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Daredevil (1998) (Collected Editions)
Daredevil, Vol. 4: Underboss
Who put out a hit on the Kingpin...and Matt Murdock? The mystery man named Mr. Silke has inspired Wilson Fisk's lieutenants to rise up and take down the Kingpin of Crime! What is the connection between the underbosses' uprising and the contract on DD's life? The true-crime creative team of Brian Michael Bendis (Powers, ALIAS) and Alex Maleev (Sam and Twitch) reveal all! This 144-page trade paperback collects DAREDEVIL #26-#31!
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
10 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,417 books2,570 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
March 12, 2017
A young upstart mobster makes an assassination attempt on the recently blinded Kingpin while mercenaries are targeting Daredevil – mercs who somehow know that he’s secretly Matt Murdock!
Aw, man! This was disappointing. I’d got it in my head that all of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s Daredevil was mostly good or at least decent but Daredevil, Volume 4: Underboss was surprisingly low quality.
Daredevil is just doing his usual Daredevil schtick: fighting crappy villains while taking on The Man in court as the blind lawyer. It’s unimpressive and pretty dull, even with the novelty “silent” issue where he fights one assassin after another sans words.
The internal mob politics that led up to Kingpin’s hit wasn’t that interesting either. The upstart doesn’t like that Matt Murdock is untouchable and thinks Kingpin’s weak so he decides to have a go at unseating the boss. Meh.
The narrative jumping around too was really bad: it’s today, it’s one week ago, it’s three months ago, it’s today again, it’s two months ago. I don’t need linear plotlines but there are good and bad ways of telling a story like this and Bendis’ approach here was unnecessarily complicated and ineffective. The problem was that he went with the classic approach of attention-grabbing scenes at the start of each issue and cliffhangers at the end so the form dictated the way the story was told to its detriment. That is, if he deviated and went with a less sensationalist style, I think the story would’ve been much better.
Alex Maleev is on good form with his art and I liked some aspects of the story like Kingpin’s wife retaliating for her downed hubby, but unfortunately for me Underboss was underwhelming.
Aw, man! This was disappointing. I’d got it in my head that all of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s Daredevil was mostly good or at least decent but Daredevil, Volume 4: Underboss was surprisingly low quality.
Daredevil is just doing his usual Daredevil schtick: fighting crappy villains while taking on The Man in court as the blind lawyer. It’s unimpressive and pretty dull, even with the novelty “silent” issue where he fights one assassin after another sans words.
The internal mob politics that led up to Kingpin’s hit wasn’t that interesting either. The upstart doesn’t like that Matt Murdock is untouchable and thinks Kingpin’s weak so he decides to have a go at unseating the boss. Meh.
The narrative jumping around too was really bad: it’s today, it’s one week ago, it’s three months ago, it’s today again, it’s two months ago. I don’t need linear plotlines but there are good and bad ways of telling a story like this and Bendis’ approach here was unnecessarily complicated and ineffective. The problem was that he went with the classic approach of attention-grabbing scenes at the start of each issue and cliffhangers at the end so the form dictated the way the story was told to its detriment. That is, if he deviated and went with a less sensationalist style, I think the story would’ve been much better.
Alex Maleev is on good form with his art and I liked some aspects of the story like Kingpin’s wife retaliating for her downed hubby, but unfortunately for me Underboss was underwhelming.
January 4, 2014
Re-reading this book in search of great storytelling moments, and boy does this have 'em. I've read Bendis's DD run from start to finish, years ago, and I tell you I'm on the edge of my seat while reading this. The story is so well-constructed that even when Bendis is spending a few pages on dialogue, in the middle of Matt's pursuit of the truth behind the price on his head, they're well-spent pages. They tell all sorts of tales about the teller and the tellees, they make me ache to be part of the scene (to smell the sweat and smoke and mold), and they immerse you in the nuanced personalities at work.
It's the pacing, stupid. Bendis and Maleev take their sweet time constructing this intricate tale of deception & betrayal, spooling out bits of the timeline just teasing us with the details of how it all came to be, and what will happen next. Just when we get a mouthful of the good stuff, they yank us to another part of the story and give us another morsel to savour, but not enough to feel sated or overstuffed.
This makes me acutely aware of what people are complaining about with Bendis' writing these days - the pacing, the suspense isn't nearly there like it used to be. The tension is often still there - vivid portrayals of life-sized characters squaring off - but this extra level of having fun with the reader's expectations isn't so much there anymore - most of Bendis's stories are straight ahead walk-throughs now, and stretched out rather than these dense articulations of every fatal nuance of the scenery.
It's the pacing, stupid. Bendis and Maleev take their sweet time constructing this intricate tale of deception & betrayal, spooling out bits of the timeline just teasing us with the details of how it all came to be, and what will happen next. Just when we get a mouthful of the good stuff, they yank us to another part of the story and give us another morsel to savour, but not enough to feel sated or overstuffed.
This makes me acutely aware of what people are complaining about with Bendis' writing these days - the pacing, the suspense isn't nearly there like it used to be. The tension is often still there - vivid portrayals of life-sized characters squaring off - but this extra level of having fun with the reader's expectations isn't so much there anymore - most of Bendis's stories are straight ahead walk-throughs now, and stretched out rather than these dense articulations of every fatal nuance of the scenery.
November 3, 2015
This is straight-up crime fiction. A new guy in town wants to take away Kingpin's supreme rule over crime in Hell's Kitchen, and is not above betrayal to do it. I haven't read the first book in this run, so there are some things I had to figure out by context. However, it's clear that Daredevil and Kingpin have reached a sort of equilibrium in their relationship, but the apple cart is about to be upset. And the bid to bring down Kingpin has far-reaching consequences.
