Daredevil

Cover: 
 
Pretty cool.  The colors are well used as well... the only thing I'm not a big fan of is the fact that you cannot see his eyes.  Kinda wish his baton wasn't in the way. 
 
The Good: 
 
It has what all #1's should have.  A good introduction to the character without giving us a complete rehash, an actual moving plot to what the rest of the series will contain, and repercussions from previous series (I'm looking at you, Shadowland) are also discussed without dwelling in the past.  As a person who knows nothing about Daredevil, I felt like I had all of my questions answered and I understood the scope of the character.  Yet, I really want to keep reading and the way that Waid has written Murdock here has me really interested in the direction of the comic. 
  
The Bad: 
 
There wasn't really anything wrong with this issue, to be honest.  For some odd reason, however, I don't think it's deserving of a perfect rating; but there wasn't anything that really jumped out at me.  Maybe it was the fact that he kissed a bride, but that's not really that bad. 
 
Overall: 
 
A great beginning to a new series; I was very happy with the outcome and I'm looking forward to reading future issues.  I hope they keep the pace of this issue but deliver some really cool fights.  The villain here, though I've never heard of him until now, I thought was pretty cool. 
 
4/5

After all the insanity that has recently surrounded Daredevil, it's time to go back to basics for one of my first childhood favourites. 

The Good

As a kid, first getting comics, some of the very first comics I read were Frank Miller's run on Daredevil. Now anyone who has read this particular run, knows that it's a good one. Being exposed to such brilliant comics at such an age, I believe, has helped shape me into the literary freak I am today, not just for comics, but for all prose, be it novel, poem or magazine. 
 
That aside, I find it difficult to read Daredevil comics unless they're particularly brilliant in some way. I think to nail Daredevil, you have to nail a particularly distinct  style of not only writing but also in the art. Something which Frank Miller's run did, something which Bendis and Maleev's run achieved and something which I believe Waid and Rivera's new beginning to Daredevil is beginning to achieve.   
 
I could look at Rivera's work all day. It's beautifully simple and has an awesome nostalgic value to it, and not '80's nostalgic' and not 'Golden age nostalgic' which some artists try so hard to 're-create'. Rivera's old school vibe just comes so naturally and it's perfect, not only for this new series of Daredevil's tone, but also for conveying atmosphere and feelings. Most people see Daredevil as a 'darker' title, including me sometimes, but after the grim and gritty Shadowland, Daredevil needed a well deserved restart. A fresh new clean break, so this new 'lighter' feeling series is exactly what, not only what Daredevil needs, but also what the fans needed as well. There's only so much badness a guy can take. 
 
This issue is exactly what a number one issue should be. Any body can pick this up, comic book regular or comic book virgin. It's uncomplicated, fills you in on Daredevil's origin and recent story line's, which in turn explains Daredevil/Matt's current status but doesn't take up hardly any page time at all. This is all thanks to writer Mark Waid, who successfully brings a new start for DD, introduces a potential new love interest, new problems for Matt Murdock's career and social life plus a reason to come back next issue. 
 
Plus there's a lovely little back up story which centers on dialogue between Matt and Foggy with a sad and poignant message which is again, very new reader friendly and adds a new dimension to DD's origin and character.   
 
Double plus, it has an awesome opening at a wedding with a visit from a formidable Spot.

The Bad 

The way that Daredevil was exposed as Matt Murdock last series is swept under the carpet as 'it's alright because no one believed it anyway', which seems mighty unrealistic. How would anyone be able to live a normal life and go to work again if they were exposed as a superhero? I know, I know, this is a key plot point to the book but why is Matt being so naive in thinking that people will just believe him when he says 'hey, I'm not Daredevil, I be blind!' even when it was nationally exposed that he was Daredevil? 
 
Also, Daredevil's actions during Shadowland aren't brought up by anyone. Surely this is quite important as people believe Matt to be DD, so surely Daredevil killing people would be used against him in court, by civilians and by other lawyers. It's not as if Shadowland was exactly kept a secret, people knew this was happening, even if it was publicly revealed he was possessed, many would still be afraid and distrustful. 
 
But I do appreciate how Waid was trying to make a fresh start with DD and not  concentrate too much on his past, that was handled in Daredevil: Reborn and we don't need that in this book.
   
