Ed Brubaker’s Daredevil run continues to rock!  The pacing of this book makes it a joy to read.  Brubaker knows the story he wants to tell and executes it without filler and fluff.  He continues to hide pleasant surprises in a storyline I think I have figured out.  Without revealing anything, Daredevil takes it on the chin from a dear friend.  On top of that, Kingpin continues to reclaim the Hell Kitchen’s underworld.  Brubaker has successfully given the Kingpin a heart and soul.  He’s still a ruthless psychopath, but you almost start to feel for him.  Almost.  Meanwhile, Matt Murdock is dealing with his ever-muddied personal life as he plans to take down Lady Bullseye and the Hand.

Brubaker skillfully makes Matt Muddock and the other DD cast real people.  Their lives are messy and difficult.  The DD universe is very real and the people seem to breathe the same air we do.  This is a tribute to Ed Brubaker’s ability to write real characters.

DD’s multiple artists create a unique atmosphere that is making this title iconic.  I am now referring to some other books as “Daredevilish” in style.  Rivaling Brukaer’s writing skill is the work of colorist Matt Hollingsworth.  Daredevil has a classic, crisp, noir art and Hollingsworth’s skill vaults these pages close to perfection.  The panels have a muted, dark quality with burst of appropriate colors.  The finished product is a stunning book that is worthy of a few extra reads, just to admire the pages.

While Daredevil is a consistently great read, this arc is particularly fantastic.  While I am enjoying Marvel’s Dark Reign mega-event, it sure is nice to read a book without Norman Osborn.  Matt Murdock has enough to deal with.

4 out of 5

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