Daredevil #24 Review

Here we are once again with one of my most anticipated books each and every month; Daredevil. Waid and Samnee have been doing such a great job on this from day one, and I am sure they have got many more readers are producing a new reader friendly issue recently. This issue does not do too much in moving the current story arc forward, but what we do get is an interesting book with lots of good character moments; along with some very well placed humour.

So we kind of see the person who is behind this whole plot to take down Matt, however, I do not know who it is. If what we saw in this issue is a hint, then I am unfamiliar with the character. However, it still freaked me out slightly, and I am desperate to know more to find out exactly ho it is and why they are doing it.
In this issue they sent a crate of dogs that had been made radioactive to try and take Matt down; failing of course.There wasn't too much to this battle, but of course it angered Matt that this person could get to him so easily. I did like the way that this battle ended as it saw Matt defeat them in a pretty clever way. Simple yet effective.

After the last issue in which we learned about Foggys' condition, we had a couple of scenes that were very Foggy and Matt heavy; which was perfectly fine with me. I liked the dedication that Matt showed to him, which is to be expected, as well as us learning that the illness may not be terminal. After last issue I really thought that that was it for the poor guy, but now Waid has given himself the chance to prolong this a bit more. I am looking forward to a whole " will he, won't he" style theme in respect to this plot line in the future.

Another plot point of this issue was the relationship between Matt and Kirsten. Matt went to see her in order to try and end things, but it was Kirsten who ended up putting her foot down. Matt is now pretty confused about his feelings towards her. I am not too sure how I feel about Kirsten still. I mean, I do like her, but I really think she may need to be in the book more like she was in this issue. Some of her dialogue here was pretty great, and I wish we could see more of that. However, I do appreciate the fact that it is pretty difficult to get her page time with everything else going on in this book. This particular scene also had the best humour of the issue. I am hoping we see more of Kirstens' new boyfriend, if only for some decent one liners aimed at him by Matt.

As I said, the plot didn't really move forward much until the last page, however this was still an utterly enjoyable issue.If you have been enjoying the series then you will more than likely enjoy this issue too. The action may have been toned down, but the writing was just as good as ever. I find it a shame though that Waid can't seem to recreate his form here on his Hulk book. A Hulk book written like this would be awesome. Oh well, never mind, this Daredevil is more than enough for me.

Rating: 8.9 / 10

Daredevil #23 Review

This was an issue designed for new readers, who for whatever reason, have not been reading this series. If anyone picked this up who hasn't read any of this series so far, then I can guarantee that they will be picking up a lot more issues from now on! This was an amazing issue that truly has the power to make you laugh as well as cry. So what exactly happened? There will be spoilers in this review, so if you have not read this then please turn away now...

This issue focused on two different stories throughout it. The first of these being; the night before Foggy goes to the doctors to get his test results back. This was and absolutely tremendous section of this issue which went a long way to show how friends come together when the going really does get tough. Not just that, there was one moment between friends that was actually hilarious. Watching Matt and Foggy sitting on a roof laughing at a joke Foggy made was a great sight; which Waid did a great job of making you feel apart of. It was a very easy scene to connect with seeing as we all have people in our lives who we would do things like this with.
The second part of this issue focused on a group of prisoners who had been blinded by the same toxic waste as Matt had when he was a child. These criminals were then unleashed in a big society event. What happened next was madness, which Matt successfully controlled. This section highlighted that whoever was behind the massive plan to take down Matt, actually knew him very well. I am very intrigued to find out who this person is, and I hope Waid keeps us waiting a big longer. I have a feeling that the reveal is going to be huge whenever it does eventually hit.

Now, the last few pages of this book may just have been some of the most powerful pages I have read in a comic book. I was hoping, like many others I imagine, that Foggy was going to be ok. However, it now looks like that this is not going to be the case at all. The way this was written though, as well as drawn, was just unbelievable. The way Matt was assessing the situation by reading heart rates was very impressive, as well as doing a really great job at adding extra tension to a scene. The looks that then followed between Foggy and Matt was really heart breaking. I shut the book after reading the last page feeling like I had just been punched in the stomach. Say what you want about comic books, but a standard book has never ever made me feel like that. Waid and Samnee have done a tremendous job in about 4 pages to show just how magical comic books can still be.

