Filed under: Comic Reviews, Marvel Comics | Tags: Ben Urich, Bill Sienkiewicz, Brian Michael Bendis, Bullseye, Daredevil, David Mack, Kingpin, Klaus Janson, Matt Hollingsworth
Opening mid-fight, this 8-part series sees Brian Michael Bendis & David Mack co-write what appears to be the final days of Daredevil – colour me intrigued 😀
Having dabbled in Daredevil for what feels like forever there has always been something interesting about his topsy-turvy duel-existence. As much for his life-saving, villain-fighting heroics as his mistake-ridden personal life but even within that, he’s always had his friends and has always been a protector to Hells Kitchen. Bendis & Mack lay things out on the line from the off as we see a final battle between Daredevil & Bullseye play out in all it’s bloody, brutal & shocking glory. Ending with a surprise this is really a precursor to handing the reins to reporter Ben Urich.
Urich knows more about Daredevil aka Matt Murdoch than most but as he takes centre stage in this issue he’s become increasingly disinterested in being a reporter as a result of the opening events from this issue. As the world watches the battle online over and over again and the Daily Bugle reaches the end of its life there’s a grim feeling to this issue that grinds away at the gears of the story on offer…..but then that’s the magic of bringing that real-world vibe to an unreal universe.
Urich finds his reporter hat, courtesy of a J. Jonah Jamieson ultimatum and the realization that no one else should even think about writing Matt’s final appearance in the papers. So the article virtually writes itself as he lays out the progression from a child in an accident to lawyer/crimefighter and onward further to his elevation to Kingpin of the city. His investigation takes him further though as he finds a previously unseen version of DD’s final battle and a clear indication of a mystery last word spoken.
This is all just the beginning of a deep and intriguing chapter in the life of Matt Murdoch and Daredevil and it’s seems all the more bizarre given that it’s happening after his demise…..but then you’ve got a hint as the issue closes that there is even more complexity in this series than fist expected. A dark, brutal Daredevil tale with gritty, realistic artwork from Klaus Janson (pencils), Bill Sienkiewicz (finished art & paintings) and Matt Hollingsworth (colours) giving a true sense of realism. Strong writing develops the characters well and after one issue – I don’t know where the hell this is going to go but I can’t wait to find out.
9/10
G-Man
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