This review is a little late, but the sheer length of issue 500 meant I put it aside, and this book arrived on top of it, causing me to read them months late. My review and feelings about #501 (which has to also be a review of #500) is confusing. In our weird world of comic writing, I have to admit to totally shock and surprise that a plot development in #500 that didn't make sense to me (Murdock taking over as leader of The Hand) wasn't totally undone in #501. In fact, Diggle et. al. actually seem interested in propagating the development, and making it real. I have so many mixed feelings about this, that I can't rightly say how I feel. I mean, no matter how much Matt protests, The Hand is not a "weapon that can be used for good or evil." It is an army of soulless, evil, nijas. Maybe the point is that Matt is so far gone, that we need to seem him rationalizing his own bizarre actions. Either way, the review I want to give is Kudos to Diggle and company for playing it straight with us, even as I am mystified by the direction.
So, personal feelings aside, I think this is a pretty darn good change of pace and new direction. For the past several years, Daredevil has been beaten up, stripped down, and made to feel like he had nothing good left to live for. Lovers have been lost, partners have betrayed him, and lots of innocents have died. So, the conclusion -- or the next logical step -- isn't really that much of a stretch. The writers, and there have been several, have worked really hard to get him to the point he's at, and I can't disagree with any of it. So, let's get it on.
With that in mind, everything here is pretty much spot on. The characterization of the Kingpin, how Foggy, Dakota, etc, all deal with it, heck, how Matt himself deals with it, hits all the right notes. In #501, there's a scene where you simply can't believe you are seeing what you are seeing, but to their credit, the creative team doesn't give anything away, they don't let on if what we are seeing is real, or if it's put on. To the point where I'm inclined to believe my eyes, and not my heart.
These books were pretty well done, and looking back in 4-6 months, I may say they were brilliant. But what I can say with sincerity, is that they'll have me back next month. |