While Batman is my favorite crime-fighting vigilante, I have to say that I have a very healthy appreciation for Daredevil. Matt Murdock's sort of a soulmate of Bruce Wayne, although their situations seem far different in some ways. Deep down, they are avowed to fight corruption and crime in their resident cities, and are willing to give every little piece of their bodies and souls in the process.
The artwork is very good. It's gritty and dark, but it fits the mood of this story. I will admit I stay far away from Mafia movies, and this feels uncomfortably close to one of those. However, I do love stories about dark avengers and seekers of justice, especially in our world where might seems to mean right far too often.
As an Elektra girl, her nice little cameo of sorts did my heart glad. I wish my library had more Daredevil. Sigh.
While Batman is my favorite crime-fighting vigilante, I have to say that I have a very healthy appreciation for Daredevil. Matt Murdock's sort of a soulmate of Bruce Wayne, although their situations seem far different in some ways. Deep down, they are avowed to fight corruption and crime in their resident cities, and are willing to give every little piece of their bodies and souls in the process.
The artwork is very good. It's gritty and dark, but it fits the mood of this story. I will admit I stay far away from Mafia movies, and this feels uncomfortably close to one of those. However, I do love stories about dark avengers and seekers of justice, especially in our world where might seems to mean right far too often.
As an Elektra girl, her nice little cameo of sorts did my heart glad. I wish my library had more Daredevil. Sigh.
February 28, 2023
Underboss storyline is really when Bendis digs deep into Daredevil and begins his stellar run.
It starts off with the "death" of kingpin. No spoiler, this happens the first 5-6 pages, but we all know the big bad fatty ain't about to go down that easy. But after those events we are then sent on a sprawling event of weeks and months of planning, backstabbing, learning who Daredevil really is, and how one mobster thinks he's brave enough to not only take down the kingpin but kill Matt Murdock.
This is Mafia heavy, with alot of planning and scheming but it wroks well because daredevil when dark and gritty works well. There's a excellent silent issue where Daredevil is being hunted by a bunch of hitman, it's exciting and brutal all at once with some great fight scenes. One of my favorite issues ever to be honest.
I'm loving my re-read of Bendis run but this is one of the best starting stories of any run to really get you invested into the character and the worldbuilding of Hell's Kitchen.
It starts off with the "death" of kingpin. No spoiler, this happens the first 5-6 pages, but we all know the big bad fatty ain't about to go down that easy. But after those events we are then sent on a sprawling event of weeks and months of planning, backstabbing, learning who Daredevil really is, and how one mobster thinks he's brave enough to not only take down the kingpin but kill Matt Murdock.
This is Mafia heavy, with alot of planning and scheming but it wroks well because daredevil when dark and gritty works well. There's a excellent silent issue where Daredevil is being hunted by a bunch of hitman, it's exciting and brutal all at once with some great fight scenes. One of my favorite issues ever to be honest.
I'm loving my re-read of Bendis run but this is one of the best starting stories of any run to really get you invested into the character and the worldbuilding of Hell's Kitchen.
August 8, 2024
Underboss was a really good story. It would have been a 5 star with better art. The art is that hazy style that can make scenes hard to interpret. But the story is top-notch.
A Chicago mobster named Silke has come to NYC to partner with the Kingpin. But he finds the Kingpin knows who Daredevil is and won't do anything about it. So Silke assassinates Kingpin and puts out a hit on Matt Murdock not Daredevil.
The story of Silke's attempted take over and the introduction of Vanessa Fisk, the Kingpin's wife, was also well done. Generally, Vanessa has been the reason Wilson Fisk was going to go straight (or in certain comics it was) since she disapproved of his criminal activities until her illness. This Vanessa is as ruthless and cold as her husband and her revenge is exquisitely done.
Good story, meh art all make for a 4 star comic.
A Chicago mobster named Silke has come to NYC to partner with the Kingpin. But he finds the Kingpin knows who Daredevil is and won't do anything about it. So Silke assassinates Kingpin and puts out a hit on Matt Murdock not Daredevil.
The story of Silke's attempted take over and the introduction of Vanessa Fisk, the Kingpin's wife, was also well done. Generally, Vanessa has been the reason Wilson Fisk was going to go straight (or in certain comics it was) since she disapproved of his criminal activities until her illness. This Vanessa is as ruthless and cold as her husband and her revenge is exquisitely done.
Good story, meh art all make for a 4 star comic.
May 9, 2022
The plot follows a coup within Kingpin's mob army to overthrow him. He is attacked and left for dead, and the next target is Matt Murdock.
Bendis thinks he is writing God-tier material, but he is just recycling The Godfather in a piss poor attempt. With very poor writing and basic plot, the only thing that keeps this book from getting a 1 star rating, is the artwork which gives the book a dirty, gritty feeling.
Bendis thinks he is writing God-tier material, but he is just recycling The Godfather in a piss poor attempt. With very poor writing and basic plot, the only thing that keeps this book from getting a 1 star rating, is the artwork which gives the book a dirty, gritty feeling.
April 24, 2015
Masterfully written. Great introduction to crime fiction.
March 29, 2022
This was actually lit, didn't expect that. It was a little too much about Kingpin and the boys and less about my boy Matt though.
So Wilson Fisk just got attacked by the son of one of his associates. Then Matt Murdock has a hit out on him which confuses him because it's for Matt, not Daredevil. Someone else knows his identity and wants him dead.
The way this was told was slightly confusing for my dumb ass though because the timeline was all over the place: three months ago, today, last week, today, an hour ago, today. Like please... stop...
I absolutely loved Daredevil's portrayal in this. Dude was a feral devil who kicked ass and that's literally what I'm here for. 😍😍
It was so interesting to see his relationship to Fisk because it was enemy but it wasn't enemy?? It's like when you hate a coworker but you still have to work with them (but worse because your coworker hopefully isn't the kingpin of crime and you're not a crime fighting blind lawyer).
