Daredevil Cage Match: Guest Review by Simon Breeze

The title of this comic says it all, Cage Match. The story is a simple concept, who would win in a fight between the Man Without Fear - Daredevil - and the Hero for Hire - Luke Cage? The story very much reminds me of the end of the Rocky III movie, where Apollo and Rocky climb into the ring together for a friendly boxing match to prove who really is the best.

The story starts with Luke Cage and Daredevil patrolling the streets and alleyways of Hells Kitchen when Daredevil 'senses' a mugging a few blocks off. Being the faster of the two, he makes it to the crime scene first and takes out all but one of the muggers. This final and inexperienced mugger catches Daredevil off guard and pulls a gun on him, and whilst Daredevil starts to talk the nervous thug out of shooting him, Luke Cage arrives and intervenes by crushing the gun in the thugs hand as it fires - Cage believes he has saved Daredevil's life, while Daredevil himself sees things a little differently. The resulting disagreement between the two heroes ends with them agreeing to fight one-another for charity to see who really is the best. The rest of the story revolves around the fight that takes place between the two men at Fogwell's Gym, where there is more going on than there first appears.

I really like this One-Shot, cover to cover it is a really nice read. The cover is brilliant, and the first thing you encounter upon turning that front page is an old style boxing poster depicting the fight between Daredevil and Luke Cage, that sets the whole feel for the comic before you have even started to read it. Following that great poster, the story starts with the caption in the first panel 'Some time ago' which perfectly sums up this story to me. I couldn't help but feel a little nostalgia whilst reading it, it really did come across as a comic I would have read years ago, unburdened by years of Marvel universe and Daredevil continuity it just flows off the page like a comic from the past.

There-in lies the crux of this One-Shot, because of the way the comic reads and is styled it is a victim of its own brilliance. What do I mean by this? Simply that you pick it up, read it, love it, put it down and forget about it. For me, that is the perfect One-Shot, and it is what I believe they're designed to be: a 'fire and forget'. For people who might be looking for a longer lasting resonance from the comic once they have put it down, you could be a little disappointed with what this story has to offer.

For me however, this is a brilliant One-Shot, and I give it a solid four out of five.

Daredevil Cage Match
Written by Antony Johnston, pencils by Sean Chen, inks by Sandu Florea, colours by Matt Hollingsworth, VC's Joe Caramagna, cover by Ed McGuinness
Published by Marvel Comics, May 2010, $2.99

Out Today - Daredevil #504

Out today, issue #504 of Daredevil.

The first story arc from the creative team of Andy Diggle (Thunderbolts) and Roberto De La Torre (Iron Man) reaches its shattering climax.

Backed-up by the ruthlessly loyal ninja army known as The Hand, Daredevil declares war on a murderous cadre of dirty NYPD cops - and Hell's Kitchen is the battleground!

But can Foggy Nelson and Dakota North find out who's really behind the recent spiral of violence before the city burns?

Source: Marvel






Comic Book Resources have published a number of preview pages from the issue.

Always a good read, I don't think I've ever enjoyed this book more than I am at the moment.

Daredevil #504
Written by Andy Diggle, art by Roberto De La Torre, cover by Esad Ribic
Published by Marvel Comics, $2.99

Daredevil #503 Reviewed

One of the remarkable things about the Daredevil title is that, no matter who's writing it, no matter who's drawing it, it's always top, top quality. I'd been enjoying the Ed Brubaker run since it began and I have to admit to being a little ... apprehensive ... about a change of writer. Certainly I don't mean any disrespect towards Andy Diggle, afterall, I felt the same when Brubaker took over from Brian Michael Bendis.

Of course I needn't have worried and, while I'm not saying the book has got better since Diggle took on the writing duties, I do think the character and the overall story have benefitted from the 'refresh' - and of course that's why creators don't stay on the same book forever isn't it!

Featuring a 'cast' that includes The Kingpin, The Hand, Black Tarantula, White Tiger along with Lady Bullseye - a character I'm enjoying more and more - this first story-arc from the new creative team continues apace ...

It’s blood, sweat, and brutal truths as the new creative team of Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre continue their first breathtaking story arc! While the Kingpin secretly builds his power base, Daredevil and Master Izo collide violently over the future of the guild of assassins known as The Hand, and Foggy fears the Matt Murdock he once knew may be gone for good.

