Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 1

Comic Info

Daredevil (3) #2

Reprints Daredevil (3) #1-6 (September 2011-January 2012).  Matt Murdock is back after his experience with the Hand and still fighting allegations that he is Daredevil.  Regardless of the burden of proof, Matt finds the notion that he might be Daredevil is ruining his chances in court.  After a run in with Captain America and a battle with the master of sound Klaw, Matt finds a new direction to take his law practice that makes him the target of a new villain named the Bruiser and a cadre of secret societies out to get him.

Written by Mark Waid, Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 1 collects the first stories from the new volume of Daredevil.  Coming out the Shadowlands experience, Daredevil is looking to rebuild his life and under Mark Waid’s guidance, has become one of the most acclaimed books of the year.

Daredevil has had a lot of problems over the last few years.  His mainstay Karen Page was killed by Bullseye.  He was outed in the tabloid as a super-hero.  He got married to Milla and drove her crazy.  He was thrown in prison, and he became the leader of the Hand under the possession of a demon.  Most of these stories were pretty good and well crafted, but they weren’t very fun.  Mark Waid returns the fun to Daredevil.

Daredevil (3) #4

Waid does this by making him more of a roguish swashbuckler.  Matt’s come to accept what he is and knows things aren’t going to change so he seems to just have fun.  It is strange to see Daredevil in this capacity since he’s been such a morose character.  It is great to have a different perspective, and Waid is making the most of it while still having smart stories.

Daredevil has also been aided by some nice artists.  Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin look close enough in style that it doesn’t feel jarring between the change-up.  Both artists give the character a realistic presentation that is also cartoonish at the same time.  They fit the lighter story and are much brighter than recent incarnations.

In this volume of Daredevil, the Man without Fear is back!  Daredevil is a challenge because he could easily be a one-trick pony so as opposed to some other characters, writers have always strived to make him different and more developed. Fans of the character will enjoy it and it almost feels like a complete throwback to even pre-Frank Miller days.  Waid mixes the early feel of Daredevil with the smarts added by Miller and other writers who have tackled the series.  Pick up Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 1 and you’ll probably just wish you already had Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 2.

Related Links:

Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 2

Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 3

Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 4

Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 5

Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 6

Daredevil by Mark Waid—Volume 7