Like Kingpin has been blinded and he's not the main threat anymore. There is a part where someone else wanted Matt Murdock dead and Fisk was like absolutely do not touch the lawyer and it was INTERESTING.
Also Vanessa Fisk was a boss queen and I loved her. So iconic. She fucking cleaned HOUSE.
I really dug the art- it was very gritty and noir and was a perfect vibe to the story. There was even a completely silent issue and it was so well done. Any time where the color is dark but then Daredevil is shining red is always fun.
Four stars and not five because the timeline and it was a lot of underlings talking and planning.
So Wilson Fisk just got attacked by the son of one of his associates. Then Matt Murdock has a hit out on him which confuses him because it's for Matt, not Daredevil. Someone else knows his identity and wants him dead.
The way this was told was slightly confusing for my dumb ass though because the timeline was all over the place: three months ago, today, last week, today, an hour ago, today. Like please... stop...
I absolutely loved Daredevil's portrayal in this. Dude was a feral devil who kicked ass and that's literally what I'm here for. 😍😍
It was so interesting to see his relationship to Fisk because it was enemy but it wasn't enemy?? It's like when you hate a coworker but you still have to work with them (but worse because your coworker hopefully isn't the kingpin of crime and you're not a crime fighting blind lawyer).
Like Kingpin has been blinded and he's not the main threat anymore. There is a part where someone else wanted Matt Murdock dead and Fisk was like absolutely do not touch the lawyer and it was INTERESTING.
Also Vanessa Fisk was a boss queen and I loved her. So iconic. She fucking cleaned HOUSE.
I really dug the art- it was very gritty and noir and was a perfect vibe to the story. There was even a completely silent issue and it was so well done. Any time where the color is dark but then Daredevil is shining red is always fun.
Four stars and not five because the timeline and it was a lot of underlings talking and planning.
May 26, 2024
In their first baby steps with the series, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev waste no time in making a big impact; the first issue alone upsets the balance of power within the Kingpin's inner circle, introduces a new challenger to that throne, sets a bounty on Matt Murdock's head and bombs the scene of his latest trial.
It's easy to forget how gripping and simplistic Bendis's plots really are. His writing is easily approachable, unflinchingly direct and genuinely moving. It's a breeze to read but also much deeper than it appears. The focus of this arc for example: aspiring crime boss Mr. Silke, is charismatic, scheming and motivated. His dialog comes straight from the streets, but his aspirations are much loftier. That Silke's fate plays out without so much as a face-to-face with the red-garbed guardian of Hell's Kitchen speaks to both the immense depth of this book's supporting cast and Bendis's sharp, immediate understanding of it. Here he manages a fantastic balance of superheroics and dark, seedy noir and in "Underboss" they're working in perfect harmony.
Maleev's artwork throughout this arc is gorgeous, especially when he's playing with the masking effects of deep shadow and sharp contrast. Daredevil has never looked so sinister and menacing, stalking through the shadows and striking fear into the hearts of villains (and readers) throughout the city. Fantastic at the time it was published, in retrospect it's become even more impressive.
It's easy to forget how gripping and simplistic Bendis's plots really are. His writing is easily approachable, unflinchingly direct and genuinely moving. It's a breeze to read but also much deeper than it appears. The focus of this arc for example: aspiring crime boss Mr. Silke, is charismatic, scheming and motivated. His dialog comes straight from the streets, but his aspirations are much loftier. That Silke's fate plays out without so much as a face-to-face with the red-garbed guardian of Hell's Kitchen speaks to both the immense depth of this book's supporting cast and Bendis's sharp, immediate understanding of it. Here he manages a fantastic balance of superheroics and dark, seedy noir and in "Underboss" they're working in perfect harmony.
Maleev's artwork throughout this arc is gorgeous, especially when he's playing with the masking effects of deep shadow and sharp contrast. Daredevil has never looked so sinister and menacing, stalking through the shadows and striking fear into the hearts of villains (and readers) throughout the city. Fantastic at the time it was published, in retrospect it's become even more impressive.
September 17, 2023
That last page twist was a BOMBSHELL!
A positively Godfather-ian epic crime thriller, in just six issues Daredevil's and his arch-nemesis Kingpin's lives changed forever, with both of them blindsided (pun intended) by the plans a power-hungry new henchman of Kingpin and Kingpin's weak spineless son. And just like in The Godfather, every backstabbing betrayal eventually must be avenged, even if this time its Kingpin's estranged wife taking revenge to her own son. Meanwhile, the backstabbers put a half million bounty to Matt Murdock's head (NOT Daredevil but his actual identity), making our favorite blind lawyer's every waking moment a constant peril.
To say Brian Michael Bendis began his much acclaimed, one of the greatest Daredevil runs of all-time with a bang would be an understatement to say the least. Alex Maleev's visually stonewashed monochromatic colored neo noir DD-world is breathtakingly gorgeous, his stunning artworks one of the very bests I have ever seen.
And THEN comes the aforementioned final page and its shocking reveal! WHOA.
A positively Godfather-ian epic crime thriller, in just six issues Daredevil's and his arch-nemesis Kingpin's lives changed forever, with both of them blindsided (pun intended) by the plans a power-hungry new henchman of Kingpin and Kingpin's weak spineless son. And just like in The Godfather, every backstabbing betrayal eventually must be avenged, even if this time its Kingpin's estranged wife taking revenge to her own son. Meanwhile, the backstabbers put a half million bounty to Matt Murdock's head (NOT Daredevil but his actual identity), making our favorite blind lawyer's every waking moment a constant peril.
