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Daredevil by Mark Waid #8-9
Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 4
Marvel's fearless hero begins an awe-inspiring adventure in sunny San Francisco! Daredevil has headed West, and he now protects the Golden City's streets from evil - both as a costumed hero and as blind lawyer Matt Murdock! But big changes are in store for Matt as old haunts and familiar faces rise to give the devil his due, and one of DD's oldest enemies is permanently redefi ned, deadlier than ever. The Owl is back, and he isn't working alone. The Shroud makes DD's new life tough - but the Purple Children may destroy it completely!
Collecting: Daredevil 1-10, 1.50, 0.1
Collecting: Daredevil 1-10, 1.50, 0.1
312 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2015
About the author
Mark Waid
3,243 books1,330 followersMark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 9, 2016
Since Frank Miller reinvented Stan Lee and Bill Everett’s comic in the early 1980s, Daredevil has been an ongoing crime tale with its eponymous hero being plunged into the Nine Circles of Hell, given his life-long home in Hell’s Kitchen. Following the grim nature of runs by Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker, it is self-confessed non-cynic Mark Waid to re-establish Matt Murdock’s world by going back to the roots of the Lee/Everett creation and dials the superhero element up a bit.
When Matt leaves Hell’s Kitchen and heads west with his professional/romantic partner Kirsten McDuffie, they move to San Francisco with their new law firm, McDuffie & Murdock, whilst Daredevil becomes the city’s new superhero sensation, despite his costumed identity no longer a secret.
Although Gerry Conway moved Daredevil to San Francisco for a year in the 70s – pairing up with Black Widow – the idea of taking Daredevil out of New York is almost as sacrilege as taking Batman out of Gotham City. Not to say The Kitchen is a comfort zone for Daredevil, given for many decades he has been suffering from a life that is forced upon him, so much like Waid’s initial run, Matt is determined to step into the light and have a happy life as both lawyer and vigilante.
Despite a few moments of wit with Matt/Daredevil trying to get use to the streets of San Francisco, the big move from one big city to another isn’t that well explored as Waid is more interested in the superhero antics as established in the very first issue where DD is rescuing a young girl whilst being pursued by men in gliders. Occasionally this strong lean to the fantastic does drift away from the intimate character drama which is what’s been great about the character for many years.
What works best about this volume is when we delve into Murdock’s past and this is when issues #6 and #7 come in. As a tie-in to Marvel’s 2014 storyline Original Sin, this two-issue arc reveals which forces Matt to question everything he knew about his inspirational father. Although there is a strong case of globe-trotting – with a trip to Wakanda – it is the theme of family which reveals an emotional revelation and Waid’s spot-on writing pulls all the heart strings.
Despite the new setting, there is a return of familiar faces, friend or foe, as there is a “comic book contrivance” with some of DD’s rogues gallery relocating such as the Owl. Although Waid is not one to usually write dark superhero stories, but when it comes to the later issues here with the reprisal of the Purple Man, things get creepy. Taking cue from Bendis’ characterisation from Alias, the Purple Man remains as a perverted sociopath with the addition of being a father to a group of "Purple Children". Along with the story falling into Village of the Damned horror, it also sets up the possibility of DD’s return to darkness with his signature inner monologue that says it all: “Happy Matt is just an act. That’s all it ever was.”
As with Waid’s initial run, this book has an exceptional art team with Chris Samnee as the primary artist. Although this lacks the iconography of New York (though there is a stunning splash page of the Big Apple), Samnee makes up for it with spectacular action set-pieces with the hero fighting a variety of different villains. Drawing the Original Sin tie-in, primary inker Javier Rodriguez is arguably a better artist than Samnee with a greater detail on character and environment, including an extraordinary double page spread which showcases Daredevil’s super-senses, as well as the visually spectacular Wakanda.
Concluding this volume with #1.50 which celebrates Daredevil’s 50th anniversary, you get three stories which deliver a touching tribute to the character’s history by the various writers and artists who have made Daredevil what he is today, which is not a poor man’s Spider-Man. Roll on the fifth and final volume!
