The Good
Chris Samnee and Mark Waid are at it again in issue #19of DAREDEVIL. Not only is it beautifully illustrated and well written, but it leaves us with quite the cliff-hanger. There are times when the cover of a comic book doesn't really have anything to do with the events that transpire in the issue itself. That is most certainly not the case here. In the latest issue of DAREDEVIL Matt Murdock will literally find himself decapitated; and if that's not enough to get you to go out and buy this issue then I don't know what is.
This story that has been molded by Waid is gradually beginning to unravel in a way that is nearly perfect. I think part of what makes this series so good is the pacing. For two or three issues we watched the build up as Foggy grew convinced that his former best friend Matt/Daredevil was losing his mind. We've watched the progression of the character and we've seen him evolve. All the while Matt has been in denial and has not understood what is happening to him. Waid sets up the story to feel like a domino effect; the way one thing gradually leads to another in a great wave. The result is a really well written, well thought out comic book not only about a character losing his mind, but also about the dissolution of a lifelong friendship.
I love the way that Waid takes a goofy character from Daredevil's rogues gallery and revamps him, too. I think that's important. In a sense he is modernizing the character by giving his own take on him; and the result is really great.
The Bad
Yet another awesome issue of Daredevil.
The Verdict
This entire series has been great, but this issue in particular was really enjoyable. Things are beginning to come together for Matt in this issue. He's finally beginning to understand the problems he's had in the last two or three issues of the series, and it's kind of crazy. Waid doesn't just tell a great story with really good pacing; he also takes a classic Marvel villain and turns him into this really threatening, really formidable adversary. It's definitely a great twist that I personally did not see coming. Once again, the art is stunning. I love the heavy inks that give this book a darker feel; it's definitely appropriate for this comic and really meshes well with the overall tone of Daredevil's character. This is a well written, edge-of-your-seat adventure that you will not want to miss. It is an issue that definitely left me wanting more.