Basement X

Fantastic story. Matt Murdoch will now become the Leader of the Hand (provided he passes the trials).

Even though this was the billionth time Wilson Fisk returned, his return this time was much more tragic. He was finally a man with nothing to lose.

We learned more about Master Izo, and his relationship with the Hand, Stick, DareDevil and lady Bullseye. He's a manipulator who is just as bad Fisk; he used Lady Bullseye to his own end - which was to get Matt to become the leader of the Hand.

Foggy is still kept out of the loop and Tarantula and White Tiger are now Murdoch's back-up within the Hand.

Of course it did have a few easy outs. Tarantula wasn't really a member of the Hand. Izo approached him months ago to infiltrate them so that explains why they didn't just pop Foggy in the skull when they saw him.

Bru's run had some ups and downs but overall he his run has been pretty solid. As far as Bendis took Murdoch, I believe is Bru is taking him just as far.

I was contemplating dropping DD after 500 since I can't imagine it without the current creative team, but now with this new type of story I have to at least get the next issue/next arc. Crazy as hell, but I love the concept. It kinda seems used before, but I'm hoping the next creative team can make it work...

I do like Andy Diggle's work most of the time, but I'm not all that familiar with Roberto De La Torre to know how his art is. That's one of the keys for me, if they change the art into nice and bubbly from dark and gritty I'm definitely out...

Murdoch taking control of The Hand makes a lot of sense. He's been at war with them for nearly as long as he's been at war with Fisk. Then Murdoch losing his identity and becoming King of Manhattan moved him a lot closer to working with "the dark side" if you will.

I liked it a lot too.
I've only read 2 books from Andy Diggle : The Losers and Green Arrow: Year One. Both were great read but I don't know if he is the right fit. I'm in for the first arc anyway.