Daredevil 263 - Inferno

There's more than one devil travelling to and from a hell.

Daredevil #263

Writer: Ann Nocenti
Penciler: John Romita Jr
Inker: Al Williamson
Letters: Joe Rosen
Colors: Max Scheele
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco

Daredevil is recovering in hospital but Typhoid Mary visits and tells Karen Paige about her affair with Matt, sending Karen fleeing. Demons have broken through into New York but the Kingpin is so obsessed that he doesn't care about them. However he is visited by an unnamed demon who declares he sold his sole long ago and has been working for the demon ever since. Meanwhile Daredevil rises from his hospital bed and sets out to confront the demons, finding a demonically possessed subway train on a journey "down town". Eventually he stops the train and finds the demon's weak point, slaying it.

Daredevil may be one of the most down to earth series to take part in Inferno but it's also a series starring a men who dresses as a devil (even though he's heavily bandaged in this issue) who lives in a place known as Hell's Kitchen. Where better to explore the idea of "Hell on Earth" which was the original proposed name for the crossover? Although he's not named there's a strong implication that the demon who makes a deal with Typhoid Mary and then visits the Kingpin with her is Mephisto or the Devil - the precise relationship between those two has always varied a bit over the years. It makes for some striking imagery.

This is a mostly descriptive issue with some striking imagery of the demons and possession and the reaction of the characters. Typhoid Mary seems to take it all in her stride. Karen is horrified to learn of Matt's affair and then finds herself being bombarded by images of syringes then addicts and demons. The Kingpin is staying calm but clearly moved by the idea that he is not the ultimate boss of the city but is instead working for another. And Daredevil rises, treating this living hell as the thing he's spent his life preparing for. The scene as he confronts the subway train is far more than a metaphor as it journeys down with Matt fighting against it both physically and spiritually as his goodness struggles to bring redemption for the passengers.

If there's one thing odd about this issue it's the secret identity. Karen states that the hospital doctors have agreed to protect Daredevil's secret yet when Mary shows up and calls him "Matt" Karen immediately declares that it's Daredevil in the bed effectively confirming it if needs be. And at the end the kid Butch declares his hatred for Matt for his treatment of Karen and disappearing when Daredevil's hair is fully on display and his bandages do nothing to conceal his identity. How can Butch not know who this is?

But for these odd moments this issue works well with strong artwork and depressing commentary really going to town with the idea of Hell on Earth. It's a dark journey that shows how it is possible to use Daredevil in wider events with such fantastic elements to maximum effect.