The Verdict 
An excellent start to a landmark DD ish. A great jumping on point and new start for those who regularly keep up with comics. Excellent art and handling of timing and story, pick this issue up, maybe two, who knows how much this issue may be worth in a good, saaaaaay 50 years...  
 
And of course this is Daredevil, so Elektra, Bullseye and Kingpin HAVE to appear sooner or later, and seeing this creative team tackle these characters is gonna be super exciting.
 
Here's to a new era in Daredevil history.

Daredevil, the second of Marvel's new Big Shots Initiative, launches with this first issue and differs quite a bit from its preceding Big Shot, Moon Knight. Rather than presenting a new spin on the lead character, Mark Waid takes Daredevil back to basics without ignoring what has happened in recent years. Simply put, Waid just does Daredevil right. 
 
Waid had me less than enthused about his Daredevil relaunch with his talk about getting the character back to his fun, swashbuckling nature. It is not that I think Daredevil should forever be buried in the grim and gritty crime noir atmosphere that characterized Brian Michael Bendis' and Ed Brubaker's excellent runs. Change can often be good. But the idea of shifting far away from that tone left the idea in my head that Daredevil would risk becoming more of a generic superhero, losing a lot of his unique appeal. 
 
This does not happen here. As I said, Waid does Daredevil right. This does not feel like the previous runs by Bendis and Brubaker, but it is distinctly Daredevil. Waid simply reshuffles the characteristics of the character, putting the soul-crushing noir aspect in the back and bringing the lawyer, blind man and adventurer aspects to the forefront. Matt Murdock's career as a lawyer is a major factor in this story, which is refreshing since it feels like we rarely see Matt doing his job. Under Waid and the art team, Matt is also actually blind. That seems like a silly thing to point out, but one of my regular criticisms of Andy Diggle's Daredevil stories was how Matt was not written or drawn as a blind man. In this issue, the writers and artists actually take special care to portray Matt's blindness. It is there in the action scenes and in the internal narration. Matt is not making freaking eye contact with the people he talks to. It's refreshing. 
 
Despite being a new start, there is baggage left over from Daredevil's previous series that Waid has to address, specifically Shadowland and Matt Murdock being outed as Daredevil. Waid tackles these matters in a dismissive fashion, and honestly, it works. Matt's conscious decision to go into denial about the hell his life had gone through even though no one else wishes to do the same does present a compelling new dynamic with Foggy Nelson and other superheroes. Waid's decision to treat Matt's identity as something that has had its fifteen minutes of controversy come and go is also smart, because it's true. Matt Murdock as Daredevil was a hot but ultimately unsubstantiated media story that could only last so long. Matt denied it was true, and Daredevil sightings continued even when he was in prison. The idea that the media would now be over it and that most people either don't care or don't believe it is a simple and believable way to handle the situation. Waid also does not sweep this under the rug, because a lot of this issue deals with people who either still think he's Daredevil or want to exploit the rumor for their own benefit. 
 
Rather than the Hand or the Kingpin, this issue gives us the Spot. It is actually very awesome. The action scene between Daredevil and Spot is very well done, making Spot out to be a very credible and interesting threat. There is an amazing panel by Paolo Rivera showing how Daredevil perceives Spot too that is one of the best parts of the issue. 
 
Daredevil's new swashbuckling, energetic behavior does push the limits at points, but part of that is the fault of just how dark the character has been written lately. Waid could stand to ease back on it a little in future issues, but it is nothing that really takes away from this one and is refreshing in its way. 
 
This is a great new start for Daredevil that really helps you forget how bad his previous series ended with Shadowland. Waid's new direction for the character is definitely different from what we are used to, but it is not a dramatic departure from who Daredevil is. This is exactly what the character needs to get back on track.

Daredevil hasn't been himself for a while.  The amount of times Matt Murdock has veritably been screwed over is reaching a Peter Parker level of ridiculous at this point, and this DD fan was sick of it.  Yep, I haven't read a new comic from one of my favorite characters in some time, mainly because I don't feel like he's been the character who made me fall in love with comics in just about forever. 
 
After reading Mark Waid's first issue of this new Daredevil series, I can say that Matt Murdock is still a very different character than he once was.  But somehow, this time that makes this new Daredevil even more compelling. 

