Daredevil, Vol. 3: Wake Up

Daredevil (1998) (Collected Editions)

by Brian Michael Bendis, David W. Mack

Ben Urich, investigative reporter for the Daily Bugle, should be covering the Kingpin's trial, so why is he spending all his time with a two-bit super-villain's catatonic son and questioning his journalistic integrity?

Collects Daredevil #16-19

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Crime, Superheroes, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

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

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daredevil and Leap Frog tangle on a rooftop and now Leap Frog is gone. A traumatised kid holds the key – can Ben Urich get him to talk about what he saw?

Daredevil, Volume 3: Wake Up feels like Brian Michael Bendis testing the waters before jumping into Daredevil proper with Alex Maleev for their amazing run. And it’s an ok book but, as is often the case with Bendis, Wake Up is little more than a short story stretched to book length.

Most of Wake Up is well-written but little happens for the most part and it’s kinda dull. Ben Urich is the star of the show and, having read End of Days beforehand, I’m beginning to suspect he’s going to be the main character for a few more Daredevil books - Bendis seems to really like him. Some Daredevil fans though might find the title character’s absence for most of the book frustrating.

I’ve always liked David Mack’s covers and occasional inserts but I’ve never seen him illustrate a full-length book before – wow! This dude has amazing range. He can draw Frank Miller-esque superhero art, photorealistic art (Peter Parker looks like Leo DiCaprio and Matt Murdock’s temp secretary IS Kate Moss!), childlike unsophisticated art, painted art, and present it all in a Dave McKean-esque collage layout. It’s so creative and imaginative to look at – I loved it!

Wake Up is competently written, the art is really strong and the ending is satisfying too, though it’s not gripping reading. It’s a decent Daredevil story but it’s not gonna blow anyone away and doesn’t come close to the heights of Bendis’ later Daredevil books with Alex Maleev.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wake up collects Daredevil #16-19.

In this collection, Leap Frog's son is in a near catatonic state and reporter Ben Urich wants to find out why. The painted art by David Mack is pretty spectacular. The story is well written and a paints a grim picture of life as the son of a small time super villain. My main problem with this is that it's two issues of story stretched into four, something that's disturbingly common since Bendis rose to popularity and spawned countless imitators. My other grip is that Daredevil is barely in it until the final issue.

How was this received when it was released? Apparently pretty well because most comics are paced like this these days. I still enjoyed it, though. 3 out of 5 stars.

[Tiag⊗ the Mutant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing short of a masterpiece, David W. Mack's collage art is some of the best stuff I've came across in a comic book, the art alone tells you the story.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally on my re-read of Bendis run of Daredevil. This was my first run ever of my favorite character in comics ever, and I'm so glad to say it holds up!

This first story actually is heavily focused on Ben as he's trying to report on what happened to this poor kid who's become slightly crazy after certain events. As we dive deeper into the story we are shown this boy is actually a child of a criminal and he must come to terms of what happened on a night with his father and Daredevil. While it might feel like Daredevil is a secondary character, he is the focal point to it all and I love how scary Daredevil feels, a myth like, until he gets talking to Ben like their best buddies.

I think the artwork is fantastic, with a really solid story to boot. It's a bit predictable within a issue or two but it doesn't hurt the overall message or style of the book. A great standalone as well, no prior knowledge of Daredevil is needed, which makes it a great book to jump in and enjoy. A 4 out of 5.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome artwork by David Mack. Like a lot of the best Daredevil stories this moves beyond the normal super-hero cliches and delivers something more human than some spandex indestructible ninny making wise cracks and always doing the right thing.

[Matty Dub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good reminder that Bendis was once a great writer! It’s such an emotional, touching, introspective and dark story and he handles it so well. It’s not an easy subject matter to deal with or story to tell and in lesser hands, it just wouldn’t work so kudos to him. The way it’s brought to life is a sight to behold, beautiful painted pages by god-level artist David Mack are perfect here, he captures all the emotions of the tale perfectly. Great story arc, one of DD’s best, even if this is more Ben and Timmy’s story!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quando li pela primeira vez a minissérie Demolidor: Ninja, lá em Grandes Heróis Marvel Premium da Editora Abril, agora incluída aqui neste encadernado, eu não gostaei da história e botei a culpa na arte de Rob Haynes, por achar ela simples demais. Agora, mais de 20 anos depois de ter lido a minissérie originalmente, percebi que a arte de Haynes não era o problema e sim o roteiro de Brian Michael Bendis, que era muito ruim e muito aquém de muita coisa que ele viria a fazer depois. Por outro lado, a saga Tempo de Despertar que o roteirista produziu logo depois ao lado de David Mack é muito boa, saíndo do ponto de vista de Matt Murdock e dando vasão para o olhar do jornalista Ben Urich e de um menino que fica catatônico depois de uma luta entre o Demolidor e seu pai. Completa esse encadernado de capa dura uma história ao estilo "O Que Aconteceria Se..." Karen Page tivesse sobrevivido ao ataque do Mercenário. Dessa vez, Bendis se alia ao seu colaborador contumaz, Michel Lark para fazer esse relato, que é uma história mediana. Assim, com um arco bom e um ruim, a avaliação geral deste encadernado fica em cima da média também.

