Daredevil Message Board

[Mike Murdock]

This issue is famous for the opening speech. I like how it sets itself up to go either way. It's usually the "but I'm also Daredevil" type one. I'm reading it in my Bendis Ultimate Collection, so they're actually side by side, but I would imagine it was originally spaced so you had to turn the page. It's obviously drawn out (that first page wasn't really all that necessary), but this pacing was important (although it's like three issues of pacing at this point, so less so). Obviously, Matt is stuck in a difficult situation and his decision to deny is understandable. But you can see the lawsuit seems to cross the line and Ben Urich feels shame (as a reporter, he probably abhors taking the livelihood of a journalist in order to keep one's secret).

Maleev draws some gratuitous shots of Black Widow - like Joe Quesada in Guardian Devil gratuitous. I do like her introduction when she waltzes in and takes off her clothes (well, her disguise at least). Then again, the whole scene feels a little gratuitous. Tasha comes off as antsy to have fun with Matt. There doesn't really seem to be any other pressing reason to have Daredevil go out at night. Which, if this was called "Daredevil and Black Widow" and they were dating in San Francisco, it might make sense. But it doesn't really fit here. At best, it helps Foggy state that Matt is feeling guilty for the deaths of his father, Karen, and Elektra (really, Elektra? Once again, she's alive right now. There are plenty of other girlfriends Matt has had that are still dead). It does help paint another side of things - Matt seems to be firmly under Foggy's control in this decision to fight the outing and file the lawsuit. In fact, Foggy comes off as a bit selfish here (at least, they both do).

The last few pages are fine. It continues the story along. In fact, Venessa leaving, giving him the name of the FBI agent, foreshadowing that some other supervillain will take over for the Kingpin (no, not Donald Trump ), and seeing Elektra on the roof are actual legitimate plot development in a reasonable period of time.

Overall, the plot continues. I like the beginning and I like the end. This feels like a lot of setup for what's to come. But we're five issues in, which is too late for setup. I'll give it Three and a Half Stars.
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Matt Murdock's cooler twin brother

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I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Thomas More - A Man for All Seasons

[The Overlord]

[Mike Murdock]

Daredevil Vol. 2 #37 - Dancing Between the Raindrops

[Dimetre]

The cover plays up Elektra's presence in this issue. The last issue used her appearance as a cliffhanger, but I don't feel like she added much of anything to the story. I can't figure out why Black Widow contacted her. If Natasha thinks Matt is in a funk, that's what she thinks is going to snap him out of it? If my friend was in a funk, does it sound like a good idea to call up the love of his life who he can never be with? It makes no sense. Her appearance here is just a stunt to get fans to buy the issue.

As for what Matt reveals in that scene, it's admirable, but not that surprising. "I know why I'm Daredevil and I know how important it is. And if I want to keep it all -- I just have to fight smarter than I have been. Maybe smarter than I am." It's true to the "never give up" spirit Matt has, but given the way Bendis and Maleev have built this scene, with the intention of getting Matt to open up, I guess I expected something more profound, or at least surprising.

Anyway, I felt Elektra's appearance didn't amount to anything.

I thought the scene with Ingersol was better. Foggy's "Well... no coffee for you" line was genuinely funny. The thing is, I completely agree with Ingersol. I love the free press, and I feel it needs to be protected. I can understand the contempt Ingersol has towards Nelson and Murdock at this moment. Maybe he's being rude with remarks like "fruity costume," but a lawyer representing a newspaper that knows it printed the truth wouldn't have a good attitude going into a meeting like this. And Matt is my hero! I shouldn't be sympathizing with someone who is insulting him. Maybe Bendis is trying to show how much of an ethical mess Matt is in, but the very next scene makes it even worse.

We all know that the FBI agent shouldn't have told the globe Daredevil's secret identity, but I'm very uncomfortable with Matt using intimidation to get him to recant his story.

Bendis said the following in an interview:

[Mike Murdock]

The issue starts off where we left off with Matt encountering Elektra. I like the awkwardness here. I think the relationship that's been lost when Elektra turned cold (and murdery) is a far more interesting discussion than the usual one of Matt being sad that she died when she's not dead. The opening was rushed, I don't think it had a great impact, but there was tenderness there. And Matt clearly wants that tenderness to return. Now I can't say it adds anything. An Elektra/Daredevil story would have made more sense.

The rest of the issue is devoted to the lawsuit. Obviously, the whole lawsuit is shades of gray (at best) and it starts off with Daredevil witness intimidation, which isn't great. After that, he has a huge advantage to force a settlement, but it's fair to say that he's incredibly smug about it. It's hard to view him as particularly likable. I won't go as far as to say it's out of character. He's always been in shades of gray, but it certainly skirts the line. It's the reason why I've argued that it only makes sense if he's still suffering from grief over Karen's death and is trying to control the rest of his life. It's also why I've said that Bendis is a poor start to reading Daredevil because it gives a false impression of the character.

That being said, I like the ending. The mix of inspiration (the public doesn't care who he is, they view him as a hero) with the overlaying text that his secret will be out there and there's nothing that can be done to take it back. It is a big story and I applaud that, even if the execution has been weak and slow so far.

Three and a Half Stars.
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Matt Murdock's cooler twin brother

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I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Thomas More - A Man for All Seasons

[The Overlord]

I mean to post a review sooner, but life gets in the way.

This issue felt like another pointless issue in an arc with very little substance to it.

Elektra's appearance added nothing to the story, it could have been cut and nothing would be lost. Black Widow thinking Matt seeing Black Widow would snap him out of his current mental state is bad judgment on her part.

How much of a jerk Matt is depends on the wrter, though Nocenti suggested Matt was a bully sometimes her stories, but Matt's actions against the Globe have no moral justification.

You can argue the Globe has engaged in sloppy journalism, but they did print the truth, the Globe's owner can't be expected to just take a 75 million dollar loss and not try to recoup losses with down sizing, that is not feasible, even if he is a rich, someone would have to pay if Matt is suggesting they are running a false story, if Matt is saying the guy who wrote the story was lying or incompetent, then the Globe would have to fire that guy and even a big business cannot just absorb a 75 million dollar loss with no consequences, especially something as fickle as the media business. I don't see how this is a gray issue if the Globe did nothing wrong, besides being sloppy, but they were right in the end.

Matt loses any sort of moral high ground with his witness intimidation.

Really not much happened in this issue, just like not much happened in this whole arc, I think its one of Bendis' weakest stories on this title.

I will give this issue 2 stars.

[Mike Murdock]

FWIW, I would argue Matt's not supposed to have the moral high ground. I think he's desperate. He's clinging onto something he doesn't want to lose. But he's not making a morally correct decision. I think the question is how we should feel about him given that he isn't behaving morally here.
_________________
Matt Murdock's cooler twin brother

Not sure what to read next? Check out the Book Club for some ideas!

I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Thomas More - A Man for All Seasons

[The Overlord]

[Mike Murdock]

One of my favorite Youtube channels is Strip Panel Naked. This week he did an analysis of one of the latter issues (I believe it's Dancing Between the Raindrops). Basically, he gave his thoughts on how the art in particular worked well with the narrative to essentially sell this claustrophobic feeling around Matt. This channel is almost always much better at analyzing things than I am, so I think it's worth a quick watch:

How Daredevil Builds Claustrophobia
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Matt Murdock's cooler twin brother

Not sure what to read next? Check out the Book Club for some ideas!

I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Thomas More - A Man for All Seasons