 Back in a New York Groove 

Daredevil #1 has DD back in New York.  Through crashing a mafia wedding (both busting Spot from kidnapping the young daughter of one family and also stealing a kiss from the bride) we see a much brasher Matt Murdock.  He's more confident, he's more carefree.  Despite this new attitude, the past actions of DD still linger and Murdock finds it difficult to return to business as usual.  Intrigue arises from his current case, and we get the initial set-up for what  this new series is going to be about.  There's also a thoroughly enjoyable "second tale" that has Foggy and Matt just conversing, which gives a nice little weight to this inaugural issue. 

 Justice is Blind.  Not Mute. 

Both tales are penned by veteran of the veterans, Mark Waid.  Waid is undoubtedly a pro, and the stream of consciousness that he uses to carry the weight of the story is one that feels both inherently familiar and brand new.  It feels noir, but with the way that Waid writes DD as much more brash puts a nice spin on the proceedings.  What really anchored me to the whole thing was the artwork by a pair of incredibly talented artists.  Paolo Rivera shows the world that DD inhabits in ways I've never seen it before.  The amount of unique paneling and uses of silhouettes and implied figures not only gives the idea of how DD might view the world, but also gives it a very post-modern art house feel.  It's bizarre.  It's also impossible to take one's eyes off of.  The "second tale" is illustrated by Marcos Martin, and whilst there's no action to speak of, really, Martin is ace.  I've said how much I love his art in prior reviews, but I can't say it enough.  He's one of the best artists out there. 
 
For all these positives, however, I did have problems with this issue.  A few substantial ones, actually (though some may stem from being a DD fanboy).  I said that Waid's new vision of how Matt Murdock should be is compelling and refreshing, but at the same time I fear he may be losing some of what made the character likable.  In trying to give him a "cooler" and more... how shall I say this... of an edge(?), Waid may have made Matt a dick.  He seems a little like Oliver Queen without the charm or moustache.  I'll obviously wait to see where the book goes, but this, and the fact that the main impetus of the story seemed to be people telling Matt, "Hey, you're Daredevil" and Matt saying "Nope", I'm a little concerned for what the solution of it all is going to be.  Of course, that's why we read the books... 

 Here's to the future. 

Despite those gripes, I thoroughly enjoyed both features of Daredevil #1.  Waid may be making Daredevil his own, and though that can be alarming, it's also very exciting.  This is a well written comic with extremely beautiful artwork.  What more can you ask for?  If you've got the cash in your wallet and are looking for a brand new series to jump into, get on the Murdock express. DD should be a heck of a ride. 
 
Daredevil #1 gets 4 stars out of 5.

I have never read a Daredevil comic. In fact, the only things I know from him come from the Ben Affleck movie and his appearances in Spider-Man books. Daredevil #1 seemed like a great opportunity to jump in and see what all the fuss is about. Guess what: the fuss is pretty awesome.

All I know about Daredevil's previous series was that it was depressingly dark and Mark Waid has decided to go in a different direction. This is a man who has dealt with extreme circumstances and a choice on how to let that affect his life. Seems that Murdock chose to try and look at it with as positive a spin as he can.

Matt's return to law seems to be filled with difficulty. His job is near impossible to do now that he's been outed as Daredevil, despite his denials that he is the costumed vigilante. His return also seems to be trouble, but that's this issue's cliffhanger, so I won't spoil much more there.

The real beauty of this book is the opening wedding sequence/battle. It's just light-hearted enough and fun to set the tone for Waid's Daredevil and it's just awesome to see him fight The Spot. Finishing it off with a ballsy kiss to the bride only emphasizes that Daredevil really is the Man Without Fear. A lot of readers have been expressing concern that his new, carefree attitude doesn't fit the character, but there's a fine line between being carefree/fearless and seeking danger. Perhaps Waid will explore how Daredevil toes that line between fearless and reckless.

Back to the wedding for a second, the headline/photo title drop after that sequence is my favorite part of the book.

In that vein, all of the art in this book is phenomenal. The cover emphasizes Daredevil's blindness. His clubs cover his eyes and every surface is represented by sound onomatopoeia. Within the pages of the book it feels like there's a higher-than-normal (but not so much that it's distracting) appearance of onomatopoeia as well. The panels rendered in Daredevil's radar vision are also a nice touch, particularly the one that showed us how Matt "sees" The Spot.

I'm sold on this title with #1 and I can't wait for #2 to hit shelves next month.

Matt Murdock's back in the saddle with a new lease on life. And he's gonna need it to face all the new problems coming his way. 
 
