WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Daredevil #18, by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Fornes, Nolan Woodard and VC's Clayton Cowles, on sale now.
Matt Murdock might've retired from being Daredevil, but his retirement hasn't been an easy one. As usual, his love life is in turmoil, since he recently rekindled a relationship with Elektra, right on the heels of ending one with Mindy Libris, who's tied to one of Hell's Kitchen's biggest crime families. While the New York Police Department is still hunting him, the Owl has taken over as the new Kingpin and Mayor Wilson Fisk is battling battle with the Stromwyns to see who really rules the city.
In Daredevil #18, things go from bad to worse as some of Marvel's most dangerous killers team up to eliminate the vigilantes of Hell's Kitchen. After their stolen fortune was disbursed to various charities, the richest family in America, the Stromwyns, have assembled the ultimate squad of Daredevil foes to take their revenge. Even though this new crew includes one of the most infamously lame villains in the Marvel Universe, this crew is still a force to be reckoned with.
This group is led by Bullseye, who sports a new costume but has his same mean attitude. After he makes landfall at a New York pier with his knives out, he ominously asks for directions to Hell's Kitchen, a place he knows all too well. While the Stromwyns want him leading the group because the vigilantes just stole billions from them, Bullseye has a new excuse to go after his two favorite targets, Matt and Elektra.
Another one of Marvel's most explosive assassins, Crossbones, is also on this squad. While he usually works with the Red Skull's daughter, Sin, in various attempts to make Captain America's life horrible, he's taking some time away from those endeavors here, presumably for a very big payday.
This new crew also includes Rhino, who was recently seen helping Miles Morales out and appeared to be turning a new leaf. However, this payday could have been big enough to lure him back into his more criminal ways.
Another villain who had seemingly switched sides, Bullet, is also in this new crew, even those he seemed to be on reasonably decent terms with Daredevil. Since Bullseye killed Buck Cashman's son, Lance, this killer's presence on the team is especially puzzling and attests to how big this payday must be.
Even more curiously, this squad also includes Stilt-Man, one of the most frequently mocked villains in the Marvel Universe. Even though the Punisher killed Wildbur Day years ago, the original Stilt-Man was resurrected through cloning thanks to the Jackal in The Clone Conspiracy. Even though his motif still likely revolves around him extending his suit's mechanical legs, his armor has an imposing new design that makes it clear that he's no laughing matter.
With all of these villains going after him, Matt has his hands full, especially since the Stromwyns wanting to purge the city of vigilantes. The combined threat of these bad guys may very well be enough to drive Daredevil out of retirement. Even if Matt does pick up his billy clubs and don his horned red suit again, that still might not be enough to take down a squad that includes so many brutal villains. And if Matt really does want to save his city, Daredevil might have to evolve into the more violent protector that Elektra wants him to become.
Daredevil #19 releases March 4 from Marvel Comics.