When Matt leaves Hell’s Kitchen and heads west with his professional/romantic partner Kirsten McDuffie, they move to San Francisco with their new law firm, McDuffie & Murdock, whilst Daredevil becomes the city’s new superhero sensation, despite his costumed identity no longer a secret.
Although Gerry Conway moved Daredevil to San Francisco for a year in the 70s – pairing up with Black Widow – the idea of taking Daredevil out of New York is almost as sacrilege as taking Batman out of Gotham City. Not to say The Kitchen is a comfort zone for Daredevil, given for many decades he has been suffering from a life that is forced upon him, so much like Waid’s initial run, Matt is determined to step into the light and have a happy life as both lawyer and vigilante.
Despite a few moments of wit with Matt/Daredevil trying to get use to the streets of San Francisco, the big move from one big city to another isn’t that well explored as Waid is more interested in the superhero antics as established in the very first issue where DD is rescuing a young girl whilst being pursued by men in gliders. Occasionally this strong lean to the fantastic does drift away from the intimate character drama which is what’s been great about the character for many years.
What works best about this volume is when we delve into Murdock’s past and this is when issues #6 and #7 come in. As a tie-in to Marvel’s 2014 storyline Original Sin, this two-issue arc reveals which forces Matt to question everything he knew about his inspirational father. Although there is a strong case of globe-trotting – with a trip to Wakanda – it is the theme of family which reveals an emotional revelation and Waid’s spot-on writing pulls all the heart strings.
Despite the new setting, there is a return of familiar faces, friend or foe, as there is a “comic book contrivance” with some of DD’s rogues gallery relocating such as the Owl. Although Waid is not one to usually write dark superhero stories, but when it comes to the later issues here with the reprisal of the Purple Man, things get creepy. Taking cue from Bendis’ characterisation from Alias, the Purple Man remains as a perverted sociopath with the addition of being a father to a group of "Purple Children". Along with the story falling into Village of the Damned horror, it also sets up the possibility of DD’s return to darkness with his signature inner monologue that says it all: “Happy Matt is just an act. That’s all it ever was.”
As with Waid’s initial run, this book has an exceptional art team with Chris Samnee as the primary artist. Although this lacks the iconography of New York (though there is a stunning splash page of the Big Apple), Samnee makes up for it with spectacular action set-pieces with the hero fighting a variety of different villains. Drawing the Original Sin tie-in, primary inker Javier Rodriguez is arguably a better artist than Samnee with a greater detail on character and environment, including an extraordinary double page spread which showcases Daredevil’s super-senses, as well as the visually spectacular Wakanda.
Concluding this volume with #1.50 which celebrates Daredevil’s 50th anniversary, you get three stories which deliver a touching tribute to the character’s history by the various writers and artists who have made Daredevil what he is today, which is not a poor man’s Spider-Man. Roll on the fifth and final volume!
May 19, 2016
A bit disappointed in this.
There are a lot of fillier b list characters and no real plot to Matt's life. There is no tragedy anymore he's mentally strong now. I can live with that, but he just seems a bit 1 dimensional now. No real intelligence behind the story only in the fights scenes.
I really enjoyed the previous three volumes but this goes down a notch in clarity and excitement.
One great thing Waid did in this was introducing his mother into the world of DD. Decent storyline but then she is dropped out of the story again as if she wasn't in it to begin with. Weird.
Another weird thing that happens. After Matt deals with the adaptoid and the mad thinker it turned the page into the next chapter and all of a sudden we are in the future and he has a son?! Wtf?! That was crap.
There are a lot of fillier b list characters and no real plot to Matt's life. There is no tragedy anymore he's mentally strong now. I can live with that, but he just seems a bit 1 dimensional now. No real intelligence behind the story only in the fights scenes.
I really enjoyed the previous three volumes but this goes down a notch in clarity and excitement.
One great thing Waid did in this was introducing his mother into the world of DD. Decent storyline but then she is dropped out of the story again as if she wasn't in it to begin with. Weird.
Another weird thing that happens. After Matt deals with the adaptoid and the mad thinker it turned the page into the next chapter and all of a sudden we are in the future and he has a son?! Wtf?! That was crap.
