Marvel Unlmited Find: Daredevil #1 (2015)

Daredevil (2015-) #1 by Charles Soule
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Daredevil is back in New York, this time working for the District Attorney's office. With Blindspot at his side, can he protect Billy Li from the Church of Tenfingers?

Yeah, it didn't take long for Marvel to toss out all of Mark Waid's changes on Daredevil. No one remembers Matt Murdock is Daredevil, Foggy is cancer free, and Daredevil's wearing his black costume again. Blindspot makes an interesting sidekick for Daredevil. At least they haven't gone completely back to the Frank Miller formula of Daredevil misery. I'll skip the rant I have brewing about Marvel's "Illusion of Change" policy this time.

Matt Murdock working for the DA is a new wrinkle but it may be a case of to-may-to/to-mah-to when all is said and done.

This new beginning for Daredevil feels about 90% status quo but it was good for what it is. We'll see how things shake out in subsequent issues. Three out of five stars.

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Daredevil, Vol. 4: The Autobiography of Matt Murdock

Daredevil, Vol. 4: The Autobiography of Matt Murdock by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

15.1 - While working on his autobiography with Foggy and Kirsten, Matt tells the story of two early cases, one of a man he was sure was guilty, and another battling Diablo.

The two under-experienced Daredevil tales show how far Matt has come as both a super hero and a lawyer. It did kill the momentum from the last story, though.

16 - To protect his loved ones, Daredevil tries to make a deal with the Kingpin! And he's found the Shroud's missing girlfriend.

Things are quickly boiling over. The pieces are all on the board. Kingpin! Ikari! The Shroud! The Owl! I don't see how Daredevil's life won't be in ruins again after this run.

17 - Ikari vs. Daredevil, one last time. If Matt winds, either Foggy or Kirsten dies!

Waid and Samnee have upped the tension to an unbearable level in this one. The Kingpin shows his true colors and The Shroud shows up just in time to shit on everyone's parade. I won't blame Daredevil for going back to his darker ways after this.

18 - The End is upon us!

In their swan song, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee give us one of the most brutal fights I've ever seen as Daredevil and the Kingpin duke it out. Most of the loose ends are tied up and Matt's autobiography is due to be published.

Closing Thoughts: Over the course of his run, Mark Waid has taken a character many of us dismiss as a poor man's Batman or Spider-Man and made him one of my favorite Marvel characters, giving him an identity of his own and playing up his uniqueness. His run on Daredevil is up there with Hawkeye as one of the best super hero comics of the past ten years. 4.5 out of 5 stars.



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Daredevil, Vol. 3: The Daredevil You Know

Daredevil, Vol. 3: The Daredevil You Know by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

11 - There's a new Stunt Master and the old one wants to sue him for using his name. Meanwhile, Matt and Foggy are working on Matt's autobiography.

The new Stunt Master is a douche nozzle and I can't wait for Daredevil to settle his hash. I'm really enjoying how Waid and Samnee are dusting off and using villains that aren't The Kingpin.

12 - Daredevil finally gets his hands on the Stunt Master.

Now that was some crazy shit. There were twists and some awesome action, such as Daredevil driving a car using his billy club and cane while chasing the Stunt Master. Turns out both of them are douche nozzles.

13 - Kirsten's dad has bodyguards secretly following her. Good thing, since she's in danger...

Is one of Daredevil's foes striking at him through Kirsten? Also, the Shroud shows up and things look to be heating up between San Francisco's top two blind crime fighters.

14 - Matt ditches his Daredevil outfit in favor of a red and black suit. Meanwhile, the Owl's daughter is looking for her old man.

You have to admit, Mark Waid has balls, having Matt ditch the mask and tights for a red and black suit but it works. I also liked where things are going with The Shroud, the Owl, Owlette, or whatever her name is, and Daredevil in the next issue.

15 - The Shroud is using The Owl to look for his missing girlfriend and launches a campaign to ruin Daredevil in San Francisco.

Yeah, Daredevil's up to his neck in sewage in this one. Every cell phone conversation and meeting he's ever had is broadcast and Foggy's been outed. And Matt has to make a deal with his worst enemy to settle things.

Closing Thoughts: Mark Waid's had one hell of a run on Daredevil, making him one of my top Marvel characters of all time. It's a shame someone will probably hit the status quo button as soon as he leaves. Four out of five stars.

