Daredevil #26 (406)

In "Underboss Part 1," Daredevil #26 (2001) delivers a brutal plunge into the underworld, where Kingpin’s new underboss is assassinated in a chilling, Caesar-like betrayal. Set against the gritty streets of Hell's Kitchen, the issue juxtaposes a violent ambush with a tense courtroom aftermath, as Matt Murdock and Foggy try to process the fallout of a near-fatal attack by Nitro. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated with raw intensity by Alex Maleev—whose cover pencils and inks capture the issue’s dark, visceral tone—this pivotal chapter deepens the stakes with a haunting blend of personal peril and criminal intrigue.