September 26, 2019
One of the best comic book omnibuses I've read in a while! Amazing artwork, gripping stories, insane action...and, best of all, clean content! I hope the next volume is at least nearly this good.
April 28, 2025
After outing himself as Daredevil, Matt gets disbarred in NY. So what does he do? I’m going back to Cali, to Cali, to Cali. I haven’t seen Matt out there since he was running with Black Widow. He sets up a new law firm there and is welcomed with open arms to the left coast. But someone has already set up shop there as the main ‘hero” and one of DD’s old villains has also rose up the ranks. It was fun watching Matt deal with all of that. Plus we have some interesting thing going on with Foggy. But it doesn’t stop there. DD’s mom, Sister Maggie, has been jailed and set for immediate expedition to Wakanda. Whaaaat? Yeah I know crazy right? So Matt runs up on Shuri to get all that squared away. Then the Purple Man and his damn kids show up to cause some havoc. Still having fun with Waid’s take on the character and the artwork remains top tier. Bring on the final volume!!
August 20, 2016
Am Ende des letzten Bandes hat Matt Murdock seine geheime Identität gelüftet, der Preis war hoch: Foggy und er haben in New York ihre Zulassung als Anwälte verloren.
Zusammen mit der gewitzten und attraktiven Kirsten McDuffie und seinem krebskranken Ex-Partner verläßt Matt Hell´s Kitchen und zieht nach San Francisco, wo er aus früheren Zeiten noch eine Zulassung hat. Aus Nelson & Murdoch wird McDuffie & Murdoch.
Viel Zeit zum Eingewöhnen in die neue Umgebung ist DD nicht vergönnt, alte und neue Feinde warten schon auf ihn.
Die Stories, erzählt von Mark Waid, sind spannend und witzig, vor allem ist es für mich aber die fantastische Artwork von Chris Samnee, die diesen DD-Run zum vielleicht stärksten aller Zeiten macht. Als Team sind Waid und Samnee jedenfalls unschlagbar und haben neben Matt Fractions HAWKEYE die beste Marvel-Reihe der letzten Jahre kreiert.
Wirklich alle Stories im vierten Band sind sehr gut, aber wenn ich eine herausheben sollte, wäre es die der Hefte 8 -10: DD muss gegen Killgrave und seine Kinder antreten. In düsteren Farben und mit kräftigen Linien gezeichnet habe ich beim Lesen an Wyndhams Midwich Cuckoos denken müssen, die Story hat herrlich klassisches Gruselpotenzial.
Zusammen mit der gewitzten und attraktiven Kirsten McDuffie und seinem krebskranken Ex-Partner verläßt Matt Hell´s Kitchen und zieht nach San Francisco, wo er aus früheren Zeiten noch eine Zulassung hat. Aus Nelson & Murdoch wird McDuffie & Murdoch.
Viel Zeit zum Eingewöhnen in die neue Umgebung ist DD nicht vergönnt, alte und neue Feinde warten schon auf ihn.
Die Stories, erzählt von Mark Waid, sind spannend und witzig, vor allem ist es für mich aber die fantastische Artwork von Chris Samnee, die diesen DD-Run zum vielleicht stärksten aller Zeiten macht. Als Team sind Waid und Samnee jedenfalls unschlagbar und haben neben Matt Fractions HAWKEYE die beste Marvel-Reihe der letzten Jahre kreiert.
Wirklich alle Stories im vierten Band sind sehr gut, aber wenn ich eine herausheben sollte, wäre es die der Hefte 8 -10: DD muss gegen Killgrave und seine Kinder antreten. In düsteren Farben und mit kräftigen Linien gezeichnet habe ich beim Lesen an Wyndhams Midwich Cuckoos denken müssen, die Story hat herrlich klassisches Gruselpotenzial.
May 30, 2022
Daredevil by Mark Waid Vol. 4 collects Marvel Comics issues Daredevil 1-10, 1.5, and 0.5 written by Mark Waid and art by Chris Samnee and Javier Rodriguez.
