Daredevil

Daredevil #5

daredevil-5-coverAfter 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]

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Daredevil #4

daredevil-4-coverThe latest issue is a little unfocused (but in a good way) as both Daredevil and Matt Murdock deal with several issues rather than focusing on a single story. Once again writer Mark Waid gives us a strong issue featuring the Man Without Fear battling evil in and out of a courtroom.

The issue gives us small pieces of several of Nelson & Murdock’s new clients as well as giving us glimpses of Daredevil out in action doing everything from running down a gangster, to fighting of lions, to saving children from a burning building. We’re also introduced to Murdock’s latest client, a blind teenager who was fired from a job without warning and now finds his life in danger.

In terms of larger context you could probably skip this issue and not miss anything all that important to the ongoing storyline but that doesn’t mean you should. There’s plenty here worth picking up including a very cool cover by Paolo Rivera featuring Daredevil swinging through a city scape made of guns. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Daredevil #511

  • 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]

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Shadowland #4 (of 5)

  • 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

  • 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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