With another beautiful issue in the bag, the Waid and Martin team prove once again that 'Daredevil' is most definitely a book you don't want to miss out on.
The Good
There is so much good in this issue; but what really stands out is the way that Marcos Martin helps to tell the story through his art. The last three issues have been illustrated by Paolo Rivera, but Martin's style is similar enough (yet uniquely his own) that you will enjoy his work on issue 4 just as much. The abstract panels help give the reader the perspective of how Matt Murdock sees the world; which for a blind superhero is very different than what we are used to. What we get are clues into the way Murdock uses all four of his other senses to grasp his surroundings. The result? The reader is given clues into the way the hero perceives his surroundings. Martin walks us through what Matt feels, smells, and what he has to do in order to get himself out of a sticky mess. Not only is Martin's panel arrangement beautiful, the clues he provides through his art is essential to the story being told. It's totally different from a lot of books out in the market right now, and that's what makes it so good.
The fourth issue draws away from Matt as Daredevil (even though the opening scene shows him in costume) and focuses more on what Matt is doing in his professional life now that he can no longer work as an attorney/defend his clients in court. Here we have an issue almost entirely dedicated to the way that Matt and Foggy have worked together to help people help themselves. The reader gains an understanding of how consulting works, and you get the impression that Matt and Foggy are doing more for their community (which is rigidly controlled by the mob) by helping these poor, helpless people defend themselves, rather than representing them as their attorneys. By teaching the victims to defend themselves in court, these poor people are standing their ground and standing up to the mob; in essence this is better than having a hero run around and do all the work. Matt is rejuvenating the community. This is a really great idea, and the story that Mark Waid is telling is not only interesting and different, but it's a lot of fun. The pacing for the most part is great, and the last scene in the book will have you at the edge of your seat.
The Bad
My only real complaint is the fact that the beginning of the issue felt disconnected from the rest of the story. Where we left off in issue #3 is not where we pick up in issue #4. We don't quite get an understanding of why Daredevil is in costume at the start of the issue, and even though the start is interesting and kicks off with a "bang," it doesn't really make sense to the rest of what happens in the issue. It felt like the writer needed a way to start the story with a "punch," but couldn't connect it with the rest of the story. Overall, however it doesn't really matter that this scene feels disconnected because it still helps to introduce Daredevil and his abilities to new readers in an entertaining way.
The Verdict
This is definitely another solid issue of Daredevil. Of all the Marvel books out right now, this one is not only one of the more interesting and entertaining of the bunch, it's also one of the most different. The creative team takes full advantage of storytelling through art and obscure panels. They delve into the superhero's alter-ego and tell an interesting story. This is very accessible to new readers and still feels like we are starting over with the character. The issue ends on a cliff hanger leaving the reader wondering whether the case Murdock has recently agreed to take on might be more than he can handle. I definitely recommend picking up this issue.