Daredevil

Daredevil #27

/ / Comics

Daredevil #27Picking up with Daredevil confronting both Bullseye and Ikari, Daredevil #27 fills in the blanks to Bulleye’s transformation from hitman to super-criminal genius in a box before the villain spills how he’s put all of Daredevil’s nearest and dearest in danger. Thankfully for Matt Murdock’s loved ones, he has a few friends of his own.

Closing out the arc you’d expect another big battle between Daredvil and Ikari, especially after Lady Bullseye shows up and decrease the chances of Daredevil surviving the night even further. Writer Mark Waid pulls a bit of a fast one here, by Daredevil finding a way to defeat all three villains by using his brains (and leaving Bulleseye even more of a mess than when the issue started).

Daredevil #27 very much focuses on the hero out-thinking his opponents rather than using his enhanced skill-set to take them down. Because of this, and the quick wrap-up, we’re left questioning whether Daredevil can actually beat Ikari and just who that masked man really is. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil #27 Read More »

Daredevil – Dark Nights #1

/ / Comics

Daredevil - Dark Nights #1The eight-issue anthology series Daredevil: Dark Knights begins here with a three-issue arc from writer/artist Lee Weeks featuring a befuddled Daredevil mugged in a snowstorm who wakes up in the hospital with no memory of who he is or explanation for his enhanced senses.

The amnesiac aspect of the story is its weakest point, although it allows for a couple of humorous moments including a doctor and nurse opening their mystery man’s briefcase to learn they have an Avenger in their midst. Even without his full faculties Daredevil dons his costume and goes back into the blizzard to find a crashed helicopter with the heart needed to save a young girl’s life.

The triple-obstacles of Matt Murdock’s injury, the blizzard, and his amnesia (which also effects his acrobatic stunts) is a little much. I prefer Weeks art to the story, but there are enough nice touches here to not let me dismiss it out-of-hand. The first issue doesn’t do enough to sell me on the new limited series, but it doesn’t turn me off either. Depending on what else hits newsstands that week, I would consider picking up issue #2. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil – Dark Nights #1 Read More »

Daredevil #26

/ / Comics

Daredevil #26Bruised and beaten Daredevil returns home from his encounter with Ikari still unsure who the warrior is working for and who is behind the constant attacks on his life. An increasingly paranoid and fearful Matt Murdock turns to his best friend who helps Matt work through what’s happening to him and uncover the old enemy responsible for his current troubles.

After figuring out a way to escape the enhanced senses of Ikari, and quickly dispatching Lady Bullseye, Daredevil is brought face to face with the invalid mastermind, once the deadliest assassin in the world now unable to move a single muscle. The choice of Bullseye certainly works, but I was hoping for something a little more imaginative from writer Mark Waid. Even after finding Bullseye, Daredevil still has Ikari to deal with, and as we’ve already seen that’s easier said than done.

The extra-sized comic also includes an unnecessary back-up story involving Foggy’s time in the hospital. It has a nice message but feels tacked on mainly to boost the pages, and price tag, of the latest issue. Worth a look (for the main story).

[Marvel, $3.99]

Daredevil #26 Read More »

Daredevil #25

/ / Comics

Daredevil #25Although the man between Daredevil‘s recent troubles remains in the shadows, Daredevil #25 does introduce a new enemy as the Man Without Fear learns the true purpose of recreating his accident when he faces off against Ikari, a deadly warrior enhanced with the same hyper-senses as our hero.

Most of the comic is one prolonged fight sequence between Daredevil and the mystery assassin who has cloaked himself in the style of Daredevil’s original costume, going so far as to even wear his father’s boxing robe to further get under Murdock’s skin. With the two evenly matched, Daredevil #25 offers a terrific fight that leaves both men bloodied and straining to breathe.

Trying to use his experience to win the fight, Daredevil changes the venue only to discover he and Ikari aren’t as evenly matched as he believed. The assassin has one more ace up his sleeve. The comic ends with Daredevil beaten, but spared (at least for now) leading into the next double-sized issue dealing with Foggy‘s surgery and, hopefully, the man behind the curtain pulling Ikari’s strings. Best of the week.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Daredevil #25 Read More »

News and Notes

/ / Film News & Trailers

DaredevilFilm School Rejects has an interview with David Slade in which the director talks about his vision of a Daredevil movie involving the character’s original yellow costume, the Kingpin, and the Irish mafia

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that actor Luke Evans has been cast to star in Universal Studios’ new Dracula film from first-time feature director Gary Shore

Deadline is reporting Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez have been cast in the biopic of boxer Roberto Duran Hands of Stone

News and Notes Read More »