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a hero in all of us. Sometimes we just fail to realise our own potential. All it takes is one small gesture to do something good.

Ben Urich, is a famous journalist working in the Daily Bugle, appearing in both Daredevil and Spider-Man titles as a supporting character, but in this particular volume, he is the star of the show.
Brian Michael Bendis has managed to break away from clichés, and deliver a strong story. David W. Mack's versatile art is phenomenal and suits the story so much.

Wake up is an essential reading for any comic book reader.

[Luke Costin · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Daredevil Born Again currently keeping my Marvel hype up, I thought I’d start the much beloved Brian Michael Bendis run of Daredevil and what an opening volume to start with. A Daredevil comic with Daredevil barely present might not sell you on this story but instead we get a powerful story of a journalists pursuit of the truth surrounding a traumatised child and the mystery of what happened. Alongside some of the most beautiful comic art I’ve seen in a long time this 4 issue trade paperback is an instant recommendation.

[Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah this blew me away. Some of the greatest comic art I've seen in my life, Mack has an absurd knack for rendering psychological spaces and each panel he illustrates is glorious. I'm pretty hyped for the rest of Bendis' run now. The writing is pretty fantastic, I adore the way he writes Urich as well as the sympathy and interiority afforded to a kid who'd be a passing figure in most stories. Makes it all feel so much more human.

[Odo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

[Isabel ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was some art

[Fabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing. Everything in this is perfect.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rarely in my reviews of graphic novels is the art my real focus, because I'm more interested in the characters and plot, but in Wake Up, the art really amazed me. David Mack has a painted, watercolor style and he pushes it to the limits wherever possible. The way he draws the characters fluctuates with their mood and he gets very impressionistic and makes the characters really deformed and ugly like in more modern art to show when they become angry. This flexibility is perfect for a really emotional tale about Ben Urich getting interested in a child with severe baggage. It is realistic and dark which you would expect from Bendis and some of his series like Powers and Alias, but Wake Up also will really reach most reader's emotions. Each issue builds the suspense nicely and by the last issue I couldn't wait to find out what was really going on. This volume of Daredevil used to be very hard to find and it wouldn't surprise me if it still is. Wake Up is more of a side story than something that is truly necessary for reading Daredevil, but I still really recommend it to fans of Daredevil or Ben Urich because it is so well-written and engrossing.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

And you thought Daredevil was tortured. Ben Urich, reporter for the Daily Bugle, takes it upon himself (despite his bad memories of being caught up in Daredevil's conflicts, his concerns about not focusing on a higher profile story, and J. Jonah Jameson all but ordering him to stop) to find out what caused a little boy to become mute, who is the son of C-list villain Leap-Frog and is now only communicating through drawings.

The focus is on Ben Urich's inner thoughts and Daredevil is mostly only seen in flashback as Ben tries to make sense of the boy Timmy's traumatizing interactions with Daredevil and his parents. David Mack again provides entirely excellent artwork, notably his lifelike sketches of Ben and Timmy and Timmy's colorful crayon drawings. I really like occasionally seeing stories from peripheral characters' points of view and I can't remember any in recent memory that are pulled off this well. It's a quiet story with limited action, but there's an emotional core that provided a big impact at the conclusion.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Bendis' run on Daredevil is off to a rocky start. So why did I give it such a high rating? Well, Bendis' epic saga is mostly immersed in the life of Matt Murdock, but here Murdock is a minor character in a story about (long time DD supporting character) Ben Urich trying to help a traumatized child of a (missing) less-than-B level costumed villain. The story takes place simultaneously to the previous volume, Parts of a Hole, and it plays to the avant-garde strengths of artist, David Mack, who makes the unusual jump from writer of the previous story arc.

