Daredevil #35

• Title: Daredevil #35
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Chris Samnee

With the penultimate issue of this version of Mark Waid’s run on Daredevil before Marvel reboots the title along with most, but not all, of the Marvel NOW! titles in favor of yet another new numbering scheme that may or may not last a full year or two, the writer sets up the pieces for major shifts for Matt Murdock both in the courtroom and while donning his red tights.

Blackmailed by the Sons of the Serpent (who have a full portfolio on Murdock’s night-time activities and a complete profile highlighting Daredevil’s weaknesses) to represent a member of their organization who is actually innocent of the crime he’s been accused of, Daredevil calls on the help of Elektra to help him work out his options (and punch bad guys). Stuck in a no-win situation, Murdock does what he does best – improvise.

The move Waid makes here is certainly bold, but it’s also a genie that’s going to be hard to ever put back in the bottle should Marvel find an outed Matt Murdock problematic to deal with.

Given the huge ramifications of this move, which is made mostly to spite a evil organization I’ve never fully bought into, I’m going to withhold final judgement until we see where this takes the character (other than to the West Coast). As to the final fate of Foggy Nelson, we’re given all the signs that next month’s final issue may be his as well, but given the amount of attention which will have to be given to the fallout of Murdock’s courtroom bombshell could there be even the slightest glimmer of hope that Foggy might make his way into the next series after all? Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]