Pick of the Week

July 20, 2011 – Daredevil #1

What did the
iFanboy
community think?

1016
Pulls
Avg Rating: 4.7
iFanboy Community Pick of the Week Percentage: 0.9%
 
Users who pulled this comic:
Story by Mark Waid
Art by Paolo Rivera & Joe Rivera
Colors by Javier Rodriguez
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover by Paolo Rivera, John Romita Sr., Neal Adams & Marcos Martin

Size: pages
Price: 3.99

Thank you, Mark Waid.

The overused grim and gritty paradigm in superhero comics has been going on for a very long time. Comics haven’t been for kids anymore for awhile, and since Frank Miller took Daredevil down a very dark path in the early ’80s, every writer has found it their mission to torture Matt Murdock as much as possible. Some of the stories were fantastic, there is no doubt. But I’d had enough tortured Matt Murdock, and dropped off the book some time back. That ground is well turned, and I feel like we’ve gotten about as much fruit from it as we’re ever going to.

Still, I really like Daredevil and Matt Murdock. Of all the superheroes out there, he’s a very unique case. His circumstances and situation are still intriguing. His job, his blindness, his childhood, his faith, and his friends all combine to make a character who isn’t quite like anyone else in the Marvel universe, and I’ve certainly missed it.

So it was with great joy that I read Mark Waid’s fresh take on Daredevil, where the writer basically wiped away all that impossibly heavy baggage that’s been saddling Matt for the last two decades. He’s going to be fearless and live in the moment all the time, both in and out of costume, and with just a small amount of exposition, this is where we are, and I can finally read Daredevil again. Did they mention the fact that he had the crazy wife and became the head of a group of evil ninjas who erected a scary temple on the West Side? Nope. We’re moving forward now. Let’s not look back too much.

Except for one little bit: Matt was still outed by the press back in Brian Michael Bendis’ run, and, canny writer that he is, Mark Waid spied a thread that would be useful, considering the fact that Matt is a lawyer, and that’s the kind of thing that would make his life very challenging, and without explaining exactly what’s going down, I’ll say that I love the way Matt handles it, both with the guy at the coffee stand, and at higher levels. But if we’re going to say that these characters live in a world just like our world, it makes sense.

While I was happy for the new tone, the thing that really impressed me in this issue is the energy and vitality it brought to portraying Matt’s powers, as well as those of the villain, The Spot. The opening action sequence was pure magic. From the first page, basically giving us the Daredevil primer, to the fight with The Spot, to the way Matt picked out who the liar in the crowd was, the book soared. The scene came to a head when, seemingly for the hell of it, Matt stole a big kiss from the bride of the wedding he was saving, the daughter of a mob boss, it must be said. This entire sequence was note perfect, and I could read it over and over, and wonder why my imagination does not function as impressively as Mark Waid’s.

Yet to give Waid all the credit would be quite wrong. Paolo Rivera was exactly the artist this issue needed. In addition to having a stunning, simple style, he brings a 180 degree tonal difference to the book from where it has lingered. If you’re going to do away with the stifling darkness, Rivera is just the right way to signal that. Instead of rainy night after rainy night of backgrounds, Rivera opted for something brighter and cleaner. It’s still Daredevil, but it’s just a little more fun, and a little less gloomy. His rendering of the Spot and that fight was award-worthy, and the fact that he put a smile on Matt’s face in this book elevated the whole thing. It was an exercise of a team working together towards a goal, and it was a complete success.

Another part of the team was Marcos Martin, who provided the backup feature, which really laid out the new world of Matt Murdock for readers. They did so by having Matt explain what was going on to his oldest friend and partner, Foggy. One interesting touch is that Foggy’s not sure he’s going for it, which is a little nod that we’re not going to forget the past, because it does matter. Using his inimitable style, we take a tour through New York City, and get to see how the blind, yet gifted, Matt Murdock navigates and experiences the world. It’s not really anything new to old fans, but the way it was portrayed is nothing short of wonderful. This is who Matt is now, and from this point going forward, you know why. And he likes apricots.

