Marvel's Daredevil: 10 Reasons It's The Best Comic Book Show Ever
The Man Without Fear has a compelling case.
Marvel's Daredevil, the first of four 13-episode television series' that The House Of Ideas is producing with Netflix, hit the world this past Friday like one of ol' Hornhead's trusty billy clubs to a mugger's face. That is to say, it hit hard.
The internet and social media were set ablaze almost instantly, with the vast majority of viewers being caught off-guard by just how good the series was. In fact, it wasn't only good; it was great, and fans have been hungrily devouring each episode with glee.
While it certainly helped that Daredevil had some level of name recognition to the general public, thanks to (or perhaps, in spite of) the much-maligned 2003 movie starring Ben Affleck, the series makes every effort to differentiate itself from that interpretation.
This vision of The Man Without Fear is tied in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in a completely unique way. The show is dark, gritty and aimed squarely at adults; a far cry from the excellent, but mostly family-friendly fare that Marvel has served up so far. And it's a triumph.
Whenever the credits roll on episode 13 of Daredevil, chances are that most viewers will recognize it as an extremely good superhero adaptation. This article, however, will make the case that there has never been a better comic book show on TV, with this modern masterpiece eclipsing even the likes of Arrow, The Flash and The Walking Dead.
10. Charlie Cox Is Perfect As Matt Murdock/Daredevil
Marvel has an almost perfect batting average when it comes to the casting of their Cinematic Universe. Who could imagine anyone other than Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and who could fill Chris Hemsworth's shoes as Thor as well?
Charlie Cox can now be added to that list of spot-on casting decisions, as his Matt Murdock is sublime. Mostly known for his lead role in Matthew Vaughn's Stardust, or his turn as Steve Buscemi's Northern Irish right-hand man in Boardwalk Empire, the 32 year old Londoner wouldn't have immediately sprung to mind for Daredevil.
But, to his and Marvel's credit, Cox brings just the right amount of vulnerability and charm to Murdock, and the requisite level of toughness and intimidation as his night-time alter-ego Daredevil (or The Devil Of Hell's Kitchen, as he is known throughout most of the series).
Cox's physical presence is excellent, with the actor packing on 20 pounds of muscle for the role, and he handles himself admirably in the crunching fight scenes. He is a fearsome presence, clad all in black as Daredevil, and never once do the audience not believe in his vigilante credentials. As Murdock, he brings a light touch to the moments when he is playing up his 'blind man' routine, but also nails the darker moments in the Church confessional.