Daredevil: Marvel Knights, Vol. 6

Daredevil (1998) (Single Issues) #16-19, 76-81

by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev (Illustrator), David W. Mack (Illustrator)

This deluxe hardcover concludes the Eisner Award-winning run of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev! First, they outed Daredevil in the press; then, they married him and made him the Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen. What could they possibly do to top that? Four words: WILSON FISK IS BACK! Also collecting Bendis' first Daredevil arc, "Wake Up" - a moody, heartfelt tale of heroism and family tragedy featuring fully painted artwork by David Mack (Kabuki). Why is Ben Urich, investigative reporter for the Daily Bugle, spending all his time with the catatonic son of a two-bit costumed criminal? And how is Daredevil connected to a child he doesn't even know? His objectivity shattered, Urich finds himself doubting his journalistic integrity and the future of his very profession in this super hero story unlike any other. Collects Daredevil #76-81, 16-19.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Crime, Comic Book

432 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2006

About the author

A 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.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrepid Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich arguably could also be in the title as he plays a substantial role in two of the three stories.
'The Murdock Papers' - the finale of the on-going story arc with Kingpin. The best, most unexpected line of dialogue? Angela 'White Tiger' Del Toro confronting Daredevil in the midst of a rooftop meeting with Elektra and Black Widow - "Oh my God, Murdock! You have back-up singers now?"
'Wake-Up' - Urich investigates (and narrates) the mystery of a traumatized child. It starts slowly and off-kilter but builds to a powerful conclusion.
'What if Karen Page Had Lived?' - an interesting idea and done well, but sort of downbeat. I'm not sure it should have rounded out this edition.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the Bendis run and I must say shit hit the fan quick, a few of my thoughts after finishing, skip to avoid slight spoilers:

1. Fuck tha police(That FBI director especially) fucking hypocrite, bro willing to work with a criminal to lockup a hero that helped your investigations several times over the years, just because he pissed you off.

2. Might hate the Kingpin must but bro pulled up the buff of the century respect for that, making him a daredevil villain while he was originally a spiderman villain was a smart move, he worked better in this type of setting.

3. Free my nigga daredevil still it's backwards.

In short this run was amazing, I honestly can't wait to continue it from Ed brubaker run and see his take on the story from were Bendis leave off, he cooked up criminal so no doubt it's gonna be 🔥 I'm eating good in the daredevil club

[Pier-luc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED the wake-up story, but I didn't like the first part of the book as much, mainly because of the art. Maleev is obviously talented, but the attempted realism makes it look like a photo novel and ironically cheapens the story and makes the action feel stilted.

I'm not saying he's bad, his style just isn't for me.

[Rockito · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this collection 5 stars if it was just the end of Bendis and Maleev's run on Daredevil, but in good, dumbass Marvel fashion, after the storyline of Matt been outed ends, the editor decided to shoe-horn the first story Bendis wrote for Daredevil which feels COMPLETELY out of place to be read immeditally after the previous (or rather subsequent) events. It's not a bad story, in fact it's pretty solid, but it's poorly thought.
There's also a "What-If" at the end that's okay-ish.

[John Ferrigno · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this, Bendis' historic run comes to an end. He said everything he had to say and he went out on top. My favorite part is that he didn't go for some cop out ending. The story goes to its logical, realistic conclusion. The perfect ending to one of the best clmic runs if the modern ending.

[TJ Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bullseye...he never learned...

[Jedhua · Rating 4 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)

STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>