After revealing to the wild that Daredevil is Matt Murdoch and being disbarred from practicing law in New York, Matt and his new legal partner McDuffie move to San Fransisco where he quickly becomes the city’s new favorite super hero. While Matt is busy trying to rebuild his life, some old foes such as The Owl and Purple Man make their presence known.
Mark Waid continues work on a more “happy” Daredevil comic, but there are definitely elements in this book that put that mentality to the test. It is strange not seeing Daredevil swing through the streets of New York, but San Fransisco offers up a new location for our character to make some changes in his life. The book ends with a 50th anniversary issue which includes some possible futures for Daredevil which are all really interesting.
After revealing to the wild that Daredevil is Matt Murdoch and being disbarred from practicing law in New York, Matt and his new legal partner McDuffie move to San Fransisco where he quickly becomes the city’s new favorite super hero. While Matt is busy trying to rebuild his life, some old foes such as The Owl and Purple Man make their presence known.
Mark Waid continues work on a more “happy” Daredevil comic, but there are definitely elements in this book that put that mentality to the test. It is strange not seeing Daredevil swing through the streets of New York, but San Fransisco offers up a new location for our character to make some changes in his life. The book ends with a 50th anniversary issue which includes some possible futures for Daredevil which are all really interesting.
May 16, 2024
Bardzo dobre zakończenie całego runu. Polskie wydanie zawiera czwartą i piątą część zatem kończy ten „etap”. Nie bardzo mi pasowało na początku przeniesienie akcji do San Francisco i ukrywanie pewnej tajemnicy. W scenografii gubił się sam Daredevil, co było mimo wszystko zabawne. Fabularnie obyło się bez superbohaterskiej przesady i sztafażu. W finale Waid znalazł dobrą proporcję, której wcześniej czasami brakowało.
Sam nie wiem, jak to się stało, że Daredevil stał się moim ulubionym bohaterem z uniwersum Marvela. Najpierw był serial, ale to za mało, aby mnie wkręcić. Myślę, że run Bendissa pozamiatał i przyćmił Franka Millera. A kolejni twórcy przejmujący pałeczkę potrafili utrzymać wysoki poziom. Waid doskonale zwieńczył całą opowieść okolicznościowymi „epilogami” z okazji 50-lecia Daredevila. Może łza w oku się nie zakręciła, ale kończyłem ten etap z poczuciem melancholii.
Sam nie wiem, jak to się stało, że Daredevil stał się moim ulubionym bohaterem z uniwersum Marvela. Najpierw był serial, ale to za mało, aby mnie wkręcić. Myślę, że run Bendissa pozamiatał i przyćmił Franka Millera. A kolejni twórcy przejmujący pałeczkę potrafili utrzymać wysoki poziom. Waid doskonale zwieńczył całą opowieść okolicznościowymi „epilogami” z okazji 50-lecia Daredevila. Może łza w oku się nie zakręciła, ale kończyłem ten etap z poczuciem melancholii.
December 21, 2023
Outside of a baffling pair of decimal issues (.1? 1.50? okay?), this is what I THOUGHT Waid and Samnee’s run was going to be like after their first volume. Which I read way back yore in the golden days of 2020.
All that to say, this is a great starting place for this Daredevil run. If I ever lend people these volumes, I’m gonna suggest the machete order of 1-4-5…2-3.
The emotion! The intrigue! The artwork! Love it.
4 stars, would be 4.5 if not for the .1 and 1.50 bullshit.
All that to say, this is a great starting place for this Daredevil run. If I ever lend people these volumes, I’m gonna suggest the machete order of 1-4-5…2-3.
The emotion! The intrigue! The artwork! Love it.
4 stars, would be 4.5 if not for the .1 and 1.50 bullshit.
July 29, 2017
Waid continues his award-winning take on Happy Daredevil here, in an all-new venue (San Francisco!). The location shift doesn't do a whole lot for our hero (or the story) other than give him a bit of a fresh start, but ultimately I guess this doesn't matter. It's fun! Daredevil takes on The Owl again! There's a very silly Foggy Nelson storyline! Matt has a girlfriend that doesn't seem seconds from death!