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Daredevil, Vol. 2: West-Case Scenario

Daredevil, Vol. 2: West-Case Scenario by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

6 - In the aftermath of Original Sin, Daredevil goes to find his mother, now a nun, for answers about his father. But why is she in the slammer, due to be extradited to Wakanda?

Crossovers suck. Even Daredevil says so. Looks like he's headed to Wakanda in the next issue. It's good to have Daredevil interacting with the rest of the Marvel Universe but I'm not sure about a trip to Wakanda.

7 - Matt goes to Wakanda to bring his mother home.

I shouldn't have doubted Mark Waid. Daredevil going to Wakanda could have been bad but it turned out very well. Matt and his mother had a heartfelt moment. There was some good super hero action as well, showing why Wakanda is known as the most technologically advanced civilization on the planet.

8 - Matt and Kirsten go sailing with her father and The Purple Man does some parenting of his own.

Wow. Daredevil writing his autobiography? And the Purple Man uniting with his illegitimate children? And I thought the Purple Man was creepy...

9 - The Purple kids are free and San Fransisco is theirs for the taking!

The Purple Man was bad enough but the Purple kids don't even need to speak. The remind me of The Midwich Cuckoos quite a bit. How the hell is Daredevil going to beat them?

Nice touch that Daredevil couldn't tell what color they were.

10 - The Purple Man is gunning for his kids and Daredevil is caught in the middle.

That was pretty chilling, as most stories featuring the Purple Man are. I like that Matt and Kirsten's relationship is progressing.

"Do you figure his parents assumed he'd grow up to be evil when they named him Zebulon Killgrave?"
"Yeah. We call that the Victor Von Doom paradox."

Closing Thoughts: Another great Mark Waid Daredevil volume. I liked the Purple Man issues better than the Original Sin ones but they were all damn good. I'd say I was going to ration the remaining two volumes but you don't tell a drowning man to ration air. 4 out of 5 stars.

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Daredevil, Vol. 1: Devil at Bay

Daredevil, Vol. 1: Devil at Bay by Mark Waid


1 - Daredevil adjusts to life in San Franciso and looks for a kidnapping victim.

Relocating Daredevil to San Francisco is a good justification for renumbering the series, I guess. Matt's law practice has new life with Kirsten McDuffie as his new partner. It'll be interesting to see Matt cope with fighting crime in a city that isn't all skyscrapers.

2 - While looking for the Owl, Daredevil meets San Francisco's other blind crimefighter, The shroud!

Huh. I read about The Shroud in Marvel Universe but this is the first comic I'd ever read featuring him. You'd think blind crimefighters would stick together. Chris Samnee's art gives this series a unique feel. Or almost unique. It reminds me of David Aja's work on Hawkeye a bit.

3 - After the standard hero vs. hero brawl, Daredevil and The Shroud join forces against the Owl...

Or do they? Mark Waid does a great job contrasting Daredevil and the Shroud. I'm curious about the Shroud's appearances before this one now. Damn Waid!

4 - Things go pear shaped as Daredevil and The Shroud face off with the Owl and his men.

The Shroud's motives become clear and it turns out he and Daredevil have a lot more in common than blindness. I love how Daredevil describes the Owl. "He is a walking sack of hate and gristle."

0.1 - On a flight from New York to San Francisco, the plane makes an emergency landing in Wisconsin and Matt decides to follow a mysterious passenger with no heartbeat.

I thought this one was a little predictable, although I did not foresee the ass-kicking the Mad Thinker took. Once again, Waid and Samnee do a great job depicting Matt's blindness.

5 - In order to be safe, Foggy Nelson needs to tie.

As Foggy's cancer progresses, Matt realizes he's put the lives of everyone he cares about in the crosshairs. Right before Leap Frog shows up. This was a surprisingly touching tale and explains Foggy being in disguise in Frisco.

Closing Thoughts: It's a little too early to say if moving Daredevil to San Francisco was a good idea or not. However, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee continue to put out a great super hero comic. Four out of five stars.

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Indestructible Hulk, Vol. 2: Gods and Monster

Indestructible Hulk, Vol. 2: Gods and Monster by Mark Waid
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

6 - Banner and his team go to Jotunheim to look for a legendary metal that might be a super conductor.

