There aren’t many characters that have enjoyed a long period of consistently strong creative teams; most series have their ups and downs as talent changes and new teams try to find their own voice, some more successfully than others. For the last decade The Man Without Fear’s record has been almost completely unblemished, but people first started taking notice of Matt Murdock in the 80’s, when Frank Miller went from just drawing the book to writing it as well.
In honour of the upcoming inaugoral Assemble After Dark podcast from our friends Joey Esposito, Erik Norris and Benjamin Bailey (which will be on the subject of Daredevil), we’ve produced this reading list to guide you through the most well-regarding volumes in Red Batman’s long history of being awesome. In Part Two we’ll look at Brian Bendis famous and award winning run with Alex Maleev and other great artists, from his first volume with David Mack to the recent spiritual finale End of Days. Almost all of these books are still available in the shops and there is a brief synopsis of each one so you can build your own collection.
[box_light]Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev[/box_light]
Bendis Daredevil Omnibus V1
Daredevil V3: Wake Up Bendis & Mack
Brian Bendis’ first Daredevil story was told with David Mack, and while it isn’t essential to his run with Alex Maleev that comes next, it is does have strong links to his spiritual finale; End of Days. This focuses on Ben Urich as he investigates a mystery and intermittently ‘interviews’ a young boy who only communicates in drawings. The art is very cerebral as some of the story is told through these drawing’s and Mack dream-like painted art style suits the book perfectly.
Daredevil V4: Underboss Bendis & Maleev
The first chapter in the Bendis-Maleev partnership sets the ball rolling for the next ten volumes. Sammy Silke comes to New York to work for the Kingpin and decides he wants to make a name for himself. When Wilson Fisk’s son Richard informs him that his father has known Daredevil’s identity for years, he tries to use this to his advantage, but things go rather badly.
Daredevil: Out
Daredevil V5: Out Bendis & Maleev
Matt Murdock is outed in the press as Daredevil, and as his life starts to spiral out of control. He faces an interesting moral dilemma of whether to uphold the values he defends as a lawyer and tell the truth or deny the allegations and sue for damages, all the while Foggy tries to convince him to walk away from his life as Daredevil. This gets too the core of what motivates Matt Murdock to risk his life and take the law into his own hands every day.
Daredevil V6: Lowlife Bendis & Maleev
The Kingpin is temporarily sidelined and The Owl becomes a growing concern in Hell’s Kitchen, dealing a new drug (MGH) which temporarily grants its users super powers. Owl tries some unconventional techniques and uses Daredevil’s exposed identity to his advantage, but the interesting part is how all this pushes Matt Murdock closer to the edge of sanity.
Daredevil: Hardcore
Daredevil V7: Hardcore Bendis & Maleev
The Kingpin returns to New York and quickly regains his power with the help of Typhoid Mary and Bullseye. Matt Murdock’s life is spiralling further out of control and this is the last straw for him, so he decides to take drastic measures to regain control of Hells Kitchen. Maleev’s art continues to be outstanding, but this cinematic story is particularly suited to his style.
Daredevil V9: King of Hell’s Kitchen Bendis & Maleev
After Bendis & Maleev return from a few months break, they pick up the story one year later with Daredevil in control of Hell’s Kitchen. On the surface things are looking up for Matt Murdock, but the cracks soon start to show as the Yakuza turn up and Daredevil’s superhero allies (Spider-Man, Luke Cage and Iron Fist) start to question his methods.
Daredevil: The Widow
Daredevil V10: The Widow Bendis & Maleev
As the life Matt Murdock has been so desperately trying to keep together starts falling apart around him, old friend (with benefits) Natasha Romanov turns up in need of Daredevil’s help. Even though he has his own stuff to deal with he can’t turn away a friend in need, and helping someone else with their problems turns out to be just what he needs to get some perspective.
Daredevil V11: Golden Age Bendis & Maleev
A former Kingpin that Daredevil put away during the early days of his career is released from prison after an extended sentence, and the first thing he wants is revenge on the man that put him there. Maleev brings old New York to life wonderfully as this story is mostly told in flashbacks to a bygone era (when Daredevil was decidedly more yellow). It’s a temporary but entertaining diversion from the bigger story Bendis is telling.
The Murdock Papers
Daredevil V12: Decalogue Bendis & Maleev
This story flashes back to the missing year that Bendis skipped between volumes 7 and 9, and is told from the perspective of people in a support group whose tales are all connected. It’s a really effective device that heightens the mystery and slowly builds the tension untl the final issue when it comes to a head.
Daredevil V13: The Murdock Papers Bendis & Maleev
The Kingpin makes a deal with the FBI and plays his final card to get the ultimate revenge on Matt Murdock, who is about to lose everything he’s been trying to hold onto since he was outed to the press. Wilson Fisk has proof of Daredevil’s secret identity hidden away, and the interested parties must race to the finish line. This is a fantastic final volume that brings all the big characters from DD history back into the spotlight, including fan favourite: Elektra. Bendis and Maleev close-out their run fantastic run, leaving Daredevil’s life in tatters.
This run can be collected in various ways; volumes 3 to 7 and 9 to 13 in trade paperback, three ‘ultimate’ trade paperback’s, volumes 2-6 in oversized hardcovers, or two omni’s which are currently out of print.
Daredevil: End of Days
Daredevil: End of Days Bendis, Janson, Sienkiewicz, Mack & Maleev
This all-star team of Daredevil creators throughout the years join forces to tell the final Daredevil story. Years in the making, this mini-series draws on elements of Daredevil’s history to show why the character is so important, and acts as a bookend to Bendis’ run with Alex Maleev, even though it was released several years later. This volume can be read at any time after finishing Bendis’ initial run on the character.
The story opens with Daredevil’s murder at the hands of Bullseye, then follows Ben Urich as he visits important people from Daredevil’s past in an attempt to understand the meaning behind Matt’s final words. As the tale goes on a new Daredevil emerges, and by the end we’re shown how these two mysteries are related. It’s a brilliantly told story that honours everything that came before and concludes the characters journey in a depressing, but fitting way.
This volume is currently only available in an oversized hardcover, but is due to be released in trade paperback in the near future.
Check out Frank Millers contributions to Daredevil in Part One of our reading list, and come back in a couple of days for Ed Brubaker’s and Mark Waid’s in Part Three.
You must be logged in to post a comment.