Putting the genie back in the bottle, then smashing it.

We checked out the Venom chapter earlier this year, but today we've got the conclusion: from 1994, Daredevil #325, "Fall From Grace, conclusion" Written by D.G. Chichester, pencils by Scott McDaniel, inks by Hector Collazo.

The quest for this storyline's MacGuffin, the body-shaping "About Face" virus, is down to a few players: living vampire Morbius, a holdover from the previous issue, who is taken out by Daredevil early on. The Snakeroot ninja clan wants it for Erynys, the evil side of Elektra, to make her their perfect assassin. The cyborg Siege was still in the chase, mainly for former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and fellow cyborg John Garrett, who follows Erynys like a lovesick, insane puppy. Hellspawn, the Daredevil-doppelgänger from Infinity War, wants it to become a real boy, or at least free of voodoo control. And Daredevil is just trying to contain the fighting from spilling over into his city, with mixed results.

DD should have bigger fish to fry, though: he manages to discredit a reporter that stole his secret identity from Ben Urich's files, although he suspects it would just be a matter of time before some nutball believes it and comes after Matt Murdock, or his friends. He also reconciles with Karen Page--they had broken up when Typhoid Mary went after him around DD #260, and I really want to re-read Ann Nocenti's run.

When the final fight for the virus comes down in the subway tunnel where it had been lost years before; DD and Elektra are forced to, as is often the case, go with the devil they know. Rather than risk Erynys get it, they give the virus to Hellspawn, who starts to transform before a furious Erynys kills him. Siege teams up with Garrett against the Snakeroot, while Daredevil throws Erynys's barbed sai at Elektra, knowing she would make sure to get Erynys in front of it. Her evil side returns to her, and Elektra cries over her loss of peace. And Matt discovers Hellspawn's corpse has turned into a double of Matt Murdock...and calls an audible. He lets the cops find "Murdock's" body, even letting Ben Urich, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page think he was dead. (The Kingpin greets the news with a mere 'Heh. All good things come to those who wait..." but I'm not sure he was convinced.) Matt does tell his mom, the nun Maggie, who suggests his new name, Jack. DD gets ready to start his new life, only barely considering what the "About Face" virus could have done for him, but seemingly feeling he got the better end of the deal.

In hindsight, Matt's decision seems messed up--or, I guess not telling his friends seems messed up. Honestly, just because you have the opportunity to fake your death, doesn't necessarily mean you have to...does it?