Customer Reviews:
Stan Lee and Gene Colan take Daredevil to new heights.......2004-08-30
To be clear on what book we are talking about here, this is Volume 2 of "The Essential Daredevil," which collects not only issues #26-48 and Special #1 of "Daredevil: The Man Without Fear!" but also issue #73 of "The Fantastic Four." The addition of this last story is great because it completes the story line from "Daredevil" #37-38 where Doctor Doom switches bodies with Daredevil so that he can attack the FF. That trio of stories is pretty much the high point of this collection so being able to read the entire story without cursing because Volume 3 of "The Essential Fantastic Four" ended about a year short of issue #73 is a good thing.
"Daredevil" finally became a hot comic book when Frank Miller took over as the artist, but I always liked the character from early on. In fact, "Daredevil" was the second Marvel superhero comic book I started reading after "Spider-Man" (the very first, for the record, was "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos"). One thing I liked was the fact that Daredevil's alter ego, Matt Murdock, was a lawyer, an aspect that I thought they should have played up a lot more in the comic book over the years. Then there was the fact that I always liked Gene Colan's artwork and in "The Essential Daredevil, Volume 2" he is the book's artist, while Stan Lee continues with the scripting chores.
There are some major developments for the cast of characters in these issues. Having created a fake brother, Mike Murdock, to be Daredevil while Matt continues to be the blind lawyer, but eventually "Mike" gets killed (#41). Then there are the episodes where Daredevil ends up really being blind (#30-32), just to put DD through the wringer. Yes, some of the villains are pretty lame (the Beetle was always a joke and how the Stiltman survives a fight more than 30 seconds I will never know), but in #42 the Jester shows up and even if he is a combination of the Riddler and the Joker he is still one of the best DD villains and I like the cover of #45 where the two are fighting over a photograph of the Statue of Liberty. Spider-Man swings by in issue #27, Thor shows up in #30, and DD ends up fighting Captain America in #43.
The issues with Doctor Doom and the Jester are far and away the best of the bunch in this collection story-wise, but you also get the Cobra and Mr. Hyde, the Trapster, the Exterminator, and the Unholy Three, not to mention Foggy Nelson and Karen Page back at the office of Nelson & Murdock. Even with Jack Kirby drawing the "FF" issue, I will still argue the chief attraction here is Colan's artwork. His finest work for my money is always going to be "The Tomb of Dracula," the first two "Essentials" volumes of which are also out now, but "Daredevil" is pretty good as well and nobody in the Marvel Bullpen drew better women. That is why when Daredevil had to share his comic with the Black Widow it was a gift from the heavens.
Customer Reviews:
You'd have to be a blind man..........2006-12-28
...not to dig Wally Wood's wonderful artwork in the second half of this collection. He's the cat who gave Daredevil the all-red costume we know and love today. He's also the cat who could give any other comics artist a run for his money, any time and any place. Check it out!
The first eleven issues of "Daredevil" in reprinted color.......2004-05-21
"Daredevil" finally became a hot comic book when Frank Miller took over as the artist, but I always liked the character from early on. In fact, "Daredevil" was the second Marvel superhero comic book I started reading after "Spider-Man" (the very first, for the record, was "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos"). One thing I liked was the fact that Daredevil's alter ego, Matt Murdock, was a lawyer, an aspect that I thought they should have played up a lot more in the comic book over the years. Then there was the fact that I always like Gene Colan's artwork. However, "Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil, Volume 1" brings together the first eleven issues of "Daredevil: The Man Without Fear," when the artists were Bill Everett, Joe Orlando, Wallace Wood, and Bob Powell. Clearly it was the character and not the parade of artists that made this comic book work, with Stan Lee doing all of the scripting except for #10, where Wood told the story.
