Daredevil End of Days #5 Review

People who read my blog frequently will know just how in love I am with this particular series. It is visually stunning, and the writing is above and beyond 90% of titles on the stands at the moment. Bendis and Mack make a fantastic team, and five issues in, they are still to let me down. The fifth chapter of this intriguing and grim tale is just as good as the four previous. However, the difference for me was that with this issue I really got the feeling that we were starting to move along a little faster.

The initial scene with the Punisher was something I have been eagerly anticipating since the end of the last issue, and I was really not disappointed  It was incredibly tense, and I really enjoyed the conclusion of this talk. Punisher also pointed Ben into a direction that for some reason I never even thought about. It makes a ton of sense, but I had a "oh yeah!" kind of moment. The reveal snuck up on me, and I am sure that this is something that Bendis planned. Brilliantly done.

What this series does great is introduces characters that are not really seen as being incredibly important, and making them come out as stars in this book. In any other title if you told me that Gladiator and Ben would be having a discussion over a large amount of pages, I would probably give that title a miss. However, in this issue, the feel of conversations like this are just electric. You have Ben desperate to get to the bottom of things, while the person he is talking too is explaining a life that is completely new to us. I am fairly new to the world of DD, as you guys know, but this issue has made me on the look out for Gladiator in the future and in back issue format too.

The end of this issue leaves us on another cliffhanger, which I am eagerly anticipating the outcome of. I think it is quite obvious what will happen but I hope they go in a certain route that I have in my head. If they do this then we may be in for a very interesting one on one scene in #6.

Once again David Mack hit it out of the park in this issue. This is nothing new in this series as he is really doing a phenomenal job. When I posted my review of #5, he got in touch with me via twitter and thanked me for my kind words towards this title. He is not only a great artist, but he seems like a great guy too.

This is a series that I really can not recommend highly enough. Pick up all five issues that have been released so far, read them in one sitting, and I can guarantee you will be hooked. Reading this series with a nice mug of black coffee is absolute perfection. Bring on #6 next month.

Rating: 9 / 10

Daredevil End Of Days #4 Review

After finishing this issue not too long ago I can safely say that this series is tremendous. I have loved the series so far, and even claimed way back when #2 came out that it had the potential to be a classic series. Now we have just reached the halfway point of this mini series, and it is clear that this is a beautiful comic book; written and drawn in a styles that compliment each other so well. It is very close to perfection.

In this issue we find out what happened to Bullseye. It was never a surprise to me when it was revealed what happened to him, but it was a surprise at how exactly it had happened. The circumstances, and flashback reconstruction of the events found later in the issue, were a major shock that came out of left field.
This series is great at making you think that you know where it is going and how it is shaping;and then suddenly they take the rug from under your feet. In fact, it is what this series does best. We are investigating along with Ben Urich, and we are getting as surprised at every turn as he is. I have said that in an earlier issue review, but now we are halfway through it is clear that this is sticking. It makes us feel frustrated and lost, but it is all part of the reading experience.

We were treated to a shock appearance of my favorite 2nd string Marvel character towards the end of this issue. I really did not see it coming, so I was very pleasantly surprised. I may have not seen it coming, but it all makes sense for him to be involved somehow. Bendis really knows what he is doing; when does he not.

Once again, and as always, the art was stupendous throughout this issue. What a horrendous Marvel New York this is to live in; it is beautifully ugly. This series would not be the same without this dark, washed out surroundings. I am enjoying the art so much, I am really intrigued as to whether it would make the Daredevil ongoing any better. It is really that good.

This series has four issues remaining and I recommend that you pick up all the other issues and jump on board. You could just wait for the trade, but I think is going to be looked back on as something really special. I can already see myself reading through all this again the week before the final issue comes out, it is that damn good.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

As I mentioned on my Twitter account, I am giving away the FREE digital code for this issue. It is first come first served, so whoever redeems it first gets it. It is out of my control. I just thought it would be a great way for someone to get into this series, or carry on from where it has been left. So, here it is: TMM7M1C7A990

Daredevil End of Days #3 Review

This series has been a huge hit so far. What you get with this book is a fantastically written story, some great art, and an amazing depiction of Hell's Kitchen. I have loved this series so far so was very eager to get into this issue, and once again I was not disappointed. I claimed after the first issue that this may turn out to be a classic, now three issues in, I am even more convinced of that.