Usually, at this point in a writer/artist's run on a series, the new and fresh ideas that reinvigorated the characters have started to feel like old and stale ideas that the characters have gotten stuck in. It's very rare to have a series run for as long as Waid's Daredevil without it burning out and getting old. But, Waid's take is so joyous and colorful that's it's kind of hard to get tired of. It'd be like getting tired of cake. Cake is great! I've had cake like a thousand times!
I will say, though, that cake does not surprise me anymore, and neither does Waid's Daredevil. It's become a kind of comfort... cake? Sure. Comfort cake. I know I'm going to have a good time reading it, but I kind of doubt I'll remember much about it in a week's time. Just like comfort cake, that classic category of cake we're all familiar with.
So, while I don't see the final volume of Daredevil pushing any boundaries, I am excited to read it, just to see what final ideas Waid plays around with. It's been a nice vacation from Dark, Broody Matt, and I hope future Daredevil at least take away one thing from this run: Daredevil can be fun.
Usually, at this point in a writer/artist's run on a series, the new and fresh ideas that reinvigorated the characters have started to feel like old and stale ideas that the characters have gotten stuck in. It's very rare to have a series run for as long as Waid's Daredevil without it burning out and getting old. But, Waid's take is so joyous and colorful that's it's kind of hard to get tired of. It'd be like getting tired of cake. Cake is great! I've had cake like a thousand times!
I will say, though, that cake does not surprise me anymore, and neither does Waid's Daredevil. It's become a kind of comfort... cake? Sure. Comfort cake. I know I'm going to have a good time reading it, but I kind of doubt I'll remember much about it in a week's time. Just like comfort cake, that classic category of cake we're all familiar with.
So, while I don't see the final volume of Daredevil pushing any boundaries, I am excited to read it, just to see what final ideas Waid plays around with. It's been a nice vacation from Dark, Broody Matt, and I hope future Daredevil at least take away one thing from this run: Daredevil can be fun.
February 14, 2025
This was my first jumping on point to Daredevil. It was weird seeing Matt Murdock outside of Hell's Kitchen but the issues in here kept me entertained. I've been enjoying Mark Waid's run on Daredevil. Still holds up after all this time.
August 14, 2018
I'm not sure what different things I can continue to say about Mark Waid's work on this title....it continues to be excellent, with wonderful artwork.
May 10, 2023
3,5 estrelas
May 3, 2019
A pretty interesting volume with some nice looks back at some old storylines that juust don't make sense nowadays. :D
January 6, 2022
Everyone says Waid's take is lighter than others but I think its mostly due to the art style. This book has a bomb implanted in a kid, people killing themselves, Killgrave raping women to sire an army and the worst of the worst... nuns spray painting graffiti in protest. Filthy nuns.
March 13, 2017
4.5 stars
September 18, 2021
I have to say, I was a little disappointed in the first half of this volume as I thought it had lost a little bit of, idk, the flair that Daredevil (2011) had but it REALLY picked up in the latter half.
The rest has heavy spoilers:
The rest has heavy spoilers:
September 2, 2016
Als erster Daredevil Comic eignet sich dieser eigentlich nicht, da der Megaband schon sehr fortgeschrittene Geschichten beinhaltet. Allerdings ist er so gut, dass man einfach weiterlesen muss und man trotz allem sehr schnell auch ohne Hintergrundkenntnisse in die Geschichten reinkommt. Sehr überrascht hat mich dann aber Ant-Man.
Ich bin absolut kein Fan von Ant-Man, im Gegenteil, aber er bekam Pluspunkte weil er Foggy geholfen hat. Ich liebe Foggy und die Geschichte um ihn war schon sehr fies, auch wenn man recht früh vermutet, wie sie am Ende ausgehen wird.
Ich musste so lachen, als Daredevil für Spider-Man gehalten wurde. Die Menschen in der Marvel-Welt geben sich eindeutig zu wenig Mühe ihre Superhelden auseinanderzuhalten :'D
Ich bin absolut kein Fan von Ant-Man, im Gegenteil, aber er bekam Pluspunkte weil er Foggy geholfen hat. Ich liebe Foggy und die Geschichte um ihn war schon sehr fies, auch wenn man recht früh vermutet, wie sie am Ende ausgehen wird.