To say Brian Michael Bendis began his much acclaimed, one of the greatest Daredevil runs of all-time with a bang would be an understatement to say the least. Alex Maleev's visually stonewashed monochromatic colored neo noir DD-world is breathtakingly gorgeous, his stunning artworks one of the very bests I have ever seen.
And THEN comes the aforementioned final page and its shocking reveal! WHOA.
June 12, 2019
-*= cussing partial nudity/sex
January 17, 2025
Holds up so well.
October 29, 2017
3.5
Διάβασε όλο το review εδώ
Από την πρώτη κιόλας σκηνή ξέρεις πως η ανάγνωση θα είναι ιδιαίτερη: το βρώμικο, ρεαλιστικό και γκρίζο σκιτσάρισμα του Maleev σε βυθίζει άμεσα στον υπόκοσμο του Hell’s Kitchen καθώς ο Bendis επιχειρεί να δείξει την προδοσία και δολοφονία του Kingpin από τους υπηκόους του. Πως να μη θες να διαβάσεις τη συνέχεια; Η οποία έχει αρκετό ζουμί, εδώ που τα λέμε. Με τον Daredevil να μην είναι πλέον στο φόντο όπως στο προηγούμενο arc, ο Bendis δίνει εξαιρετική προσοχή στον χαρακτήρα του. Η προσωπική του ζωή μπορεί να μην έχει φανεί ακόμη, αλλά όπως και ο Ben Urich, ο Matt έχει την δική του φωνή και προσωπικότητα. Από δικηγόρος γεμάτος ευφράδεια, ο Murdock σύντομα μετατρέπεται σε τραχύ, λιγομίλητο εκδικητή και λατρεύω το πόσο όμορφα οι trademark μονόλογοι του συγγραφέα απεικονίζουν το πως αντιλαμβάνεται τον χώρο γύρω του με τις εναπομείναντες αισθήσεις του.
Αρκετά ενδιαφέρων είναι και ο Sammy Silke, ο κεντρικός ανταγωνιστής της ιστορίας: γλοιώδης και υποχθόνιος, δεν φαίνεται καθόλου ευχαριστημένος όταν τα πράγματα δεν πάνε όπως θέλει και με αρκετή δημαγωγία καταφέρνει να πείσει όλους τους υπαλλήλους του Kingpin να επαναστατήσουν εναντίον του. Το κύριο μειονέκτημα του arc είναι πως τόσο εκείνος όσο και ο φοβισμένος, “Freddo” γιός του Kingpin θα μπορούσαν να έχουν λίγο παραπάνω backstory, αλλά παραμένουν αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσες «φάτσες» του υποκόσμου. Ακόμη, θα ήθελα λίγο παραπάνω τον πρωταγωνιστή στην ιστορία. Η παρουσία του γίνεται αναμφίβολα αισθητή, αλλά είναι μερικές φορές που νιώθω σαν να διαβάζω κάτι σαν το “Gotham Central” (σε αυτή την περίπτωση, “Hell’s Kitchen Central”): η ιστορία αφορά, στην πλειοψηφία της, την κόντρα του Kingpin και του Silke.
Διάβασε όλο το review εδώ
Από την πρώτη κιόλας σκηνή ξέρεις πως η ανάγνωση θα είναι ιδιαίτερη: το βρώμικο, ρεαλιστικό και γκρίζο σκιτσάρισμα του Maleev σε βυθίζει άμεσα στον υπόκοσμο του Hell’s Kitchen καθώς ο Bendis επιχειρεί να δείξει την προδοσία και δολοφονία του Kingpin από τους υπηκόους του. Πως να μη θες να διαβάσεις τη συνέχεια; Η οποία έχει αρκετό ζουμί, εδώ που τα λέμε. Με τον Daredevil να μην είναι πλέον στο φόντο όπως στο προηγούμενο arc, ο Bendis δίνει εξαιρετική προσοχή στον χαρακτήρα του. Η προσωπική του ζωή μπορεί να μην έχει φανεί ακόμη, αλλά όπως και ο Ben Urich, ο Matt έχει την δική του φωνή και προσωπικότητα. Από δικηγόρος γεμάτος ευφράδεια, ο Murdock σύντομα μετατρέπεται σε τραχύ, λιγομίλητο εκδικητή και λατρεύω το πόσο όμορφα οι trademark μονόλογοι του συγγραφέα απεικονίζουν το πως αντιλαμβάνεται τον χώρο γύρω του με τις εναπομείναντες αισθήσεις του.
Αρκετά ενδιαφέρων είναι και ο Sammy Silke, ο κεντρικός ανταγωνιστής της ιστορίας: γλοιώδης και υποχθόνιος, δεν φαίνεται καθόλου ευχαριστημένος όταν τα πράγματα δεν πάνε όπως θέλει και με αρκετή δημαγωγία καταφέρνει να πείσει όλους τους υπαλλήλους του Kingpin να επαναστατήσουν εναντίον του. Το κύριο μειονέκτημα του arc είναι πως τόσο εκείνος όσο και ο φοβισμένος, “Freddo” γιός του Kingpin θα μπορούσαν να έχουν λίγο παραπάνω backstory, αλλά παραμένουν αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσες «φάτσες» του υποκόσμου. Ακόμη, θα ήθελα λίγο παραπάνω τον πρωταγωνιστή στην ιστορία. Η παρουσία του γίνεται αναμφίβολα αισθητή, αλλά είναι μερικές φορές που νιώθω σαν να διαβάζω κάτι σαν το “Gotham Central” (σε αυτή την περίπτωση, “Hell’s Kitchen Central”): η ιστορία αφορά, στην πλειοψηφία της, την κόντρα του Kingpin και του Silke.