This was more like it. It felt almost like a Fantastic Four issue. Simonson drawing Thor is always welcome. After the last panel, I'm jonesing for the next issue.

7 - Hulk and Thor tackle a horde of Frost Giants! Can SHIELD reestablish the portal and bring the Banner team home?

This issue was a lot of carnage but it was Simonson-drawn carnage. Now that the Frost Giants are interested in earth, things got a lot more interesting.

8 - SHIELD, Hulk, and Thor must repel the Frost Giant invasion so team Banner can get back to earth.

More carnage and some good Hulk/Thor moments. I'm still not feeling this series and now I'm just sticking around for the Daredevil issues.

9 - Bruce Banner and his lawyer, Daredevil, track down a stolen super weapon!

Daredevil and the Hulk seem mismatched at first but Hornhead knows how to handle the Hulk. Let's see how they handle Baron Zemo with an ultrasound cannon.

10 - Baron Zemo and HYDRA vs. The Hulk and Daredevil!

This was actually kind of a yawn, despite the carnage, until the Hulk went berserk and Daredevil had to control him. A Hulk in a China Shop indeed.

Closing Thoughts: Since getting on Marvel Unlimited, I've been looking for the definitive Hulk story. Indestructible Hulk, despite the novelty of Banner working for SHIELD, wasn't it. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

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Daredevil Volume 7

Daredevil by Mark Waid, Vol. 7 by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

31 - After a controversial trial, someone hacks the live feed to start a riot and all signs point to The Jester!

Matt finds out it was Foggy's idea for Kirsten to take his place. Is it a sign of me getting older that I find the Matt Murdock parts of Mark Waid's run better than the super hero parts most of the time?

32 - The Jester and the Sons of the Serpent continue their reign of terror. Meanwhile, Daredevil enlists the help of Doctor Stephen Strange!

Daredevil goes to Kentucky to find Jack Russell at Strange's insistence and winds up meeting The Stitchwork Man, The Zombie, The Mummy, and Satanna. While I love how DD bounces from street crime to super hero shenanigans so effortlessly, I find it hard to believe he's never met Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night before.

33 - Daredevil gets more than he bargained for down south when he looks for pages from the Darkhold, the book the Sons of the Serpent worship.

Daredevil in a rural setting doesn't work all that well, although it nicely demonstrates how ineffective illusions are to a blind man.

34 - With the pages of the Darkhold in his clutches, Daredevil riles up the Sons of the Serpent and sets up a showdown...

Written by Mark Waid, Daredevil has testicles like a pair of wrecking balls. There were some scary moments in this one but it all worked out in the end. Until it didn't...

35 - The Sons of the Serpent are keeping Foggy Nelson alive and have Daredevil by the short and curlies. They want him to clear one of the Sons of the Serpent for a crime he didn't commit...

Daredevil is forced into action again, this time with Elektra by his side. As usual, the last panel was a great hook into the next issue. Mark Waid has a great talent to write Daredevil into situations where his lawyer instincts conflict with his super hero ones.

36 - Foggy is dying of cancer and Matt tells a full courtroom that he's Daredevil.

Things get settled in dramatic fashion. The Sons of the Serpent are out and Matt and Foggy are headed to San Franciso, just in time for a new Daredevil series to start.

Closing Thoughts: I fucking love Mark Waid on Daredevil. It's just a notch below Hawkeye as the best super hero comic of the last decade. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Daredevil, Volume 6

Daredevil, Volume 6 by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

28 - An asshole that used to torment Matt when he was a kid shows up looking for representation in a false arrest case.

Yeah, Mark Waid may not write a Hulk that I'm a huge fan of but he writes the shit out of Daredevil. I liked that Hackett had a different view of things when he and Matt were growing up. The ending was a shocker.

29 - It turns out the Sons of the Serpent have infested the legal system and want Hackett dead. Can Daredevil keep him alive long enough to get him to a hospital?

Pretty slick. I chuckled a little when Daredevil said "What am I, blind?"

30 - Kirsten McDuffie fills in for Foggy. Oh and an alien shows up in Matt's office looking for asylum on earth with the Silver Surfer on his trail!

It's simply amazing how Mark Waid can bounce Matt back and forth between street level crime and super hero stuff and make it all feel perfectly natural. Daredevil in control of the Silver Surfer's board was pretty bad ass.

Indestructible Hulk #9 - Bruce Banner and his lawyer, Daredevil, track down a stolen super weapon!