So it's off to a rocky start, because this is a far cry from what this run should, and will, be, but it's an excellent "small" comic arc about (semi) real human drama with wonderful visuals by Mack, who's talents I can't praise enough.

[Filip Smazal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Po nejlíp průměrném znovuzrození jsem si potřeboval spravit chuť.
DD byl jeden z prvních superhrdinských komiksů, který jsem před 8. lety četl.
A byl jsem zvědav, jestli je to stále dobré.
A JE! Dokonce je to ještě lepší.
Hlavní roli tady hraje kresba. Před touhle knihou jsem přečetl Elektru od dua Millar/Sienkiewicz kde se Bill vyřádil, jak jen mohl, přesto to bylo místy nepřehledné a matoucí.
ALE! David W. Mack tu snese srovnání a je tu ještě mnohem lepší. Novinové útržky tu střídá realistická kreba a kde je potřeba, tam dodá superhrdinskou kresbu jak od Quesady. Výhodu je, že to stále drží dohromady a krásně dotváří děj.
V prvním příběhu od Bendise hraje DD teprve vedlejší roli, ale i tak je to super.
Rozhodně doporučuji.

[Darrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful water color style artwork by David Mack and the story by Brian Michael Bendis isn't typical comic book fare. A bank robber who dresses up like a frog (nicknamed Leapfrog) is missing and the only person who cares is reporter Ben Urich. Ben doesn't care about Leapfrog, but rather about his son who has gone into shock. This tale shows us the domestic side of supervillains. A very human story about child abuse which just happens to take place in a world where criminals and heroes like to play dress up. My favorite moment is when Daredevil admits he's embarrassed by his lame rogue's gallery. However, Bendis is still able to get a good story out of a sub-par villain.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this third volume Bendis's run on Daredevil comes to an end. Some people tell me this is the definite daredevil run. Well I must say that there are some very nice moments in his run (even in this volume), but that the talking heads and the repetition factor are a bit to high for me to call this the ultimate Daredevil run.

I must also admit that I'm not a big fan of Maleev's artwork, so that is also a factor why I don't consider this the greatest daredevil run ever.

But don't get me wrong, Bendis and Maleev do some fine things here and it is certainly a quality comic that is worth your time.

[Trevor Dailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When someone asks "Why comics?" this will be the new story I will show. The variations of art and story telling are fantastic.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important story about the impact these costumed people have on the unseen and unheard. David Mack's art almost gave it a "Sandman" feel, but pairs nicely with the subject matter.

[ShamNoop · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is amazing. The art is crazy and the story is so human.

[David Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daredevil: Wake Up on the surface looks like the story of Leap-Frog, a second-rate costumed villain in a city filled with costumed heroes and villains. While battling Daredevil, Leap Frog disappeared and no one knows, or much seems to care, what happened to the criminal. The disappearance is a mystery that no one seems interested in finding the answer to. The story ultimately unfolds the truth of Leap Frog and how that truth affects his young son, Timmy.

Ben Urich, reporter for the Daily Bugle, reports the story, tracking down the clues left in the comics pages Timmy constantly draws. Urich is also a good friend of Daredevil, who remains distant about what truly happened to Leap Frog. Besides the mystery that Timmy's drawings elicit, and the close-mouthed way Daredevil has, Urich also has to contend with J. Jonah Jameson, the toughest newspaper editor ever birthed. Jameson doesn't want the story, doesn't understand Urich's compelling need to ferret out the facts and report them, and threatens Urich with his job. Yet, Urich remains steadfast, seeking to understand Timmy's twisted thoughts, striving to break down Daredevil's silence, and to find out what Leap Frog was about and what truly happened to him.

Readers should take a good look at Bendis' soul-searching through the character of Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich. Urich tells the audience of his desire to be a writer of import, someone who has made a difference with the words he's chosen. Urich believes that the only way to bring a failing newspaper audience back to that medium is to offer them stories that they can't get anywhere else, reflections of their own worlds.

One of the amazing things about this story is how conspicuously absent Daredevil is from the pages and the action of the story, yet everything centers around the Man Without Fear. The sheer storytelling skill Bendis has with this medium, and with the particular story he's chosen to tell is almost overwhelming. Daredevil: Wake Up has everything a good comics story should have: character, suspense, mystery, and some of the deepest emotion human beings are capable of. In addition, David Mack's painted pages are outstanding. The painted panels jar and scream in a voice that is entirely their own, and they appear to punch out the reality of Timmy and Ben and even Daredevil while carrying on the illusion of a well-developed comic book universe.