The Daredevil saga begins with the following tales: #1 "The Origin of Daredevil" has the superhero avenging the death of his father "Kid" Murdock at the hands of the Fixer; #2 "The Evil Menace of Electro" brings the Spider-Man villain in for a fight; #3 "The Owl, Ominous Overlord of Crime" has DD rescuing Karen Page from the Vulutre-wannabee; #4 "Killgrave, the Unbelievable Purple Man" gives off rays that allow him to manipulate the minds of people so they attack Daredevil; #5 "The Mysterious Masked Matador" is just a lame villain, sorry; #6 "Trapped by the Fellowship of Fear" has DD taking on the Ox, the Eel, and Mr. Fear, the last one being the best of the early Daredevil villains; #7 "In Mortal Combat with Sub-Mariner" has a great Wood cover of DD in his new red outfit and is my favorite early "Daredevil" story as Namor retains Murdock as his lawyer but ends up fighting DD; #8 "The Siltman Cometh" is another silly villain, but he does look sort of cool; #9 "That He May See" has Murdock checking out a possible operation to restore his sight; #10 "While the City Sleeps" the Organizer puts together the gang of Cat Man, Ape Man, Bird Man, and Frog Man, to frame our hero; and #11 "A Time TO Unmask" continues the fight with the Organizer's gang, and explains why there are eleven issues and not just ten in this first volume.
The villains are less than stellar, but that is standard fare for the first year or two with most of Marvel's comics. The X-Men starting off with Magneto is the exception that proves the rule. But the chief attraction here is the character of Daredevil who has the standard comic book superhero problems when he does not have his costume on in that Matt loves Karen and Karen loves Matt, but either one of them mentioning this to the other is clearly too much to ask. Orlando does most of the drawing, but Wood's art makes a stronger impression. In "Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil, Volume 2" Jazzy Johnny Romita will take over as artist and things will improve with Daredevil taking on Ka-Zar and Spider-Man. But there is something to be said for these early days of the yellow costumed Daredevil, even if he does not have the style of the Colan version of the cache of the Miller version. Besides, fans of the character have to go back to the beginning and with the Marvel Masterworks series they get to do it in full color.
Average customer rating:
- A Whole Different Take From the Modern Daredevil.
- Allow me to play Daredevil's Advocate for a moment...
- Our hero cannot make up his mind about being either Daredevil or Matt Murdock
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Essential Daredevil, Vol. 3 (Marvel Essentials)
Stan Lee ,
Roy Thomas ,
Gary Friedrich ,
Len Wein ,
Gerry Conway ,
Allyn Brodsky ,
Gene Colan ,
Barry Smith ,
Barry Windsor-Smith , and
Don Heck
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
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ASIN: 0785117245 |
Book Description
Daredevil's original identity crisis kicks off a collection of Colan classics! The ups and downs of his doomed love for Karen Page begin here! And DD goes Hollywood with the Stuntmaster and Brother Brimstone, but is any star as big as... the Stilt-Man? From costumed crimelords to otherworldly intruders, foes both famed and forgotten fall before the fighter without fear! Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Black Panther, Nick Fury, and Iron Man! Collects Daredevil #49-74 and Iron Man #35-36.
Customer Reviews:
A Whole Different Take From the Modern Daredevil........2005-12-06
The tales in this volume (and it's two predecessors) prove one thing very quickly. In these stories, the character really IS a daredevil, a reckless, often devil-may-care adventurer who will risk his life just to make the fight (or his personal life) more interesting. Therein lies the uniqueness of these tales.
The stories are not brilliant, though they are certainly a lot of fun. The Gene Colan art is definitely worth seeing, but he does occasionally live up to his reputation for artistic laziness. All in all, these comics are above average, but not great. But still, they are unique because of their take on Matt Murdock. As you read these tales, you have to wonder if this Matt is insane because of the spontaneous, crazy things he does. Among other things, he spent many, many issues pretending to be his own twin brother (who was secretly Daredevil, he claimed), fooling all his friends with his triple-identity! That's just nuts, but fun to read.
Certainly, it's not the same character you'll find in modern Daredevil comics. These days, for better or worse, DD has become about one man taking monumental amounts of responsibility on his shoulders to aid his fellow man, literally sacrificing parts of his own life for their betterment. The character and his adventures are dark and grim, full of unrelenting tension and pressure for DD to put things right. That produces some amazing, emotional, even profound stories. Miller and a few of his 21st century successors have created the best Daredevil stories ever told.
But, even if their character might be sometimes described as insane for the risks he takes, he is never nuts like this! And he definitely never has this much fun. Neither is he this unique.
******
Recommended!
