Daredevil #24 Review

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Chip Zdarsky, Daredevil, Daredevil #24 review, Daredevil#24, Foggy Nelson, Kirsten McDuffe, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matt Murdock, Mike Murdock, Spider-Man, The Kingpin, Tony Stark, Typhiod Mary, Wilson Fisk

Daredevil #24

Review by Paul Bowler

The Man Without Fear gets ready to face the music in Daredevil #24 (Truth / Dare Part 4) as his trial for murdering Leo Cararo looms. Ironically, Matt Murdock is only just Back in the Red as Daredevil following the chaos wrought on Hell’s Kitchen by the Stormwyns, and with the citizens of the city looking for someone to hold accountable Matt’s crime-fighting return might soon be over before its even begun.

Daredevil #24 is a masterclass in storytelling from writer Chip Zdarsky that sees Matt and the ensemble cast, both friend and foe alike, run a gauntlet of frayed emotions and angst as Daredevil’s trial approaches. With the erstwhile Mayor Fisk now considered a hero in the eyes of New York’s citizens, Matt has been moved into making plans of his own to ensure the safety of Hell’s Kitchen from the threat of Fisk’s corporate and criminal machinations with the imminent  likelihood that Daredevil will probably soon be behind bars. Daredevil has already enlisted Spider-Man’s help to put the frighteners on a meeting of the crime families where Wilson Fisk appointed Izzy Libris as the new Kingpin of New York City, and asked Tony Stark to gain board approval to bid in the property auction for Hell’s Kitchen to keep it out of Fisk’s clutches. 

Matters have been complicated by Foggy Nelson decision to go behind Matt’s back to recruit not just Kirsten McDuffie into DD’s legal defence team, but also calling in Mike Murdock – Matt’s twin brother — to pose as Matt himself during the trial as Daredevil takes the stand. As if all that wasn’t’[t enough for Matt to deal with Mayor Fisk has also made a dangerous new ally, Typhoid Mary! Zdarsky juggles all these plot threads and characters with consummate ease throughout this issue. For a superhero who is blind like Daredevil there’s a certain irony to be had in having the supporting characters spending most of this issue wrestling with own inner conflicts and emotions to such a degree that it consequently makes them all essentially blind to the secrets, lies and uncomfortable home truths right under their noses — which is all frankly genius scripting from Chip Zdarsky.

The Devil’s in the detail and that certainly the case here as the art for this issue of Daredevil is handled by penciler Mike Hawthorne, inker JP Mayer and color artist Mattia Iacono who collectively render the numerous scenes and character perspective with a striking level of detail, exciting page layouts, and bold colors. The fallout from Matt and Kirsten’s relationship resonates especially powerfully throughout, and the art beautifully encapsulates this integral driving force of the issues richly compelling narrative. The loneliness of Daredevil’s plight is also wonderfully depicted as Matt ponders the fate of Hell’s Kitchen alone on a rooftop, the courtroom is a veritable who’s who of friends and foes, and we even get a masked, suited and booted look for Daredevil as he prepares to face justice in this remarkably illustrated issue.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed Chip Zdarsky’s run on Daredevil since the tiles 2019 relaunch. He’s taken Matt Murdock on a dark journey, turned all the familiar DD tropes on their head, and woven a masterpiece of interconnected story arcs and unexpected character beats into a rich narrative that has ultimately lead to this point. Daredevil #24 is a stylish blend of courtroom drama, shady scheming, and emotional drama with the fate of Hell’s Kitchen at stake and only a whisper of hope remaining  for Daredevil as his trial begins. Highly recommend. 

Publisher Marvel Comics

Writer Chip Zdarsky / Penciler Mike Hawthorne

Inker JP Mayer / Color Artist Mattia Iacono

Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover Marco Checchetto & Matthew Wilson

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About The Author

Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

Daredevil #600 Review

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Blindspot, Charles Soule, Daredevil, Daredevil #600, Daredevil #600 review, Foggy Nelson, Hells Kitchen, Marte Gracia, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matt Murdock, NCBD, Ron Garney, The Kingpin, The Man Without Fear, Wilson Fisk

Daredevil #600

Review by Paul Bowler

Mayor Fisk continues to wreak havoc in Murdock’s life in Daredevil #600 as the Man Without Fear rallies the heroes of New York City against the mayor’s schemes. Ever since Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of crime, was elected as mayor of NYC he’s made superheroes illegal and appointed Matt as deputy mayor to ensure Murdock was too busy to interfere with his criminal dealings. But now Muse – the Inhuman serial killer – has escaped from jail to create more murderous works of art and to stalk his former victim and one-time protégé of Daredevil, Sam Chung (AKA Blindspot). Daredevil must now do whatever it takes to stop Fisk’s plans, no matter the cost, but will he be in time to prevent all of the dark machinations unfolding around him?