Ich musste so lachen, als Daredevil für Spider-Man gehalten wurde. Die Menschen in der Marvel-Welt geben sich eindeutig zu wenig Mühe ihre Superhelden auseinanderzuhalten :'D
April 3, 2017
Standard Superheldenkost. Gut für Einsteiger.
April 19, 2025
A fresh new beginning that carries the momentum
Now, while I could rant endlessly about Marvel's obsession with renumbering books with a new #1 even when completely unnecessary, the numbering is wholly irrelevant to the fact that this is still a really damn good book.
While it does feel like Waid is showing down a bit, the writing is still characteristically solid, even if there are a few new characters that get forgotten almost instantly. That being said, the arcs are still short and sweet and have some fun with DD's new status quo in the West Coat of the US.
I think my biggest complaints come from two areas specifically: 1. The Owl in the first arc just kinda appears out of nowhere and has a very poorly defined motivation and plan in mind, he just kinda shows up and serves more as a medium through which to break down DD's morals when compared to The Shroud.
And 2. The two Original Sin tie-ins, while interesting and a bit fun, introduce a retcon regarding Matt's mom that I’m not entirely sure how to feel about.
In any case, the book is still gorgeously drawn by Chris Samnee and the writing is still solid and fun.
Overall, a worthy continuation of what has been a wonderful book.
Now, while I could rant endlessly about Marvel's obsession with renumbering books with a new #1 even when completely unnecessary, the numbering is wholly irrelevant to the fact that this is still a really damn good book.
While it does feel like Waid is showing down a bit, the writing is still characteristically solid, even if there are a few new characters that get forgotten almost instantly. That being said, the arcs are still short and sweet and have some fun with DD's new status quo in the West Coat of the US.
I think my biggest complaints come from two areas specifically: 1. The Owl in the first arc just kinda appears out of nowhere and has a very poorly defined motivation and plan in mind, he just kinda shows up and serves more as a medium through which to break down DD's morals when compared to The Shroud.
And 2. The two Original Sin tie-ins, while interesting and a bit fun, introduce a retcon regarding Matt's mom that I’m not entirely sure how to feel about.
In any case, the book is still gorgeously drawn by Chris Samnee and the writing is still solid and fun.
Overall, a worthy continuation of what has been a wonderful book.
July 30, 2019
Daredevil by Mark Waid is deceptive. It's the lightest and most pulpy series of Daredevil comics I'd argue since Lee was writing but it has also had the darkest element and plot point of any Daredevil comic I've read.
So Matt has moved to San Francisco because he admitted he was Daredevil to not let the serpent society get one over on him. While the title does not explore the consequences of that so much (wouldn't all the guys Matt helped to convict get released or at the very least some sort of lesser sentence or mistrial?) it is a blast to read. Chris Samnee is great on the book as Matt's chin has never been stronger and his head never quite as tough. While it doesn't destroy Matt's live quite like other runs Mark Waid does deal with depression but positively, Matt's in a better place and how it's handled I'm all for because everyone should get help or have someone to help them.
So it starts with Matt working with the police and another "hero" comes into it and he calls himself the Shade. I think this is the weakest part of the collection but afterwards when it's dealing with Matt's mom and Kilgrave there are better things going on in the plot. Namely with the depression stuff I talked about.
Samnee's pencils are creative in how they depict Murdock during his superhero bouts. Especially during the Road Warrior issue that was originally an online only comic printed later. Daredvil may only have three villians that are A listers but Waid makes these villians interesting and he's got Matt's voice down to perfection.
Overall I enjoyed this very much and look forward to the fifth and final volume.
4 stars.
So Matt has moved to San Francisco because he admitted he was Daredevil to not let the serpent society get one over on him. While the title does not explore the consequences of that so much (wouldn't all the guys Matt helped to convict get released or at the very least some sort of lesser sentence or mistrial?) it is a blast to read. Chris Samnee is great on the book as Matt's chin has never been stronger and his head never quite as tough. While it doesn't destroy Matt's live quite like other runs Mark Waid does deal with depression but positively, Matt's in a better place and how it's handled I'm all for because everyone should get help or have someone to help them.