Source: Marvel

I can't recommend this book too highly: aside from the quality of the writing Roberto De La Torre and 'guest artist' Marco Checchetto's atmospheric, gritty interior art is complemented and enhanced by Matt Hollingsworth's bold and yet sympathetic colouring.

Daredevil continues to be in safe - strong - hands.

Daredevil #503
Written by Andy Diggle
Art by Roberto De La Torre, Marco Checchetto, Matt Hollingsworth, Joe Caramagna
Cover by Esad Ribic
Published by Marvel Comics, 16 December 2009, $2.99

Over at Newsarama readers can enjoy a seven page preview of Daredevil #503 via the Newsarama Comic Viewer.

Highlights From This Weeks New Releases

Finding a single highlight from this weeks new releases has been difficult so I've selected a few titles to highlight this week rather than just the one.

Daredevil #503

It’s blood, sweat, and brutal truths as the new creative team of Andy Diggle (Thunderbolts) and Roberto De La Torre (Iron Man) continue their first breathtaking story arc! While the Kingpin secretly builds his power base, Daredevil and Master Izo collide violently over the future of the guild of assassins known as The Hand, and Foggy fears the Matt Murdock he once knew may be gone for good.

[Marvel]

Consistently one of my favourite reads Diggle and De La Torre are doing a great job - Matt Murdock, The Kingpin and The Hand: what more can you ask for? Check out these fantastic preview pages at over at CBR.


The Darkness/Pitt #3

Jackie Estacado, the bearer of The Darkness, Timmy and Pitt are forced into a final showdown with The Infected and their Leader! But when The Infected display previously unrevealed powers, will the two anti-heroes be able to triumph? Featuring two covers by series artist Keown and a variant cover by Eric Basaldua (Witchblade Annual 2009).

[Top Cow]

Having initially planned to pick up this three-part mini as a trade I read the first issue in full - for free - at comixology.com and was hooked. As I've said before there aren't many Top Cow titles that I don't enjoy and this series features great writing and superb artwork.

Once again, credit to Top Cow for making their titles so assessable for existing and new readers: visit the Top Cow Reader for a 7-page preview of this issue.


Batman #694

While Black Mask and his Ministry of Death struggle to maintain control of Gotham City, The Dark Knight sets his sights on Kittyhawk – a young thief pivotal to the outcome of Black Mask's gang war. But will a powerful adversary thought long dead spoil all of Batman's plans? Guest-starring Oracle and the Penguin!

[DC Comics]

I like what Tony Daniel is doing with Batman - I'm enjoying his writing and his artwork - along with Sandu Florea - is very much to my taste: take a look over at Tony Daniel's blog.




Batman 80 Page Giant #1

The Batman 80 Page Giant features can't-miss action from some of today's premiere up-and-coming talent working on your favorite characters! It's the biggest blizzard of the year, and everyone in Gotham City is doing what they can to help.
Find out what Batman, Robin, Alfred, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Veil, Poison Ivy and more get up to when snow brings Gotham City to a standstill!

[DC Comics]

Continuing the Batman theme, I'm REALLY looking forward to the 80-page giant: I've struggled to find a complete breakdown of the creators involved but we're promised writing from Steve Niles, Ivory Madison, David Tischman and Simon Spurrier with art from Chris Samnee, Clayton Henry, Marcus To and Saleem Crawford - not to mention a striking cover from Andy Kubert.

Daredevil #119: Return of the King

In this issue, the penultimate of the Return of the King story-arc, we follow the continuing conflict between the curious Sensei Master Izo and the Hand & Lady Bullseye. The Hand are set on recruiting Matt Murdock as their leader and Izo is concerned about Matt's ability to make the right decision.

With Matt forging a unlikely alliance with the Kingpin, Foggy Nelson and Dakota North realise that now more than ever Matt needs their support and vow to help him - if, that is, they can find him.

Following orders from the Kingpin, Leland Owlsley engages Lady Bullseye and the Hand and issues an order to kill Foggy. Lady Bullseye, in turn, forces Owlsley to take her to meet the Kingpin.

