Changes are coming for Marvel Comics' "Daredevil" -- at least, that's what a comment in the letters column for "Daredevil" #34 and a tweet from series artist Chris Samnee seems to indicate. It looks like Mark Waid's Eisner-winning run with the character may come to a close, as all signs point to "Daredevil" #36 being the current series' final issue.
"For those wondering about the fate of Daredevil, here's the cover of #36 -- the final issue," Samnee said via Twitter.
"Javier [Rodriguez] will be back to draw issue #34 in a couple months to give Chris time to focus on our big two-part finale to this era of Daredevil," series editor Steve Wacker wrote in the Letters Without Fear column in this month's "Daredevil." "Sad, I know, but all things must end, right?"
While this volume of "Daredevil" may be ending, it's not because of sales numbers. "Daredevil" is a consistently strong seller for the House of Ideas, clocking in at number 60 on Diamond's top 300 for September, outselling any number of DC Comics' 3D lenticular "Villains Month" covers as well as a good number of Marvel's own books. If the series is in fact coming to a close, it's likely due to a story-driven reason. CBR News contacted Marvel, who declined further comment on the situation.
Another possibility is an All-New Marvel NOW! relaunch of "Daredevil," potentially with the same creative team. Either way, there's very little possibility that the series is getting cancelled due to poor sales numbers.
"Daredevil" #35, the first of the two-part conclusion, hits stores in January.
UPDATE 10/23/2013 4:12 PM PT: In an interview published earlier this week by Newsarama, "Daredevil" writer Mark Waid said the following about the book's long-term prospects, with the character's 50th anniversary looming in 2014: "They're...interesting. And quite unexpected and quite familiar at the same time. They may or may not involve a drastic shift in Matt Murdock's career and lifestyle. But we do know this one thing for sure: the Waid/Samnee/Rodriguez/Caramagna team isn't going anywhere, and we're striving for new heights!"