Comic Book Reviews: DAREDEVIL # 2 (Vol. 3)

Written by Mark WaidPencils by Paulo RiveraPublished by MarvelIn stores now! DC could learn a lot from Marvel's new approach to handling old hornhead, as this new series manages to act as a clean slate for the character without disrespecting- or retconning- any of the character's established history. Come September, when DC effectively reboot their entire universe, they will inevitably have a number of angry fans who resent the changes made to their favourite characters. However, as this book proves, it is possible to start afresh and reach new readers without the need to magically undo everything. Editor Stephen Wacker knew that Daredevil was in a rut- both as a character and as a franchise (even if Wacker's own Shadowland series is guilty of causing said rut)- so he turned to Mark Waid, who quickly swung in with his own set of billy clubs (a couple of writing pens attached by string, probably) to save the day. The pair worked closely together back when they were both at DC, and that past relationship is evident here. Wacker clearly trusts Waid unquestionably, and it pays off. There is a boldness to this book, a blazing display of bravura, that could only be matched by Daredevil himself. Waid clearly has fun making Daredevil a swashbuckling adventurer again, pitting him against goofy super-villains and even Captain America himself, yet this lightness of tone never detracts from the intense focus on character or the street-level view that made this book so unique for so many years. It's a careful balancing act, but Waid walks this tightrope as smoothly as hornhead himself would. He's helped immensely by artist Paulo Rivera, who adds a sense of grace and wonder to Daredevil's actions that was almost completely lacking in the last volume of stories. The Bendis and Brubaker era of stories, as excellent as they were, had arguably robbed the character of some of his heroism- under this new team DD gets to swing again, and Rivera revels in every little movement. This take on the blind crime-fighter is wholly refreshing and yet somehow feels perfectly in line with everything that came before. Sure, Matt's world is brighter (and he himself happier) then it has been in a long, long time, but this is still Matt Murdock- warts and all- he's just finding a new way to deal with things. Whether Matt's new mindset proves to be entirely healthy or not remains to be seen, but for now we have a Daredevil who is, for the first time in years, truly The Man Without Fear.