The Good 
Mark Waid was the last guy I expected to write Daredevil. He's a great writer and responsible for one of my favorite comics of all time in Kingdom Come, but I've always associated him with brighter, happier characters. My fear was that without his pathos and brooding Matt would simply be Spider-Man in a devil suit. As I read this issue Matt's optimistic aura was quite odd and had me worrying that my worst fears had been confirmed. But I must admit that I was a fool to have doubted Waid, because he more than gets that darkness that lies at the core of the character. The backup feature with Marcos Martin starts even more lighthearted than the main story but crescendos at a moment of deep gravitas as Matt has a heart to heart with Foggy. As I read the final page this entire issue came into perspective. The psych major in me definitely sees what Waid is doing here and is wide open to this new depiction.   
 
This is an absolutely gorgeous book!!! Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin respectively turn in some superb artwork in this issue. Rivera show's how Matt perceives the world in a rather novel manner and uses some really interesting layouts to convey a true sense of Matt's motion. Not to be outdone, Martin has his own equally engaging way of displaying Matt's P.O.V. and the way he conveys character motion in the backup feature's a real treat.  
 
Waid promises to introduce new villains and new match ups with old villains that we've never seen before. He gives us a peak at what he has in store when Matt faces off against the Spot. Spot was always one of my favorite villains from the 90's Spidey toon and it was nice to see him pop up again in a major comic.  
 
I can't say enough how great the backup feature in this book is! Waid has a perfect handle on the relationship of Matt and Foggy. He writes these two like blood brothers that have been through the lowest of lows with one another and are still prepared to face the coming storm with each other.  
  
Humor (aside from Bullseye's darker brand) is a word I've never been able to associate with Daredevil, but Waid writes a truly fun and funny book without making Matt Murdock into Peter Parker.  
 
The newest addition to Matt's supporting cast, Assistant D.A. Kirsten McDuffie definitely looks promising and I look forward to see how builds her individual character and her relationship to Matt.   
 
Matt's identity more or less being public knowledge opens up a whole avenue of story paths that I can't wait to see Waid explore. 
 
Waid doesn't directly address the event that shall not be named but he doesn't skirt around it either. Nobody has amnesia about what Matt's done int he recent past. In fact, the way this issue ends it's a safe bet to say he plans on addressing broaching this conversation next issue. This officially makes he and Tony Stark among the few Marvel Characters with any accountability for their actions.  

The Bad 
Seeing Daredevil operate in the daylight and smile so much was odd and is going to take a little getting used to. I was raised on Miller's Devil and all the subsequent runs that took their cue from his iconic tenure. If you're like me this, characterization may take a little getting used to at first. This is a devil that's more swashbuckling than brooding.   
 
The Verdict 
I'm a huge fan of Daredevil but I never read an ongoing until the tail end of Diggle's run. I was really impressed and looked forward to Shadow Land...and then of course we all know how that turned out. Ever since then I've been a bit gun shy about reading anything with Daredevil in the title but I'm glad I took a risk on this title because I couldn't be happier with it. Mark Waid is simultaneously returning Matt to his proper place in the Marvel U and moving the character forward and I for one plan on traveling down this new and exciting road until the end. This cover perfectly sums of the new direction of this title. Matt may have a smile on his face, but it's the eyes that are truly the window to the soul and Mark Waid has every intention of taking us deep into them. It was really jarring to see Matt so, well, happy this issue. But the more I think about it with the terrible life the guy's had (especially in the last few years) I think the guy more than deserves a smile. 

The restarting of Daredevil captured this new comic reader, by having a good mix of new things or at least establishing where he is and where he was.  It also does a great job with showing how he uses his powers and what his character is all about.  
  
Like Captain America #1 last week, this book is great for a new reader to just pick it up and read without having to worry about knowing all the past for the character.  Anything from that past that's referenced is explained enough to have the reader keep up and not subtract from the main story.
 
The beginning with the MOB wedding was great and I liked the scene that landed him on the cover of the Daily Bugle...  The end of the issue leads into the next one of course and I am definitely  looking forward to it.  
 
I went into this issue knowing very little about the Daredevil character and left liking the character and feeling informed..   which is how a new #1 should be and a great way to get new readers.

