Daredevil Message Board

Mike Murdock · Golden Age Joined: 08 Sep 2014 Posts: 1750

What are you talking about?! Of course he can't see! He's blind!

OK, now that we've got that out our system, hear me out on what I mean. Throughout Daredevil history, we've seen visual representations of his radar sense. These senses are usually a silhouette, but sometimes far more detailed three dimensional images. Now comics are a visual medium so there needs to be some way to convey this information to the reader. In addition, there's Frank Miller's description of the Radar Sense (echoed by Mark Waid) that it is "like touching everything in the room at once." That suggests an almost tactile version. On the other hand, in the new show, Matt was asked what does he "see" and he described it as "the world's on fire." This suggests an actual visual image is created in his brain.

The important thing to keep in mind is sight is an illusion for everyone. Anyone annoyed by a black and blue dress on social media knows this. Sight is something created by our brain, it's not what actually exists in the world. So, when Daredevil absorbs the information from all his senses (including his radar sense if you think it's a separate sense), do you think he actually "sees" a composite image? Or, instead, do you think it's more something he's aware of through intuition and there's no visual image in his mind at all?
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Dayle88 · Playing to the Camera Joined: 25 Mar 2015 Posts: 140

"Sight is something created by our brain, it's not what actually exists in the world" Way too heavy for me Laughing

If his eyes don't send a signal to his brain then he doesn't see by definition of blindness as opposed to seeing. Does creating an image in the mind with no input from the eyes constitute seeing? If you read a book and it describes a character you build that image in your mind with, essentially, no visual cue. Daredevil takes the information he is given which provides him with an accurate portrayal of shape and location. He then builds that into a perspective that allows him to do what he does. For the purpose of moving around and fighting and knowing where things and people are in relation to himself he probably has an advantage over normal seeing people.

The way I took the 'world on fire' was just his way of trying to let Claire relate a bit. After all, if you aren't blind you just don't know what it's like. Doubly so with fictional "powers".

I haven't read any substantial pre-Miller stuff but I don't think the radar sense is a separate sense. Isn't radar sending and receiving sound to build a map of surroundings? When he loses his radar sense in Miller's run he has to rely on single senses at a time to cope but Stick tells him he hasn't lost anything except for his focus to build the radar. I'm pretty sure he retrains with him to get it back.

Mike Murdock · Golden Age Joined: 08 Sep 2014 Posts: 1750

Frankly, I'd rather avoid the discussion of whether the Radar Sense is a separate sense. I could do a long essay on that. Short answer is it originally was. I'm pretty sure the little blurb at the beginning of each issue flat out said it was. Even Stick's line doesn't contradict that.

From Issue 177:

train · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 2:47 am Post subject:

Mike Murdock · Golden Age Joined: 08 Sep 2014 Posts: 1750

I think you misunderstand. I'm not asking if his radar shows him more detail than how it's represented on the page. I'm asking if it shows less detail. I'm asking if it shows an image at all (however blurry).
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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

train · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:23 am Post subject:

I'd say no image at all. If he could see images on a paper or see features of a persons face, why did Heather Glenn take him to an art gallery in issue 223? And he's seen Foggy's face several times too. I doubt that would have been a big deal if his radar sense allowed him to see features.

Mike Murdock · Golden Age Joined: 08 Sep 2014 Posts: 1750

I didn't ask if it allowed him to see features, I asked if it allowed him to see anything. Even a general outline or silhouette.
_________________
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

Dimetre · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 1:26 pm Post subject:

I think I like Paolo Rivera's depiction of what Matt "sees" better than any other artist's. Rivera's imagery does look tactile, in that the radar waves are hitting objects and sending back to Matt their shape and location. But he would only get shape and location from his radar, and need to rely on his other four senses for further information.

One thing I've found about my friend's reaction to the show is that they're unclear of what Matt can see and what he can't see. I think phrases like "world on fire" and "impressionistic painting" are too unclear for newbies.

One thing I'm curious about: Have there been any times when Matt's heightened sense of taste has saved the day?

train · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 2:18 pm Post subject:

Mike Murdock · Golden Age Joined: 08 Sep 2014 Posts: 1750

Darkdevil · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:08 am Post subject:

The Message Board is currently in read-only mode, as the software is now out of date. Several features and pages have been removed. If/When I get time I intend to re-launch the board with updated software.