In this installment we see Ben Urich visiting more of Matt Murdock's former acquaintances. However, we still get little answers to the questions that he is asking them. Nobody seems to know anything, or nobody wants to say anything.
You would think a book that has done pretty much the same thing for three issues would be pretty poor, but you would be wrong. You really feel invested in the mystery, and you feel planted in Ben's shoes as he is questioning individuals about the murder. It is a great feeling; the needing to know what has happened to Matt. The ending of this issue made me even more eager to pick up issue #4; as if I wasn't excited enough already.

The art has been great throughout all three issues, however I think in this issue it may be the best we have seen so far. Hell's Kitchen looks amazing. It looks like the most depressing place on earth; but you really cant help but love it. It is this grimy view of the place which is by far my preferred image of it. A horrible place to grow up and live full of poverty. The setting really helps to make this series what it is.

I highly recommend checking this series out. You don't even have to be a fan of Daredevil; the writing is so good. There are five issues left in this series, and I can almost guarantee that each of them will be getting similar ratings as the three I have no reviewed. This really is great stuff.


Rating: 9 / 10

Daredevil: End Of Days #2

If you read my review of the first issue of this then you know just how excited I was to get my hands on issue #2. After reading the latest issue, I still have the feeling that in years to come this may be spoken about as being one of the best Daredevil stories created.

In this issue we saw Ben Urich continue attempting to piece together Matt Murdock's life; especially the time where he went missing for years after killing the Kingpin. Some well known Marvel characters made an appearance in this issue, which was great to see. I also have the feeling that we will be seeing a few more cameos in future issues as Matt's life is described to Ben by the people who knew him best. It makes sense, and I really believe that this is the route this title is going to go down. I may be proven wrong though, who knows.
The conversation between Ben and Milla was a clear highlight of the book for me, and I am sure that it will be for other Daredevil fans out there. The tension between the two was clear to see. It really came off the pages whilst reading it.

Once again, I love the art. It fits the book perfectly. The gritty art which depicts Hell's Kitchen, and also highlights the gritty end of Daredevil; its perfect. There is also a clear theme of age in regards to Ben. In the book the world is moving forward without him. This is made clear due to his job, as well as the scene where he was looking for information on the Black Widow.

I am very glad that this is an 8 part mini series and not any shorter. If it was I feel that the whole story would not have been told as it was intended to be. It would have felt constrained. Luckily for us, Bendis has pretty much been given as much creative freedom as he wants in regards to length of the series. I really cant wait for the next issue, not only because of my love for the series; but also due to my love of a certain Marvel character that made an appearance right at the end of this issue. If you have not tried this one out yet then I really suggest that you do.


Rating: 8.5 / 10

Daredevil End of Days #1 Review

I have never read any of Brian Michael Bendis' and Davis Macks' work on Daredevil before so wasn't too sure what to expect from this even though I have heard great things about their past work with the character. This book alone, which is issue #1 in an 8 issue limited series, has single handedly made me want to pick up trades of their older stuff.

The cover of this book says it all. Daredevil is dead. He got killed by Bullseye in what looks to have been an epic street fight from what the first few pages of the book show. So we know how he got killed, but we do not know why. Finding this out has fallen on Ben Urich's shoulders. The disillusioned reporter is originally assigned to write the story on Daredevil's death, however he discovers that there are a lot more questions that need to be answered concerning Matt Murdock and the Man Without Fear in the run up to his untimely death.

This is fantastically written, which is to be expected considering the writers involved. One of the personal high points for me has to be the retelling of DD's back story through an article Urich is compiling. It makes the book completely new reader friendly, meaning it can double as a jumping on point for readers who want to get into the ongoing daredevil title. The internal dialogue going through in Ulrich's head is also tremendous. Especially when he is auto correcting himself when typing up the article. Ulrich himself is also fantastically written. A man who has fallen out of love with the industry he works in, failing to see a point in carrying on doing what he is good at. The art is gritty. Hell's Kitchen looks just as it should, dirty and grimy. The tone for the book is perfect. However, I read this elsewhere but I cant help but agree, I got half way through the book before realising that it was Bullseye who murdered Matt Murdock. In all fairness I think the real detail in that scene was given to Daredevil's injuries, as well as the fight that was giving him those injuries. Nevertheless, I hope there arnt many more gripes like this in the rest of the issues.

I have tried not to give too many spoilers away in this review. Obviously we know that Matt has died, however the events before that are best read without spoilers to get maximum enjoyment out of this fantastic first issue. Pick this book up, it has potential to be a very special limited series.

Rating: 9/10