Allow me to play Daredevil's Advocate for a moment..........2005-08-26
If you've read any of my other reviews of Marvel Essential books on this site, you may come to the conclusion that I dislike Daredevil, and I want to say that that isn't entirely true. I think that Stan Lee's decision to give a superhero the secret identity of a blind man was a masterstroke, as was making him a lawyer. After all, law enforcement is already a hobby for most comic book characters, so why not make it a profession? However, Daredevil is still among my least preferred Essential books because he is clearly the least powerful of Marvel's Dramatis Personae. I'm not saying that it's the superpowers alone that make the superhero. I'm saying that the central conflicts of a comic tale invariably reflect the capability of the main character to overcome them, and during the Silver Age, when everyone was mostly fighting thieves who had brightly-colored costumes and bizarre gimmicks, DD didn't fit in so well. Daredevil's personal Rogues Gallery were just so wimpy that Spider-Man would more likely laugh at them than fight them (Heck, anybody who has a grappling hook and 50 feet of rope could defend all of NYC from the menace of the Stilt-Man). Today's comic fans are likely to say that Frank Miller is their favorite DD writer and I feel that's because he gave him a gritty, grimy Hell's Kitchen setting and put him against exaggerated but believable underworld figures like the Kingpin, Bullseye, and Typhoid Mary. Miller presented Daredevil as a "nicer" counterpoint to the Punisher, and in my opinion that is where he works best.
Anyway, I'm here today to review the Essential Daredevil 3 (which collects DD's appearances in the early 70's). I thought that it had its moments but it's still exemplary of the personal grievances that I have against the character in the time period.
I was in a very good mood shortly after cracking open this book because the first story is simply excellent. Our hero, who was earlier considering abandoning his Daredevil identity, has reluctantly taken up pursuit of the murderous Samuel "Starr" Saxon (the most effeminate mad scientist since Dr. Smith from Lost and Space). After a tense four-issue chase, not only does Saxon learn that Matt Murdock is Daredevil, he also informs DD that there is no evidence that links Saxon to any misdeeds and gets off scot-free. This development caught me totally off guard as I was so used to the supervillain being handed over cleanly to the police just on the superhero's word in previous tales; I had to check back over the earlier issues to make sure he was right. Realizing that blackmail would be imminent, the morose Matt Murdock is forced to fake his own death and pull triple-shifts as Daredevil (Ironic, isn't it?) in order to flush out the culprit. That tale is a fabulous entry into the sweeping epic storylines of Marvel's "Grandiose" period and ranks as my favorite pre-Miller Daredevil story arc.
It's a shame that the best story had to be this collection's opening number, but there was still some enjoyment to be had. Daredevil defeats the unscrupulous glory-hound Nighthawk, forcing him to get his act together and join the Defenders later. I found the team-up with Black Panther where they saved a young boy from the perils of gangland to be very down-to-earth and poignant. The McCarthy-esque, pinko-hunting Tribune made for a top-notch stage villain (He claimed that, in a pure democracy, the people would never question the decisions of their government. Did he miss a Freshman Civics class or something?). Also, in a truly cathartic moment, Matt Murdock reveals his alter ego to his love Karen Page who leaves him because she doesn't want a man who needlessly puts himself in danger. It makes me appreciate the final scene in the second Spider-Man movie even more.
Unfortunately, a good half of the issues just fell completely flat, and the Essential Daredevil 3 is a pretty big book. The mob boss Crime-Wave was unmasked and he was somebody that Nelson and Murdock knew, although there were no actual clues leading up to his capture and no real reason to get involved in the mystery (yawn). There were some so-so rematches with DD's old so-so foes, like Cobra, Mr. Hyde, Jester, Mr. Fear, and the Gladiator (who was allegedly amnesiac so Foggy Nelson decided to give him his weapons and armor back to jog his memory. Guess what happened next). Many plots were needlessly convoluted (Why was Mr. Kragg's group Phoenix constantly called an extreme left-wing political faction when all they did was fix boxing matches and beat up the District Attorney? Why did Daredevil and his sometime-friend/sometime-would-be-assassin the Stunt-Master swap outfits to catch those thieves when the plan would have worked fine in their own regular clothes?) and some just made no sense whatsoever (like the Iron Man crossover vs. Zodiac, and, to a lesser extent, the one about the leopard people who can walk through mirrors). Also, I am really getting tired of the foes that use optic nerve-paralysis beams or corneal irritant gas or blindness potions against DD and are shocked into surrender when they somehow don't work. If only those guys had debuted in Captain America's or the Fantastic Four's magazines first, then they might be ruling the world right now (unless of course it was an issue that was guest starring Daredevil, like in the Essential Spectacular Spider-Man). Last and most certainly least, issue #67 features the lamest Stilt-Man fight that I have ever seen (although I will probably say that about every subsequent Stilt-Man fight that I see. Check back later).