Pick this up now! Even if you are unfamiliar with the characters, I still think that this will hit you hard. It was just a very solid issue which also saw Chris Samnee firing on all cylinders art wise. This book shows that comics are still important in our society. Not just that, it also sets up what I am sure to be some cracking issues in the coming months. Do yourself a favour and get on this series before you regret it.

Rating: 9 / 10

Daredevil #22 Review

Daredevil continues the amazing hot streak it is on with this current issue that just so happens to feature the all new Superior Spider-man. I imagine that a lot of people will be picking this issue up who don't read the book normally due to the Spidey appearance, but it seems to me that after reading this people will be sticking around with this series longer than they thought they would be.

This being a Daredevil book and not a Spidey book; the story of this issue revolved around Matts' POV, which makes a lot of sense. What was great was how he was unsure throughout why "Peter" was behaving the way he was. Matt had doubts about his best friend all the way until the very end, which made sense considering they are pretty much best friends. I am sure Spidey will come across a lot more of this while Doc is in fact in Peter; but it was nice to see DD wonder what was up straight from the get go.

The battle that Spider-man and DD were involved in against stilt man was quite entertaining; but it obviously took a back seat to the second guessing of Matt as well as the massive revelation at the end of this book. It was something that I never saw coming, not just in the lead up from this issue, but the series as a whole. The revelation came totally out of left field, and I am really hoping that something will happen so the consequences of it will never be felt; otherwise we will be losing a very dear character of the book.

Chris Samnees' art has always been good in my opinion; better than average but not as good as people have made out to me. However, in this issue I think it finally hit me how it has obviously already hit so many people. I think this issue was just beautiful. I loved every single panel, and I can now see why he is as loved as he is. I hope this continues in the coming issues.

Once again this is another great issue. In fact I would go as far as saying that it is better than I thought it would be. I had a feeling it was going to be some kind of filler issue; but instead it has become one of my favourite issues of the series so far. If you are not purchasing this book then buy this as it acts as a great jumping on point. A brand new story arc is starting next month too, so now really is as good a time as ever to step into the world of Daredevil.

Rating: 9 / 10

Indestructible Hulk #2 Review

My second Mark Waid review of the week. He has done great things on Daredevil and he promised to do the same thing with this character too. I really enjoyed issue #1, so I was very eager to read this when I picked it up. It is a strange one because this issue feels like a filler issue, however it is still enjoyable and is what I consider to be a very solid book.

In this issue we were introduced to Tony Stark as he made an appearance to see what the hell was going on with Banner, and why he has decided to do good with his life. I really enjoyed the interactions between these two characters in this issue, and I really enjoyed the eventual mini battle that they were involved in. The art made the battle look scrappy and quite confused, but I think that was the perfect way to show it. These two know each other very well and the battle has a very personal feel to it that I really liked.

Apart from that not too much happened in this issue, but you get the impression after reading it that the first real story arc will begin next issue. Waid has spent the first two issues making readers interested in a character who tends to get overlooked, so I am more than happy with how these first two issues have gone. I also love the artwork in this book, but I hope all battles don't look as confusing as this one and the one in the previous issue. I mentioned it working in this battle between The Hulk and Iron Man, but it cant work for every fight scene with any characters.

I am enjoying this book immensely and cant wait for the next issue. I said in my review of #1 that I think this is The Hulk book that I have been waiting for and I still think that is the case. Waid has done such a great job with Daredevil to make him interesting and relevant again, and I have complete faith in him in doing the same thing here. I am just very eager to read the first proper story arc to get more of a feel of the character, and whatever villains Waid decides to pit him up against.

Rating:  8 / 10

Daredevil #21 Review

This issue concludes the this story arc in this Eisner award winning series. Mark Waid has had a fantastic 2012, and this book was a nice way to end it, with a very nice teaser for the first issue of the new year. Coyote and The Spot are both defeated in this issue, and the rest of the issue is pretty much filled with character moments. But we all know how Waid does character moments, so there are no complaints from me.

The Foggy-Matt relationship still remains unfixed at the end of this issue. Foggy is sorry for not trusting his friend when he came to him for help, but he still thinks that Matt is not right and maybe untrustworthy. This obviously annoys Matt, just as much as it would annoy anyone in what they consider to be a key friendship. I like how everything has changed in this relationship. It is now Matt who is annoyed at Foggy, so it is going to be fun to see if Foggy is going to come begging Matt for forgiveness, or whether Matt is even going to care about his one time best pal. I think that eventually they will once again become friends, probably through working on case of some sort together. However, for now I am really enjoying this as it adds real drama to each issue these guys are featured in together.

