Daredevil

Daredevil #19

daredevil-19-coverJust as Matt Murdock discovers who is trying to drive him insane his former partner and best friend Foggy Nelson makes an impulsive decision that could change Daredevil’s life forever.

Foggy admits to Matt’s latest lady friend Kristen McDuffie that Matt is Daredevil and that he is hallucinating and may have gone insane. The Assistant District Attorney has no choice but to start a public manhunt for a vigilante she’s been told (by his best friend, no less) is a danger to himself and others.

Meanwhile, with the help of Henry Pym, Daredevil makes a discovery that leads him to search out the C-list villain he believes is behind his life falling apart only to discover he’s not a C-lister anymore. Daredevil might not be crazy, but no his life is in the hands of a madman, and, should he escape, he’ll have an entire city’s police force hunting him down. The man without fear has had better days. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil #19 Read More »

Daredevil #18

daredevil-18-coverThe Matt Murdock must be crazy storyline continues as Matt returns from a date with Kristen McDuffie to discover his crazy ex-wife Milla in his bed. Or does he? A little investigation by Foggy reveals that simply be the case as Milla is still locked up the loony bin. It should be obvious to everyone (as it has been for several issues) that someone is gaslighting Hell’s Kitchen favorite hero.

The back-up story involves Foggy’s new client, a private nurse who is the sole suspect in the locked room murder of her employer, drug kinpin Victor Hierra. After speaking to the woman’s brother Foggy believes in her innocence and, despite his recent fallout with his partner, agrees to look into Milla if Daredevil looks in on the case.

I was tired with this arc the moment writer Mark Waid introduced it. We know Daredevil isn’t crazy and despite what Foggy sees here, he should know better too. Still, Waid is a good storyteller and Daredevil #18 has good action and an unexpected cameo from a character I’d all but forgotten about.

Daredevil #18 Read More »

Daredevil #17

daredevil-17Rather than continue the highly questionable story arc stared in Daredevil #16, writer Mark Waid, with the help of artist Mike Allred, takes a look back into the past into a case from the early days of the law firm of Nelson & Murdock.

Waid shows his skill once again her by showcasing one of Daredevil‘s lesser foes, Stilt-Man, by admitting to his ridiculous nature but also pointing out how troublesome and dangerous the super-villain could actually be. Allred is a interesting and fun choice for the art of this issue, but I wasn’t quite sold on his design of Stilt-Man.

The rest of the story features a disagreement between Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson and the case of an inventor who is able to give Murdock a moment of true happiness with an invention that allows him to see his father’s final fight one more time.

Although the issue doesn’t come close to resolving the pieces put into motion last issue, Waid delivers a strong (if somewhat sappy) story that’s certainly worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

Daredevil #17 Read More »

Daredevil Annual #1

daredevil-annual-1-coverHonestly, I never read much of writer Alan Davis’ 1990’s series ClanDestine nor am I clear on why Marvel is giving Davis the opportunity to write the characters into a series of annuals including Daredevil Annual #1. All that said, even not really understanding the reasons and motivations for what is going on, Davis delivers an action-packed story.

Daredevil stumbles on some magical goings-on and starts tracking an escaped Plastoid haunted by the spirit of one of the members of ClanDestine. While on the hunt he comes across two other members of the clan (Cuckoo, Hex), each after the android for their own purposes, as well as Dr. Strange who gives the man without fear a helping hand with the level of mysticism Daredevil isn’t used to dealing with.

I’m not sure it’s worth $5 (in fact I’m pretty sure it’s not), but given the struggle of the last couple of issues of Daredevil it’s nice to see a different take on the character by a new writer. The highlight of the issue, at least for me, is the art of Mark Farmer who knows exactly how to draw the hero in action. For fans.

[Marvel, $4.99]

Daredevil Annual #1 Read More »

Daredevil #16

daredevil-16-coverRarely have a seen a comic start so well and fall so far so quickly. In the first two-thirds of Daredevil #16 writer Mark Waid delivers a terrific story of Iron Man, Dr. Strange, and Henry Pym trying to save a comatose Daredevil the Nanobots implanted in his brain in Latveria.

Pym, shrunk-down, inserted into Murdock’s brain, attempts to destroy the Nanobots loose in Daredevil’s mind, but what makes the storyline work so well is the odd nature of Matt Murdock’s gift that causes both Pym and Murdock’s feeling, senses, and memories to start blurring between them. Aside from being a really cool story, it’s nice way to save the Latverian arc which was drawn out far too long.

However, the final third of the story (teased on the cover) makes so little sense I don’t know where to begin. On arriving back at his office Murdock is confronting by Foggy who dissolves their partnership after finding the bones of Murdock’s father in his desk drawer.

Daredevil #16 Read More »