Daredevil’s war against Wilson Fisk reaches a thrilling, action-packed conclusion in Daredevil #600, a special oversized anniversary issue guest staring the heroes and villains of NYC, as writer Charles Soule skilfully brings together numerous interweaving plot strands for Daredevil’s epic showdown with Wilson Fisk.

Daredevil #600’s impressive and eye-catching cover by Dan Mora and Romulo Fajardo JR (there’s also a wealth of excellent variant covers by David Aja, Alex Ross, Frank Miller & Dean White, and Daniel Acuna to choose from as well) offers a hint of the action that awaits you in this issue. The battle lines are quickly drawn as the heroes and villains on all sides get caught up in Daredevil’s showdown with mayor Fisk. Daredevil’s plan to take down the Kingpin is even more audacious than it initially seems, with DD enrolling Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Misty Knight, Jessica Jones, Moon Knight, and Echo to gate-crash a shindig between the Bronx’s super villain crime bosses – the Black Cat, Hammerhead, Diamondback, and the Owl.

As the heroes and villains clash amidst a barrage of wry asides and bullets, Charles Soule also deftly punctuates the narrative with Blindspot’s battle with Muse, while Daredevil’s heads towards his inevitable showdown with Fisk. The pace of this issue doesn’t let up for a moment. However, it is these two branches of the plot that are perhaps the most compelling of all. The fight between Blindspot and Muse is especially powerful because of its underlying sense of horror, while the face-off between Daredevil and Fisk broods with unrestrained menace, and the resolution of both encounters amid a schism of fateful decisions holds unforeseen consequences for all concerned…

It goes without saying that the artwork by Ron Garney is as impressive as ever, with crisply refined page layouts effortlessly relaying every nuance of Soule’s script, and rich characterization adorning every page. Featuring such an extensive roll call of heroes and villains Daredevil #600 is almost bursting at the seams with characters and subplots. Ron Garney does a terrific job giving this issues plethora of characters a chance to shine, imbuing the raw power and emotion of virtually every scene with gritty intensity, striking action sequences, and with color artist Matt Milla’s subtle use of tone and shade heightening the drama to maximum effect this landmark issue of Daredevil looks absolutely stunning.

Daredevil #600 certainly delivers a knockout punch as it rounds off the Mayor Fisk storyline, but even darker forces are on hand waiting in the wings, and it all builds to a shock ending that will rock Hell’s Kitchen to its core! Charles Soule, Ron Garney, and Matt Milla have crafted another superb issue of their run here, add to that the nostalgic backup story looking back at Foggy and Matt’s friendship over the years written by Christos Gage, with art by Mike Perkins and colors by Andy Troy, and Daredevil #600 becomes a milestone issue and game-changing chapter in Matt Murdock’s life that no Daredevil fan will want to miss!

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Charles Soule / Artist: Ron Garney / Color Artist: Matt Milla

Letterer VC’S Clayton Cowles / Cover: Dan Mora

“They Also Serve” Writer Christos Gage / Art Mike Perkins / Color Artist Andy Troy /

Letterer VC’S Clayton Cowles

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Daredevil #26 Review

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Blindspot, Charles Soule, China, Daredevil, Daredevil #26, Daredevil #26 review, Foggy Nelson, Hells Kitchen, Land of the Blind, Marte Gracia, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matt Murdock, NCBD, Ron Garney, The Man Without Fear

Daredevil #26

Review by Paul Bowler

Land of the Blind begins in Daredevil #26, when a message from an absent friend sends Daredevil on a mission to the other side of the world to rural China. The Man Without Fear must not only contend with the challenges of his new environment, he must also face a new villain, someone that even Daredevil’s extraordinary hyper-senses can’t detect…

This new story-arc from writer Charles Soule, artist Ron Garney, and color artist Matt Milla kicks off in fine style as Daredevil acrobatically leaps across the rooftops of Manhattan. Having won a landmark case that will finally allow heroes testimonies to be used in court, Matt is now back in his traditional red Daredevil costume, and riding high after the Supreme Court ruled in his favour. So, with Hell’s Kitchen unusually quiet as the ramifications of this news begins to sink into the criminal community, Daredevil switches his attention towards those in Chinatown seeking the help of his former protégée Sam Chung – Blindspot.