April 7, 2020
La estupenda etapa de Bendis y Maleev al frente de Daredevil se inicia con la inclusión del personaje de Sammy Silke, que urde un plan para sacar a Kingpin y a Daredevil del mapa e intentar dar un vuelco al status quo de la Cocina del Infierno. La premisa es interesante y está bien desarrollada en sus primera parte, pero pierde fuelle en un tramo final en el que casi todo vuelve a su sitio de manera muy precipitada gracias a una Vanessa Fisk fatal a más no poder. Bendis recurre a textos de apoyo al más puro estilo Miller para transmitir lo que implica ser Daredevil a nivel sensorial. Mención aparte merece el arte de Maleev y Hollingsworth, cuyo estilo oscuro, sucio y aristado parece concebido para dar vida al cuernecitos.
November 15, 2023
It's hard to rate this, as it's only the first six issues of a much longer story that is currently out of print. However, these six issues were excellent. It's very gritty and dark, and the artwork fits the tone perfectly. I'm excited to read more when they reprint the first Bendis Daredevil omnibus next year.
September 18, 2016
Wow.
I've done so much just to get here. I read through the first twenty issues of this Daredevil run, which were all just ok, nothing wow. Then, I struggled through issues 20-25 by Bob Gale... Brrr. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.
I put up with those first 25 issues just to get here. And you know what? It was totally worth it.
This was amazing.
It's the closest thing I've read to Matt Fraction's Hawkeye.
It's., how do I explain this...
Aha! Indie, yeah, there, that's the word.
Indie.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what that means. But for some reason, I can just tell when something's... Indie. Man, I've been saying the word too much, now it's starting to sound word.
Anyways, reading through this was a breeze. Like, this was literally one of the most enjoyable and entertaining things that I've read.
There's dialogue, but not too much. Heck, here was even an issue where about ten pages had no words, and you could still perfectly understand what was going on.
So, I'll try to give a synopsis (Heh, that's a funny word.) without spoiling anything.
So, at the very beginning, Wilson Fisk (a.k.a the Kingpin) is stabbed to death, Caesar style.
Immediately after, we see Matt Murdock in court, doing whatever an attorney's supposed to do.
After the whatever you call those law thingies is done, he goes outside and is swarmed by a camera crew. (I know, I know... I'm describing it too much. Don't worry, I won't give out too much important info.)
Anyway, he's swarmed by the press, and suddenly some guy says his name, then detonates, killing three or four people, injuring Foggy Nelson, and distorting Daredevil's senses.
Apparently, someone has put a number on Matt Murdock's head... The question is who? And also why? Is it because someone's pissed at Matt for beating them in court... Or is it because they know?
Oh, oh, and the ending? One of the best cliffhangers ever.
I've done so much just to get here. I read through the first twenty issues of this Daredevil run, which were all just ok, nothing wow. Then, I struggled through issues 20-25 by Bob Gale... Brrr. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.
I put up with those first 25 issues just to get here. And you know what? It was totally worth it.
This was amazing.
It's the closest thing I've read to Matt Fraction's Hawkeye.
It's., how do I explain this...
Aha! Indie, yeah, there, that's the word.
Indie.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what that means. But for some reason, I can just tell when something's... Indie. Man, I've been saying the word too much, now it's starting to sound word.
Anyways, reading through this was a breeze. Like, this was literally one of the most enjoyable and entertaining things that I've read.
There's dialogue, but not too much. Heck, here was even an issue where about ten pages had no words, and you could still perfectly understand what was going on.
So, I'll try to give a synopsis (Heh, that's a funny word.) without spoiling anything.
So, at the very beginning, Wilson Fisk (a.k.a the Kingpin) is stabbed to death, Caesar style.
Immediately after, we see Matt Murdock in court, doing whatever an attorney's supposed to do.
After the whatever you call those law thingies is done, he goes outside and is swarmed by a camera crew. (I know, I know... I'm describing it too much. Don't worry, I won't give out too much important info.)
Anyway, he's swarmed by the press, and suddenly some guy says his name, then detonates, killing three or four people, injuring Foggy Nelson, and distorting Daredevil's senses.
Apparently, someone has put a number on Matt Murdock's head... The question is who? And also why? Is it because someone's pissed at Matt for beating them in court... Or is it because they know?
Oh, oh, and the ending? One of the best cliffhangers ever.
December 4, 2014
Mr. Silke is one of Wilson Fisk's mob capos, a mouthy guy from Chicago whose father knows Fisk (aka the Kingpin). By the end of the sixth page, Silke has overseen the rest of the capos in stabbing Fisk to death, Julius Caesar style. Switching to a flashback from one week prior, Matt is attacked by the hired villain Nitro outside the courthouse, ringing his bell and giving him severe sensory problems. He questions the Kingpin, who knows nothing about it.
This story kicks off the Bendis and Maleev run that I've heard was so well regarded, focusing in on Mr. Silke and his grab at power. Bendis's allusions to The Godfather are well done (and not quite as overt as in The Long Halloween) as various people in the Kingpin's organization try to fill the vacuum left by the absence of Fisk. Daredevil spends most of his time searching for clues and talking to Ben Urich, and in the end he's left behind as events escalate to something he couldn't have predicted. Bendis's dialogue is great and Maleev's dark, angular designs really fit one of the most realistic Daredevil stories I've read. This volume is mostly just setting up the next one, but it starts changing the status quo in a compelling way almost immediately.
This story kicks off the Bendis and Maleev run that I've heard was so well regarded, focusing in on Mr. Silke and his grab at power. Bendis's allusions to The Godfather are well done (and not quite as overt as in The Long Halloween) as various people in the Kingpin's organization try to fill the vacuum left by the absence of Fisk. Daredevil spends most of his time searching for clues and talking to Ben Urich, and in the end he's left behind as events escalate to something he couldn't have predicted. Bendis's dialogue is great and Maleev's dark, angular designs really fit one of the most realistic Daredevil stories I've read. This volume is mostly just setting up the next one, but it starts changing the status quo in a compelling way almost immediately.
