For the 8th installment of Daredevil, we have the story “The Stiltman Cometh.” This tale introduces a new villain, the Stiltman, who uses a pair of hydraulic stilts to commit his crimes. The side story ties into the main plot via the lawsuit proposed by Mr. Day, who is suing his boss Carl Kaxton for allegedly stealing his patented invention: a hydraulic lift. It’s no stretch (pun intended) to connect this lawsuit to the villain Stiltman.

A second plot point revolves around the love triangle between Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page. The tension is palpable in this issue: we see it in Foggy’s reactions, in Matt’s thoughts, and, perhaps most strikingly, in Karen’s response to Matt’s refusal to undergo a procedure that could potentially cure his blindness. She desperately wants him to take the opportunity and, not knowing his true reasons for declining, begins to read into other possibilities. Her layered and emotional reaction adds real weight to the story.

Characters & Development

This issue dives deeper into how Matt functions than we’ve seen before. Much like the Fantastic Four’s gadgets get their moment to shine, we’re treated to a cutout diagram of Matt’s Billy Club, now sporting additional gadgets (you can see my recent Fantastic Four Review for more on my thoughts of Daredevil gadgets) . While some of these changes feel a bit outlandish, they fit the era of comics where every hero seems to double as a genius inventor.

The real highlight, however, is the love triangle and its impact on our main cast—especially Karen. Her reaction, the tension, the subtle nuances of her feelings—all of this is a saving grace for the story. Though these elements only take up part of the issue, they overshadow the narrative flaws and the somewhat lackluster drama surrounding Stiltman.

Originality & Continuity

This isn’t the first time Matt has represented someone he’s also tangling with as Daredevil, but the story sets a strong foundation for this type of narrative going forward. For much of the issue, Matt is unaware of Stiltman’s identity, and even after making the connection, he’s unsure whether it’s his client or his client’s boss. The ambiguity keeps things interesting and lends some depth to the plot.

Story / Art

Despite my gripes with some of the gadgetry, the story ultimately comes together as a dynamic and engaging read. The artwork complements the narrative beautifully, especially in how it uses visuals to show or explain Matt’s heightened senses. From the depiction of heartbeats to the “radar sense” plane showing how Matt perceives the world, the illustrations give us a glimpse into how he operates.

Daredevil #8 delivers a solid blend of character-driven drama and superhero action. While the villain might come up a little short, the deeper exploration of Matt’s relationships and abilities makes this issue worth the read.