Daredevil by Ed Brubaker Omnibus, Vol. 1

Daredevil by Ed Brubaker Omnibus

by Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark (Illustrator), Stefano Gaudiano (Illustrator)

Longtime DD fans will not be disappointed as the critically acclaimed, award-winning creative team of Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark leave their mark on one of comics' most enduring legends! For the past few years, Matt Murdock's life has been teetering on the edge of destruction. Now, pushed beyond the limit, he finds himself behind the eight ball with no clear way out, the people he calls friends slowly deserting him, and Hell's Kitchen gradually slipping out of control. The question is, when his back is against the wall, just how far will Daredevil go to get back what is his? And if you think Matt's life is going to start getting simpler after that, think again! As he tries to find a way to move forward, a threat from his past begins to creep toward daylight. COLLECTING: DAREDEVIL (1998) 82-105

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

608 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2009

About the author

Ed Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.

In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell, this is some good shit. In the first arc, Daredevil is in jail and has to team with some of his worst enemies to escape and figure out who the mastermind was that put him there. In the second arc, someone is out to ruin Daredevil's life.

I don't think I was regularly buying comics when this was coming out. Ed Brubaker and Mike Lark are the principle creative team, the same kick ass team that worked on Gotham Central.

I don't want to give too much away but this is one kick ass omnibus. Now, it isn't perfect. I hated the coloring of the beginning of the book, a muddy Photoshop-looking mess that took away from the book for me. The rest of it was pure gold, though. Daredevil goes through the wringer a couple times, beats the shit out of tons of criminals, and generally does a lot of Daredevil shit. There are some great twists and turns along the way. Now I just need Marvel to reprint volume 2.

[Subham · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS ONE IS TOO GOOD!

It starts with Matt in prison and the story with the prison riot and breakout but the way he faces off against Fisk and Bullseye and even Punisher and then escape and the whole thing there just wow like easily one of the best stories e'vah!

And then we have the touring around Europe where he faces off against different threats and meets this woman lily and her lover Matador and faces off against them and finds who has been making his life hell aka Queenpin/Vanessa and its a great story and what he does with Fisk later and the story highlighting Milla's traumatic love is wonderful!

And then the big story with Gladiator returning and making his life hell and what it does to Milla and we find out its Mr Fear aka Larry cranston and its epic and its so much drama and tension and holy shit its so good, one of the best runs easily! Plus the story gives you chill throughout and Matt never really won and that last panel with him sitting in loss...breaks your heart!

Great storytelling and well the art could not have been better, its consistent and amazing throughout! too good!

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brubaker’s dramatic follow-up to Bendis’s game-changing run on Daredevil begins here. It opens with a bang, picking up right where the last run ended, with a badass story arc called “The Devil in Cell Block D,” featuring Matt Murdock stuck in prison. There’s constant tension here as there is ever-present danger to Matt’s life all while he’s emotionally being chipped away. There are also fantastic cameos here, and it’s not only the best story arc in the book but also one of the best Daredevil stories I’ve read.



While it doesn’t quite always match the creative urgency that Bendis’s run had, Brubaker holds his own here, dropping big twists with beloved characters, taking Matt on a country-hopping, swashbuckling, international adventure, and then reinventing some of Daredevil’s silliest villains and telling a suspenseful crime tale that might change Matt’s life forever, although I’ve seen similar plot lines in the Batman world.

Brubaker has real skill with plot, especially in crime stories. The legal drama here is engaging and the way he keeps Matt’s secret identity drama compelling is impressive, still keeping it intact even though most of the world pretty much knows that Matt is Daredevil.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Brubaker's run holds up extremely well still.

While I think the opening with Matt in Prison and the Mr. Fear arc are the best, the middle is very solid too. A little weaker, kind of more padding in the middle with Matt going overseas, being the weakest part of the entire run. However, the Mr. Fear arc is brutal, fucked up, and honestly scary for Matt as a hero. The opening is intense and dark as you expect with Matt having to make it through Prison with people he put there.

A 4 out of 5!