November 12, 2009
And so one of the greatest collaborations in comics begins in Daredevil: Underboss. Let me just say that Mr. Bendis is the third most important writer in the history of Darevil. Only Stan Lee (by creating him) and Frank Miller (by re-creating him) can claim to have had more influence on the shaping of this classic character. But Mr.Bendis has left his mark on this character forever with writing that is just the right mix of film noir and comic book superheroics. Plus he's funny as all get out. This is one helluva comic! Brimming with invention, packed with action and throbbing with menace it keeps you turning those pages! The only flaw I think is that while Mr.Bendis comes out swinging for the fences Mr.Maleev's work seems a tad uncertain here. It is beautiful through out but not yet as great as it would become in later story arcs. Still this is one of the greatest stories I've read in any medium.
March 5, 2012
Wow! High four stars to the first Daredevil volume to kick off Brian Bendis' collaboration with Alex Maleev, and this is where the journey really begins in this saga. A lawyer of unwavering conviction has a contract put on his life by conspirators who plan to cut the head off their powerful criminal organization. This is a gritty, modern noir crime story told masterfully by a writer who places character over action, and Maleev's murky realism is the perfect visual fit for this film-on-paper.
June 27, 2014
Awesome story. It's a great tale of a time of turmoil in the mob that draws heavily from the godfather (which is, of course, a good thing). The artwork is beautiful. the dark gritty style is unique and really augments the story. This is a great example of a super hero story that's got real substance and the artwork to back it up.
January 21, 2016
A great story. Bendis crafts a wonderful tale of the fall of the kingpin and Daredevil getting "outed". The story really makes the comic, as I thought the art was not really for me. Thankfully in this story driven tale the art becomes secondary. I don't mean to imply that it is awful, but it is rather like an impressionist painting. But the story..oh man what a solid writing job.
May 19, 2022
This is like a great mob movie, thrilling stuff! Bendis makes huge moves in DD’s world, he’s not afraid to shake things up and it’s all very satisfying, I just wish he’d go a little easy on the dialogue, he really does ramble on when writing for Silke. On the art side, not really a fan, Maleev relies on tracing for characters and the backgrounds feel neglected a lot.
January 26, 2016
3.5
Seriye devam ederim büyük ihtimalle. Daredevil karakteri hoşuma gitti çünkü.
Seriye devam ederim büyük ihtimalle. Daredevil karakteri hoşuma gitti çünkü.
April 3, 2020
Underboss to początek, wstęp do głównej uwertury, gdzie wszystkim dyryguje jedna osoba... Bendis. I robi to wyśmienicie.
Imperium Fiska chwieje się w posadach. Winna jest temu jedna osoba. Sammy Silke, młodziak, rozpaczliwie pragnący uwagi i władzy. Najgorsza kombinacja. Gdy w wyniku wydarzeń z poprzednich tomów Kingpin traci wzrok, staje się jak ranne stworzenie, które zaczyna wymagać tylko dobicia. Inne drapieżnika ze stada wietrzą łatwą ofiarę. Nie bez przyczyny mamy tutaj całą otoczkę dotyczącą Juliusza Cezara. Imperium musi upaść. Tyle, że zmiana przywódcy niszczy dotychczasowe ciche sojusze. Skoro Wilson wiedział kim jest Daredevil, reszta jego stada też to wie...
Na Matta Murdocka wydany zostaje wyrok śmierci. Kwota za wyzwanie jest niebagatelna, zgłasza się wielu chętnych. Pierwszy zamach zostaje dokonany przed budynkiem sądu. Osoby bliskie Daredevilowi są równie zagrożone jak on sam. Zaczyna się rozgrywka, z której tylko jeden może wyjść cało. Na arenę wkracza jednak jeszcze jeden, dosyć niespodziewany gracz na tej planszy szachów. Królowa, która rozegra własną grę, kasując przy tym nieposłuszne elementy całej mafii. Do czego będą zdolni postawieni pod mur mafiozi? Silke postanawia zagrać kartą przetargową, którą jest sekretna tożsamość Daredevila...
Siłą Bendisa nie są masywne bitwy pomiędzy bohaterami i złoczyńcami. Tutaj królują mistrzowsko zarysowane dialogi. Wątek kryminalny jest świetny, troszkę przegadany, ale soczysty. Długie przygotowanie i udany zamach. Wszystko to ma wymiar przyziemny, są tu tylko ludzi, często sfrustrowani i bezradni, ale jednak ludzie. To sprawia, że ten aspekt obyczajowy jest tak świetny, ale tak jak pisałem wcześniej, to dopiero rozgrzewka. Dalej jest tylko lepiej.
Czwarty tom nie jest dziełem epokowym, ale na tyle sprawnie skonstruowanym że nie dałem się oderwać od całości dopóki nie zobaczyłem ostatniego zeszytu. Ba, jako że mam całą kolekcję poleciałem od razu dalej, co tylko świadczy o sile jaką ma seria o Diable z Hell's Kitchen spod pióra niewątpliwie utalentowanego Amerykanina. Całość nie byłaby tak dobra, gdyby nie kreska. Jest tutaj brudno, jest mrocznie i ciemno, ale jednak tak przerażająco ostro, wyraziście. To połączenie to taka świeża bomba, obok której nie można przejść obojętnie. 4.5/5
Imperium Fiska chwieje się w posadach. Winna jest temu jedna osoba. Sammy Silke, młodziak, rozpaczliwie pragnący uwagi i władzy. Najgorsza kombinacja. Gdy w wyniku wydarzeń z poprzednich tomów Kingpin traci wzrok, staje się jak ranne stworzenie, które zaczyna wymagać tylko dobicia. Inne drapieżnika ze stada wietrzą łatwą ofiarę. Nie bez przyczyny mamy tutaj całą otoczkę dotyczącą Juliusza Cezara. Imperium musi upaść. Tyle, że zmiana przywódcy niszczy dotychczasowe ciche sojusze. Skoro Wilson wiedział kim jest Daredevil, reszta jego stada też to wie...
