Daredevil

• Title: Daredevil #5
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Chris Samnee

Since the title relaunched with Matt Murdock and Kristen McDuffie relocated to San Fransisco we’ve known Foggy Nelson “died” but we haven’t known how exactly Daredevil arranged it, until now. Daredevil #5 offers a look back after Murdock publicly outing himself as Daredevil but before moving to the West Coast to start his new life.

Knowing his friend would prefer a hero’s death, and taking advantage of an unique situation, the latest comic gives us a look at Foggy’s final heroic moments and how, with the help of Hank Pym, Daredevil managed to sell the lie giving Foggy the chance to continue his cancer treatments while the rest of the world mistakenly believes Daredevil’s best friend is died helping Daredvil fight Leap-Frog.

Nothing is really gained by waiting until the fifth issue to explain events (other than getting that first trade paperback out the way), but the story Mark Waid tells is a nice moment for Foggy to shine and reminds us, through Foggy’s eyes, just who Matt Murdock is. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

• Title: Daredevil #4
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Chris Samnee

The opening arc of the new series concludes as Daredevil finds himself in the middle of a battle of wills between the Owl and the Shroud, one of whom is obsessed with achieving a new level of unfettered knowledge and the other who Daredevil comes to believe has a death wish.

Dispensing with the death trap that closed the last issue fairly quickly, Daredevil #4 deals mainly with Matt Murdock coming to understand the reasons behind the Shroud’s actions and attempting to stop the blackmailed hero from helping the Owl steal unfiltered photons of data which will transform the character into something more than human before the issue comes to a close.

Although Murdock counts the capture of the Owl as a win, Daredevil is unable to stop the villain from fulfilling his purpose (suggesting he’s become an even greater threat), and fate of the Shroud’s girlfriend is left very much up in the air. Victory? I’m not so sure. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

• Title: Daredevil #3
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Chris Samnee

You know what they say about the best laid plans? Never lacking in self-confidence, Daredevil turns the betrayal of the Shroud (the discovery of which ended last month’s issue) into a new plan to take down their common enemy: The Owl. Despite his “brilliant” plan of walking straight int the villain’s lair, once again Daredevil finds himself walking blindly (forgive me) into a trap.

Setting up the Owl to be a major player on the West Coast, and perhaps long-running villain of the new series, Mark Waid certainly sells the intellect and venomous nature of a character who at times over his turbulent comic history which has varied wildly from legitimate threat to little more than a C-list version of the Vulture.

And, as expected, Waid and artist Chris Samnee confirm Foggy Nelson is still alive and in hiding for his own safety. Judging by the chance Foggy takes here (entering the law office in a flimsy disguise) it’s a secret that won’t stay buried for long. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]