Daredevil and the Hulk seem mismatched at first but Hornhead knows how to handle the Hulk. Let's see how they handle Baron Zemo with an ultrasound cannon.

Indestructible Hulk #10 - Baron Zemo and HYDRA vs. The Hulk and Daredevil!

This was actually kind of a yawn, despite the carnage, until the Hulk went berserk and Daredevil had to control him. A Hulk in a China Shop indeed.

Closing Thoughts: Hulk issues aside, this was another kick ass Daredevil volume. The team-up with the Silver Surfer was one of my favorite moments of the series so far. Four out of five stars.

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Daredevil Volume 5

Daredevil, Volume 5 by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

22 - The Superior Spider-Man shows up and starts some shit with Daredevil. However, they are interrupted when the recently upgraded Stilt-Man shows up!

We're treated to an old school super hero misunderstanding here, enhanced by the ridiculousness of Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man's body and Stilt-Man using Doc's technology to enhance his armor. The ending with Foggy is a chilling hint of things to come.

23 - AIM (I think) recreates the accident that created Daredevil and looses a gang of hypersensitives on New York. Meanwhile, Matt makes Foggy go to the doctor.

Daredevil battling some crazies with senses like his was an interesting encounter. I'm more interested in Foggy's cancer and whomever is masterminding the attacks on Matt, though.

24 - Matt tries to patch things up with Kirsten and someone sends a crate of hypersensitive dogs to Matt's office.

I haven't touched on the humor of the Mark Waid Daredevil run. They're actually pretty funny. One kid calls Daredevil "The Red Batman." It balances out the grimness of Foggy's cancer somewhat.

25 - An escapee from the project trying to recreate Daredevil takes Matt to a warehouse near the river...

Holy Shit! Daredevil goes up against his ninja doppleganger, Ikari, and has the fight of his life. I still have no idea who is pulling the strings and I hope Ikari sticks around for a while.

26 - While on the run from Ikari, Matt pieces together who is behind the constant shitstorm that has been raining down on him.

The penultimate issue of this arc really ratcheted things up several notches. The final issue is really going to be something. The backup story with Foggy and the kids in the cancer ward was a nice touch.

27 - Daredevil goes up against Ikari in a fight to the death with the mastermind watching. If Daredevil wins, his friends die!

That final battle was everything it needed to be plus some. I'm glad Ikari and Lady Bullseye are still alive. That Daredevil is a clever guy. Waid and Samnee make one hell of a team.

Closing Thoughts: Waid and Samnee are the team to beat on Daredevil. This volume was one hell of a ride. I wonder what the next chapter in Daredevil's life will bring. Four out of five stars.



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Daredevil, Volume 4

Daredevil, Volume 4 by Mark Waid


16 - Hank Pym shrinks down to microscopic size to take out the robots in Daredevil's brain!

Pretty cool stuff and another example of how Matt is part of the greater Marvel Universe, no longer exiled to its gritty shithole corner. Although it feels like he might be heading back to the feces-smeared area pretty soon with what Foggy fond in his desk drawer.

17 - Jobless, Matt reflects on his rocky past with Foggy Nelson and a battle with Stilt-Man.

Michael Allred drawing Daredevil is pretty fucking sweet and this tale is perfectly suited to his retro-style. Matt getting to see his dad using virtual reality was pretty cool.

18 - Foggy gets a case he needs Daredevil's help on and Matt needs a huge favor from Foggy.

I was in the dark about Matt's ex-wife but her being in his apartment and not the asylum seemed like a big deal. Someone powerful continues to mess with Matt's life. I'm guessing this is the next big story now that the Omega Drive storyline is over.

19 - Matt's life continues to disintegrate but now he knows who is responsible... or does he?

He sure knows who's responsible by the end of the issue. I can't express my newfound admiration for Mark Waid on this title. Also, Chris Samnee's art is really growing on me now that he's the regular artist.

20 - Coyote has Daredevil in his clutches and can't wait to explain his scheme to him. Meanwhile, Kirsten spills her guts on what she thinks is Daredevil's insanity...

This one had some crazy imagery in it. Waid has certainly dialed up the weirdness.

21 - Things get resolved with Coyote and The Spot. Foggy and Matt try to patch things up. And Kirsten goes to someone for help with Daredevil.

