Daredevil

• Title: Daredevil #14
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Chris Samnee

Picking up from the previous issue’s cliffhanger, Daredevil finds himself unfeed and sensory deprived in a Latverian prison for more than 17 hours. By the time Chancellor Exchequer Beltane shows up to pronounce sentence on him for “fiscal terrorism” the man without fear is weakened and primed to be gassed.

Daredevil escapes the castle but he learns that although the mysterious gas didn’t kill him, it is playing havoc on his senses. Slowly his sense of touch, taste and smell leave him making the blind lawyer rely even heavier on his radar sense as he attempts to make it out of Latveria as quickly as possible.

The latest issue reminded me of D.O.A. with Daredevil standing in for Dennis Quaid‘s character (not a good thing). The purposeful further teasing of what Foggy found, and a profound decision for the character, makes me care even less about the subplot that I did when it was introduced last month. Still worth a look, but this issue feels far too much like filler.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil #13
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Khoi Pham

After being interupted by the Black Spectre on his date with Kristin McDuffie in the last issue, Daredevil dons his red long johns, grabs the Omega Drive and heads for Times Square where he draws out not only Black Spectre, but A.I.M., HYDRA, Agence Byzantine, and The Secret Empire.

Although he holds his own, eventually the numbers are simply too much and one of the groups makes off with the Omega Drive, but, then again, that was all part of Daredevil’s plan. The twist works well-enough, but given that Daredevil knows what’s happening his internal monologue during the fight doesn’t quite work once the reveal has been made.

The issue seems to wrap-up the Omega Drive storyline, at least until the epilogue where Daredevil finds himself transported to Latveria against his will. Next month should see a pretty good matchup of Daredevil vs. Doctor Doom as well as let us in on what Foggy was shocked to find in Matt’s desk. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil #12
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Chris Samnee

Matt Murdock and a blindfolded Assistant District Attorney Kristin McDuffie finally make it out on a date. Although the latest issue may be light on action there’s plenty worthy of discussion.

Daredevil’s had his share of lady loves over the years, including a recent tease of a possible relationship with the Black Cat, but I’ve got to say I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Murdock’s flirtations with the ADA who’s so sure he’s Daredevil she’s begun taunting him relentlessly.

The story centers around the pair walking around the fair as Matt explains his relationship to Foggy and how the college roommates who didn’t get along became best friends and partners when a vengeful professor named Leopold York tried to get Foggy expelled from law school.

The story works well, and the irony isn’t lost on Kristen as Daredevil talks about how he used to be “a little bit smug” back then. The story works to allow both Kristen and new readers to gain insight into the history of the Nelson & Murdock. Worth a look.

[Daredevil, $2.99]

• Title: Daredevil #10.1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Khoi Pham

I dislike zero issues. Even more so I dislike the idea of Marvel’s .1 issues, and yet somehow the House of Ideas has gotten me to shell out money for both over seven days. Honestly, other than Moon Knight (a book going away far too soon), I can’t imagine I’d have picked up another .1 issue. But this is Mark Waid’s Daredevil, and (as I expected) I got my money’s worth.

Most of the comic deals with Matt Murdock visiting Pyromania who, much to Murdock’s amusement, embellishes the tale of how Daredevil took him down before attempting to use the lawyer as a hostage to get out of prison. By the time the guards arrive Murdock is unharmed and unaware of how the super-villain ended up beaten to a pulp on the floor of the conference room.

The issue also moves forward the Omegadrive storyline (far more so than the last few regularly numbered issues) as Daredevil uses the device to burn Black Spectre for sending the Black Cat to steal it.

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