In short, I liked some stories in this Essential volume, but I couldn't get excited about it as a whole. The foundation has always been good as Murdock's character is unique, introspective, and interesting, and I've always felt that the stark realism and deep shadows of Gene Colan's artwork were ideal for the magazine (If only the plots could match the pictures). Although, from the research and discussions that I've made in the local comic book scene, the 70's put the Man without Fear through a long and taxing slump (except perhaps for some of the Black Widow team-ups) and so I wonder if the fourth Essential is due to arrive any time soon. I'm going to say that this Essential is a good choice for fans, although the casual reader would have a better time with the Marvel Visionaries: Frank Miller books or the most recent series started by Brian Michael Bendis because this book is a real mixed bag.
Oh, and I wanted to apologize for comparing Daredevil to Jimmy Olsen in my review of Essential Thor 2. Ol' Hornhead deserves better than that.
Our hero cannot make up his mind about being either Daredevil or Matt Murdock.......2005-08-19
"Essential Daredevil, Volume 3" collects together episodes #49-74 of "Daredevil: The Man Without Fear!" along with "Iron Man" #35-36, which was a crossover story about the Zodiac gang. This represents a transitional period as Roy Thomas replaced Stan Lee as the writer for the book, although by the end of this collection it is Gerry Gonway who has taken over as scripter. Except for three issues drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith, it is Gene Colan who is DD's artist. In fact, at this point in the history of the comic book Daredevil just did not look right unless Colan was drawing him. We are not yet up to the point when Colan's pencils started being inked by Tom Palmer, so I have a slight preference for Syd Shores as inker over George Klein and Johnny Craig. As for Windsor-Smith, who was still just plain Barry Smith at that point, his art on "Daredevil" was certainly a big improvement over his first work for Marvel, the infamous "X-Men" #53 that he literally drew on park benches in Central Park, but there was still nothing to indicate what he would be doing within a couple of years on "Conan the Barbarian" (although he is already into drawing more panels per page than other comic book artists).
At the beginning of this collection things are not going well for our hero. Now that Foggy is New York City's District Attorney he law firm of Nelson and Murdock has broken up and Matt Murdock no longer wants to be Daredevil. However, Starr Saxon has created a robot to track down Daredevil, even if he is in his civilian identity. But when Saxon discovers that Matt Murdock is Daredevil, that changes everything, especially when radioactive particles in his blood threaten DD's life. In issue #53 Thomas and Colan retell Daredevil's origin, after which our hero decides that the problem in his life is not Daredevil but rather Matthew Murdock, so he proceeds to "kill" Matt off by faking a plane crash. Now Foggy and Karen think Matt is dead while Daredevil has to face Mr. Fear. In #56-57 a well known jeweled Aztec skull becomes the inspiration for Death's Head and at the end of two-part story Daredevil reveals to Karen that not only is Matt Murdoch still alive, he is really Daredevil. So much for keeping his identity secret and for killing off Matt. Now Matt starts working the D.A.'s office as a special assistant and vows that Daredevil's days are over (#58).
Most of these developments are interesting, but we are not even halfway through this collection and all of this has happened, which sort of undercuts any of these decisions (that and the fact that it takes only a couple of issues for our hero to change his mind). Telling the truth is not helping Matt and Karen in their troubled relationship, so there is no benefit there, and at least blind ex-cop Willie Lincoln is around to lend our hero a sympathetic ear. By issue #61 the Jester, one of my favorite DD villains, is back, this time with Mr. Hyde and the Cobra. The Daredevil has to fight Nighthawk (#62), the Gladiator (#63), the Stunt-Master (#64), Brother Brimstone (#65-66), Stilt-Man (#67), and Kragg (#68). The Black Panther returns in issue #69 and then Gary Friedrich comes up with the Tribune (#70-71) as a new villain with a judicial bent that works well with Murdock being a lawyer. Then DD encounters Tagak, the Leopard Lord (#72), before teaming up with Iron Man to take on the Zodiac, a group of super villains where each is based on one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac (duh).
