A few months ago a trio of new ‘#1’ books were announced by Marvel and I wasn’t interested in any of them. Moon Knight by Brian Bendis didn’t excite me because….well it’s Bendis. I like Greg Rucka but if I have to hear someone trying to integrate the Punisher into the Marvel U for the millionth time I’m gonna pull my hair out. Then we have Daredevil by Mark Waid and once again we have another promise of a ‘lighter, less serious’ Daredevil. We’ve been hearing that old song and dance for years and no one ever seemed to want to turn Daredevil out of his angsty hole of despair. But then suddenly the artists were announced for Daredevil with Paolo Rivera and backups by Marcos Martin and I went from ‘meh’ to ‘holy shit’ real fast. So whatever, it’s a slow week and you got some great talent on a book, it’s got to be good.

Not only was this book good but dare I say it (?) it was fucking fantastic. Hell it was my Pick of the Week even before I laid eyes on that GORGEOUS back-up with Marcos Martin. But before I get to the mouth watering art, let me state that for once a writer has kept his promise on the book. This is a much lighter and funnier Daredevil I’ve seen in a very long time. Now he isn’t cracking wise like Deadpool, but it’s nice to see someone actually liking their job and also providing some quips during a fight. Matt Murdock has been Marvel’s ‘#1 Emo’ for way to long and it’s freshing to see this character make a one-eighty in his persona. Sometimes Waid can go a bit overboard with the quips (I doubt Murdock would ever use the word ‘bitch’ in that context) but it was still great to see. Then you have the back up explaining further on Murdock’s new sense on life and it finally seems to cement that this new Daredevil is here to stay.

But let’s go to the heart of this issue and let’s not mince words here. This is a GORGEOUS issue from beginning to end. Paolo Rivera is basically Marcos Martin’s long lost brother if you want a comparison to his style. Everything in this book is vibrant and colorful thanks to colorist Javier Rodriguez. I love how Rivera will try and cover up Daredevil’s eyes as much as possibly in the issue. I love his interpretation of Daredevil’s ‘vision’, especially at the final sequence when ‘anti-radar chaff’ is shot at him. But other great detail touches like character’s hair blowing in the wind or the use of the Spot’s ‘spots’ really show a lot of work put into each panel. Finally, we have what could’ve been POTW material itself with the backup involving Marcos Martin. Now he’s done this two page spread idea before, having character walking around with no natural panels separating the action. But it’s the way he handles how Daredevil copes with sound smell that really makes it a sight to behold. Again the colorist, Muntsa Vincente, should be credited to make this book even more gorgeous to look at then it already is. You put your money where your mouth is and my money is on the art alone in this title.

So in a few short months I went from totally uninterested in a ‘new’ Daredevil book to make this my Pick of the Week. You could make this pick just on the art alone because Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin put 100% (and then some) into these pages. But that would be a disservice to Mark Waid who goes full gusto on making this a new and improved Daredevil and sticking with those guns. I have to pick the next issue up solely based on the final page because if the cover is truthful for once in a comic….I want to see this fight in full glory by Rivera.