Daredevil: The Devil, Inside and Out—Volume 1

Comic Info

Daredevil (2) #84

Reprints Daredevil (2) #82-87 (April 2006-September 2006).  Matt Murdock finds himself in jail as he tries to prove that he isn’t Daredevil.  As Foggy Nelson tries to keep Matt out of general population, tragedy strikes.  Matt learns someone has ordered Foggy killed, and Matt is entering Riker’s Island as a regular prisoner.  With enemies like Hammerhead, Black Tarantula, Bullseye, and Kingpin trapped inside with him, Matt might have to expose his real identity.  Fortunately, Matt might find an ally in the Punisher who has gotten himself arrested…and who is impersonating Daredevil in Hell’s Kitchen?

Daredevil:  The Devil, Inside and Out—Volume 1 introduces the new team creative team of Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark who replace Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev after their long, popular run.  The series was praised by critics and can also be found in Daredevil:  Ed Brubaker Ultimate Collection—Volume 1 or Daredevil:  Omnibus 1—Ed Brubaker.

Brian Michael Bendis’ run on Daredevil was monumental.  It really shaped the character and its direction.  Followed Bendis’ Daredevil:  The Murdock Papers, Daredevil:  The Devil in Cell Block D (the story collected here) was a great follow-up and seemed like a seamless transition for readers.

Daredevil (2) #87

Daredevil before Bendis had dimension since Frank Miller’s run but needed direction.  Bendis provided this direction and Brubaker does a great job continuing this trend.  It is a bit of a shame that Daredevil’s life continues to tumble.  Daredevil hasn’t been “fun” for a long time, and every potentially bad event that could happen to a superhero has happened to Daredevil…It does make you wish that Matt would get a break.

I like the idea of Iron Fist impersonating Daredevil and wish that there had been more done with this aspect of the story.  I kept finding myself wishing that we’d leave the prison and return to the Daredevil impersonator.  I think it could have been an interesting run to follow this superhero with a secret identity for a bit before revealing who it was…fortunately, this aspect of the Daredevil storyline did help Iron Fist spin off into his own series also by Brubaker called The Immortal Iron Fist.

Michael Lark’s art is also strong.  I really liked Maleev’s art from the Bendis run, but it was nice to have a break.  I still think Maleev’s art is better, but Lark’s art is high standards and better than most art.

With Spider-Man floundering and most of the X-Men and the Avengers in a bad place (in my opinion), Daredevil has surprisingly become one of Marvel’s premiere books.  I wish that the title would lighten up a bit on occasion, but it continues to be a good read.  Daredevil:  The Devil, Inside and Out—Volume 1 was followed by Daredevil:  The Devil, Inside and Out—Volume 2.

Related Links:

Daredevil:  The Devil, Inside and Out—Volume 2

Daredevil:  Lady Bullseye