They didn't make comic books like this when I was a kid.

[Krzysztof Grabowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyle się nasłuchałem i naczytałem o runie Bendisa, że moje oczekiwania wzrosły niebotycznie. I może dlatego początek przygód tego artysty w ramach historii o Diable z Hell's Kitchen nie powalił mnie na kolana, tak jak zakładałem, że zrobi. Jest dobrze, ale nie niesamowicie.

Zacznijmy od tego, iż "obudź się" to historia, w której Daredevil ma naprawdę marginalne znaczenie. Ważniejszy jest tutaj Ben Urich, reporter Daily Bugle i pewien mały chłopiec, którego opisuje najnowszy materiał, wyprodukowany przez wspomnianego pismaka. Sprawa jest maksymalnie dziwna, bowiem chłopak wydaje się być w stanie pewnej katatonii, a która jest spowodowana zajściem, w które uwikłany jest Daredevil.

Wszystko ma jednak drugie, a nawet trzecie dno, które nieustępliwy reporter śledczy chce zgłębić, ale na drodze staje mu do tego kilka przeciwności, w tym niechęć ludzka, własne wątpliwości (ma materiał na grubszą sprawę, bo wie kim jest Daredevil... czy sam J.J. Jameson, który naciska na to, aby Urich zajął się sprawą Kingpina. Ben od początku ma zatem pod górkę, ale pokazuje siłę charakteru. Jego relacja z Mattem też jest BARDZO dziwna, ale to w końcu przyjaciele.

Wątek dziecka, przemocy w rodzinie, wypartych wspomnień, które są przelewane na kartki A4 kartkami, w formie komiksu, były czymś świeżym. Spotkanie dziecko-bohater ma tutaj zupełnie inny wydźwięk. Terapeutyczny. Miałem kilka chwil, co do których serducho zabiło szybciej, a które miały miejsce na końcu historii. Bendis potrafi tworzyć zwykłe, przejmujące i realistyczne dialogi. Za oprawę odpowiada scenarzysta poprzedniego tomu i w sumie dobrze. Mack pokazał, że potrafi rysować, ale tutaj przeszedł siebie. Rysunki wyglądają jak marzenia senne, są niejasne, ale tam gdzie mają być klarowne to są. Ten mieszający w głowie początek jest tak zwodniczy. Świetne.

Dam 4/5 z czystym sercem i czekam na więcej, takiej zabawy formą i emocji, nawet jeśli w serii o Daredevilu pojawia się tom, gdzie heros pojawia się ilościach śladowych, to i tak jest bohaterem. Bardziej niż kiedykolwiek. I plus za malutki występ Parkera. ;)

[Ben Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very simple but effective story about Ben Urich that gets to the core of him as a character and why he is the way he is. Urich is investing the story about the abused child of Leap Frog, a ‘villain of the week’, and uncovers what happened between him and Daredevil that scarred little Timmy. The investigation was very compelling as information is slowly given out, and when it becomes obvious as to what happened that night, the writers laugh one final twist at us surrounding the electrical wire, and it’s shown that Timmy killed his dad to protect Daredevil, a superhero he idolises because it gives him a feeling of power in his hopeless world (which is why he creates Fury). The reveal hits hard and is accompanied by a touching ending where he is allowed the chance of a normal life after being dealt such a horrific hand. It also reveals an aspect of Urich’s backstory I didn’t know, he was also abused by his father, and by helping Timmy, he’s also helping himself as a boy.

The artwork is truly something else, very stylish and unique. It conveys Urich’s depression in a visually beautiful way, as the surreal nature disconnects him from his surroundings and the only times it looks realistic is with Daredevil and Timmy, showing how they ground him. The smudged water colours, gloomy colour palette, and newspaper clippings, all make this unique to Urich, and displays his mind without explicitly explaining how miserable he is after surviving being stabbed, and working for a man very much like his abusive father.

This isn’t really a Daredevil comic, but it’s much better for that. It explores a beloved side character in a compelling, interesting and emotional way, and helps further ground the Marvel universe by introducing these themes and ideas. Incredible premise with beautiful execution.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it just me or does Peter Parker resemble Leonardo di Caprio here?