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good run. Onto vol. 2.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Wow. I was almost done with my review and this damn Goodreads app just crashed, like it always does, and I lost what I wrote. Dammit man. Anyhoo, Brubaker kills it with this run. I read his Criminal series and loved it. His writing just draws you in. He will start at a point and just build a beautiful crescendo into some wild ish. It was a joy to see him bring that style to DD. Bendis left Matt in a tight spot and Brubaker just picks up from there effortlessly. The things that happen with him and Fisk, the wild scenario with Foggy, to going out to Europe. I was enjoying the ride. Some classic villains show up like Gladiator but some others also pop up that you don’t expect. All were weaved into the story nicely. I was at the edge of my seat wondering was coming next. Towards the end, Mr. Fear shows up and Matt’s life starts to unravel. Man did this Mr Fear do a number on Matt. Cannot wait to crack open the next volume.

[Bruno Carriço · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very good.... Brubaker never fails.... worth the wait :)

[Highland G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Brubaker playing right into his strengths here. Damn, not sure where its going next but I’m in.

[DayDay · Rating 5 out of 5]

ED BRUBAKER ! The absolute goat at writing crime/thriller comic books. God I love his run on Daredevil so much ! So many twists and turns, the suspense. This book was just FIYAHH ! My favorite Daredevil run ever !

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 5 stars are a very different 5 stars than the ones I gave to Bendis's incredible Daredevil run. While Bendis shook up Daredevil's world and took it to places it had never been before, Brubaker trods more familiar territory, but does so with more heart and intensity than almost any other comics writer could muster.

[Ty Lazauskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bendis stuff was so incredible that even though the Brubaker run is wonderful and as noir-esque as I'd expect it to be, it still pales in comparison. The first arc was heart-wrenching (foggyyy! Nuuuuu) and I couldn't seem to put it down. Matt Murdock is hella angsty in this run and I'm obviously all about that. Later arcs are a little weak and predictable, but still full of great action.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on a partial whim, because I have always had mixed feelings about Daredevil. I enjoyed the story from the first series where he battles Prince Namor after having agreed to represent Namor in the United States judicial system. I also enjoyed the team-ups involving Spider-Man [such as the "Sin-Eater" storyline, even though DeWolfe is killed]. My "favorite" Daredevil story would be the "Born Again" storyline, to be honest. Loved that storyline. I also enjoyed the first twelve issues or so of volume II ["Guardian Devil" written by Smith with Quesada as the artist]. When the character has a good writer teamed up with a good artist, he's pretty fantastic. Clearly, a lot depends on the author [and the artist]; Daredevil is a character that can provoke pretty strong emotions in the reader [love him, hate him, or do not care about him at all]. Overall, though, I have not followed him as regularly as I have followed other characters over the years; he just did not impress me that much, overall. Having read this omnibus, I almost regret not having kept up on the character once Bendis started writing him and Brubaker followed after.

The stories are a bit hit-and-miss for me; I have never been a huge fan of "dark" comics. I know authors/writers have this mindset that they have to drag a hero through the proverbial gutter, taking the hero deep into hell and back before the hero can 'shine' after completing his "journey". I do not fully agree with this mindset, because of the depths of depravity the writer drags the reader through before the story (hopefully) eventually rises back to the surface. It is "funny", in a way, because the authors/writers tend to claim they want to see how far they can take a character before the character either "breaks" or "bounces back, stronger than before" now that the "heroic character" has been pushed closer to whatever line the hero has as denoting 'the point of no return' and the hero becomes a villain. It's kind of a stupid concept, because of course the hero's going to bounce back, no matter how far over the line he or she goes. The hero will still be considered a 'hero' albeit maybe a bit more 'edgy' and 'mainstream' because of how far into the dark side they may or may not have gone. It is not like the authors and writers are interacting with a real person who they are trying to break; they know exactly how far they are going to "push" the character and write about the character even crossing over the character's "personal line of no return" before moving back "into the light" and what their personal brand of morality would judge as 'good-guy behavior'.

I do think it was an interesting concept, on the one hand, that Daredevil's identity is outed to the public and Matt Murdock gets thrown into prison as a result. Not having kept up with the Kingpin or his wife Vanessa, I was pretty shocked that Vanessa was behind the skullduggery and maleficence directed at not only Murdock but Wilson Fisk. That was pretty crazy, that she equated what she was doing to both Fisk and Murdock in terms of playing chess. I also thought it was funny that she said she had to let Fisk win when they played chess, that Fisk never realized his wife had become better than he was at playing the game. So there were "multiple levels" of schemes being brought to fruition throughout the course of the omnibus.

Mister Fear seemed like a Marvelized Scarecrow, to me, and more than a little overrated. I just get a little tired of these 'godlike' villains who are 'gifted' with some kind of 'omniscience' that allows them to plan out every move a hero could possibly make without making any kind of errors. Perhaps it is because I do not have the same emotional investment in Daredevil's character like I do with various Avengers' characters [like Thor, Captain America, Thunderstrike, or the Wasp] to really, truly 'care' about what happens to Matt Murdock. That, and the way Mister Fear manipulates Daredevil's wife and other characters [especially criminals and C.O.'s at Ryker's prison] was more than a little annoying. I just wanted it to be over. It just felt like they created a character that ripped off the Scarecrow's M.O. and then took it further than DC did with their character [especially in the Nolan movies].

Daredevil's always been a funny character to me. Here he is, a defense attorney sworn to follow the laws of the land and uphold the law while defending his clients, and yet he regularly breaks the law by acting as a vigilante superhero. It always seemed to me to be a strange conflict of interest, and one I never felt like the writers ever adequately addressed. Perhaps they did and I just missed the storyline and/or comic, but it always seemed to be a weakness about the character to me.

The stories in this Omnibus take place around the time of the Super Hero Registration Act, so it was interesting to read about cops who defended and supported Daredevil because of the good he did on the streets even though he was breaking the laws of the land versus those cops who wanted to bring him in as an unregistered hero [criminal]. At the same time, it did seem a little odd that none of the other heroes who supported the registration ever showed up to take on the occasional super criminal committing a crime in Hell's Kitchen.

Speaking of which, the issue involving Ox versus the Wrecker. That issue was a joke, that Ox could even hope to stand up to the Wrecker and go toe-to-toe with the super-powered villain. The Wrecker is imbued with Asgardian strength; he can take on Thor without breaking a sweat. Yet we are expected to believe that a mere mortal such as Ox can give the Wrecker a run for the Wrecker's money? It just beggared belief and was a poorly written issue. They should have gone for a different villain instead of the Wrecker to face off against Ox.

Razor Fist has got to be one of the stupidest characters created. He replaced both of his hands with razor blades? Really? How's he going to change his clothes? How does he go to the bathroom? How does he wipe himself if he has to defecate? How does he feed himself food, let alone drink out of a glass? He is a stupid character who, no doubt, somebody thought would at least look "really cool" and imposing and "dangerous" having replaced his hands with razor blades. Somebody did not think that character through when they designed him.

I am so sick of the Bullseye character. He is one of the few characters I wish they would just kill off and leave dead. Wilson Fisk is another one. I just get sick of characters like these two who kill and kill and kill and who should be executed because of all of the murders and death with which they have been involved, and yet the "heroes" refuse to ensure no future lives suffer because of villains such as these. Not only do the "heroes" refuse to ensure no future lives are lost, but they make the government too spineless to protect the rest of the population from these killers. I realize the writers are supposedly taking some sort of "moral high ground" by not having the killers executed or killed, but that high ground looks to be pretty shaky considering the number of dead bodies left in the wake of these killers.

The "best" stories in this collection are probably the ones involving Matt while he's in prison partly because Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, allows himself to be arrested so he can be in Ryker's Prison with Matt Murdock to see if Matt really has gone fully over to the "dark side". It is an interesting take on Castle's character, because Castle essentially wants to protect Murdock and make sure Murdock does not become a murderer like Castle is in terms of executing criminals. It created an interesting dynamic, especially during the prison riot, when the Punisher remained in his cell and let the prisoners kill each other off. That part was actually kind of funny, in a twisted sort of way.

I also liked that Danny Rand was acting as Daredevil while Matt was in prison. We do not necessarily find that out until a bit later in the series, and it is a bit of a 'big reveal' when Matt discovers that Danny has been impersonating him while Matt was incarcerated. Still, though, it is kind of funny that the Daredevil comic never addresses Danny Rand being arrested by Iron Man and being sent to the Supermax Prison in the Negative Zone. I do want to read either the next omnibus collection or the smaller collections of Brubaker's run to see what happens, as the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger.

The artwork is well-done; it is gritty, dark, and brooding; it lends itself well to the stories being told. I think the artist is a good match for the stories being told.

Overall, this collection was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were elements that I really liked and enjoyed; there were also a number of elements that I did not like and did not care for. I realize that many comics are written with a "cliffhanger ending" to encourage the reader to purchase the next comic to "see what happens next" in the story, but I did wish this omnibus collection had NOT ended on a bit of a 'cliffhanger'. Overall, I am glad that I did read the collection.

[OmniBen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
I'd read the Bendis / Maleev omnibus' earlier this year. They'd left quite an impression on me. So much so that for the first half of this collection, I couldn't help but compare it to Bendis and Maleev's masterwork. Surely a fair comparison, but Brubaker and Lark's run wasn't exactly measuring up, I was more than a little disappointed to find out. A fact that I'm very thankful to say, came a hell of a lot closer to drawing even by the time this one was all said and done. The first half of the run was much, much better than the opening. I won't go into details as to why to avoid spoilers, but it never really clicked for me until the end of arc two. Brubaker really started laying down some solid foundations. Being the writer I knew he can be. I was yet to be convinced of his skills when it came to works outside of his own independent projects. His Catwoman run was bitterly disappointing. But the writer I know and enjoy eventually found his groove with the character, and started putting in some really compelling stories.
Michael Lark is one of my favourite artists. His gritty yet realistic style is always phenomenal, and suits Daredevil down to the ground. It was going to be hard to top Maleev's work, but Lark made this book his own. Elevating Brubaker's earlier work, and launching the better stories into the stratosphere. Even the multtiple artists on issue 100 didn't irk me the way it would have. Everyone was bringing their A game. Now to wait for that reprint of volume 2... 4.5/5


OmniBen.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a character defining run from Brian Michael Bendis,  there was only one writer who could continue this epic rollercoaster that Daredevil goes through. Ed Brubaker together with Michael Lark continue this hellish story of Matt Murdock, after his outing, his mental breakdown and just everything to shit, Bendis put DD in Jail and gives Brubaker the keys. Brubaker hits the ground running and gives us The Devil in Cell Block D, a fantastic story that is one of my very favorite Daredevil moments in his very prolific comic life, imagine Matt in jail where he puts many villains and crooks, and he is there with Hammerhead, The Kinpin, Bullseye and then Frank fucking Castle walks in and is there aswell, i mean come one ! Epicness overload! Brubaker also gives the character a change of pace and we see him out of his element as a sort of James Bond in a couple of other countries,  and its totally different but fun to see the devil from Hells Kitchen,  in a very different background. This is not as good a run as Bendis his, but its very high quality and a must read for DD fans.
🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Ellzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first arc was really fun, but then the rest of the run really doesn't live up to the potential of following up on all of the interesting characters and storylines from the Bendis run. Brubaker does not know how to write a woman without using her as a one-dimensional plot device or love interest for Matt to save his life. If there's a woman in this run, she's either completely incompetent, in need of saving, evil, in love with Matt, or some mix of all of the above. It really put a bad taste in my mouth, especially with how Milla's character gets treated and discarded purely for the sake of shock value. Matt is also written as an entirely self-absorbed, violent asshole. He is not there for his friends or loved ones a single time, and spends his time either lashing out at them or whining about how he's put them in danger by being friends with them. He also hurts or threatens several innocent people purely out of anger over percieved harm they've caused him. Matt would never do that. He has always been selfish and prone to violence, but he usually shows enough moments of charm and selflessness to balance it out when it matters. Here, that balance is gone, and Matt seemingly learns nothing and only gets worse. It just wasn't fun or compelling. It got mind numbing after a while seeing the story do misery for the sake of misery at the cost of interesting character writing or believable development. Worth reading for the cool art and The Devil in Cell Block D, at least.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following on from Bendis’ Daredevil epic is no small feat, coming off of an amazing run on Captain America and continuing to be a credible story teller is no small feat but Brubaker does both. Picking up where Bendis’ run ends Brubaker offers a new take on Matt and his many issues that is both uniquely Brubakers Daredevil but continues what Bendis set up. Characters like Milla are fleshed out and more consistent than before, the villains are fresh interpretations of old school villains with a modern twist (a Brubaker speciality). The art is much more consistent throughout and issue #100 is a joy to read thanks to all the iconic Daredevil artists returning for mini stories featuring the characters they are known for.

[Hosein · Rating 5 out of 5]

چند روزی هست که این کمیک رو تموم کردم ولی فرصت نشد در موردش بنویس.
برای من این بهترین (یا بخوام کمتر جوگیر بشم، یکی از بهترین) ران های دردویل بود. داستان ریتم درستی داره، هیچ جایی عجله نکرده تا زودتر بره جلو. شاید حجمش زیادش این اشتباه رو درست کنه که خسته کننده س، اما در اصل سه تا آرک مختلف توی این جلده و هر کدوم سبکِ روایت متفاوتی دارن. از یک داستان حقوقی و خشن توی زندان شروع می‌شه و می‌رسه به چیزی شبیه جیمز باند و آخرش یک دردویل کلاسیک رو داریم که ذهن و روانش به شدت آزرده شده.

خیلی ساختار درستی داره توی داستان گفتن، اینقدری که طراحی متوسطش رو کنار می‌زنه و کاری می‌کنه که خوب به نظر بیاد.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great comic. Very cool style that gives the whole story a dark, gritty, textured feel that perfectly matches the streets of Hell's Kitchen and Matt Murdoch. There is a lot going on here, story-wise, and plenty of interesting characters that add a ton of depth.

No criticisms from this reader, but it didn't blow me away enough to get the fifth star.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was really nothing to dislike about this.

The art might not be everyone's taste but I liked Lark's work a lot.

Brubaker's writing was well plotted and well paced, and utilised Murdock's rogues gallery well.

I can't wait to get cracking with the second half in volume 2.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art makes a huge difference in a visual medium like comics. The Story can be good but if the art is lousy it will impair the ability of the writer to fully communicate their message.

That said the art was well done here. And the story was engaging. I don;t consider myself a big daredevil fan. But, this starts out with him in Jail. Suspected and accused of being Daredevil. And then he gets thrown in to the general populace in an effort to either get him to defend himself and prove to everyone he is daredevil or so he will die. Of course several people he put in prison are there too. So it makes it very interesting. And this is just the start of all the story in this book. It's nicely long so you will have to have an hour or two at the least if you want to read it in one sitting.

I personally like that the story fits together so well rather than it being several separate stories. If this team remained on this book I would certainly keep up with the books. Sadly Marvel keeps changing up their author and artist teams.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It reads like a thriller or suspense novel. It’s a mature, depressing, frustrating, nerve-wracking, well-crafted tale that challenges the hero to save those closest to him while trying not to lose himself amidst the struggle.

The costumes and superpowers are almost an aside. They’re critical to the character, and necessary to love certain pieces of the plot along, but this is a story that could just as easily been an episode of CSI, or some other such drama.

Exceptionally well-done.
Onto Volume 2...!

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil in Cell Block D (82-87). Brubaker picks up right where Bendis left off, and gives us a terrific Daredevil-in-jail story. We get Daredevil and many of his arch-foes in tight confines. We get an FBI that is truly @(#*ing with him. We get marvelous characterization as Matt circles down into despair and rage. We get a few shocking events. And on the outside we get a great supporting cast and a fun mystery. (Who is the duplicate Daredevil?) Overall, a great story and a great start to Brubaker's run. Oh, and there's great dark and moody art by Lark. [8/10].

The Secret Life of Foggy Nelson (88). So Foggy's actually not dead. We found that out in the closing panels of #87. And, good thing. Killing another one of Matt's closest friends would just be a bridge too far. The explanation in this issue is good and believable, but beyond it's not very exciting. Call it an intermission, I guess, between "The Devil in Cell Block D" and "The Devil Takes a Ride", which were later seen as a single unit [5/10].

The Devil Takes a Ride (89-93). The contrast to Matt behind bars is clearly Matt on a world tour ... but I'm not convinced that it's a good contrast as it takes Matt away from his familiar haunts and plays him like a pawn as he shuttles from place to place. Still, the last few issues make up for any deficiencies in this story by offering a great solution to the questions of Brubaker's first year of Daredevil and a very impactful change for one of Matt's major relationships [7/10].

Our Love Story (94). Unlike the Foggy spotlight in the previous volume, this one offers a very strong insight into one of Matt's supporting cast, Milla. It's a great look into who she is and how she views their relationship [7+/10].

The Devil, His Due (95-99). So Brubaker hit a big reset button at the end of his previous arc. Matt is out of jail, Foggy is back, and they're practicing law again. That could have been annoying if not for the fact that Brubake continues to play up the state of Daredevil and how we got here: Matt is still unmasked, and we've still got problems rolling over form his most recent conflict.

As for the plot, that's an intriguing mystery involving a long-time supporting character, Melvin, The Gladiator. It's well laid-out as an unwinding mystery of the type that Brubaker excels out. But, Brubaker doesn't let that get in the way of characters, and so we get some great focus on Matt, Milla, and others along the way.

The only deficit of this arc is that it doesn't end. Oh, there's a clear break at the end of #99, but Brubaker is obviously telling another year-long arc, and this one is less differentiated than the one before it. Nonetheless, he gives us some great revelations and shocking events as this part of the arc concludes, resulting in a story that's not quite as good as his introductory arc, but almost there, and strong for many of the same reasons — including great artwork, great characters, strong plotting, and good use of continuity [8/10].

Without Fear (100-105). Here's a great idea for Daredevil #100: hit Matt with a hallucinatory fear drug, and then have him spend the issue fighting old foes and meeting old lovers and friends, as he trips his way across Hell's Kitchen. It lets you touch back on the continuity of the entire comic's run, and so honor the anniversary. Except, it turns out that this idea has never been interesting and isn't interesting here either. Instead, you get a dull and pointless issue. Worse, this particular usage makes you question why Matt's poisoning worked different from Melvin's poisoning. (Different drugs, I guess, but it's never clarified.)

Fortunately, the rest of the volume is great. Brubaker reinvents Mr. Fear as a Killgrave-level manipulator and creates a compelling drama, particularly for the heart-breaking ways that it impacts Matt's life. I said of Brubaker's initial arc that I didn't want to see another repeat of the killing of Matt's friends, but what Brubaker does here is so much better (and worse!). It's also pretty great that Brubaker interweaves his plot with the Dark Reign plotline, but through the use of the Hood he makes it totally organic: a real part of the overall storyline.

In the end, Brubaker offers up another excellent volume. Though he's still never matched the excellence of his prison arc, as a whole his second year's story is more consistently great than the first year's story was [8/10].

[Duncs Comics · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the opening story arc "The Devil in Cell Block D", Brubaker and Lark pick up right where Bendis and Maleev left off, with Matt Murdock in prison. I can appreciate that the creative team decided to make the best of the unique premise they were given, and sit with it for a bit rather than do away with it immediately as sometimes tends to happen. It feels all too often that a writer shakes up the core of a character in a big way, only for the succeeding team to find some backdoor exit, wriggle their way out of it and tell the story they want to tell like nothing happened. Bendis is known for leaving titles with prickly status quo changes, but a good writer will be able to adapt and salvage these circumstances. And a good writer, Brubaker certainly is. Though, surprisingly, given current rhetoric, I ended up enjoying Bendis' run more overall than Brubaker's.

Tonally, it feels like a direct continuation of the seminal Bendis/Maleev run, and also very consistent with the Netflix show. You kind of do need to read these four omnis in a row. The distinction is that rather than have the verbose, quirky Bendis-talk, Brubaker leans into his own crime thriller strengths, even at one point having Matt run around in Europe for a little while in a kind of espionage story.

I think because I've been reading Daredevil in succession, the constant suffering and "Oh no, drama queen Matt has damaged his relationships EVEN MORE now..." becomes kind of tiresome. Yet, it is also what makes the book so compelling and the 'world outside your window' which Marvel prides itself on. Matt Murdock is self-destructive and deep and real, but he also has his faith and ideals by which he attempts to live. He is spiritual, but he is also flesh and blood. I turn to Daredevil stories during difficult periods in my life and I find relatability and complexity... but I think the critique stands that constantly trying to push Matt down further becomes melodramatic and masochistic at some point. Wasn't he past his breaking point with the mental breakdown like... two omnis ago??

Anyway, that is not to say Brubaker wasn't cooking with this one... because despite things feeling slow at times, I was surprised by how much I got invested in the supporting cast and different moments of payoff in the story. And the way the story concludes with Mister Fear's involvement, OH MY GOODNESS. That was excellent and so, so bleak. It's a brilliant notion that 'The Man Without Fear's antagonist would be effectively Scarecrow from Batman. And THAT'S a DC/Marvel crossover I'd love to see some day... but I think it wouldn't get much better than this, as this very much comes across as Brubaker's own version of Scarecrow. I also got Phantasm vibes from the costume design.

The omnibus closes with Daredevil's wife, Milla Donovan (Who Bendis introduced), permanently psychologically broken and in fits of insane rage, committed to a mental facility for life. Mister Fear mocks Daredevil by saying "There is no cure", and this isn't just a threat, this is the true, cruel fate of another one of Matt's loves. Again, pretty extreme on the suffering, but a sickening gut punch that has artistic value. Just because this is superhero comics doesn't mean there is always going to immediately be some 'antidote' the supervillain has spent time preparing, as Matt assumes. That is archaic and unrealistic. Critically acclaimed Daredevil runs tend to not fit neatly into a generic superhero mould, we love these stories because there are stakes, there are stories where there is no quick and easy fix, like real life. Matt Murdock can't wave his magic wand like writers do to revise continuity, this has happened, and this is a part of his history he must live with now.

Matt Murdock is permanently blind, there is no cure. In the same way, Milla's romantic involvement with him has stolen her future forever... and how is this going to impact Matt in Volume 2? Well... I think we already know the answer to that one. Matt Murdock and rage and suffering... a tale as old as time.

[Tyler Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daredevil by Ed Brubaker volume 1 was a book that took me a little bit to really get into. Bendis daredevil run is my favourite of all time so it probably has more to do with my sadness Bendis had left.

The Devil in Cell Block D (#82-#87)- 4/5: I have to say my complaint with this story is the artwork, it does look a little rough. It seems very photoshopped and it just wasn’t my style.

The story itself is very good however: Matt Murdock is in jail after the end of Bendis’ run and this is how we see him escape jail while a fake daredevil works on the outside. I enjoyed seeing Matt eventually start to care less and less about keeping his identity “officially” safe and also to see him team up with the Kingpin. I love seeing Matt pushed to the edge and I loved seeing how he had to sacrifice his morals to escape.

The secret life of Foggy Nelson (#88)- 3/5: a stand alone issue to show us what’s happened to Foggy while Matt has been in jail. It’s good if slightly forgettable amongst the other blockbuster stories in the book.

The Devil takes a ride (#89-#93) - 5/5: this is an incredible globe trotting, borderline James Bond story for Daredevil as Matt takes a ride to Monaco. There’s femme fatales and espionage and the twist of who has orchestrated the events since the start of the run is incredible.

The art work is also incredible and I love this noir style in the art that the book takes on from here. It’s different to Alex Maleev’s scratchy style but just as good.

SPOILER - I love that we see Vanessa Fisk is as cunning as her husband and the extent of her plan - SPOILERS END

Blind love (#94) - 3/5: again this is a standalone issue but this time it’s about Milla and how she views Matt’s relationship with her. It mostly exists to catch readers up on where they’re at with their marriage before the next stories.

To the devil, his due (#95-#99) - 4/5: Melvin Potter kills 3 security guards in jail and claims he didn’t do it, leading Nelson and Murdock to investigate the case. I really enjoyed the inclusion of Becky in this story and I loved the way Brubaker has extended Nelson/Murdock to include her and Dakota North as a P.I. They make a really fun little team and they’re dynamic is most on show in this story.

I loved to see Lily come back from Devil takes a ride and the way were just as unsure as Matt on whether or not she actually is here to help.

Yet again this is another amazing story and the focus on the legal aspect of Matt’s life is so interesting.

Without fear (#100-#105) - 5/5: I’ve seen people say this story isn’t as good as the rest but I have to disagree. I love seeing how such a minor villain like Mr Fear pushes Daredevil to the brink by actively ruining Milla. It might be unfair as I’ve read the Mark Waid run but I love how this does permanently affect Milla and how due to Matt’s carelessness, he’s ruined this woman’s life. I won’t go into spoilers but this was my favourite arc in the book, so much so I had to start reading volume 2 instantly

Overall Daredevil by Ed Brubaker volume 1 is a really strong follow up to Brian Michael Bendis run, keeping the themes and tone of that book and adding some new flavour at the same time. While yes there’s a couple forgettable issues, the blockbuster story arcs really
Keep the momentum solidifying this as a 5/5 book.

[Adam Spanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always liked Daredevil. Frank Miller's Born Again is one of my all-time favorite comic stories and Brian Michael Bendis' run on DD is by far the best (in my opinion). Now Ed Brubaker takes over and it's no surprise he continues the very solid story-telling setup by Bendis and Miller. It's also one of the most depressing superhero stories in recent memory.

This omnibus collects the first 25 issues of Brubaker's run on Daredevil. The first (and best) story of the bunch starts with hero Matt Murdock in prison with other inmates he helped put there as Daredevil (Kingpin, Bullseye and eventually the Punisher). After this strong start the story piles on several convoluted twists involving the return of Foggy Nelson, Vanessa Fisk, Tombstone, the Hood and other antagonists that leads into another "villain from the past returns to destroy Matt Murdock's life" story. Per usual Matt/Daredevil is put through the emotional ringer only barely managing to save the day (sort of?) but at incredible sacrifice.

What I've always liked about (good) Daredevil stories is there's usually no easy solution for our hero and that everything Matt/Daredevil accomplish comes from great amounts of effort and every small victory leads into bigger problems/conflicts. Unfortunately at the end of these 25 issues I had a hard time seeing any victory for our hero, large or small. Some people will find this ending clever and edgy, others will find it lacking with no real pay-off. What's even worse is that the villain that does (unconvincingly) take Matt down is pretty lame.

If the story's not your thing the art definitely will be. Michael Lark is easily one of the best Daredevil artists and every frame in these issues draws you into hero's gritty world (the collected covers and concept drawings are terrific too!).

Bottom line: Ed Brubaker's Daredevil is a very solid read and highly recommended for any fan. Just be warned: the story's a downer.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible collection of the first half of Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark's run on Daredevil. The narrative picks up from Brian Michael Bendis' legendary run with Daredevil's identity revealed and the title character in prison. From this intriguing scenario Brubaker develops a narrative arc that takes Daredevil in an exciting and revelatory direction while utilizing a strong supporting cast and great villains from throughout Daredevil's history. Standouts include series stalwarts like the Kingpin but time is also given to lesser used antagonists like Mister Fear who proves to be a fitting foil and someone who deserves to be used again.

The tone of the series remains relatively dark but it doesn't become depressing with flashes of Daredevil's determination and grit providing a degree of optimism. There were times when I simply had to stop reading and take in the expert plotting and panel layouts. This omnibus is a fine example of the lost art of long term planning in a mainstream Marvel comic and while effectively addressing previous story arcs.

The script crackles with well written dialogue while Michael Lark's consistent artwork establishes the tone while showcasing the diverse locals of France and New York City. The 100th issue utilizes a host of different artists to highlight different aspects of Daredevil's history while moving the narrative forward. Highly recommend for fans of Daredevil as a whole and those eager to explore the best of Marvel Comics.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible showing by Brubaker. I was already a big fan from his work with Gotham Central and once again I was impressed.

The writing is moody and grim, as Murdock finds himself in prison, his identity as Daredevil revealed to the public. Brubaker pushes Murdock to the edge time and time again. Even after leaving prison Daredevil is not completely free, he needs to find the architect of his pain, in Europe of all places. His life continues to be turned upside as Mr Fear targets those who he loves.

The writing is dramatic but gritty. The story is compelling and I couldn't put the book down, I was so excited to find out what happened next. The art perfectly matches the drama of the story, with the action being visceral and intense.

A must read fit Daredevil fans.

[Jota Houses · Rating 3 out of 5]

Después de la Gloriosa etapa de Bendis, le cae a Brubaker el papelón de continuar con Daredevil encerrado en una prisión de máxima seguridad. Supera la prueba con holgura en el primer arco dentro de la prisión pero flojea un poco en el pequeño World Tour en el que se embarca nuestro abogado ciego preferido. Aún así prepara las piezas para futuros desarrollos de un personaje que de Hombre sin Miedo pasa a ser el Hombre bajo asedio. El arte acompaña el guión con una calidad muy superior a la media.

[Zachary Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miller,Smith,Bendis and Brubaker. Each writer has had iconic runs writing Daredevil and this is the first half of Brubaker's run. Brubaker starts his run off with the "Devil in Cell Block D" which sees Matt Murdock is prison awaiting trial. This story would be perfect to see as part of Season 3 of Daredevil on Netflix and takes it's place as one of the iconic daredevil story arcs.

This is a must read for any Daredevil fan.

[Shevek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Torturing Matt Murdock is the hallmark of the best Daredevil's runs. Brubaker takes this to the extreme and push Murdock to his limits. In this case, this is done in a rather innovative way, whereby Matt ends up in very different locations from Hell's Kitchen and must deal with some of his most classic and long forgotten enemies. Lark's art also highlights for its suitability to illustrate the increasingly dark and desperate atmoshphere that surrounds The Man Without Fear.