Despite the fact that we start with some hectic times for Daredevil regarding being a superhero and keeping his identity secret, overall these issues represnt something of a lull in the character's history. There are a few storylines that you can say are trying to be classic issues, but none of them really get there. The retelling of DD's origin, the cover of which serves as the cover for this collection as well, is arguably the best issue included and it obviously represents nothing new. If Thomas let the changes he puts DD through last longer (a lot longer), then these issues would cover a more important period in the character's life. But the first half is racing through major changes and the second half is basically back to a different villain each month (and only one appearance by the Jester). Still, there is Colan's artwork and I never get tired of looking at that.
Customer Reviews:
A terrific collection!.......2007-08-14
This volume includes some truly great tales in the Stan Lee-Gene Colan canon, including the classic DD vs Dr. Doom, as well as the conclusion of the Mike Murdock triple identity arc. The reproduction is top notch, and it's a pleasure to see Colan's dynamic artwork reproduced so cleanly. It's clear how much Stan Lee must have enjoyed writing these tales -- he's having fun, so the reader can't help but have fun as well. I realize that to fans of Frank Miller's version of Daredevil, the word "fun" seems misplaced in describing this character, but this is Daredevil as Stan Lee created him: a bravura show-off who wears a red suit, calls himself a daredevil, cracks jokes, and is only truly himself when he's performing acrobatics.
Highly recommended!
Average customer rating:
- Look for entertainment---not inspiration
- What is it with superheroes and their secretaries?
- With the first appearance of Gene COLAN
- Great drawing, repetitive dialog
- It's cool. Could use a little Bullseye, Kingpin, and Mr. Hyde, though.
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Essential Daredevil, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)
Stan Lee
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0785118616 |
Book Description
Introducing Daredevil, his memorable supporting cast, and his many famous foes: the Owl, Mr. Fear, and the deadly Eel.
Customer Reviews:
Look for entertainment---not inspiration.......2007-04-15
It's a given that the early FF and Spiderman hold up well, but I was surprised to see that Daredevil fares well. Having only read one of these early issues(number 8 with Stiltman), I didn't have the highest expectations. Maybe it was just because I've been so comic deprived these past couple months in college, but it didn't take long for me to see things through Matt Murdock's...eyes.
The early issues with Joe Orlando hold their own, but when Wally Wood comes around with Sub-mariner it gets even better. John Romita's first appearance in issue 12 with Ka-zar also improves upon his predecessor. There is nothing here that is going to take your breath away, but if villains such as the Owl, Gladiator, Electro, and the Fixer give you a warm fuzzy feeling, or at least some sort of memory, you need to have this. If you haven't really experienced the silver age of comics yet, you're probably better off starting with ol' Spidey and the FF first.
The major problem I have with these early issues is not so much the lack of originality or redundancy, it's the cliche love triangle and occasional inconsistencies. The first 3 issues show promise, with Matt aloof and uninterested in Karen's feelings towards him. But in the next issue, Stan Lee decides to make him into an old softie, something that really clashes with DD and Matt. The inconsistencies are more forgivable, sloppy mistakes, such as when Foggy later mentions his proposal to Karen that was turned down, when in fact he never went through with asking her in the first place. Ah well, the meat of what's here is still great, and will go great between Captain America and Defenders Essentials on your shelf.
What is it with superheroes and their secretaries?.......2006-07-07
I was born too late to buy the original, old-school comics, But I think this is suitable. Although I would have enjoyed the collection in color, reading them in black and white is OK as well. Also I liked Wallace Wood's Daredevil, because his style was smooth and not as sketchy as the eariler artists. Theirs were very good also, but Mr.Wood's was my favorite. I guess what I found particularly amusing was that unlike in the new comics (which I admit I have not read a lot of) Daredevil is a little more...how do I put this delicately...goofy? Not quite Spiderman goofy, (I swear he has ADD,) but he does chatter during battle. D.D also admits to himself once that sometimes he sounds corny.