Ben Urich is an investigative reporter who looks into the missing Leap Frog's family. He finds that Leap Frog's son Timmy has become catatonic and isolated in an imaginary world where he sees himself as a superhero named Fury who battles Daredevil. Urich sees a story here that may implicate Daredevil. Jonah Jameson is only interested in Wilson Fisk's trial, but Urich doesn't relent.

The cause for Timmy's trauma is later revealed. He stumbled onto the roof where Daredevil was apprehending his father as Leap Frog after a robbery. Timmy distracted Daredevil, which allowed Leap Frog to start pummeling Daredevil, while screaming at the boy to leave. Timmy panicked, begged his father to stop, but then electrocuted him. The shock made Leap Frog fall off the building into a garbage truck. Urich decides to help the boy by taking him away from his mother, who was also abusive, and having him stay at his house.

[Doctorjimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Διάβασε όλο το review εδώ

Η ιστορία ακολουθεί τις προσπάθειες του δημοσιογράφου Ben Urich να ξετυλίξει το μυστήριο σχετικά με την κατατονική κατάσταση ενός εγκληματία εν ονόματι Leap Frog. Αυτή είναι η όλη πλοκή, αρκετά «ελαφριά» για να κάνει χώρο στις σκέψεις και προβληματισμούς του δημοσιογράφου. Αποτέλεσμα; Μπορώ να πω πως παρ’όλο που ο Daredevil λείπει για την πλειοψηφία του arc, δεν με ενόχλησε και αυτό γιατί ο Bendis έχει φοβερή ικανότητα στο να βρίσκει την φωνή του κάθε χαρακτήρα και οι αμέτρητοι μονόλογοι του Urich ρίχνουν φως στην δική του οπτική γωνία και προσωπικότητα. Από τις απόψεις του και σχέση του με τον Matt Murdock μέχρι την απέχθεια του για το αφεντικό του, J. J. Jameson, ο Bendis φροντίζει να μεταφέρει όσα συμβαίνουν στο κεφάλι του με περισσή ευκρίνεια. Και το -εκ πρώτης όψεως- χαοτικό και surreal σχέδιο του Mack έχει μια γοητευτικότατη αισθητική «κολάζ» που δεν θα ταίριαζε στις μεθεπόμενες crime περιπέτειες του χαρακτήρα, αλλά εδώ είναι ό,τι πρέπει.

[Bene Vogt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started avoiding Bendis’ work early in his career because his “statement.”-“statement?”-“statement” dialogue annoys me beyond any rational measure and the writing and plotting apart from that didn’t exactly blow me away either.
But after a group of friends had a round of possibly nostalgic praise for the DAREDEVIL run lately, I decided to give it a chance.
Well, turns out that there’s not a single instance of Bendis’ dialogue tic here. Problem is, the story isn’t terribly exciting, the twist can be seen by a mile and Mack’s art for me gave me the feeling this wanted me to think it Art, which it very much isn’t, even if Leap Frog is now an abusive father (in fact, it doesn’t feel like the story wants or can state anything of significance on the topic of domestic violence, so it’s essentially a macguffin).
Ah well, I have the next two volumes at hand anyway, and am told things get better once Maleev takes over.

[JalapenoSoup · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that this issue does something different than the typical Marvel superhero fare, both in terms of the story, and in the way it tells that story. The art is unique and feels hazy and almost non-linear in a way that suits the story well.
I also like that it's a self-contained story that doesn't require you to read 5,000,032 adjacent comics in order to make sense of what's happening.
I do take some issue with the way the child psychology and trauma is handled. If you're going to make that a central part of your plot, do some research. The story is wrapped up abruptly in a pat ending that doesn't ring true or do justice to the gravity of what they've set up throughout the rest of the comic.
Also, there's precious little Daredevil in this Daredevil comic... but I didn't actually mind too much.
All in all, a decent entry.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bendis's first work on the regular Daredevil book with David Mack in tow before Alex Maleev comes on as the regular artist. A very serious arc about a joke Daredevil villain, Leap Frog. Leap Frog is missing, his son is disturbed just repeating the same things over and over. Ben Urich is investigating this instead of covering the Kingpin's trial like he's supposed to. The story moves slowly and it's probably stretched out more than it should be but David Mack makes it all work. I don't think I've seen another artist who can work in this many different styles. (If you like this, make sure and check out his creator owned series, Kabuki.) He does everything from children's drawings to photo realistic. It's pretty incredible.