Cover: Cary Nord & Matt Ryan

Daredevil #353

Jun 1996 · Marvel · 1.95 USD; 2.75 CAD

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“The Devil's Work!”

★ 1st appearance — Rosalind Sharpe

About this Issue

Daredevil #353 marks the opening chapter of the Karl Kesel and Cary Nord run — a deliberate editorial pivot away from the oppressively grim, post-Frank Miller darkness that had defined the title for years, steering Matt Murdock back toward a swashbuckling, wisecracking persona that Kesel himself described as the 'wisecrackin' hornhead' he had loved as a kid. The issue introduces Rosalind Sharpe, a formidable and morally complicated attorney who would become one of the most consequential supporting characters of the entire volume, eventually revealed to be Foggy Nelson's estranged biological mother — a twist that deepened the Nelson and Murdock ensemble in ways later writers continued to draw on. Together, these elements make #353 the foundational installment of a run that fans and critics have retroactively recognized as an underappreciated high point of the pre-Kevin Smith era, valued precisely because it proved Daredevil could breathe without the weight of noir tragedy pressing down on every page.

In "The Devil's Work!", Matt Murdock returns to the Nelson and Murdock law office, picking up the threads of his civilian life after a harrowing clash with Mr. Hyde. The tension mounts when sharp-tongued attorney Rosalind Sharpe arrives, demanding a seat at the table as a new partner. Written by Karl Kesel and brought to life by Cary Nord’s dynamic art—inked by Matt Ryan and colored by Christie Scheele—this 1996 issue captures the grit and legal intrigue that define Daredevil’s world, with a cover by Nord and Ryan that perfectly frames the stakes.

writer Karl Kesel · artist Cary Nord · inker Matt Ryan · colorist Christie Scheele · colorist Malibu · letterer Jim Novak · cover Cary Nord, Matt Ryan

ComicBooks.com Value

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Raw (NM) $4

CGC 9.8 · 5 in census $54*

CGC 9.6 · 1 in census $25

CGC 9.4 none in existence

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CGC 8.0 · 1 in census $20*

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More listings for this title

FN $3 FN $3.8 MINT $4.99 NM $4.99 VF $5 VF/NM $5.74 NM $5.95 VF/NM $11

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History

Karl Kesel inherited a Daredevil title in serious editorial difficulty: the preceding creative period had attempted to keep pace with 1990s 'extreme' comics by staging Matt Murdock's 'death' and having him operate under the alias Jack Batlin, a maneuver that left the character in a dark, erratic state before the status quo was reset. Marvel's editorial team, with Bob Harras as Editor-in-Chief, consciously chose to restore a lighter, more character-driven tone, and Kesel — best known at that point for his sprightly work on Superboy and Adventures of Superman at DC — was a natural fit for that mandate. Penciller Cary Nord, inked by Matt Ryan, brought a clean, open line that complemented Kesel's tone; the issue was edited by Jaye Gardner, whose name appears consistently throughout the Kesel run.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Rosalind Sharpe (Earth-616), created by Karl Kesel and Cary Nord — a high-powered Boston attorney who proposes a partnership with the Nelson and Murdock law firm.
Written by Karl Kesel, pencilled by Cary Nord, inked by Matt Ryan, lettered by Jim Novak; edited by Jaye Gardner under Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras.
Cover date June 1996; released April 1996 (Week 15 per Marvel Database).
This issue is the launchpad for the Kesel/Nord run, which spans Daredevil #353–364 (June 1996–May 1997).
The story features Matt Murdock returning to civilian life at the Nelson and Murdock law office, with Daredevil clashing against classic villain Mr. Hyde (Calvin Zabo), who is later represented by Nelson and Murdock in a subsequent arc.
Other characters present include Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, and Misty Knight; Rosalind Sharpe's family connection to Foggy was deliberately withheld at introduction and revealed later in the run.
Rosalind Sharpe went on to appear in approximately 30 issues across multiple Daredevil volumes, including a notable appearance in Daredevil Vol. 2 #83 at Foggy Nelson's funeral.
The issue was reprinted in international editions: Marvel Special (Panini Deutschland, 1997 series) #4 (January 1999) and Marvel (Panini France, 1997 series) #12 (January 1998), as well as in the Best of Marvel (Marvel, 1994 series) #'96 (1997) anthology.