Blindspot was one of the defining characters of this new volume of Daredevil during its early stages. Sam Chung had built a suit that enabled him to turn invisible, he became Blindspot, and Daredevil chose to mentor him. Together they took down the gangster known as Tenfingers and saved Sam’s mother. Blindspot continued working with Daredevil until he was horrifically blinded (during The Dark Art storyline) by an Inhuman serial killer called Muse. After leaving hospital, Sam disappeared, and Daredevil hasn’t heard from his since.

As Daredevil brings the latest batch of messages for Blindspot to his sister in Daredevil #26, Charles Soule scripts some extremely powerful and emotional scenes as Sam’s sibling struggles to comes to terms with the choices her brother made, and Daredevil’s reasons for continuing to bring her the envelopes left for Blindspot in Chinatown. But not all of them are calls for help; one holds an invitation for Daredevil to go to China, where a fateful encounter with a deadly new enemy waits!

Ron Garney’s artwork stylishly envelops you in this broodingly atmospheric tale right from the outset: from the moody opening scenes in Chinatown, to the interlude at the DA’s Office, and enlisting Foggy’s help, Murdock’s journey to China is vividly detailed and culminates with a jaw-dropping vista of rural China as Daredevil goes in search of a hidden temple. Color artist Matt Milla employs a sumptuous blend of cool shades, rich shadows, and earthy tones over the course of this issue to great effect. Much as I really liked the darker costume Daredevil has worn in this series, its great to see him back in his red costume again, I think it’s a good move, and it makes the character look even more dramatic when seen in such a rural setting like this.

This issue builds to an ominous cliff-hanger as Daredevil finds himself face to face with some old enemies, but not even Matt’s enhanced senses are a match for the new foe waiting in the wings… From the moment you set eyes on that haunting cover Ron Garney you instantly know you are in for something truly special with this issue. Daredevil #26 begins another great chapter in this series, Charles Soule, Ron Garney, and Matt Milla deliver a sublime mix of powerful characterization, intriguing mystery, and eerily staged action sequences to make this issue of Daredevil a thoroughly enjoyable and suspenseful read from cover to cover.

Publisher: Marvel

Writer: Charles Soule / Artist: Ron Garney / Color Artist: Matt Milla

Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles / Cover: Ron Garney

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Netflix debut official trailer for Marvel’s The Defenders!

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Charlie Cox, Daredevil, Defenders, Elektra, Finn Jones, Iron First, Jessica Jones, Krysten Ritter, Luke Cage, Maarvel, Marvels The Defenders, Mike Colter, Netflix, Netflix The Defenders, New York, Signoury Weaver, The Defenders, The Defenders official trailer, The Defenders Trailer

Netflix debut official trailer for Marvel’s The Defenders!

Check out the awesome new trailer for the Defenders series, can’t wait for this new series form Netflix!

Marvel’s The Defenders follows Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones). A quartet of singular heroes with one common goal – to save New York City. This is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together. The Netflix original series will launch globally on August 18, 2017.

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Daredevil #14 Review

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Blindspot, Charles Soule, comics, Daredevil, Daredevil #14, Daredevil #14 review, Daredevil Dark Art, Inhumans, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matt Milla, Matt Murdock, Muse, Ron Garney, The Dark Art, The Dark Art Part 5

Daredevil #14

Review by Paul Bowler

The Dark Art concludes in Daredevil #14 as the Man Without Fear resolves to track down the murderous instillation artist Muse, who has left a gruesome trail of “artwork” across Hell‘s Kitchen. Now, Muse has captured Daredevil’s new protégé, Samuel Chung, A.K.A Blindspot. Matt Murdock’s skill and powers will be tested to the limit, but will it be enough to save his young friend from becoming Muse’s next work of art..?

The fifth and concluding part of The Dark Art from the outstanding creative team of writer Charles Soule, artist Ron Garney, and color artist Matt Milla, delivers a tense and unsettling finale to this exceptional story arc that doesn’t flinch from depicting the drama and graphic horror of Blindspot’s plight. Daredevil’s aguish is almost palpable from the outset as he meets the Inhuman Detective Frank McGee – who wants to arrest Muse for his crimes – at the scene where Blindspot went missing after rescuing Muse’s hostages from the sewers.

