Daredevil

• Title: Daredevil: Dark Nights #8 (of 8)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
• Artist: Thony Silas

The final arc of the eight-issue anthology mini-series comes to a close as Daredevil sets out to save Misty Knight from her Cuban drug lord ex-boyfriend. It also offers a flashback of the series of events leading up to Knight loosing her arm and requiring a bionic replacement.

Separated for most of the issue, Daredevil: Dark Nights #8 doesn’t offer much in the way of banter between the two heroes. And although she gets to do a little butt-kicking in the final few panels (including saving Daredevil from Carmen Averez), I’m a little disappointed that Misty Knight spends so much of the final issue of the series as the damsel in distress.

Daredevil: Dark Nights may not have delivered great stories over its eight-issue run, but the adventures of Matt Murdock had their moments and I’m sorry to see the series coming to an end as Marvel gears up to a big February relaunch of several of their core titles (including Daredevil). For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

• Title: Daredevil #34
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Javier Rodriguez

The series begins to wrap-up its ongoing stories as Daredevil moves ever closer to its final issue. Returned to New York, Daredevil puts the pages he stole from the Darkhold and a little Avengers tech to good use to not only expose and take down the Jester and deal another blow to the Sons of the Serpent by exposing their plot to divide the city.

Although I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Sons of the Serpent arc, this issue works well on resolving several loose threads by returning Daredevil to New York and bringing back Kristen McDuffie who Matt Murdock finally stops playing coy with and asks for her help (which almost ends disastrously for them both).

Although the tone is upbeat and Daredevil manages to get a victory while sidestepping disaster, it’s obvious from the last couple of panels that the final two issues of the series are likely to be far darker as the fate of Foggy Nelson will finally be decided (and apparently the news isn’t good). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil: Dark Nights #7 (of 8)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
• Artist: Thony Silas

Daredevil and Misty Knight‘s adventures continue as their helicopter gets shot down miles from Cuba on their way to track down the kingpin whose men kidnapped Matt Murdock’s latest client. Eventually the pair make it to land only to face new threats including the rocket-launcher-totting Carmen Averez and the kingpin’s soldiers.

The quips and sexual tension between the two characters continue throughout the issue (as does Misty’s disappointment about not having her way with the hero under the moonlight). There’s plenty of action as well and an important reveal Misty’s insight on their target which sets up next month’s final issue of both the arc and the anthology.

There are some fun moments here, but the issue is really used to set-up the various conflicts in next month’s finale. Although it hasn’t been as good as Mark Waid‘s run on the regular title, I’ve enjoyed seeing other writers and artists play with the character over the past few months in these isolated tales. For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]