Monday 18 April 2016

Daredevil [2016] #2 - Marvel Comics

DAREDEVIL No. 2, February 2016
Whilst Charles Soule’s version of the titular character in Issue Two of “Daredevil” is undoubtedly one which this comic’s 49,758 strong audience could ‘really sink their teeth into’, the Brooklyn-born writer’s narrative disappointingly doesn’t actually allow Matt Murdock’s alter ego to take the centre stage until halfway through the book, and instead starts by having the blind lawyer pontificating about it being his legal team’s “job to stop” the criminal Tenfingers in a tediously long, dialogue-heavy sequence; “People can believe what they want, and they can do what they want with their money. This is America after all.”

Admittedly this supposedly motivational, lengthy diatribe is interspersed by panels depicting the villainous visionary’s henchmen breaking into the Detention Level of the New York State Supreme Court and literally chopping off prosecution witness Billy Li’s digits. But even this rather grisly warning to any disciples considering defecting from the “crimelord turned cult leader” frustratingly occurs off-screen and thus provides little incentive for any casual peruser not to return this twenty-page periodical back upon the newsagent’s ‘spinner rack’.

Fortunately once the Man Without Fear does ‘show up’ and, having had a “bad day at work”,  begin brutally testing the combat abilities of his “great” protégé Samuel Chung with a seemingly razor-sharp oriental throwing spear, the pace to Soule’s script significantly quickens. Indeed within mere moments the grouchy Hornhead suddenly becomes convinced that instead of relying upon his judicial skills as a lawyer, he should be taking the fight to Tenfingers directly and somewhat impulsively follows an angry Blindspot to the very heart of his enemy’s church simply because there’s no point in “being Daredevil if you can’t leap before you look”.

Equally as unconvincing as Murdock’s rash motivation to face his foe in the criminal’s own lair, is arguably artists Ron Garney and Matt Milla’s decidedly unique look for this comic book. There’s little doubt that such a ‘complete change in direction’ as to the way this title was previously pencilled by Chris Samnee, has radically matured the title’s feel, and seemingly brought the costumed crimefighter “back to the gritty, noir-ish tone that defined it for decades”. Yet the Jiu Jitsu instructor’s breakdowns, coupled with the colorist’s predominantly bland choice of greys and browns, are depressingly bland-looking when used to portray the more sedentary aspects of the storyline, and even something of an acquired taste when it comes to depicting its action.
The regular cover art of "DAREDEVIL" No. 2 by Ron Garney & Matt Milla

4 comments:

  1. What an interesting and in depth article, and happens to be about my personal favourite super hero. In my opinion, Daredevil is one of the most interesting and mature themed of the Marvel Comic Book heroes.

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    1. Thanks very much Hil. I got hooked on "Daredevil" a couple years ago when I started to review his previous volume by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. This latest series, post "Secret Wars" is a bit more maturely handled and certainly looks different to what has gone before :-)

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  2. WOW, Hillers was right, she told me to come take a look at this blog, man oh MAN you know your comics. I`d dead impressed.

    Yes Daredevil sure has something special doesn't he. He`s probably my favourite top, a nose behind Batman.

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    1. Thanks Stephen. I'm not sure I know my comics but I certainly like them, and that tends to help me remember facts about previous issues. This current "Daredevil" series has only just started (about 6 issues in) and has been written as a 'new to DD' title. However as you probably picked up from my review I'm still not convinced its my cup of tea - Although the first few issues of Hornhead's previous series weren't either, and I thought Mark Waid & Chris Samnee's stint was awesome by its end. Thanks very much for commenting :-)

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