Its what transpires in Muse’s lair where Charles Soule really begins to ramp up the nerve jangling intensity as we, like Blindspot, gradually take in the sights of this dingy studio where Muse hones his craft with macabre inspirations. The uncertainly of what Muse has planned for Blindspot makes these scenes almost unbearable to witness. You know with twisting certainly in your gut that something terrible and horrifying is on the cards, but nothing can prepare you for the shock of that moment of inspiration Muse gets and the subsequent price that Blindspot invariably ends up paying for being so selfless and heroic in his mentor’s eyes.

The fabulous art by Ron Garney perfectly encapsulates the grim and brooding atmosphere that hangs over this issue. Together with Matt Milla’s exquisite and intense use of color, Ron Garney’s depiction of DD’s radar sense as Murdock pushes his uncanny hyper-senses beyond anything we’ve seen before, is truly remarkable. Muse’s lair, come Garret, is both a horrific slaughter house of raw materials and a showcase for his deranged labours. One moment you’ll be wondering what’s hanging on that lamp in the background… the next page you’ll be wishing you hadn’t asked! Some pieces even have ties to previous storylines, and there’s a startling revelation about the “Sanguinity” piece itself from The Dark Art during the final showdown between Daredevil and Muse in which the unseen becomes visible – and in more ways than one.

Daredevil #14 and The Dark Art arc as a whole is, to my mind, comic book storytelling at its finest. It’s a storyline that, while still very much part of the big events unfolding in the Marvel Universe at the moment, has nevertheless remained very much focused at grass roots level. Charles Soule has tapped into powerful themes and dark veins of horror with this arc as Muse’s and Daredevil’s worlds collided with fateful consequences for Blindspot. The characterization in this new Daredevil series has been exemplary from the start, and with this arc the bond between Daredevil and Blindspot as teacher and pupil has been key to its success, and subsequently makes the outcome here all the more tragic. Muse has been a terrific foil for Daredevil, we finally see Muse’s face in this issue but that doesn’t demystify the character, and I certainly hope we see a rematch between them one day.

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Charles Soule / Art Ron Garney / Colors: Matt Milla

Letters: VC’s Clayton Cowles  / Cover Ron Garney & Matt Milla

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New Daredevil Season 2 Official Trailer Part 2

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Élodie Yung, Charlie Cox, Daredevil, Daredevil Netflix, Daredevil Season 2, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Elektra, Foggy Nelson, Frank Castle, Jon Bernthal, Karen Page, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matt Murdock, Netflix, New Daredevil Netflix Trailer, The Punisher

Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2 Official Trailer Part 2

Just when Matt thinks he is bringing order back to the city, new forces are rising in Hell’s Kitchen. Now the Man Without Fear must take on a new adversary in Frank Castle and face an old flame – Elektra Natchios. Check out new trailer for the second season of Marvel’s Netflix-exclusive Daredevil series. This trailer gives us even more insight into the new season, and it looks incredible! Can’t wait to see the new series of Daredevil! Daredevil Season 2 will be available in its entirety on Netflix on March 18th 2016

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Daredevil Season 2 Official Trailer

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Élodie Yung, Charlie Cox, Daredevil, Daredevil Netflix, Daredevil Season 2, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Elektra, Foggy Nelson, Frank Castle, Jon Bernthal, Karen Page, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Matt Murdock, Netflix, The Punisher

Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2 Official Trailer

Check out the brand new trailer the second season of Marvel’s Netflix-exclusive Daredevil series. The trailer finally gives us out first proper look at the new season, and it looks awesome! Daredevil Season 2 will be available in its entirety on Netflix on March 18th 2016

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Daredevil #3 Review

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Blindspot, Charles Soule, Daredevil, Daredevil #3, Daredevil #3 review, Marvel Comics, Matt Milla, Matt Murdock, Ron Garney, Tenfingers, The Hand

Daredevil #3

Having confronted the mysterious crime lord Tenfingers in his Chinatown lair, The Man Without Fear and his new sidekick Blindspot must now face the onslaught of the Hand in Daredevil #3, as the mystically enhanced ninjas enter the fray to reclaim that which Tenfingers has stolen from them. If all that wasn’t enough for Daredevil to contend with, being both crime-fighter and mentor to his protégé Blindspot, Matt Murdock’s new career in New York as an ADA also takes a nose dive when he fails to indict Tenfingers…

This new Daredevil series is really hitting its stride now, writer Charles Soule and artist Ron Garney certainly had a tough act to follow, but the way they have nailed Matt Murdock’s character and the new direction for the title is really beginning to grow on me now. I’m a huge Daredevil fan, and I’ll admit, the jury was out for me with the first couple of issues, probably because I loved the Waid/Samnee run so much, but this post Secret Wars version of Daredevil is quickly winning me over. Its not just the return to New York, or Matt becoming an ADA, that has shaken up he status quo though, the addition of Blindspot – the one element I really had reservations about – has actually turned out to be one of the most daring and innovative moves of all.