Na Matta Murdocka wydany zostaje wyrok śmierci. Kwota za wyzwanie jest niebagatelna, zgłasza się wielu chętnych. Pierwszy zamach zostaje dokonany przed budynkiem sądu. Osoby bliskie Daredevilowi są równie zagrożone jak on sam. Zaczyna się rozgrywka, z której tylko jeden może wyjść cało. Na arenę wkracza jednak jeszcze jeden, dosyć niespodziewany gracz na tej planszy szachów. Królowa, która rozegra własną grę, kasując przy tym nieposłuszne elementy całej mafii. Do czego będą zdolni postawieni pod mur mafiozi? Silke postanawia zagrać kartą przetargową, którą jest sekretna tożsamość Daredevila...
Siłą Bendisa nie są masywne bitwy pomiędzy bohaterami i złoczyńcami. Tutaj królują mistrzowsko zarysowane dialogi. Wątek kryminalny jest świetny, troszkę przegadany, ale soczysty. Długie przygotowanie i udany zamach. Wszystko to ma wymiar przyziemny, są tu tylko ludzi, często sfrustrowani i bezradni, ale jednak ludzie. To sprawia, że ten aspekt obyczajowy jest tak świetny, ale tak jak pisałem wcześniej, to dopiero rozgrzewka. Dalej jest tylko lepiej.
Czwarty tom nie jest dziełem epokowym, ale na tyle sprawnie skonstruowanym że nie dałem się oderwać od całości dopóki nie zobaczyłem ostatniego zeszytu. Ba, jako że mam całą kolekcję poleciałem od razu dalej, co tylko świadczy o sile jaką ma seria o Diable z Hell's Kitchen spod pióra niewątpliwie utalentowanego Amerykanina. Całość nie byłaby tak dobra, gdyby nie kreska. Jest tutaj brudno, jest mrocznie i ciemno, ale jednak tak przerażająco ostro, wyraziście. To połączenie to taka świeża bomba, obok której nie można przejść obojętnie. 4.5/5
March 7, 2025
(4.5 stars)
My favourite trope in superhero stories is whenever they insist that the hero’s identity is the best kept secret in the world, despite half the planet knowing who they are, but this makes fun of that in a cool way.
It’s very much a mobster story with Daredevil at the centre of it, and I found it very captivating. Silke was a great villain, and I’m glad he survived the assassination attempt because I want to see more of him; his plan to kill King Pin was told in a satisfying non linear fashion, and seeing its build up, execution, and aftermath, was super cool, as the writing for every character feels earnest, and like a real conflict between gangsters, as they discuss whether it’s reasonable to keep Matt Murdock and King Pin around. There is some very effective intrigue due to the story structure, and while I am missing valuable context like why King Pin is blind, and why does he respect Daredevil enough to save his life, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment.
The art is very noir and cool, there’s many great panels that raise the tension, with the best being the ones where Vanessa confronts all the traitors who killed King Pin, especially the son, that was really awesome. The ending where Silke reveals the identity of Daredevil gets me pumped to see where it goes, it’s an exciting turn of events, and further positions Silke as a new daring foe for the character. Also the numerous fights Daredevil gets in with the assassins are really cool, they have some fun gimmicks, great artwork, and even sad references to Bullseye and Elektra.
Overall, this is widely considered the true beginning to Bendis’ iconic run on the character, as it kickstarts this ongoing story. It’s a fantastic introduction, and it’s got me hooked to see how it plays out.
My favourite trope in superhero stories is whenever they insist that the hero’s identity is the best kept secret in the world, despite half the planet knowing who they are, but this makes fun of that in a cool way.
It’s very much a mobster story with Daredevil at the centre of it, and I found it very captivating. Silke was a great villain, and I’m glad he survived the assassination attempt because I want to see more of him; his plan to kill King Pin was told in a satisfying non linear fashion, and seeing its build up, execution, and aftermath, was super cool, as the writing for every character feels earnest, and like a real conflict between gangsters, as they discuss whether it’s reasonable to keep Matt Murdock and King Pin around. There is some very effective intrigue due to the story structure, and while I am missing valuable context like why King Pin is blind, and why does he respect Daredevil enough to save his life, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment.
The art is very noir and cool, there’s many great panels that raise the tension, with the best being the ones where Vanessa confronts all the traitors who killed King Pin, especially the son, that was really awesome. The ending where Silke reveals the identity of Daredevil gets me pumped to see where it goes, it’s an exciting turn of events, and further positions Silke as a new daring foe for the character. Also the numerous fights Daredevil gets in with the assassins are really cool, they have some fun gimmicks, great artwork, and even sad references to Bullseye and Elektra.
Overall, this is widely considered the true beginning to Bendis’ iconic run on the character, as it kickstarts this ongoing story. It’s a fantastic introduction, and it’s got me hooked to see how it plays out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2023
I saw this book in my local comic book store and decided to purchase it as it looked intriguing. I was not disappointed. It is a good book.