So it starts with Matt working with the police and another "hero" comes into it and he calls himself the Shade. I think this is the weakest part of the collection but afterwards when it's dealing with Matt's mom and Kilgrave there are better things going on in the plot. Namely with the depression stuff I talked about.
Samnee's pencils are creative in how they depict Murdock during his superhero bouts. Especially during the Road Warrior issue that was originally an online only comic printed later. Daredvil may only have three villians that are A listers but Waid makes these villians interesting and he's got Matt's voice down to perfection.
Overall I enjoyed this very much and look forward to the fifth and final volume.
4 stars.
August 4, 2021
I can take or leave the bonus anniversary issue stuff, which is par for the course for bonus anniversary issue stuff, but Waid and Samnee are still crushing it. I tend to think of their run as peaking with the Ikari of it all but I forgot just how dazzlingly high that peak is and how falling short of that is by no means falling short of greatness. Got me real good, real cutting onions style with the end of that purple arc.
Also, when your (for lack of a better term and meant with the upmost respect) second string artist is freaking the incomparable Javier Rodriguez? I mean wow, what a book. What an embarrassment of riches.
This is a great series and I am a great man for remembering to reread it.
Also, when your (for lack of a better term and meant with the upmost respect) second string artist is freaking the incomparable Javier Rodriguez? I mean wow, what a book. What an embarrassment of riches.
This is a great series and I am a great man for remembering to reread it.
May 12, 2022
A fun tale of Matt Murdock’s new west coast locale. Evidently his identity is no longer secret (since I guess the well of stories of him being a hardscrabble lawyer ran dry), but still entertaining. The bonus by Bryan Michael Bendis left more question, so I may have to buy another book. Mission accomplished.
And The Owl! He seems to now be a homicidal maniac, which is the character arc for obscure Golden and Silver Age villains.
And The Owl! He seems to now be a homicidal maniac, which is the character arc for obscure Golden and Silver Age villains.
February 11, 2025
A bit slower than the previous volume of waid (or at least how I remember it). It's cool to see some of the lesses characters of Marvel used again and it feels more natural than when Waid obsessed with Kadabra in his The Flash run.
My favourite part of this collection has to be the short-story by Bendis. He might have fallen of grace hard but that man understand this character as much, or maybe more, than Frank Miller.
My favourite part of this collection has to be the short-story by Bendis. He might have fallen of grace hard but that man understand this character as much, or maybe more, than Frank Miller.
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August 23, 2025Terrific stuff from Waid/Samnee (and in some chapters, Wait/Rodriguez). The first issue collected here is a masterpiece of visual storytelling, a rare superhero book from the 21st century where I was actually somewhat in suspense though the end was as predictable as you knew it was. Nothing here will shift the genre or change your life, but if you just want terrific superhero comics, this is solid to great stuff.
May 31, 2017
Great stuff. Definitely a little less earth-shattering consequences everywhere than the previous volumes. But great art, with a generous helping of throwbacks to previous eras. A pretty cool storyline involving the Purple Man.
June 17, 2023
As I have only come to comic books late in life, I am a bit of a snob. This was terrific, with a surprisingly (for my snob self) deep plot and character development. Really good, especially as a companion to the Marvel series.
May 14, 2025
Probably the least memorable of Waid’s volumes so far. It returned to more episodic feeling storylines, but none of them were particularly strong.
The art and writing was great throughout, just nothing that wow’d me. There were a few touching emotional moments, but they were set up strangely.
The art and writing was great throughout, just nothing that wow’d me. There were a few touching emotional moments, but they were set up strangely.
July 7, 2017
Amazing stories. Kudos to the team behind this amazing series.
June 26, 2018
Wonderful. Full of heart and emotions. Mark Waid is my favorite writer working in the industry right now, and this is one of his finest moments.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
July 30, 2020
I mean, it's real good.
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