By Rebecca Gault — Devil’s Reign #4 opens with a time jump. Two more weeks of Fisk’s reign have passed and we pick up with Matt Murdock. The benefit of a lower-stakes event such as Devil’s Reign is that the slower pace of the plot enables more page space and breathing room for the character beats at play here.

Marco Checchetto’s art sprawls here, served best in the stiller moments of the issue when the reader can see just how beautiful he makes the cast of characters he has to handle. In these stiller moments, Marcio Menyz’s coloring also shines; with some especially beautiful work in the last few pages of the issue. The flood of light is illuminating, in more ways than one, and serves only to highlight the crux of this installment.

For the most part, the issue follows Matt as he processes the events of the past few issues. It’s in these spots that the event excels, allowing Matt to monolog long and free about his own moniker as the man without fear. What does that power mean in the midst of this event, where Fisk rules nearly entirely through the fear he can induce?

It’s a good question, especially considering the stakes the issue plays with. It might not be the cosmic level threats we have come to expect from line-wide events in the Marvel Universe but the promise remains that the effects of Fisk’s actions here will have long lasting repercussions for many individuals throughout.

It’s Matt’s emotional arc here that bears the brunt of the weight, especially in this slower-paced first half. Foggy chastises him for his Catholic guilt while his confrontation with Mike ends in words like ‘sanctimonious’ being slung around. It gives Matt some concepts to turn over, even as he considers betraying one of his core tenets as a hero.

Like in all the highlights of this event, Matt’s emotional weight is only served when we turn to Fisk’s half of the story. His question is also concerned with power and who can truly hold it. Fisk likes to think himself as the driving power behind this election.

His son calls it into question, just as Mike calls Matt into question.

Fisk shines here when he serves as Matt’s narrative foil, his concern with maintaining his power becoming a glaring weakness to anyone who cares to exploit it. People certainly do care to do exactly that.

Yet the revelation at the end of the issue is likely what many people have been waiting for, and even anticipating ever since the Purple Man has come on the scene. Fisk’s last panel is menacing, fierce in a way that he hasn’t always been in this event. This may be the most dangerous cliffhanger of all and certainly, one that puts the Man Without Fear in a position that may spell trouble.

Overall: A slow first half in Devil’s Reign #4 builds to a significant second half, one that sets up a lot of falling dominoes; the ripple of which may be felt throughout the Marvel Universe. 8.0/10

REVIEW: Devil’s Reign #4

Devil’s Reign #4
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
NEW YORK UNDER SIEGE! Wilson Fisk, duly elected Mayor of New York, has broken. Whatever shred of decency that may have been left of him is gone entirely and now, with an army of super villains at his command, THE KINGPIN has set his gaze upon everyone the heroes of the Marvel Universe hold dear – but even the Kingpin is unaware of the magnitude of danger he has put the city, its citizens and even himself with his war against the city's super heroes!
Price: $4.99
Read It Digitally: Devil’s Reign #4

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Rebecca is a literature student by day, a freelance writer by night, and a comics fan always. She is a big fan of everything superheroic and horrific. Right now, she can be found on Twitter at @phoenixfcrce.