Matt Murdock’s life as Daredevil had taken a dark turn, but now things are starting to look brighter. Now that the darkness returns will it affect the title for the worse? Major Spoilers has your review to find out.
DAREDEVIL #18
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Javier Rodriguez
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Daredevil: Matt Murdock was captured in Latveria, rescued by the Avengers, and then returned home. After his partner Foggy found the remains of Matt’s father hidden in their office, he fires Matt from their law practices. What or who is digging up Matt’s past?
GOOD THINGS CAN’T LAST FOREVER
This issue begins as Foggy hears the plea of Mr. Santiago to help him with his sister concerning the murder of “alleged” drug kingpin Victor Hierra. During this visit, Foggy clearly shows his disdain for Matt. Meanwhile, Matt, returning from a date, finds his former (and mentally insane) wife Milla in his bed as if nothing is wrong. Matt and Foggy agree to help one another with their problems. Matt sets out to track down a lead for Foggy while Foggy looks into Milla’s return. Turns out Milla is still in the mental institution and Matt’s sanity continues to be questioned.
Say what you want about Bendis and Brubaker’s runs on Daredevil, but it can’t be denied that a lot of it was pretty dark stuff. Waid took over the title and brought a breath of fresh air to the book, making Matt Murdock more positive and giving him a fresh start, both as a character and to the title as a whole. Turns out good things can’t last forever. Waid is starting to bring back some of Daredevil’s dark past, showing that while the structure of the character may be sound, the base is still a little weak. He’s spent most of his run proving that Daredevil doesn’t need to be doom and gloom, but rather a positive character able to put his past behind him. I’ve enjoyed everything Waid has done with this book. He brings back elements from Bendis and Brubaker’s runs on the book, proving that he hasn’t completely wiped the slate clean and I appreciate that. Unless you reboot the title, it’s hard to ignore things that have happened to a character. While I’m not a big stickler for continuity, it’s nice to have consistency in a book. Milla’s return was an unexpected shock, though the end reveal was easy to guess. This is used to further attack Matt not physically but mentally. The changing relationship between Foggy and Matt feels like a natural progression for the characters considering what they have both gone through. Waid accomplishes all this but still manages to keep the book feeling positive and not all doom and gloom. Each month I find myself excited about the book and where it’s headed as Waid just knocks it out of the park. This is a book not just for fans of Daredevil, but also fans of great comics.
LIKE CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER
Chris Samnee and Mark Waid must be mentally connected to each other because the two fit together like chocolate and peanut butter (or whatever foods you like). I thought Waid and Paolo Rivera worked well together but this pairing is almost unnatural. Samnee does a wonderful job throwing in details such as the word Murdock being scratched off of Foggy’s notepad and the heartbeat pattern in Milla’s chest as Matt sees her with his radar sense. Dialogue scenes are just as intriguing as scenes involving the good old fighty fighty. His Daredevil has a retro feel making him all the more fit for the story Waid is telling. Both Waid and Samnee do a great job at showing and not just telling, something that isn’t always successful in comics. Seeing this work makes me want to pick up the Rocketeer book that the two are also working on. Great stuff.
BOTTOM LINE: A MUST READ FOR COMIC FANS
Month in and month out I’m treated to a Daredevil book that is exciting not just for fans of the character, but fans of comics. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee have something really special going on and the accolades that the book has received are well-deserved. It’s a must read book for everyone and I look forward to where it goes from here. Daredevil #18 earns 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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