I was excited and worried about Daredevil #1,but it was actually a good start and really was a great story. I like how they were bring in new villians and The Spot was a good choice because he was challenging and was cool to see how he looked through Daredevil's eyes. I glad Matt is back and seeing how he's adjusting back in New York and seeing him being Daredevil. I like how its going and can't wait to read more. Overall i'm giving it a 4/5 because it showed Matt trying to get to help people, looking foward and fighting new villians who come his way, plus has short story with Matt and Foggy, but overall a great start for Daredevil.

I've been anxious for "Daredevil" #1 since hearing an interview with writer Mark Waid about his new direction for the character. Well the issue is finally in my hands and after reading it, it's hard not to smile. There's so much to like about this issue and if this creative team can continue to churn out this kind of high quality fun, there's plenty to look forward to. 

Mark Waid has said that he has new plans for Daredevil and that's very evident in this first issue. For several years the Daredevil books have been all about dark, dreary stories surrounding a moody and tortured soul. We've basically seen Matt Murdock ran through the proverbial emotional ringer and each new creative team seemed to heap more and more onto the character. Even the artwork on the title was constantly dark and gloomy. Waid is going in a new direction, instead focusing on a brighter side of life. I found this extremely refreshing. He's still going to be fighting crime and he's still "The Man Without Fear". But we're going to get to see Daredevil through a different lens. 

This issue clearly sets the newer and fresher tone. We get to see Matt's new attitude and new approach to life. It feels strange, almost like a setup before a huge fall. But that's mainly due to dark cloud that's loomed over the character for years now. We also get a cool opening sequence where Daredevil tangles with The Spot (YES! The Spot), a fantastic courtroom sequence, and a great rooftop conversation between Matt and Kirsten McDuffie, the new assistant D.A. Then the issue wraps up with a separate short feature that serves as an introduction of sorts to the Matt Murdock character as well as a look at what it's like to walk in his shoes and possess his powers. It's a great short story that stands strong on it's own. 

When I first thumbed through the issue I found the art to be bland and underwhelming. But after sitting down and reading the issue, Paolo Rivera's art is a perfect compliment to Mark Waid's new tone. In fact, I loved the look of this book. Rivera's pencils and Javier Rodriguez's vibrant colors are such a breath of fresh air.The book has a crisp, clean look that perfectly mixes old school art style with a modern uniqueness. Simply put, it's fantastic. 

It's hard to ask for much more from this issue. What a wonderful way to jump into a new chapter of this great character. If you haven't read Daredevil this is a perfect issue to start with. This creative team has set the table and it's hard not to be giddy over the potential for greatness. I for one can't wait to see where Mark Waid is going to take us.

Here comes....

DAREDEVIL #1!"

 

And indeed it did, and it did a fine job of establishing what Matt Murdock has come back to, and just what we can expect from Mark Waid in terms of storytelling, character development, awesome fighting, etc.

 

The first page is an average first page of a comic. A retelling of his origins and a shot of him flipping through the air, along with mini-panels with the origin (that's best I can describe it).

 

It starts off with Daredevil "looking" at this beautiful masterpiece of a building. The captions here is something I consider a highlight of the comic.

 

Basically, Daredevil describe the beauty of the piece of architecture. And it ends with "I'll bet it is a beautiful sight. I wouldn't know".

 

To me, right there, that was brilliant. I can't really explain why it was, other than saying that I feel like it captures a certain (albeit expected) reluctance of Matt Murdocks. That's the best way I can think of to describe it.

 

Now, the reason for Matt being here is established: "I'm crashing the wedding uniting two of New York's bigger crime families because there's a rumor in the wind that a hit is planned."

 

 

 

On this panel a small black hole is boldly circled to grab our attention. At first, I thought it was just a little gutter hole or something.  
 
 
 
 
BUT THEN.... 
 
 
"The Spot. Dumb name. Disturbing power." 
 

That guy happened. What follows next is an awesome display of Daredevil ducking and weaving through the crowded Mod wedding, whilst deflecting The Spot's attacks and protecting the Mob daughter, who The Spot was trying to kidnap. Mark Waid does a great job at displaying the range of Matt's talent with his radar sense. He ducks and weaves through the crowd, with the Mob's daughter in one hand and deflecting The Spot in the other, and manages to pick out the traitor that The Spot was working for by "pulling a blind man's bluff and listening for the spike of a heartbeart." Or.. something like that.It works. Honestly I'm still not sure what pointing that out did, but it DOES give us an awesome, brutal killing.The Spot opens a portal on the mans chest, sticks his arms out and reaches over, snapping the guys neck.Which I thought was really cool.

