REVIEW: Daredevil #16

Matt Murdock is still down for the count, so how do his fellow heroes and best friend deal with the situation? The best they can. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee spin the tale, and Major Spoilers has your review, after the jump.

DAREDEVIL #16
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Colorist: Javier Rodriguez
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Previously in Daredevil: Having had enough of Daredevil’s hijinks with a memory disk containing all the information regarding the villain organizations of the world, Doctor Doom kidnapped the hero and subjected him to all manor of experimentation that ultimately lead to an injection of nanobots that severed the Daredevil’s senses.

INSIDE THE MIND OF A HERO

There are two stories that are told in this issue. The first focuses on the Avengers – specifically Tony Stark, Dr. Strange, and Hank Pym, doing everything they can to repair Matt’s brain damage and remove the nanobots from his system. To do this, Hank shrinks down and battles the bots from the inside. Now, you might think this would cause some damage to the brain, and in a way it does as Matt begins to experience some of Hank’s memories due to radioactive powers, science, and things that only make sense in the mind of writer, Mark Waid. It works as a way to get Matt his powers back, and it gives readers a way for Daredevil to connect to the rest of the superheroes of the Marvel Universe. I really like how Mr. Waid is able to spin a tale that features very little of the title character, and still make it engaging.

The second part of the issues features the breakup of the law firm of Nelson and Murdock. Foggy Nelson has found something in Matt’s desk that he believes shows that Matt is still not in his right mind, and it is the straw that broke the camel’s back, as Foggy demands Murdock leave the firm until he gets the help Nelson believes he needs. Again, Mr. Waid brings the life of Matt Murdock the attention it needs as everything doesn’t have to be capes and tights. What works here is how far the pair have come since the first issue of Mark Waid’s run. The first issue had the duo walking down the streets of New York having meaningful conversations that true friends often have, so reading Nelson kick Matt to the curb is a (relatively) big change in the relationship between the two friends.

Mr. Waid doesn’t fill the pages with meaningless dialogue; each word uttered and each monologue moment has meaning, feeling, and impact on the reader and the story.  On the downside, t seems like Daredevil’s powers are returned to the status quo fairly quickly. It would have been interesting to see these new powers Matt manifested play out for an issue or two, but I can understand the need to push through certain plot points NOW! in order to get ready for the next big thing.

CHRIS SAMNEE LOVE

Chris Samnee’s art is evocative of the art from the ‘60s, so reading this issue is looking at a lost treasure from decades ago. I really do enjoy Mr. Samnee’s art so much, that it pains me to see Tony Stark and Stephen Strange looking like exact duplicates of one another. Seriously, if the colorist had accidentally colored one of Tony Stark’s hair highlight white, readers would have a difficult time telling the two apart. Still, that issue aside, I’m sad to see Samnee take a break from the series, and I can’t wait to see him return.

BOTTOM LINE: READ IT

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be actively seeking out new issues of Daredevil, I would have called you a filthy liar, but if you told me today, that I’m going to continue to seek out Mark Waid’s Daredevil series, I’d probably give you a slap on the back and ask if you’ve read the good word in the pages of the book. The pairing of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee is a win/win as far as I’m concerned. Daredevil continues to be a great ride and I’m giving Daredevil #16 4 out of 5 Stars.

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