Every Wednesday, JP makes the after-work run to his local downtown comic book shop. Comics arrive on Wednesdays you see and JP, fearful that the latest issue will sell out, rushes out to purchase his copy. This regular, weekly column will highlight a particularly interesting release, written in short order, of course, because JP has to get his – before someone else does!
Daredevil #1
Written by: Mark Waid
Illustrated by: Paolo Manuel Rivera and Marcos Martin
Marvel Comics
Daredevil.
Yeah, you remember him. By day, he’s Matt Murdoch, lawyer to the downtrodden and the courtroom enemy of organized crime. At night, he’s the scarlet-clad, blind, New York crime fighter with a heightened sense of super hearing.
And he’s in a brand new series.
What’s that you say? Daredevil already has a series? Nope. Had is the operative word here.
You see, Daredevil, over the past few years has been put through the ringer in his monthly series by acclaimed writers such as Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker and Andy Diggle. Under the pen of these fine gents, the Man Without Fear’s secret identity was revealed to the public, arch villain Kingpin came to prominence once again, a usurper took on the persona of Daredevil, the FBI got involved in Murdoch’s life and our favourite blind superhero assumed leadership of the evil ninja organization, the Hand.
Somebody’s had a pretty busy half-decade!
In attempting to overcome arguably the most difficult time in his fictitious life, Matt Murdock abdicated responsibility of New York (leaving his monthly comic) and went walkabout through the United States, trying to find some sort of raison d’etra. He found it in the pages of the Daredevil: Reborn miniseries late last year, and has now come home to rebuild both his law practice and his legendary status as one of comicdom’s greatest heroes.
Much praised writer, Mark Waid, will be ushering in Daredevil’s new status quo. In fact, after such a depressing string of failures for the character over the past few years, Waid has stated that he’s looking forward to “letting Matt win again.” And that’s got to be a refreshingly good thing for everybody involved.
So, if you’re thirsting for high adventure along the rooftops, city sites – and especially city sounds of New York – look no further than the gorgeous cover to Daredevil #1 (by series artist Paolo Manuel Rivera). That image alone sums up what the Man Without Fear is all about.
Show none this Wednesday and make the run!