Had enough Daredevil before? Never could get into it? Try it now. At the very least you’ll be seeing a set of creators working at their utmost, and showing you why a guy like Mark Waid is such a treasured institution in comics, and why Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin are some of the best the future has to offer. Daredevil is fun again!

Josh Flanagan
Always stop for a kiss!
josh@ifanboy.com

Comments

  1. Not through all of my books yet but so far I couldn’t agree more. What a fun book and amazing art.

  2. The only thing I thought was a bit out of character was the kiss of the Mob bride, other than that I liked the tone.  Because the Bendis/Brubaker thing was good, nut it was time for a tonal change in the book.

  3. Really loved this issue. Everything about it was enjoyable, definitely my pick of the week

  4. It is a pretty pathetic week for me. I only had a few books up for POW contention. And Daredevil easily won my pick if only for the new take on the character and the great art. I especially loved the way Paolo depicted The Spot. Great review.

  5. Am i the only one who isn’t looking forward to return of the swashbuckling, more fun Daredevil? I read DD because i liked the grim and gritty noir crime stories that the book had been telling for the past 10 years. Sure that style has become a real trope in superhero comics, but it always felt at home in DD. Its why i loved the book, making DD one of my all time favourite characters. By taking that away, you bring him back to his original “Spider-man lite” of the 1960s. Glad people are happy for this new direction, it’s just a shame it’s not for me

  6. Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:

    Well, it’s not swashbuckling without reason. And it’s not turning away from the grim and gritty without consequence. There’s an underlying darkness in that Matt is burying the bad feelings. It’s clear that it’s all a fascade. 

  7. I think DD works best as a fairly grim tale in which Matt is impulsively driven and utterly fearless to a fault. However, this issue completely won me over! I do hope Waid injects SOME of the twisted psychosis of his Irredeemable world (certainly when DD’s most famous rogues start to pop up ) But, for the time being, I’m really enjoying this tone. And Foggy and DD’s cast should definitely maintain a relatively light tone even when/if Matt gets a little crazy as he jumps into some serious !@#$ 

  8. @PaulMontgomery Well if that’s the case and they haven’t completely abandoned the tone and characterization that Matt has had for the past 10 years, I may check it out.
    I do love fun comics, i really do, just not in Daredevil but this “underlying darkness” you mention has now kind of piqued my interest. 

  9. Just like Batman, they can lighten the character without making him all smiles and rainbows.  Looking forward to this book.  

  10. Wow. Just…wow. As soon as I put the book down I felt like this was the beginning of something amazing. Here’s hoping Waid, Rivera, and Martin stick around for a truly epic run!

  11. When I was a kid, before trades were all the rage and I was just getting into comics, I had this dog eared copy of a collection of Spider-Man/Daredevil team-ups from the 60-90’s. I always thought Spidey was awesome, but I was captivated and intrigued by DD. A swashbuckling hero with unique powers, a unique job and a fascinating outlook, having just as much fun beating the bad guys as Pete was.

    This issue recaptured that fun and wonder I had with and for the character when I was young. Great book and great review.

  12. I started reading Daredevil Karl Kesel and Cary Nord’s great run about 10 years ago so this is a welcome return to form.

  13. damn you Flanagan! i hmmd and hawed in the my store with this book in hand. Looked it over, liked the art, but i wasn’t so sure, haven’t been a big DD guy. I think I’m going back to my LCS tomorrow. First Ron’s POW of Wolverine a number of weeks ago, and maybe Josh’s DD pick seem to be getting me to read books i didn’t buy before. 

  14. This is NOT my thing.  I agree the grim and gritty has been overdone..but this just seemed..off.  

  15. Indeed the best POW by far. 

    Matthew

  16. Great review josh.

    I picked it up on a slow week and I made it my pick as well. Let’s face facts though, the best thing about this book is the art and the story is second. Rivera and Martin just knocked this out of the park. Waid isn’t a slouch though and he did deliver on a more ‘fun’ Daredevil book. If anything I want to see Daredevil fight Cap next month just to see the mind-numbing gorgeous art in it. 

