by Alan Rapp on December 10, 2013
in Comics
Daredevil and Misty Knight‘s adventures continue as their helicopter gets shot down miles from Cuba on their way to track down the kingpin whose men kidnapped Matt Murdock’s latest client. Eventually the pair make it to land only to face new threats including the rocket-launcher-totting Carmen Averez and the kingpin’s soldiers.
The quips and sexual tension between the two characters continue throughout the issue (as does Misty’s disappointment about not having her way with the hero under the moonlight). There’s plenty of action as well and an important reveal Misty’s insight on their target which sets up next month’s final issue of both the arc and the anthology.
There are some fun moments here, but the issue is really used to set-up the various conflicts in next month’s finale. Although it hasn’t been as good as Mark Waid‘s run on the regular title, I’ve enjoyed seeing other writers and artists play with the character over the past few months in these isolated tales. For fans.
[Marvel, $3.99]
Here’s my look back at the ten best single comic issues from the past year. Including ongoing series, one-shots, and mini-series, the only limitations I put on this list was that the comic had to have been released in 2013 (no reprints) and I limited myself to only a single issue from any one title. Because I was focusing on standout issues rather than consistently strong comics every month several of my favorite series missed the cut, but, if time permits, I may work up my regular list of best comic series of the past year as well.
[click to continue…]
by Alan Rapp on November 29, 2013
in Comics
Daredevil‘s unusual adventure in the South continues as he finds himself shot by locals who take him for one of the monsters and then saved by the Legion of Monsters, repaying his earlier attempt to save them from a lynch mob in the last issue. However, the hero finds himself in a stand-off with the group who attack him again once they realize the dangerous information he’s after.
After coming to an understanding with the group, and finally armed with the knowledge of what the Darkhold is, Daredevil sets out to confront Lucien Sinclair, a local wizard of the Sons of the Serpent with pages from the magical totem which could cause serious problems for everyone involved (and which it appears Daredevil has his own plans).
Like the last issue, Daredevil #33 is weird and goofy adventure but I thought the humor worked better this time around. Daredevil’s right of passage to get to Sinclair works well, as does the panel showing the pissed off hero finally confronting the wizard. Worth a look.
[Marvel, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on November 12, 2013
in Comics
The mini-series final arc begins here as Matt Murdock heads down to Miami with a witness and agents of the FBI to protect the lawyer’s latest client, a dishwasher unfortunate to witness a drug dealer stab a man to death in a back alley.
Murdock gets a couple of surprises while enjoying the lush surroundings. The first, running into Misty Knight at the hotel pool, is rather pleasant. The second, having his witness be abducted and seeing the man’s FBI protector gunned-down in front of him, isn’t as much fun. Together Daredevil and Misty night search for the missing witness who both fear is already dead, a search which will lead them to take on the kingpin of Cuba as the story continues.
I always enjoy Daredevil’s various flirtations with a host of female and criminals who can’t get enough of Daredevil (seriously, blind lawyer is like catnip for the super-hero/villain set). The sexual tension between the pair is obvious, and entertaining, as is the art by Thony Silas. Worth a look.
[Marvel, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on October 30, 2013
in Comics
Daredevil #32 begins with the anticlimactic result of the Jester‘s trap (which, as expected, is so obviously false it’s dispensed with in only a handful of panels). Mark Waid tries to see the humor in a villain refusing to believe Matt Murdock is truly blind, but the macabre nature of a lynched Foggy Nelson doll simply doesn’t work on any level.
From these humble beginnings the comic picks up as Daredevil enlists the help of Dr. Strange for information about the Sons of the Serpent and the cult’s magic book which offers the opportunity for a funny, if immensely cheap, stab at the people of Kentucky.
The comic ends with Daredevil interrupting a good ‘ol Southern lynch mob only to later realize the group is after actual monsters and he may have chosen the wrong side. The result is a somewhat forced Halloween adventure that ends in yet another cliffhanger and more trouble and no new answers for our hero. For fans.
