Daredevil

• Title: Daredevil #7
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Marcos Martin

The holidays turn out to be anything but stress-free for Matt Murdock when his getaway with eight blind at-risk students goes horribly wrong after their bus gets lost and crashes in a snowstorm.

Far from anywhere, thanks to the (now deceased) bus driver’s shortcut, Daredevil puts on a brave face and sets out with the kids through the blizzard (which is playing havoc with his radar sense) to find some safety.

It may not have any super-villains, but Daredevil #7 is one of the year’s best comics which showcases the hero’s heart as well as the resiliency of the children who end up saving the hero.

There’s also a great opening scene between Matt Murdock and Kristen McDuffie at the Nelson & Murdock holiday party where the lawyer shows up in horns and a red and white hoodie proclaiming he’s no super-hero. I think the kids would disagree. Best of the week.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil #6
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Marcos Martin

After being beaten dumped overboard by Bruiser, Daredevil works his way back onto the boat to save Austin Cao before he (and his former boss) are killed by representatives of five terrorist organizations (A.I.M., HYDRA, Agence Byzantine, Black Spectre, The Secret Empire) to tie up any loose ends by removing anyone who might have knowledge of the Omegadrive.

The Omegadrive contains billions of gigabytes of information about each of the terrorist organizations, which has now fallen into the hands of Daredevil. After defeating Bruiser, and finding himself and the two hostages, Matt Murdock realizes he can’t fight his way out of the situation so he changes tactics and makes an argument for their release the terrorist agents simply can’t refuse.

Whether or not these vast terrorists organizations coming together (or being willing to give their data up to their competitors) is feasible, the comic works well in wrapping up this story arc and painting a bright new target on Daredevil’s back. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil #5
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Marcos Martin

After the attempt on Austin Cao’s life, Matt Murdock has no choice but to accept the blind linguistic genius case. By recreating the scene of event Murdock tries to jog his client’s memory to find what he heard that got him fired from Roxxon Oil. What he uncovers is a link to H.Y.D.R.A. and a far more dangerous situation than he would have ever guessed.

The entire sequence of Murdock taking down the assassins and moving Cao to a safehouse is terrific and is exceptionally well thought out with one blind character leading another through a series of necessary steps and providing just the right information, no more, no less.

The B-story involves Foggy‘s attempt to convince his new girlfriend’s roommate that Matt Murdock isn’t Daredevil. His argument is less than successful until he comes up with either the smartest or dumbest idea the character has ever had. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil #511
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer:Andy Diggle
• Artist:Roberto De La Torre

Events of Shadowland seem to be on hold here as this issue catches up with the “little people” in Matt Murdock‘s life. Private eye Dakota North talks with Detective Kurtz before setting out to save Becky Blake from the rioters and hysteria. Matt Murdock’s former bosom buddy Foggy Nelson works his way into the heart of Shadowland (with all the stealth he’s known to possess over the years?) in a final attempt to save his friend from the madness that has taken him and is now engulfing all of Hell’s Kitchen.

How dumb is Shadowland? The ridiculousness of Foggy Nelson getting through the riots, the cops, the ninja and into the belly of the beast (so to speak) doesn’t even rank on the most absurd moments of this storyline. For a Shadowland comic this one’s not bad, but then again that’s a pretty low standard. Here where given a Daredevil comic where Daredevil (even a demon-infested one) makes only a token appearance.

[Marvel $2.99]