  17. This was really good stuff. I totally get where you’re coming from about dark and serious superhero comics getting tired. This had a really good vibe to it. Reminded me of something i might have picked up in my youth and had fun with. Art and story all really top notch. Loved the depiction of the “Sonar”….really neat stuff. can’t wait to see where this goes…

  18. Personally, this is by far the best single issue of an on-going series that I’ve read this year.  Not since Rucka and Williams III on Detective have I read a superhero comic that felt truly progressive.  This is the start of something special.

  19. Finally! I love Daredevil/Matt Murdock. Frank Miller’s Visionaries is what hooked me into super hero comics. This is going to be fun.

  20. About to read this.  Sooooo excited.  I am exhaused from a 14 hour, two job workday, but I do not care.  Daredevil comes before sleep.

  21. Never really read a DD comic where he wasn’t incredibly gloomy, and even then I loved it.  For reasons I’ve never been able to put my finger on, DD has been one of my favorite comic book heroes, but I never really read much about him. 

    Now, if I ever need a reason for why he’s one of my favorites, I’ll just show people the first half of this issue. 

    Thats why.

  22. Kiss of the week!

    Uhm, pick, I mean. Pick of the week. 

  23. Avatar photo Arrrggghhh (@Arrrggghhh) says:

    Totally agree: POTW!

    My only gripe is that we have yet again — another of Marvel’s renumbered series.
    I’m sure if they could, Marvel would make ALL of their comics #1 issues.

    BUT, having said all that – this issue certainly feels like a new beginning . . .  

  24. This was great.  As a huge DD fan, this is exactly what I wanted in a “reboot” of the character.  It was lighthearted and fun with a little bit of seriousness and the art was gorgeous.  I’m looking forward to what they have in store.

  25. loved the daily bugle page with the kiss, just damn good storytelling

  26. What a great issue!  Totally agreed on PotW status.  I loved the way Matt’s radar was portrayed for the reader.  Especially the panel with the radar version of The Spot.

  27. YAY fresh Daredevil, Im so happy with everyone involved with this comic

  28. Spot-on review, Josh.

  29. WOOOM WOOOM WOOOM SONAR VISION

  30. This was a fantastic comic from beginning to end. I haven’t been this excited for DD in years!

  31. I tried it, didn’t do it for me. I’ll try another issue or two to be fair though.

  32. A complete origin story in 1 page. 

  33. Well deserved pow.  Everyone’s calling it fun and that’s exactly what it is, yet it’s also substantial and fulfilling.  I kind of wish the Spot wasn’t dispatched so quickly, because Waid actually made him seem a lot more creepy and dangerous.  The art was beyond special, it was absolute perfection.  This felt like the perfect marriage of American and European storytelling, I loved every page. Including that kiss!  It played just right to Matt’s love of the ladies…oh DD, you rogue!

  34. I think the worst thing about this book is the fact that we have to wait another month. This was totally fun and showed Daredevils “radar” sense in a very dynamic way. I really liked that he stole a smooch from the bride and how some noises were highlighted; like the double page spread was by far my favorite panel/page(s).

  35. I really won’t be able to read this due to sideburn issues.

  36. So is this only going to be once a month then? I hope it isn’t, I’ll find it hard to wait another month for issue 2! This was THAT good and exactly how everyone else is describing it – fun.

  37. hated it. it was work to actually finish it. the art carried me through. Daredevil is my favorite superhero, and i have and read tons of 60s-70s DD, but this was poor. i almost threw away my copy. if anyone lives in sacramento, ca i’ll give it to you for free.

  38. I am ecstatic that Mark Waid is at the helm of Daredevil.  This is a great issue and I will be impatiently awaiting issue 2.

  39. Has a book ever gotten more than 80% for pick of the week and match up with iFanboy?

  40. I suprised by how much i enjoyed this. I thought i would hate the lighter tone but i didn’t.

  41. I wish this was available as a subscription title direct from Marvel. I’ll keep checking their website every day and hoping.

  42. While my Picks of the Week haven’t matched up with you guys lately this may be the week. This is a great kick off issue.

  43. This is the way to write a #1 issue! As someone that has never read much Daredevil, this felt like a great introduction to the character. Mark Waid can write one hell of a comic book. 

Leave a Comment