Waid and Samnee continue to tick all the right boxes for me. I thought the last issue had some crazy images but The Spot vs. Coyote had some Ditko-level craziness to it. I would not want to be Daredevil when the Superior Spider-Man shows up to settle his hash.

Closing Thoughts: Waid and Samnee are the team to beat on Daredevil. I'm not ready to say it's Hawkeye-good just yet but it's definitely heading in that direction. 4 out of 5 stars.

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Daredevil, Volume 3

Daredevil, Volume 3 by Mark Waid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Avenging Spider-Man #6 - Everyone wants the Omega Drive! Daredevil, Spider-Man, The Punisher, and his partner take on a shit load of ninjas!

Things are kicking into high gear with the Omega Drive. Spidey, Daredevil, and the Punisher work fairly well together. I'm not sure Frank's going to keep his promise about no fatalities, though...

Punisher #10 - Things heat up as Frank, Cole, Spidey, and Daredevil take on AIM, HYDRA, and all the rest.

There was lots of carnage but the Punisher acted true to character in the end. This storyline might be going on a little long. I'll be glad to get back to solo Daredevil.

11 - Cole has the Omega Drive! Can Daredevil get it back and destroy it before hell comes crashing down on him?

DD manages to not die and leaves with the Omega Drive! I guess it's still in play.

12 - Matt finally goes on a date with Kirsten McDuffieand explains his past with Foggy until things catch up with him.

Things heat up with the Omega Drive again but Foggy and Matt at law school was one of the best character moments of the series.

13 - The four megacrime groups are in Time Square and Daredevil has the Omega Drive around his neck!

This didn't go like I thought it would but at least the Omega Drive is out of play for a while. I'm liking the relationship between Spider-Man and Daredevil the way Waid writes it.

14 - Daredevil finds himself teleported to Latveria!

Wow, and I thought being blind would be bad but losing your remaining senses one by one would be so much worse. Those Latverians are pretty miffed about the whole Omega Drive thing.

15 -Doctor Doom has Daredevil in his clutches. How will old Hornhead escape?

Shit, those were two brutal issues. How the hell are they going to get nanobots out of DD? Ant-Man? If I wasn't already bound to read the next volume, I'd have to now.

Closing Thoughts: This was not my favorite volume in the series so far but it was still pretty good. I'm glad the Omega Drive storyline was resolved and I'm digging Daredevil interacting with the rest of the Marvel Universe. Mark Waid's Daredevil is one entertaining read. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Daredevil, Volume 2

Daredevil, Volume 2 by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

7 - Daredevil takes some kids on a field trip and the bus wrecks in a blizzard.

This was some serious shit. Daredevil and a busload of kids, most of them blind, wandering through a blizzard. Once again, Waid plays up what it's like to be blind, with or without radar sense. Good shit.

Amazing Spider-Man 677 - Fresh from being dumped, Spider-Man encounters the Black Cat. Shortly thereafter, she's arrested for breaking into Horizon Labs. Since he knows she was framed, Spidey enlists Daredevil to help him clear her name.

This issue demonstrates why Spider-Man and Daredevil have always worked well together and contrasts their crime-fighting styles. It also emphasizes that Daredevil is also a lawyer.

8 - Spidey and Daredevil are in trouble and it sure looks like Black Cat is behind it. Also, cemeteries are being found vandalized and one of the graves affected is that of Battlin' Jack Murdock.

That was pretty serpentine. The interplay between Spidey, Black Cat, and Daredevil was really enjoyable. I like where things are going with Daredevil and the Black Cat.

9 - The Mole Man is behind the graverobbing but why? That's what Daredevil means to find out!

Lots of good shit in this. Daredevil using a coffin as a raft. Mole Man dancing with a corpse. And the Black Cat has her paw in the cookie jar while Matt's underground. I love that Mark Waid is moving Daredevil away from the gritty crime corner of the Marvel Universe he's been trapped in for years.

10- Matt settles things with the Mole Man. Meanwhile, what's happened with the Omega Drive?

The battle with Mole Man was pretty great and the epilogue was also well done. I also liked how things went down with the Black Cat.

10.1 - Matt visits Pyromania in prison, a man Daredevil brought in. Turns out the word is out about the Omega Drive.

Pyromania telling Matt his version of his fight with Daredevil while seeing how it really went down was a nice touch. Things are progressing nicely. I'm guessing the Omega Drive will be the focus of the next volume.

