Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Chris Samnee
Publisher: Marvel
Daredevil #10 is not only one of the best comic books I have read in years, I hold it in high regard as one of the most life affirming pieces of media I have ever absorbed. It’s that good.
This issue picks up with Daredevil’s ongoing fight with The Purple Man and his legion of Purple Children, both of whom have the ability to influence others actions with the expression of a single word. Last issue, Purple Man took it upon himself to dredge up all of Matt Murdock’s depression to the forefront of his psyche. This exploration, one of endurance versus mental illness, is the beating heart of this story and an idea that this series has continued to handle in some of the most inspiring ways seen in sequential art. I’m serious. It’s one of the most beautiful books on the stands.
Many lauded Waid’s initial run of Daredevil for it’s upbeat presentation and bright coloring style, a distinct contrast to the dour atmosphere that used to drench any Daredevil title on the stands. While Mark Waid’s (and the wonderful) Chris Samnee’s Daredevil may not be as shrouded in angst and the melancholy as the runs that preceded it, the tribulations of depression, death, coping, and the pains of human existence are handled just as maturely, intensely, brilliantly and (dare I say) better than what came before. Waid’s Daredevil brings hope to the hopeless, this reviewer included. Seeing Daredevil fight through the pain that depression brings him, with the help of his girlfriend and the reformed Purple Children is a delight and completely warms my heart. The ending to this tale perfectly illustrates the desire and need for pure human compassion, cementing Daredevil as not just another superhero story, but a modern myth that allows us to keep fighting the good fight. I continue to fight the good fight because of Matt Murdock.
Samnee is truly the only artist that could sell a story as beautiful and mature as the one presented in the pages of this comic. His pencils breathe with life, energy, and pure human emotion. The fight scenes remains gritty without gratuity and the warm embraces of human tenderness hit even harder because of this.
This reviewer had the wonderful opportunity to meet Mark Waid at Motor City Comic Con in 2014. During this period, I fought with a lot of the same demons that Matt struggles with throughout his life. I told Mark Waid how much his book meant to me and he looked me in the eyes and said: “I could never write a cynical story for you. I couldn’t do that to you. Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock are two broken people who need each other”. I walked away with tears in my eyes. I closed this book with tears in my eyes. Thank you Mark. Thank you Chris.