I also really liked the scene with Matt's letter to Milla. It showed just how much she still means ti him, as well as how bad he still feel for events that have happened. It was also sad to see that she is not actually receiving any of these letters as they are getting intercepted by her Doctors.
The big shock of the issue was in the last couple of pages, and I am going to avoid giving any spoilers away. Kirsten is seen talking to someone hiding in the shadows about taking down Daredevil. We then see this character as they repond to what they have been asked to do. It is clear who it is, and I am very excited to see this character appearing in the new book of this series.

Once again Mark Waid has delivered a nice solid book in this series which was a great way to end this story arc. Waid is great at writing issues that end one arc, while leaving so many questions and options left for him going into the next arc. Samnees' art was once again very nice. The understanding he has with Waid is superb, and it feels like he was meant to draw this book. That is a term I use a lot but I really think it is true when Samnee is involved. I cant wait to see where this book goes in 2013.


Rating: 8.5 / 10

Indestructible Hulk #1 Review

I have been wanting a Hulk ongoing series to really get my teeth into for a while now. I enjoyed Jason Aarons' run on the title, but it just wasn't the type of Hulk book I was looking for. With Marvel NOW, Mark Waid is attempting to write the book that the fans need. He has worked wonders on Daredevil, so can he do the same with The Hulk.

This issue is more of a set up issue for the series, much like the new Iron Man book, and it really looks as though this may be a series to keep your eyes on. Bruce Banner has come to realise that he has been wasting his intelligence, so he is learning to control the green monster inside him. He knows that when he is focused he can create things that can help and save the world, that is his new goal. However, he wants SHIELD to fund his research, and in return they have The Hulk at their disposal when needed.

I really like this concept and think Waid is going the right way about writing this book. In this issue I really enjoyed the scene in the diner between Hill and Bruce Banner. I thought the tempo was perfect, and the conversation flowed really well. It didn't feel like things were being spelt out for the reader, so I was happy with it.

I also really enjoyed the fight scene with The Thinker. Yeah it was simple and he was never going to be much of a match for The Hulk, but it was nice to see, and it was what the story needed in this particular issue. The art also looked stunning in this scene. However, I found a couple of panels during the fight slightly confusing. I think that may be down to the colours. Let me stress though, I found only a COUPLE of  panels confusing. The art as a whole was fantastic, even in the Diner scene. It is setting a tone, along with Waid's writing that I think suits this book perfectly. I am eagerly anticipating the new issue. You should check this out even if you are not a fan of the main character, because its Mark Waid. That should be reason enough considering the form he is in at the minute.


Rating: 8.5 / 10

Excitement for series: 9 / 10

Daredevil #20 Review

Mark Waid has written without a doubt the most consistent Marvel book of the year. It has been a tremendous read, and it has been great knowing that each issue you pick up; the quality will be exactly the same as the last one you read.This issue is no exception.

In this issue we learned a lot about what The Spot has been up too. Some of this is very very creepy, which leans towards the horror feel that this book has developed. It works very well and does not feel out of place due to what content Waid's run has included. We also learn that he has been contracted to go after Daredevil but I do not believe we know who has contracted him as of yet. This is something that really interests me, and I am desperate to know who it is (and so is Matt Murdock).

I also really enjoyed the scene with Kirsten McDuffie. There was some really sexist content in there that I know some people will not like and will be angered by it. But that is the point. I feel that we are supposed to be pissed off that nobody is taking her seriously. She is character that we as readers have never HAD to feel anything for, but now after this issue I am really rooting for her.

The end of the issue sees Daredevil finally back in one piece (clever), however he is left in a tough situation which he is going to have to fight his way out from. We are also shown the real Spot being held hostage, which begs the question: "who the hell is this Spot then?!?" However, I am sure we will find out more, and as always I am eagerly anticipating the next issue. Of course, being safely in the knowledge that it is going to be excellent as always adds to the excitement of having it in my hands. It feels like the next couple of issues are going to be big ones as we have been left with a few questions from the last couple of issues. It looks as though the time for some of these to be answered is coming fast upon us.


Rating: 8.5 / 10