Daredevil #4 Review – The Double-D Stands For Double-Dumb

Daredevil #4 (Marvel, 7/8/26): Writer Stephanie Phillips and Artist Lee Garbett place Daredevil at the mercy of Omen, but an unexpected ally comes to the rescue. Solid art and pacing can’t overcome page-filling flashbacks and a nonsensical plot. Verdict: For diehard Daredevil fans only, and even then, it’s a hard sell.

• Writer: Stephanie Phillips
• Artist: Lee Garbett
• Colorist: Frank Martin
• Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
• Cover Artist: Lee Garbett (cover A)
• Publisher: Marvel
• Release Date: July 8, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 26
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Daredevil #4:

First Impressions:

There’s too much noise being made about Marvel’s quality of late. Sadly, Daredevil #4 only reinforces that low-quality criticism because half the issue reads like filler and the other half will leave you scratching your head.

Recap:

When last we left the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, Daredevil managed to get himself captured by Omen – a disfigured serial killer who takes his victims’ eyes after the deed is done.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The issue begins with a chained-up Daredevil about to meet his end at the hands of Omen. Throughout the first act, the story is interspersed with a flashback to the circumstances of Jack Murdock’s death. There’s no apparent reason for the flashback other than to fill page space. Just as Daredevil is about to pass out from strangulation by Omen, the villain is shot three (maybe four) times by… the Owl. When Daredevil wakes up later, Daredevil and the Owl part ways on contentious terms. Before he leaves, Daredevil asks Owl what happened to Omen. Owl simply replies, “I don’t know.” (?????????????????????)

Elsewhere, Dominic takes umbrage at having to perform a firearm test while overseen by his partner, Callahan. Elsewhere again, Doctor Ellison lobs pointed questions at Harlan Vale during his press conference to announce full delivery of schoolroom tech for the university. Elision is concerned that Vale might be using the donations to data farm the students and faculty.

Later, Callahan intercepts Dominic, who is looking for clues in the Omen case. The lack of trust between the two detectives is loud and palpable. Suddenly, Omen attacks. Instead of defending his partner, Dominic drops his gun and cowers in fright for several minutes while his partner is slowly strangled and then has his eyes removed. (???????????????????????????)

How is the story in Daredevil #4?

Read the description above again. Grab a cup of coffee. Contemplate the utter state of Marvel, and then come back to ask that question again. It’s inconceivable that a grown adult could write a plot this silly, and yet, Stephanie Phillips makes it look easy.

Owl shoots Omen several times – enough to stop him from killing Daredevil – but Owl doesn’t know what happened to him or where he went. I know all too well the consequences of not performing the double-tap on a downed villain, but did Owl just decide to take a nap? Did Owl inexplicably leave to run errands immediately after shooting Omen enough to likely kill any human? What does Owl mean when he says “I don’t know?” The laziness of this writing ranks right up there with “Somehow Palpatine returned.”

To later emphasize the laziness of the script, Callahan not only misses the shot on Omen when he’s attacked at close range, but Dominic drops his gun and doesn’t lift a finger to help Callahan, who’s being strangled to death. Dominic doesn’t tackle Omen. He doesn’t give him a quick kick to the ribs. He just sits there and watches his partner get strangled to death for a minute or two. He then makes no move while Omen cuts out his partner’s eyes. Sure, you could make the case that Dominic is suffering from some form of PTSD freeze, but the death shown here takes a long time. So long that it strains all credibility.

How is the art in Daredevil #4?

The art is great. Lee Garbett delivers a gritty, grounded, moody issue that takes full advantage of the noir aesthetic in Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil looks and moves with the grace befitting his character, and the use of dramatic shadows is spot-on. It’s just a shame that Garbett’s skill is wasted on such a boneheaded script.

Characters

Regarding the character work, you’d think the titular character is the point of focus, but not so. Dominic steals the emotional spotlight as the person who carries the dramatic tension – first with his partner, and then with his head-scratching inaction against Omen. Was that intentional?

Originality & Concept Execution

Whatever originality Stephanie Phillips intended is completely blown out of the water by the nonsensical execution. Matt’s flashback to his childhood is not original. Daredevil in chains is also not original. A serial killer with a mutilation fetish is, again, not original.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Garbett’s atmospheric art is great
• Phillips’ pacing is mostly good.
• Dominic’s tension with Callahan is palpable

Room for Improvement

• The plot is hand-wavey to the point of stupidity
• The flashback in the first act and the press conference are pointless filler
• The ending strains all credibility

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 0.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy):3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 0/2

Final Thoughts:

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Daredevil #4 is a pristine example of why Marvel is stuck in a rut. Despite the great art from Lee Garbett, the plot is either woefully incompetent or aggressively lazy. Take your pick. Neither option is good.

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