I enjoyed the plot and characters. In this book, a hit is put out on Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil). Meanwhile, a mobster named Mr. Silke attacks Kingpin to usurp his power. As the story progresses, we learn about the reasons for both of these actions as well as how they tie in together. The mystery unravels gradually and the buildup is well done. The characterization of Murdock/Daredevil, Mr. Silke, and Fisk's/Kingpin's son is superb too. I have mixed feelings about the characterization of Vanessa Fisk. I can see where she comes from, but at the same time, have mixed feelings about the actions she took - particularly given the backstory - but the character development remained solid altogether.
So did the structure of the book and tone. Although I typically dislike time jumps, they generally worked out well here, revealing answers to the mystery and they did so in a clear manner. The pacing was perfect for the story. As for the tone, it stayed consistently gritty and dark, which was also reflected by the coloring. The artwork is great too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has a good plot, solid action, and some nice character work altogether. I can see how it inspired the show also and noticed similarities between the show's characterization and plot with the book's character development and plot points. I saw some neat parallels with Godfather too. It was a great read and I plan on reading the next book.
I enjoyed the plot and characters. In this book, a hit is put out on Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil). Meanwhile, a mobster named Mr. Silke attacks Kingpin to usurp his power. As the story progresses, we learn about the reasons for both of these actions as well as how they tie in together. The mystery unravels gradually and the buildup is well done. The characterization of Murdock/Daredevil, Mr. Silke, and Fisk's/Kingpin's son is superb too. I have mixed feelings about the characterization of Vanessa Fisk. I can see where she comes from, but at the same time, have mixed feelings about the actions she took - particularly given the backstory - but the character development remained solid altogether.
So did the structure of the book and tone. Although I typically dislike time jumps, they generally worked out well here, revealing answers to the mystery and they did so in a clear manner. The pacing was perfect for the story. As for the tone, it stayed consistently gritty and dark, which was also reflected by the coloring. The artwork is great too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has a good plot, solid action, and some nice character work altogether. I can see how it inspired the show also and noticed similarities between the show's characterization and plot with the book's character development and plot points. I saw some neat parallels with Godfather too. It was a great read and I plan on reading the next book.
December 11, 2020
Obra maestra instantánea. Bendis ha escrito una historia que fácilmente podría ser una película (excelente) de Daredevil. Un relato de policías en tono noir-realista, un poco como "Gotham Central", pero en la publicación oficial de Daredevil, no en un derivado, como en el aquél caso, lo cual es un mérito inmenso de los editores. Aparece un nuevo mobster en Hell's Kitchen (SIlke), además King Ping aparenta estar muerto, y surge un conflicto entre su hijo y su esposa, aquella enigmática mujer que introdujo F. Miller 30 años atrás. Todo avanza con un ritmo perfecto, teñido del atractivo de una gran historia de mafiosos. Bendis, además, exhibe un talento increíble para la oralidad en sus diálogos, que uno fácilmente puede escuchar a los personajes. Al principio cuesta acostumbrarse al arte de Alex Maleev, sucio, deliberadamente desprolijo, y a la intensidad y oscuridad de los colores, pero al final aprendes a descifrarlo. Nunca pensé que diría esto, pero por fin hay una historia de Daredevil a la altura de "Born Again", de Frank Miller, el cual es quizás el mejor comic Marvel de la historia. Cinco estrellas.
September 22, 2025
After a successful trial against a corporation whose product led to the death of children, an attempt is made on Matt Murdock's life. The perp has explosive superpowers that cause several deaths, but only disorient Matt. He changes into Daredevil and begins the pursuit. He suspects the Kingpin, but has yet to find that the latter may be dead, betrayed by his own.
May 4, 2017
No le doy 5 estrellas , porque sabia mucho de lo que pasaba en el comic o si no...pero es que es difícil leerlo todo además, la etapa de Bendis y Maleev fue muy laureada así que era casi imposible no saber de que se trataba este comic. Silke llega de otra ciudad y Kingpin lo toma bajo su protección, pero el tipo quiere mas y mas, y jura que esta en una película de los años 50´s así que empezara a hacer mucho escándalo y Matt Murdock/ Daredevil pasa a ser un secundario de lujo, pero es la trama de intriga, traición, familia y violencia , la verdadera protagonista. Bendis se toma su tiempo y hace un comic brutal, duro , que te atrapa y no te da respiro mientras que el arte de Maleev es detallado ,sucio y te aplasta, puede que no sea para todos, es mas, a mi hace años me daba escozor y desconfianza pero ahora, aplaudo esas composiciones de pagina y como se acopla a los guiones del calvo.Muy recomendable.
December 23, 2023
Probably not the best idea to make this the first Daredevil book I've ever read, but to be honest, I didn't feel lost.
As a piece of crime fiction, it's a fun, breezy read that's well written. I like how the dialogues/speech bubbles are structured and laid out here. Alex Maleev's art absolutely nails the tone of the book and makes it all come together.
It's just... I wish there was more to this book. I understand it's a part of a larger arc, but still, I thought that more could have happened. It was like only a couple of acts using up the space that could have held many more acts. The story also seemed to jump way too often between several different points in time, which wasn't confusing, but felt quite unnecessary (I read the story just fine by choosing to ignore these time markers.)
All in all, a nice piece of work. I'm not exactly itching for more, but maybe I'll want to explore it sometime.
As a piece of crime fiction, it's a fun, breezy read that's well written. I like how the dialogues/speech bubbles are structured and laid out here. Alex Maleev's art absolutely nails the tone of the book and makes it all come together.
It's just... I wish there was more to this book. I understand it's a part of a larger arc, but still, I thought that more could have happened. It was like only a couple of acts using up the space that could have held many more acts. The story also seemed to jump way too often between several different points in time, which wasn't confusing, but felt quite unnecessary (I read the story just fine by choosing to ignore these time markers.)
All in all, a nice piece of work. I'm not exactly itching for more, but maybe I'll want to explore it sometime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews