Daredevil: Marvel Knights, Vol. 2

Daredevil (1998) (Single Issues) #26-37

by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev (Artist)

The red-hot writer of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN and ALIAS takes on Marvel's Man Without Fear! What will happen when Daredevil's greatest secret is exposed on the front page of New York City's tabloids? This collection features an entire year's worth of acclaimed DAREDEVIL #26-37, plus tons of behind-the-scenes extras!

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

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 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

[Obsidian · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was an interesting past look into Daredevil. Of course none of this really gibes with what I know from the television series besides names though.

This volume takes a look at what happens when Daredevil's real life identity is revealed and he has bad guys and even the good guys looking to take him down. We also get looks at Natasha (Black Widow) and Spider-Man which I thought was pretty cool. Sometimes I forget that most of the comic characters know each other. Right now the tv series and movies do not really interact with each other.

So Matt and Foggy in this one seem to be really well to do lawyers. There is talks of how expensive Matt's suits are and I was all, wait a minute, you look like you live in squalor on the tv show (bad Obsidian). After winning a court case, Matt is almost killed and it looks like someone has a hit out on him.

What made me laugh (and there was very little to laugh about in this one) is that Matt is blamed for his identity as being Daredevil to be out there cause he's pretty much told everyone. I even laughed at Kingpin knowing about it as well as Kingpin's wife Vanessa. I always do want to shake people for telling their love interest their secret identities, I mean stop it people, it never goes well.

Foggy and Matt are at an impasse of sorts because you can see that Foggy does blame Matt for Karen's death and for all of the people hurt because he brings violence around them (whatever Foggy, I wish Natasha had slapped you).

What was most interesting though is that you can see how the Kingpin starts to lose his authority and how someone else came in and managed to create enough issues that he is attacked as a result. I also thought Vanessa was stone cold as hell in this volume. I mean I was even scared of her. There is a reveal about something that had me hanging my mouth open.

I did think the volume would have worked better just told in a linear way instead of the present day and three weeks ago, or month ago back and forth. It was hard keeping things straight. I also had a hard time reading some panels because they were so dark though and had me squinting trying to figure out what was going on.

This volume leaves Matt at a crossroads. He can continue on as Daredevil, but he may be looking at not being allowed any privacy or being able to practice law in the future. I thought Natasha was doing a good job of kicking his butt verbally with her comments to him. Having a surprise stop by, by another of Matt's ex's didn't really work.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those collections (like the more recent Ms. Marvel omnibus, also highly recommended) that is not a simply 'comic book' - this is a graphic novel. I mean, this was really good, if not excellent, crime fiction. Our anguished title hero may be the main focus but the various other Big Apple characters - cops, reporters, hoodlums, lawyers, civilians - were nicely detailed in a way that gave the story something close to a real-world gravitas. (A perfect example was a conversation, running for several pages, between cynical federal agents and their supervisor.) Spider-Man, Black Widow, and a few other familiar Marvel stalwarts pop in for cameos, too. The artwork was properly dark and gritty. My next trip to the library is to grab any further volumes.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't think about tights. Don't think about Ben Affleck.

This is the start of some of the best crime fiction you'll find. With really nice pictures.

Bendis and Maleev start a five-year run on Daredevil with an event so huge that it turns the book on its head and overshadows everything that comes after. It's fast, mean, intimate, and epic all at once. Graphic fiction and crime fiction at their best.

It starts here and ends with Vol.13, "The Murdock Papers." If you love noir but think you don't like comics, give it a shot. You won't be sorry.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading this book in search of great storytelling moments, and boy does this have 'em. I've read Bendis's DD run from start to finish, years ago, and I tell you I'm on the edge of my seat while reading this. The story is so well-constructed that even when Bendis is spending a few pages on dialogue, in the middle of Matt's pursuit of the truth behind the price on his head, they're well-spent pages. They tell all sorts of tales about the teller and the tellees, they make me ache to be part of the scene (to smell the sweat and smoke and mold), and they immerse you in the nuanced personalities at work.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

June 2013, second reading: still awesome. It's incredible how gripping this story with almost none of the usual superhero tropes. (Or maybe it's not incredible at all.) Anyway, it says a lot that Daredevil himself only appears a few times in the storyline.

[Jedhua · Rating 3 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}

STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>

[Desirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a hero is unmasked?

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I feel like Matt Murdock's character is always dark and broody but coming off some major losses into a newspaper article publishing an anonymous tip that he's Daredevil, the man goes through the ringer. I also felt that side characters and the bad guys were well fleshed out. I feel like comics could be limited with development but I was decently surprised.

World building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
For this one I'll talk about the art because that's the world building. There were some repetitive panels when there was some dialogue but the action panels were engaging and well done. The cover art throughout was my favorite.

Plot and Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Each issue had a good little arch to it and had an ending that brought you to the next one. Even the one issue that was just action kept me engaged and wanting to read more. Also, the last half I read in one sitting so, pretty dang good.

Theme: ⭐⭐⭐
I feel like the theme for this arch is still developing. I don't really see a clear one other than Matt weighing revealing his identity and dealing with loss.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Pretty good introduction to reading comics and it's a character I already like and I'm invested in. I would not recommend starting here however if you have no prior knowledge of Daredevil.

[Comics Instrucciones de uso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enorme comic, enorme la etapa de Bendis. Todo es perfecto: la oralidad de los diálogos, el ritmo, los giros al término de cada número, y la representación de la mafia, a la cual King Pin regresa, o intenta regresar. Matt Murdock pretende desmentir que es Dardevil llevando una vida lo más normal posible, pero conoce a Milla -gran personaje-, quien, como él, no puede ver. Para su pesar, los problemas de Daredevil alcanzan a Milla, lo cual, aquél, no se perdona y parece dispuesto a todo (incluso a aceptar que se revele su identidad), con tal de salvarla (los fantasmas de K. Page y de Elektra lo sobrevuelan todo el tiempo). Bendis hace de Daredevil un personaje de muchas capas, valiente, pero también inseguro, con frecuencia errado. Notables son los aportes de Luke Cage y de Jessica Jones, esta última siempre lamentándose de su falta de plata. Pienso, ahora, que no creo que haya superhéroe alguno que haya tenido etapas tan estelares a cargo de escritores leyendas: Frank Miller, Ed Brubaker, hoy Chip Zdarsky y por supuesto, Bendis (y eso que aún no leo la etapa de M. Waid). Un lujo de comic.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, like watching superhero noir!

The artwork, the dialogue and the plot are the best I've read in a long time. I had read a later series when Matt is in prison and went back to catch up from the beginning. This is just a great story with everything.

[Rockito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una de las mejores etaps de Daredevil, algo sabido por casi todos.

[One Flew · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerhouse of a book. This was a great surprise considering I'm not a fan of either Daredevil or Bendis. My main complaint with a lot of Bendis' work is it's very dialogue heavy, his characters can be quite chatty, similar to Kevin Smith's style. Daredevil never appealed to me, I haven't read any of the previous DD material so he seemed like any other B grade Marvel superhero.

Fortunately, Bendis manages to write a brilliant story that made full use of the Daredevil mythos. It reminds me of Alan Moore's run on Swampthing, which showed it is possible to write an exceptional story with any characters or backstory. The plot works from start to finish, while Bendis seamlessly intertwines various storylines. It's great to read a superhero story that is actually unpredictable, engaging and clever. The scene where Foggy confronts Murdock about his insane life is intense and well written. The art work is darkly atmospheric and gels perfectly with the feel of the book.

Everything in this volume works for me, sadly now I'm obliged to track down the rest of Bendis' run on the series.

[Talk Comix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it takes off where born again finishes. However it took me a really long time to read. I actually found it hard to sit and read. It wasn't because i didn't enjoy it. It took me a while to realise it was the art work. Its very gritty and dark which matches the story. However it's so dark and gritty i found myself needing to be in the mood to read it. In general if you can get with the art and tone of the book i would say you will find it quite enjoyable. The big reveal was also good.

[John Ferrigno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of one of the greatest runs in comics. Bendis excels at street level, gritty crime comics. Sammy Silke is a great new character, and it's always great to see Foggy Nelson have some scenes with some real emotional weight to them. But it's his take on Matt Murdoch that really shines here. Bendis has a real understanding of the character, what makes him flawed and what makes him great. The tone of the book is spot on and perfectly captured by the dark, sketchy art of Alex Maleev. This is as good as comics get.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could understand the popularity of Bendis if this is where we start measuring his run with Marvel. He takes the book to a whole new level of story telling. And it's not just about the fight scenes and villains. It's about the man and his story. If they draw from this period in writing Daredevil for TV I wouldn't be to surprised.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following up Kevin Smiths revival of Daredevil, Bendis surrpasses it in every way possible. A perfect example of great story telling, not to mention amazing realistic artwork.

[Dylan Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun. I'm eager to read vol. 3.