The Creators – Chip Zdarsky – Writer, Marco Checchetto – Artist, Marcio Menyz – Colours, Clayton Cowles – Letters

The Players – Daredevil, Kingpin, Elektra, Captain America, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Fantastic Four, John Walker, Moon Knight, Doctor Octopus, Shocker

The Story – Wilson Fisk, the former Kingpin and current mayor of New York City has declared the usage of superpowers a criminal offence. He does this not only because he has had enough of Daredevil and those like him but because he realizes that something has been done to him, that his memory has been altered and he means to discover all that he has lost.

The Take – Devil’s Reign is yet another Marvel event in a long line of Marvel events and while some might be feeling burned out on them, Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto make this one worth reading. It continues straight off from Daredevil’s ongoing title, the man having been freed from prison and back on the streets much to Fisk’s disappointment. For those that have been reading Daredevil, this book will make far more sense though it is written pretty straightforward that it is not a requirement to have done so. The one thing that this book does call to mind are shades of Civil War and the Superhuman Registration Act and that in itself feels a little repetitive but Zdarsky knows what he is doing and by the end of it all, he throws in a little twist to keep it fresh though where the book is heading is anybody’s guess. If there is one thing that is for sure, it is that the heroes who now find themselves on the wrong end of the law will clash with those villains whom Fisk employs and not only that, soon they will do so with Fisk himself. If one were to predict the outcome of the series this early, it would be that Fisk will end up being a mayor no longer but Zdarsky has the ability to surprise and it is more than likely he has a few in store. The artwork by Checchetto is as clean and crisp and as beautiful as always and the man definitely improves with every stroke of the pen on every book he is given. As a first issue, it manages to work on every level, with some great character moments, drama, action and intrigue – enough so to make readers want to come back for more which is the most important thing.

Worth It? – Yes.