Charles Soule throws Daredevil and Blindspot right in at the deep end in this issue as the Hand attacks Tenfingers and his minions. The scales are balanced with letting them slug it out between themselves, or stepping in to preserve life, it’s a no brainier really, we all know what Daredevil will choose to do and boy oh boy, does this issue see artist Ron Garney pulling out all the stops with the big-action set-pieces that follow. Things get even more challenging for Daredevil when Blindspot leaps into the action, but his invisibility suit serves him well, and this battle sees him even manages to earn a graduation of sorts as well.

The fight sequences are like a beautifully orchestrated ballet of razor sharp violence and unflinching bloodshed. The synergy between Soule’s writing and Garney’s artwork encapsulates everything I love about Daredevil, yet they’ve also made the character feel fresh and new again, whilst remaining totally faithful to the great legacy they have inherited, and Daredevil’s redesigned costume looks incredible this issue as well. The colors by Matt Milla sublimely complement the tone of each individual moment: from the dark shadows and vivid reds during the fight with the Hand, though to the cool blue and green shades seen in the rooftop scenes, which in turn is in stark contrast with the bland tones of the District Attorneys Office, Milla’s work on this title is stunning – and I especially like how the light and shading of new Daredevil’s costume alters so distinctly from scene to scene. At times there’s also a distinct monochrome, almost noir like tone to many of the visuals as well, particularly when we see views of the city, and it heightens the atmosphere beautiful.

The dynamic between Daredevil and Blindspot is another highlight of the issue. Daredevil can be a bit of a grumpy mentor at times, the bond between them is growing stronger though. Blindspot acquits himself well in the fight with the Hand, but he’s still got a long way to go before he’ll ever be able to sneak up on Daredevil! Following some unsettling parting words from Tenfingers, Daredevil finally has the lead he’s been looking for about who this mystically powered crime lord really is, and how he must’ve got his extra fingers.

As the issue draws to a close, Matt Murdock’s meeting at the office of the Manhattan District Attorney doesn’t go well at all, frankly Hochberg isn’t impressed one bit by Matt‘s failure to indict Tenfingers, or the way that their key witness was compromised. While he must suffer the indignity of a new assignment that may well send Matt’s new career as a ADA into free fall before its even begun, everything soon get pushed to the sidelines when Murdock receives and unexpected visitor with a misunderstanding to clear up…

Daredevil #3 is a great issue, Charles Soule, Ron Garney, Matt Milla are proving to be a dream team for this book. Any doubts I might have had about the new creative team and the direction of the title have all but completely evaporated with this issue. Marvel has chosen well, because with such strong storylines, characterization, and impressive artwork like this, Daredevil and this title is in very safe hands indeed!

Publisher: Marvel Comics/ Writer: Charles Soule / Art Ron Garney

Colors: Matt Milla / Letters: VC’s Clayton Cowles

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Daredevil Season 2 Trailer

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Daredevil, Daredevil Season 2, Daredevil Season 2 trailer, Daredevil Trailer, Marvel, Netflix

New Daredevil Season 2 Teaser Trailer & Poster!

Here’s a brand new atmospheric teaser trailer and poster for the second season of Marvel’s Netflix-exclusive Daredevil series. The trailer and poster don’t give much away but they certainly get us in the mood for the new series. Interestingly this trailer also confirms the launch date 03: 18: 16 for season 2, so the rumoured clash with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was unsubstantiated. Daredevil Season 2 will be available in its entirety on Netflix a week earlier, on March 18^th

And here’s the new poster!

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Marvel’s Daredevil – New Official Netflix Trailer

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Ann Woll, Charlie Cox, Daredevil, Daredevil Trailer, Karen Page, Kingpin, Marvel, Matt Murdock, New Daredevil Netflix Trailer, Vincent D’Onofrio, Wilson Fisk

Marvel’s Daredevil – New Official Netflix Trailer

Marvel have released a new trailer for their Netflix-exclusive Daredevil series!

The Daredevil series will premier in its entirety on Netflix April 10th 2015

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