Daredevil #36
It was a fun ride while it lasted Matt; of course it’s not goodbye but it’s definitely the end of a chapter for the great Daredevil, and he’s not leaving New York without a bang.
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Chris Samnee, Javier Rodriguez
Cover: Samnee, Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel
Matt Murdock’s career may be over in New York for the time being, but he’s definitely going to make the most of it while he can. Before the big finale though Matt gets approval and counsel from his oldest and best friend Foggy. For a finale issue, it’s a sentimental way to start things off, we’re sad over Foggy yes, but it’s not about Foggy this time; it’s all about Matt. The kind of person he is and the type of hero that Daredevil is. A reminder to both Matt and to readers of why we’re all here in the first place, and the journey we’ve gone through, sticking with some guy Hell’s Kitchen, because he’s more than that. We see it, Foggy sees it, and that’s the fuel that we all need as we take the steps through the final few pages.
Once we’re all emotionally riled up, next comes the sweet part. It’s not a shock that Matt finally outs himself as Daredevil, but what follows is a testament to the amazing heart that both Samnee and Rodriguez have put into the series. There’s a page in which we see the rest of the Avengers reacting to the news of Matt’s public statement, and it’s brilliantly composed and feels incredibly unique, and would probably make an awesome poster in someone’s room. Then there’s a nice little flashback panel, some moving dialogue, Waid’s totally on point with his dialogue here—emotional without being overly so, simply capturing the quintessence of who Matt is and what he stands for as Daredevil. But the best part is when we finally hit the action sequence. There is something so very satisfying as Matt pulls a Clark Kent maneuver, popping his shirt open to reveal the DD of his costume underneath, only now he’s doing it in a public venue, and there’s this sort of thrill that follows along with it, before Matt fully transitions into the man with no fear and taking charge of the situation at hand. It’s smooth and swift, and there are no damsels in distress here, no ends to leave hanging. This game was in Matt’s court before it even started, and ridiculously smug is a good look on Matt, given the crap he’s had to put up with recently. Our heroes despite often winning, sometimes just need a really good win. And that’s how a chapter should end on such a strong series (of course he also gets the girl).
Daredevil has been a strong series since the get go with the unstoppable force of Waid and Samnee at the helm. While it’s not completely over, the series is lauching again next month with the very same creators, it’s a very new chapter in Daredevil’s life so who knows how it’ll turn out. But this final issue very much feels like just the end of a chapter. The story of course doesn’t carry as much gravitas as its preceding issues have but for a closing issue, it can’t, not without becoming overly so for the sake of melodrama, so Waid ends this chapter nicely with some high points instead for Matt, leaving a reader optimistic and ready to go for what’s next to come.
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Chris Samnee, Javier Rodriguez
Cover: Samnee, Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel
Matt Murdock’s career may be over in New York for the time being, but he’s definitely going to make the most of it while he can. Before the big finale though Matt gets approval and counsel from his oldest and best friend Foggy. For a finale issue, it’s a sentimental way to start things off, we’re sad over Foggy yes, but it’s not about Foggy this time; it’s all about Matt. The kind of person he is and the type of hero that Daredevil is. A reminder to both Matt and to readers of why we’re all here in the first place, and the journey we’ve gone through, sticking with some guy Hell’s Kitchen, because he’s more than that. We see it, Foggy sees it, and that’s the fuel that we all need as we take the steps through the final few pages.
Once we’re all emotionally riled up, next comes the sweet part. It’s not a shock that Matt finally outs himself as Daredevil, but what follows is a testament to the amazing heart that both Samnee and Rodriguez have put into the series. There’s a page in which we see the rest of the Avengers reacting to the news of Matt’s public statement, and it’s brilliantly composed and feels incredibly unique, and would probably make an awesome poster in someone’s room. Then there’s a nice little flashback panel, some moving dialogue, Waid’s totally on point with his dialogue here—emotional without being overly so, simply capturing the quintessence of who Matt is and what he stands for as Daredevil. But the best part is when we finally hit the action sequence. There is something so very satisfying as Matt pulls a Clark Kent maneuver, popping his shirt open to reveal the DD of his costume underneath, only now he’s doing it in a public venue, and there’s this sort of thrill that follows along with it, before Matt fully transitions into the man with no fear and taking charge of the situation at hand. It’s smooth and swift, and there are no damsels in distress here, no ends to leave hanging. This game was in Matt’s court before it even started, and ridiculously smug is a good look on Matt, given the crap he’s had to put up with recently. Our heroes despite often winning, sometimes just need a really good win. And that’s how a chapter should end on such a strong series (of course he also gets the girl).
Daredevil has been a strong series since the get go with the unstoppable force of Waid and Samnee at the helm. While it’s not completely over, the series is lauching again next month with the very same creators, it’s a very new chapter in Daredevil’s life so who knows how it’ll turn out. But this final issue very much feels like just the end of a chapter. The story of course doesn’t carry as much gravitas as its preceding issues have but for a closing issue, it can’t, not without becoming overly so for the sake of melodrama, so Waid ends this chapter nicely with some high points instead for Matt, leaving a reader optimistic and ready to go for what’s next to come.
A Look Inside