 

   

And then, suave Matt Murdock makes a bold... daring move... 

 
 
 
Which also happens to be incredibly awesome. 
 

Right after this, Daredevil gets pulled into The Spot's teleportation hole.The caption here is something I think does really well showing off the HERO in Matt Murdock.

 

"What the hell am I dealing with? I could just let go and run.

.... Yeah. RIGHT."

 

And then it cuts to a newspaper, displaying that Daredevil saved the day and showing how he beat Spot: tangling up in Daredevils signature weapon. 

 

Oh yeah, before I forget. The artwork? REALLY GOOD.

 

Anyway, the way it cut off to the newspaper, I don't really like. I'd much rather have seen a further awesome fight between Daredevil and The Spot.  What follows next shows Matt Murdock and what he goes through now that he's been outed as Daredevil. Of course, he denies it, but the harrasment causes him to be kicked off of a case and hassled by reporters.

 

"A while back. I got outed as Daredevil in the tabloid press. Turns out, in an era of Internet surveillance, Homeland Security, and DNA analysis, secret identies are BITCH to maintain." 

 

Matt is then approached by Kirsten McDuffie, the new assistant D.A. Who, of course, hassles him about being Daredevil.Waid does a great job with Matt pretending that he's not Dardevil (witty remarks about it, being taken by surprise when she threw something at him, etc)But he finds out something interesting: That no one else wants his clients case and he sets off to find out why.Cut to Daredevil flipping around the city (or whatever), analyzing the information he currently has, right before he notices that someone is aiming a very big gun at him.The guy fires it and Daredevil makes it out to be anti-radar chaff, practically blinding him, which gives Daredevil the clue that whoever it is, knows him.Daredevil just barely makes out that an object is flying at him, and then the page turns and we see that it's Captain America's shield, but Daredevil can't make it out, so the cliffhanger leaves us with Daredevil 'bout to get knocked da fuck out.

 

And as an added bonus, there's an extra little story at the end, which is basically giving cool character development between Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson. We find out Daredevil can play a violin so well it makes homeless people applaud and that he hates Foggy eating microwavable popcorn all the time.All in all, I give it an 8 out of ten, and I'm definitely hooked.

 

Right, so there is my review. It's probably awful, it is my first review after all. Hope you enjoyed it. 

Matt Murdock is back in a brand new #1 issue written by comic book scribe Mark Waid and drawn by Paolo Manuel Rivera. In this newly launched title, Murdock is trying to get his life back together after being outed as Daredevil, then concocting a scheme to keep people guessing. It's been a hard few years for the man without fear, but his new attitude is to take it one day at a time and do the best he can. Even if that means dealing with other lawyers using his dual life against him and a highly skilled military team trying to get the jump on him.

Daredevil #1 might be one of the coolest relaunches I've read in quite some time. TheCaptain America #1 relaunch was incredible, and now Waid's take on the man without fear has me even more excited. The opening sequence where Murdock tries to stop The Spot from using his dimensional portals to kidnap the daughter of a mob boss at a wedding was incredible. Not only was the story top notch, but Rivera's use of paneling made it a whole different kind of beast this past week in comics. The expression of movement and agility were so well conveyed that I nearly thought I was watching a TV show instead of reading a comic book.

The use of Daredevil's radar sense was also an interesting take. It used grids and varying lines for sounds to show how he "sees" the world. There was even a wonderful short story at the end that just showed Murdock and Foggy walking through New York City and experiencing it through the eyes of a radar-sensed blind man.

Daredevil has been a character that I've always liked, but felt that he wasn't really being taken in any good direction. Waid has given Murdock a new outlook on life and it seems to be transferring well to the page. I can't wait to pick up the next issue of this series and I hope that it goes on for at least fifty issues.

Daredevil #1 is my favorite comic of 2011 so far. Nostalgic yet refreshingly outstanding. A story and art that are extra fresh. And if Shadowland is never mentioned again or "glossed over" it won't be soon enough.
 
Instead of just having DD act "out of character" I appreciate the subtle "why" for his new attitude. It actually makes sense. Big Ol' Smooch on a Mafia Princess and all.