In the meantime, Dakota North is also on the trail of the Kingpin and using her skills as a private detective to track down the Kingpin as he meets with Lady Bullseye. She's soon discovered, however, and following an attack from both Lady Bullseye and Owlsley the issue closes with Dakota lying, apparently unconscious, on the ground.

This issue features some really solid storytelling from the creative team, supported by a really rich colour pallet throughout the interior artwork and a particularly nice cover from Marko Djurdjevic. I'm especially enjoying seeing a Matt Murdock with a bit of fight about him in this and recent story-arcs - for a while now he's seemed to me to have needed a 'kick up the backside' - and maybe the introduction of the new villain Lady Bullseye has been the kick he's needed.

The theme of deceit and mistrust throughout the story - involving pretty much all of the central characters - is creating, for me, a wonderful sense of tension and danger across every page.

Next issue - #500 as the series is renumbered - comes with a mixture of emotions: I'm anxious to see where this story goes; there's regret that it'll be the last issue from the current creative team and excitement for what the new team have in store for the title.

As always an enjoyable read - highly recommended.

Daredevil #119
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Michael Lark, Stefano Gaudiano, Matt Hollingsworth
Cover by Marko Djurdjevic
Published by Marvel, 24 June 2009

Daredevil #118: Return of the King

As I've said previously, I'm really enjoying the 'Return of the King' story-arc at the moment - comic book writing and art at its very best.

The issue opens with Leland 'The Owl' Owlsley beeing prep'd for prison transport only to be freed following a violent rescue by a group of 'commandoes' in the employ of the Kingpin, who in turn recruits the Owl.

As Matt Murdock appears to be more and more consumed with his deal with Kingpin and his conflict with The Hand his work and relationship with Foggy Nelson suffers - to the point that, having not seen Matt working for a week and learning of his connection with Kingpin Foggy tells Matt he's had enough and fires him!

The issue wraps with the Owl meeting with Lady Bullseye and The Hand as he negotiates to recruit them with the offer that 'money isn't a problem' and 'there's a lot of people I need killed'.

As much as I enjoyed the issue it did feel like a middle chapter - which of course it is, this being part 3 of 6 (I believe) - and as such didn't quite hit the heights of parts 1 and 2. Having set the scene in the first couple of issues Ed Brubaker has through the pages of this issue planted a number of seeds that we'll see grow over the rest of the story arc (and no doubt beyond). What is the Kingpin really up to with his partnership with Daredevil? Where does Owlsley fit into the plan? Is Matt's sacking just typical of Foggy or is their relationship really under pressure this time?


The issue again features some wonderful artwork from Michael Lark, John Lucas, Stefano Gaudiano and Matt Hollingsworth - the panels showing snow falling across the city are particularly striking - and a great cover by Marko Djurdjevic.

[ign.com have examples of the interior artwork - click here to see them.]

All in all another good issue and with the next issue not due until the end of June, I thought this was a nice 'cliff-hanger' to pause on.

Daredevil: Return of the King

I've said many times that Witchblade is my favourite read at the moment and one of our readers challenged me on this by saying 'I thought your favourite was Daredevil?'

Correct, Daredevil is my favourite character and is always a quality read - month in, month out. Writer Ed Brubaker, artists Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudiano, and colourist Matt Hollingsworth never let the reader down. Every month it's a 9 (sometimes a 10) out of 10 - there's never anything less than an excellent issue. Because it's consistently great my expectations are consistenty high and, if I'm honest, I sometimes take the title for granted.

The last couple of issues (#116 and #117) mark the start of the Return of the King story arc. King of crime, The Kingpin Wilson Fisk returns from exile in Europe - his new life and family destroyed by The Hand - and offers Daredevil an unlikely alliance: combine their 'talents' and get revenge over The Hand.

I loved the way #117 ended - Daredevil meets Fisk in a cemetery, heavy snow is falling, Fisk puts his proposal to Daredevil who, having considered it asks 'And what about after. Where does that leave us?' to which Fisk replies 'Hnnh ...That's what I like about you ... you don't realize what an optimist you truly are ... I wasn't planning to survive ...'. Superb.

Marvel have published some preview pages - click here to see them.

If you're not currently reading Daredevil, this story arc would be a good jumping on point - highly recommeded. As always I recommend Destination Venus for your comic book supplier.