Marvel / Steve McNiven)
Things change when a bomb explosion somehow reawakens Matt’s stunned super-senses. This, coupled with an encounter with another aged hero, pushes Matt out of retirement. An old enemy threatens what little order remains in the world, and Daredevil must be born again to save it.
It is impossible to read Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell without being reminded of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This is partly due to the shared plot of an elderly hero coming out of retirement when his city needs him most. However, there are also numerous shout-outs to that classic story in both the writing and artwork.
(Image Source: Marvel / Steve McNiven)
Charles Soule‘s scripted narration for Matt Murdock contains echoes of Miller’s elderly Bruce Wayne. This is most apparent when Matt gives chase to the bombers who accidentally restored his powers, as he calls himself an “old fool” and considers how he’ll pay the price for his acrobatic actions tomorrow. However, while the homage is apparent, the language is also consistent with Soule’s work on the monthly Daredevil comic.
(Image Source: Marvel / Steve McNiven)
This balance also exists within the artwork of Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell. The style of Steve McNiven is uniquely his own, while boasting a similar aesthetic to Miller’s.
The linework is light yet detailed, and the art based around the same grid structure Miller utilized in DKR. The visuals are similar, but contain other unique innovations which distinguish it. For instance, many of Matt’s thoughts are written in the gutters between panels by letterer Clayton Cowles.
(Image Source: Marvel / Steve McNiven)
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 is many things. It is a thrilling What If? style story about finding hope in a world with no future. It is a story about honoring the legends of old while building something new. More than anything, however, it is one hell of a good read.
Grade: 8/10
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on April 2, 2025.