Coming into this issue I can honestly say I had never read a single issue of any Daredevil comic, but after reading this I am definatly going to go get as much Daredevil as I can.  The story deals with the return of Matt Murdock  to New York after the events of Shadowland and Daredevil: Reborn (Both of which I'm not very familiar with, I've just read the snyopsis of each) and involves Dardevil crashing a wedding, fighting The Spot, and kissing the bride of said wedding.  I've heard that Brubaker and Bendis' runs on the character were very dark and depressing, but that mood is no where to be found in this issue.  The atmosphere that Waid brings is very lighthearted and smooth, exactly the type of comic I needed, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.  Although the writing is great, the art in this issue is just incredible.  The team of Martin and Rivera really brought their A games to this issue.  I thought the way they show how Matt "sees" things through the use of words to describe the sounds was genius.  This a great start to the series, and after reading it I definatly can say I'm going to check out more Dardevil.

When I started reading Daredevil, it was actually fairly recently. I went back, and started reading the Bendis/Maleev run, and read through the Brubaker/Lark run, to the most recent Shadowland storyline. I dropped off right before Shadowland, but before that, I absolutely loved the Bendis and Brubaker runs. It wasn’t really a superhero book, but rather a crime story, that was so dark, and it just never let up on piling onto Matt. The art was gorgeous, and I think it was the best work that either Alex Maleev or Michael Lark has done to date. However, I sort of dropped off after they left, and didn’t read Shadowland, so I was eager to get into a Daredevil book again.

   
The rest of my review can be found here: 
 
http://joawmeens.hubpages.com/hub/Daredevil-issue-1-review-I-didnt-see-that-coming

After deciding for months if i was going to pick up this tittle, finally after knowing that one of my favorite tittles is ending soon (Why Herc!? Why!?) and some disappointing new tittles from the new 52 that i decided to drop (might review them soon since i prefer to review good comics yet for bad ones are needed to make people avoid the crappy stuff) I decided to give Mark Waid the chance to read his all new daredevil tittle and I'm glad I picked it up.

This is a much brighter daredevil for sure. I always though that daredevil was a very serious and yet a total loner. But like all great heroes whose lives have sucked for a long time, they can go back to just be superheroes again (even if he still has to deal with some problems like people thinking that he is daredevil and won't leave him alone about it). And now after a great first quarter of the book which involves a lot of daredevil kicking the butt of out a old spider-man villain we can see Matt going back to NY as he returns to his duties as a lawyer yet his identity being revealed doesn't help him at all and now he has to investigate why his case isn't going as he expected but he ends up being attacked by a enemy that knows him (and even blocks his radar senses) and attacks him with a very famous red white and blue shield.

The Good

The most important one of all......New Reader Friendly! yes! this is how you do it DC! (Not criticizing all of the new tittles mind you) This book is perfect for anyone who got interested in the awesome character that is daredevil heck! i didn't even read reborn and i still get everything. Everything involving shadowland and other story arcs did happen yet they aren't a problem here and it's so well written I believe anyone new can just pick it up and enjoy. Mark Waid.......you made this comic pure win! It has everything you need for a great first issue:

1) No need to worry about continuity since it's written well enough for people to say "so daredevil left for a while...okay good enough for me to understand" and it even tells the entire origin plain and simple and effectively in the first page! some of the tittles of the new DC needed to do a issue like this to make the reboot work (and also to avoid alienating older readers) This is not a rant against DC but like I said, this is what some of the books needed

2) Tells about the character and his motivations, the supporting cast and a very interesting story

3) Great artwork as it fits the tittle pretty nicely and it feels like if you are reading a retro daredevil tittle

4) Action! superhero comics are still superhero comics which need dynamic action and daredevil v.s the spot was great (and had a funny ending)

5) Makes you want to read more.....thankfully by now there are two more issues out and I'm going to hunt them down like a hungry predator

Verdict: 5/5

What can I say? this is a great tittle and has everything needed in a first issue also is a great read and this is the first comic I collect from mark waid and I'm glad I did (before i would only get trades). Go and pick it up, no need to worry about continuity and all, you won't regret it

Daredevil is back in town and his first mission is to stop The Spot from kidnapping a girl from a mob wedding.He is back on the track and kicks ass and that isn't the only thing he does,he even kisses the bride because of her nice perfume.We have great writing and good artwork from Paolo Rivera.We see him making jokes and doing interesting stuff and the end is a cliff hanger that makes you to want to buy the next issue.Things look like Shadowland never happened and Matt makes everybody to forget that he is Daredevil but it ain't so easy.