[Marvel, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on October 5, 2013
in Comics
The second-half of writer/artist David Lapham’s story about Daredevil chasing around a 10-inch imp around New York City doesn’t have quite the same zany feel given the murder of Buggit’s friend in the final panel of last month’s issue. Although the odd little man had good intentions to help his friend escape a murder conviction, his actions actually directly led to the murder.
With no time, and various distractions in his way such as the Shocker who escapes police custody and a giant monster in the middle of Manhattan the Avengers are trying to contain, Daredevil once again chasing the little man through the city. The difference this time is Buggit has strapped himself with a suicide bomb and is out to make sure the mobster who had his friend killed pays for it.
Although the end is far too tidy (and convenient) for my tastes, and the second issue isn’t as fun as the first, the mini-series second arc kept my interest all the way through the end (which is more than I can say for the first arc). For fans.
[Marvel, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on September 23, 2013
in Comics
There are equal parts good and bad to writer Mark Waid’s thinly-veiled look at Treyvon Martin as Daredevil jumps into action when a Civil Rights leader apparently gives the names and addresses of twelve jurors to an incensed public following the acquittal of a man who gunned down a defenseless black teen and demands they take violent action.
Of course the circumstances are nothing more than more behind-the-scenes manipulation of the the Sons of the Serpent, but that doesn’t stop Daredevil from having to put out the fire caused by the stunt (with the help of storm-cloud-seeding giant ants).
The ants are cool, as is the nice hospital sequence as Foggy tries to inspire other patients with Daredevil’s example. However, once again the ridiculous behind-the-scenes power of the Sons of the Serpent storyline doesn’t quite work for me, and, surprisingly, several panels from artist Chris Samnee look uncharacteristically rushed and not up to snuff. The cliffhanger ending hinting and the suicide of Foggy feels equally half-assed. Hit-and-Miss.
[Marvel, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on September 10, 2013
in Comics
Somedays it just doesn’t pay to be a super-hero. Writer/artist David Lapham takes over with a new story involving Daredevil chasing down the 10-inch nuisance known as Buggit who just stole crucial evidence from a case involving Matt Murdock’s latest client. Most of the comic features Daredevil becoming increasingly frustrated with being unable to apprehend the little S.O.B. who, while leading him through a wild goose chase all over New York, continues to put our hero in harms way including dropping him right into the path to the Shocker.
Although I didn’t stick around to see how Lee Weeks‘ first arc of the anthology ended, a new writer/artist and the appearance of the Shocker on the cover (who sadly only appears on a couple of pages) made me pick this one up. Doing double duty, Lapham captures the spirit of the character (and the ridiculous situation he finds himself in) while providing several great panels of Daredevil in action.
After a mostly fun lighthearted affair I was a little sad to see the comic take such a dark turn on the final page. Although I’d recommend this issue, I’m not sure I like where the story is headed. Worth a look.
[Marvel, $2.99]
by Alan Rapp on August 26, 2013
in Comics
Matt Murdock‘s life gets even more complicated when former Assistant District Attorney Kristen McDuffie takes Foggy‘s place as his new law partner and Daredevil is approached by an alien seeking sanctuary while fleeing the wrath of the Silver Surfer.
Although the Surfer is a tad too emotional here, which can be explained by the Achian’s powers of persuasion and distorting perception, I enjoyed writer Mark Waid’s take on the character even if the issue falls back on the most basic of comic tropes: a misunderstanding to pit two heroes against each other.
Daredevil gets his chance to fly the Surfer’s board and take down a cosmic bad guy, but in true Murdock fashion the comic ends on a downbeat as Murdock takes the lying alien’s “truth” to heart.
In an age when nearly everything being written is planned in advance to put out in a single arc trade paperback one-shots like this are a dying breed. And that’s too bad, because Waid and artist Chris Samnee prove how good such issues can be. Must-read.
[Marvel, $3.99]