I also see a kind of theme with these heroes. The guys with medical/health problems, Matt Murdock and Tony Stark, fall in love with their seceritaries! And then they come up with a reason why they can't be with the aforementioned beautiful secretary like 'I'm blind and my best friend loves her anyway' or '...I've got a heart condition...'Spiderman's probably the only one with an actual girlfriend!
Matt's friend Foggy isn't really anyone to complain about. A normal, superhero's best buddy guy. Karen isn't much different than Foggy, except she's not male. Even so, they're interesting enough characters.
The reason I gave Vol.1 4 stars is the assortment of 'villans'. To be honest, probably half of them are just plain stupid. Stiltman? Leap Frog? PURPLE MAN?!? Don't get me stated on him. Get the Purple Man together with some other Marvel villians like Mr.Doll (Iron Man), The Unicorn (X-Men), and Mysterio (Spiderman), and you've got the Effeminant Four! Anyhow, ignoring my rant, thre are some villians that are all right and some anti-heroes (The Sub Mariner& Ka-Zar, namely) that were definately appreciated after the Purple Man. If you miss the good old days when comics didn't take themselves that seriously I'd recommend this as a good read.
With the first appearance of Gene COLAN.......2006-07-04
Another excellent item from Essential Series. Even if it is in black and white only, it is wonderful to read again these first issues of Daredevil. What a difference with stories of the present day ! In a Stan Lee story, we find action, caracter's personnality development, intelligent and super-powered vilain. It is not the case in the news stories, developped in more trouble situation, dark and where the hero is not the hero sometimes, with a lot of violence not justified.
Drawings are simple, but dynamic, in the first part. But with Gene Colan as penciler, what a pleasure! Daredevil is really born with Gene.
Great drawing, repetitive dialog.......2005-11-09
Having read the first 25 issues of Daredevil when they first appeared, I remember how much I enjoyed them. However, that was a time when I was younger and the audience was less sophisticated. In reading the dialog in this collection, I was struck by how repetitive it was. Matt Murdock is blind, yet possesses such heightened senses that he has an awareness of his surroundings that is superior to the sighted person. This allows him to function as Daredevil, a costumed crime fighter that must constantly remind the reader of those heightened senses. In caption after caption, Daredevil (Matt) mentions that he is blind, usually something like, "Imagine if they knew that they were fighting a man who cannot see!"
These reminders take away from the action, which is drawn with such skill. There is no color in the interior of the book, which limits what can be done, yet the level of detail is still striking. I also found some amusement in the verbal sound effects. Words like "Thum" and "Thud" for the sounds of a club, "Thik" and "Krrack" for the sounds of bullets and "Thak" and "Chupp" for the sounds of punching. At one point, Stan Lee pokes fun at that, informing us in one caption that the second consecutive n in a sound effect is silent.
This book is a walk down memory lane for me. As is the case with nearly all returns to your childhood, the memory is better than the fact. Nevertheless, this collection of the first 25 issues of Daredevil was fun to read and I recommend it to everyone interested in comics, especially how they have developed over time.
It's cool. Could use a little Bullseye, Kingpin, and Mr. Hyde, though........2005-08-04
This is a good book. It has great art, and the characters in it are pretty cool, especially people like Owl, Stilt-Man, Mister Fear, Electro, and Gladiator. Plus, it shows Daredevil's origin and his earliest and most surprising appearences and fights, including a fight with the one and only Spider-Man. It is a good collection, and it is a must have for any Daredevil lover. However, I can't give it 5 stars because it didn't have any of my top 3 favorite DD villains of all time in it-Mr. Hyde, my # 3 favorite, Kingpin, my # 2 favorite, and of course Bullseye, my # 1 favorite-none of those top and classic baddies were in this book. Otherwise, though, it is a nice piece of work and I like it quite a bit. It's one of the best Daredevil comics I'll ever own.
Average customer rating:
- For TRUE Daredevil fans
- The Best Of A Great Marvel Character
- Marvel darkest hero in a book worth more than $5,000
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Marvel Masterworks: Dardevil Volume 1. (Reprints Daredevil Nos. 1-11) (ComicCraft cover) (1999)
Stan Lee
Manufacturer: Marvel Entertainment Group
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ASIN: 0785107142 |
Customer Reviews:
For TRUE Daredevil fans.......1999-09-25
Yes, this is the best Definative Daredevil compilation out there. I bought this and I'm cherishing it. It fits well in ANY bookshelf and is a fantastic read every single time. Not only does Marvel overdo their respects to one of their main heros but also they made this into a visually striking masterpiece. The artwork has been redone to capture the fantastic classic-ness of The Man Without Fear!
