Daredevil #170

Published in May 1981, Daredevil #170 represents a pivotal moment in the character's publication history. It was written and drawn by Frank Miller, who had recently taken over the series, fundamentally shifting Daredevil from a standard superhero title to a gritty, noir-inspired crime drama. This issue served as the conclusion to the 'Death of Elektra' arc, a seminal narrative that introduced Miller's lethal assassin character and permanently altered the tone and trajectory of the Marvel universe.

Miller’s design approach for this era emphasized shadows, cinematic pacing, and a lean, minimalist aesthetic that drew heavily from detective fiction and Japanese cinema. The reception was transformative, as Miller’s tenure is credited with saving the title from cancellation and establishing a blueprint for the mature, grounded comic book storytelling that would gain widespread popularity throughout the 1980s.