Closing Thoughts: Mark Waid has done a lot to bring Daredevil out of the funk he's been in pretty much consistently since Frank Miller ran him through the meat grinder 30 years ago and into the Marvel Universe as a whole. The Omega Drive was a great maguffin and I'm hoping the Black Cat sticks around for a while. 4.5 out of 5 stars.



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Daredevil, Volume 1

Daredevil, Volume 1 by Mark Waid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

1 - Daredevil prevents a hit at a mafia wedding and goes up against The Spot. Also, his identity being exposed is threatening his legal profession as Matt Murdock.

I haven't read a modern age Daredevil tale since Kevin Smith was writing it. So far, I'm digging Mark Waid's not-as-grim take on Daredevil since old Hornhead has been through the wringer pretty consistently since the Frank Miller run.

I like how Waid and company portray Matt's blindness and heightened senses.

2 - Daredevil has a brawl with Captain America and tries to get to the bottom of the Jobrani business.

Looks like Klaw is going to show up pretty soon unless there's a new sound-based villain with the same color scheme. Shouldn't super heroes take each other at their word when it comes to mind control by now?

3 - Turns out Klaw is behind Matt's most recent woes. How can a blind super-hero who relies on his hearing combat the man of solidified sound?

Waid's plot does a great job at showing how reliant Daredevil is on his remaining senses. The Klaw battle was excruciating to read. I'm also pleased to see the direction Matt and Foggy's law firm is going in.

4 - Matt takes on a wrongful termination case for a blind young man.

The final panel of this issue was pretty chilling. I like how Waid and company are going out of their way to show how hard it is to get around without sight, even with super powers.

5 - Turns out that blind kid overheard some Latverians talking about Hydra. Matt hides him and goes looking for his old boss.

Who the hell is Bruiser? This one started off strong and never let up. Daredevil's in way over his head.

6 - Daredevil has to go toe to toe with Bruiser and figure out what's got Mr. Zachary so scared.

Daredevil takes a shit-kicking and jumps from the frying pan into the fire when he winds up with the Omega Drive, gigs and gigs of data about Hydra, AIM, and all the other superterrorist groups in the Marvel Universe.

Closing Thoughts: Mark Waid and the gang have taken Daredevil from rock bottom to being super again. I love the new life they've injected into his character. I'm in for the long haul for Mark Waid on Daredevil. Four out of five stars.

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Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil, Vol. 1

Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil, Vol. 1 by Stan Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

1 - A mysterious new super hero in red and yellow is gunning for the Fixer! But what is the connection between this criminal and the boy who was blinded saving a blind man years earlier?

This is the origin of Daredevil and the tale of his vengeance on the man who had his father killed. It reminded me a lot of Batman confronting the murderer of his parents. Stan Lee's writing wasn't bad in this and Bill Everett's art was pretty darn good for the times. Oddly enough, I didn't hate Daredevil's original red and yellow costume like I thought I would.

2 - Daredevil busts up a car theft ring, only to find that it's run by Electro! Can Daredevil escape Electro's wrath and stop him from stealing Reed Richards' inventions while the Fantastic Four is out of town?

Joe Orlando of EC Comics fame handles the art on this one. It's a jarring change from Bill Everett but the old pro gets the job done. The way Stan Lee managed to get Daredevil and Electro to Fantastic Four HQ at the same time was actually fairly clever. Daredevil vs. Electro begins the Daredevil tradition of being outgunned in nearly every fight, a big part of the character's charm.

On a side note, Daredevil sometimes comes off as a poor man's Spider-Man in the pre-Frank Miller days and sending him Spider-Man's sloppy seconds doesn't help that impression.

3 - After an accountant accused of fraud strolls out into traffic and punches his own ticket, the cops bring in the Owl for questioning. The Owl randomly picks Matt Murdock out of the phonebook. Will Matt defend the Owl in court or be forced to bring him in as Daredevil?

Joe Orlando's EC roots show through in the art in this one. His Owl is straight out of a Tales from the Crypt story. Daredevil's underdoggery continues in this one.

4 - Daredevil faces the might of The Purple Man! How can he hope to defeat a man whose every word is an unbreakable command?