The Best Of A Great Marvel Character.......1999-05-29
The first 11 classic issues of Daredevil are printed in one Marvel Masterworks collection. These issues showcase Stan Lee's `Marvel Method' of writing brilliantly as we witness the origin of Daredevil and his subsequent adventures. Of course this book showcase's the artistic genius of Wally Wood as well. Lee and Wood recreate the costume and redefine the character in the classic issue #7, battle with the Sub-Mariner. This book represents the best of Daredevil and also illustrates how badly the character has been treated, both in writing and in art, in recent months of his on-going title. The only sour-note in this collection is the horrendous coloring job, which tries to update the art with a palette that is at times garish and muddy. Don't let that stop you from experiencing the greatness that was Marvel Comics!
Marvel darkest hero in a book worth more than $5,000.......1999-04-30
Really! If you'd buy each of the comic books presented here, in a deluxe edition, in fine paper, with wonderful color definitions, and in an elegant hardcover, you'd have to pay more than $5,000.
Marvel comics' blind hero's story is told here by master STAN LEE and through its pages you meet The Owl, Electro, Purple Man, etc. A MUST HAVE for DD fans and comic book lovers, and a very entertaining book for starting fans.
Product Description
Written by STAN LEE; Art by JOHN ROMITA Sr. with JACK KIRBY and GENE COLAN. Daredevil journeys to the Savage Land to learn the secret of Ka-Zar; battles side-by-side with Spider-Man against the Masked Marauder, and must face the Ox, the Gladiator and the Owl. Also in this volume: Foggy Nelson masquerades as Daredevil!? Collects DAREDEVIL Vol. 1 #12-21. 224 PGS. ALL AGES.
Average customer rating:
- Elektra Stories Cut Up And Pasted Back Together Again
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The Elektra Saga (Marvel comics) (Daredevil)
Klaus Janson
Manufacturer: Marvel Enterprises
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Customer Reviews:
Elektra Stories Cut Up And Pasted Back Together Again.......1999-08-14
This is the Elektra saga excerpted from the Daredevil comics. They took bits and pieces of the original stories and tried to put it together in a book that emphasized Elektra. Not a good idea as a lot of the origianl storytelling elements were lost in the transition. Hopefully Marvel will rerelease the original Frank Miller Daredevil series in their complete form.
Customer Reviews:
Miller's Lost Daredevil Masterpiece.......2003-12-14
This is the Miller Daredevil story that got away. Coming out around the same time as Miller was knocking the socks off of the comic world with the "Born Again" story in the funny book format, this oversize graphic novel slipped under many radars. Like many of Marvel's graphic novel series, this is part of the main character's continuity and follows up on events of Miller's 1st run of DD.
The story actually centers around the Kingpin and his handicapped wife Vanessa. Way back in the old comic run, Vanessa was apparently killed off but survived by taking to the sewers where she was enslaved by a grotesque underground king who ruled over a band of tunnel dwellers. By the time Daredevil intervened and returned his archenemy's wife back home, Vanessa's mind was all but gone. In the "Love and War" story, Kingpin is seeking help for his poor wife, and in his typical heavy handed way, he kidnaps the beautiful (and blind) wife of a famed psychologist to "persuade" the good doctor into helping Vanessa recuperate. The real problem comes in that the Kingpin's henchman for the kidnapping is a truly psychotic and delusional killer who begins to have conflicting fantasies about his lovely victim. The clock is ticking for Daredevil to rescue both the damsel in distress from the psycho and the good doctor from the clutches of the Kingpin before everything hits the fan. Oh, and Turk is along for the ride to offer a little bit of much needed comic relief. Although the story sounds rather simple, it is a pretty intense examination of the true nature of love and the terrible power of obsession. Miller puts one more notch on his billy club with this fantastic tale.
Because the story is drama and character driven more than action packed, Sienkiewicz's fully painted art plays beautifully in the oversize format. This is much cleaner and visually beautiful than his work on Elektra Assassin which he also did with Miller. The panels are larger and there are quite a few full page illustrations that showcase what Bill can do with a brush. The storytelling is also much tighter, driving you through one breathtaking page after the next.
