Daredevil

Shadowland #4 (of 5)

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  • Title: Shadowland #4 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link

With this issue Andy Diggle‘s Shadowland moves one merciful step closer to a conclusion. To recap: Matt Murdock has been fully possessed by a “The Beast” of the Hand making him stronger, faster, deadlier, (and forcing the horns on his costume to grow?).

Issue #4 brings The Avengers sneaking into the Hand’s temple with the help of Elektra with the single purpose of taking their former friend down. Things don’t go exactly as planned (even with Wolverine going all stabby-stabby on the man without fear).

Oh, and Daredevil (or the Beast, or whatever you want to call him) has decided to resurrect Bullseye and make him an agent of the Hand. Gee, I wonder who could possibly have forseen that. And the Kingpin begins moving into position to grab power once the dust settles.

Other than the Avengers getting their butts handed to them by DD and the magic ninjas (well, what would you call them?) there’s really not much here. But at least we’re one step closer to finally ending this once promising but poorly executed mini-event. That’s something, right?

[Marvel $3.99]

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Shadowland #3

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  • Title: Shadowland #3 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link

shadowland-3-coverFinally, somebody notices that the creature masquerading as Daredevil isn’t Matt Murdock. We finally learn the truth about what’s going on under Daredevil’s mask and, sigh, let’s just say it could have been handled better.

As I had feared, it turns out the entire struggle of Matt Murdock’s control of the Hand is moot since he’s no longer in control of his actions. Oh, and Bullseye’s on his way back far faster than most readers not a carrot chompin’ super-hero reviewer thought.

Sure, this Hand demon gives our heroes a big bad villain to fight, but it also undercuts the only real dramatic thread the mini-series had going for it. Nice to see Elektra finally show up, though. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel $3.99]

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Shadowland #1

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  • Title: Shadowland #1 (of 5)
  • Comic Vine: link

The descent of Matt Murdock contiues in this new mini-series from Andy Diggle. Daredevil has built a monument, a fortress, in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen from which the Hand my strike swift vengeance on those would dare cause trouble within its borders. And he’s got himself a spiffy new costume. Pretty good stuff all around including a necessary scene among the Avengers discussing concern over Murdock’s new role.

As to the final scenes between Bullseye and Daredevil all I can say is I’ll believe the outcome is real when I see it. Diggle has played the sleight-of-hand once too often in recent months for me to take Daredevil’s apparent use of lethal force seriously (especially when of of the tie-ins coming out next month is titled Shadowland: Bullseye).

Odds are we’ll be seeing Bullesye again. Even if it’s another bait-and-switch the storyline of pushing Murdock down the dark path seems to be in full swing. And if it’s real…well, that’s a hell of a hard first step down a path of no redemption for the hero of Hell Kitchen to take in the first issue of this five month long event. Either way it should be an interesting few months for Daredevil readers.

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