So this is where the Purple Man first appeared! DD is really under the gun in this one. Killgrave, the Purple Man, proves to be a formidable foe. My admiration for Joe Orlando's art continues to grow. It's distinct enough from the Kirby imitation a lot of Marvel artists did during the same time period to set Daredevil apart.

5 - Daredevil goes up against the masked Matador!

The Matador is kind of a lame villain but the fight scenes between him and Daredevil are pretty good. Wally Wood becomes the regular artist at this point and gives Daredevil a little something extra.

6 - Daredevil takes on Mr. Fear, The Ox, and The Eel, the Fellowship of Fear!

Daredevl's underdog ways continue when he goes up against the Fellowship. Mr. Fear and his fear gas are pretty formidable. Ox and Eel are sloppy seconds from Spidey and The Human Torch, however.

Daredevil turns the lights out at one point during the battle. It would be really easy to over-use this tactic in future stories.

7 - Namor wishes to sue the human race and attempts to Matt Murdock as his lawyer. Matt tells Namor he doesn't have a case and the Avenging Son goes on a rampage. Standing in his way is Daredevil!

This issue has a lot of things going for it. It's the first appearance of Daredevil's trademark red costume. It also is the story that first got me interested in Daredevil when I read a summary of it in an issue of Marvel Saga. When I finally got the chance to read it years later, it became my favorite silver age Marvel story. Did it hold up under a re-read?

It did. It exemplifies the underdog, never-quit nature of Daredevil. Daredevil repeatedly gets his ass handed to him by Namor but keeps coming back. That's what being a hero is all about. Namor also shows he's more than a one dimensional asshole in this one, saving DD when he could let him drown.

To top it off, Matt winds up having to defend Namor in court anyway. Like I said, it's my favorite silver age Marvel story for a reason.

8 - Daredevil goes up against... Stiltman.

Despite the lameness of the Stiltman concept, I actually wound up digging this issue. The mystery of which of the characters was actually Stiltman was well done. Still, Stiltman...

9 - Matt Murdock goes to a tiny European country with a buddy from law school to see a surgeon that might be able to restore his sight.

Turns out Matt's old buddy was a dictator. I think this was an early attempt to get Matt away from his usual urban haunt. It was passable but I don't think Matt works well as a globe trotting super hero. At least it'll get Karen Page off his ass about getting eye surgery for a while.

10 - Daredevil takes on The Organizer, Ape-Man, Frog-Man, Bird-Man, and Cat-Man!

The first Daredevil story I read was an issue of Marvel Team-Up where DD and Spidey took on the Unholy Trio of Ape-Man, Bird-Man, and Cat-Man so this story had some special interest for me. As always, DD is outnumbered and outgunned.

11 - The battle with the Organizer concludes!

Daredevil continues his fight against unfavorable odds. The Organizer was formidable enough but his Ani-Men were scrubs, for the most part. I did like Daredevil's switcheroo with Frog-Man, though.

Closing Thoughts: The first run of Daredevil stories was a little uneven but still quite enjoyable. Daredevil's abilities and handicaps give him a bit of a Spider-Man feel but I think Matt being a lawyer is what helps differentiate Daredevil from the web-slinger. The writing was actually way better than I expected. The ever-changing art chores were a little jarring but all the lead artists were pretty good for the time. 3.5 out of 5 stars, adjusted for the passage of 50+ years.

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The Back Issue Bin - Daredevil #43

Daredevil (1963-1998) #43 by Stan Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fresh from a break-up with Karen Page, Daredevil swings around NYC in a foul mood. After some radium scrambles his brains, he picks a fight with... Captain America?

Back in my pre-pubescent days, I frequently bought comics mail order through Mile High Comics. This was one of the ones I bought based purely on the cover. Daredevil vs. Captain America, one of my favorites. Sold! It was the first Daredevil comic I ever bought after reading an issue of Marvel Team-Up where he teamed with Spidey.

The story was pretty simple. Radium turns Daredevil into a dickhead and he interrupts one of Captain America's fighting demonstrations. The fight rages all over the building like one of those falls count anywhere wrestling matches. Old Horn-head eventually comes to his senses and all is right with the universe.

Gene Colan drew the shit out of this! After experiencing this issue and Captain America (1968-1996) #132 in rapid succession, I have a new found admiration for Gentleman Gene's art. The fight was pretty dynamic and I'll be digging up more Colan from my back issue bin at home. Four out of five stars, adjusted for the passage of time.

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