If you are a fan of Miller's work on Daredevil, and are not familiar with this book, you owe it to yourself to pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
Outstanding Images and a great story.......2001-03-31
This graphic novel by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz is one heck of a story. The graphic art complements this story as you are moved by the images. The story is compelling as it pschological moves you to uderstand each character. The art work is splended as you are fed with the right amount of colors, with th eright kind of colors depending on the situation.
This is a pschological drama and therefore, action is noticably missing. Don't misuderstand me, there are a couple of scenes, but the hero is not well represented in this area. This I think is to a fault. After all, one does expect certian things from certian charaters. With Daredevil, you expect a human drama with some action.
All in all, however, that may be more a matter of taste then principle and it should not stop any collector from getting this book. The story represents the mind as well as the soul of humans: good vs evil. An old story, but done with originality.
The Peak of Storytelling.......2000-12-16
Comics/Graphic novels are for me a unique form of storytelling. Combining image with text in a controlled format. As a filmmaker I strive to blend dialogue and image to tell a story. In the study of improvisation there is a saying "Show; don't tell." and of course we all know the "a picture is worth a thousand words". In comics the artists have an opportunity to do this with every frame - a still frame that lets us use our imagination to provide motion and rhythm and sound. Although I have many favorite books - Dark Night Returns, Kingdom Come, The Killing Joke, Marvels - by far Love and War is the peak of storytelling for me. Frank Miller is an excellent storyteller, not only because of his original concepts and details but also because he is a master revisionist. The ability to take a character we already know and love and to get us to learn more about them and love them even more is remarkable. In Love and War Mr. Miller tackles the Kingpin, giving us insight into his personal makeup, letting us see why he is so cold and calculating and in a small way, accepting him as a person. It is devestating to understand and accept the "bad guy" and makes us realize the difficulty in being a true hero all the more. It is in Love and War that Mr. Miller manages to transcend Good vs. Evil and show us how things just are. Bill Sienkiewicz is the perfect artist for this story. His images are just as graceful, violent, distorted and colorful as the world can be. I can spend quite some time on each frame of this book noting details, following the motion of his brush stroke and deciphering the thousand words implied in each picture. He shows what Miller doesn't tell. All in all they combine to excute a fantastic story brilliantly told.
4 STARZ!.......2000-06-14
A must read for those who love his art!
Book Description
Daredevil, the Man Without Fear, was blessed with some of the finest artists during his early days and this volume from Marvel's Masterworks series of classic reprints puts them on display. This volume boasts the arrival of John Romita, Sr. to Marvel and his realistic portrayals of people and heroes. It also heralds the debut of Gene Colan as series penciler, the beginning of a long, highly regarded run.
The action, from Stan the Man Lee, doesn't pause to admire the pretty pictures as Daredevil confronts his nemesis the Owl and the coming of the deadly Gladiator. Daredevil also meets up with Ka-Zar, the former Kevin Plunder, currently lord of the hidden Savage Land. And then there is the first meeting with Spider-Man, and the first glimpse of Romita's interpretation of the wall-crawler.
The Masterworks series recolors the pages, cleans up the reproduction and presents the stories in archival volumes that can proudly withstand the tests of time-just like the stories and characters themselves.
Customer Reviews:
Gene Colan takes over as the artist for "Daredevil".......2003-04-01
The theme of this Volume 2 collection of "Daredevil" comics for the Marvel Masterworks series ends up being not about the character but rather who was going to be the definitive artist for the series. These ten issues of "Daredevil" start with John Romita (Sr.) doing the illustrations over Jack Kirby's layouts and then his own pencils, but then we have the first appearance of Gene Colan, who I always considered the definitive artist for the Man Without Fear. Yes, Frank Miller has few peers when it comes to creative layouts and he redefined the character when he was writing and drawing the comic book, but nobody draws better looking women in the Marvel Bullpen than Colan. Actually, "Daredevil" was not his best work, which appeared when he drew "Dr. Strange" and "Dracula," but this was the comic book where he established himself as a first rate artist.
"Daredevil" was always one of my favorite comics, long before Miller gave it cult status. Part of it was Colan's distinctive artwork, but I also liked the character's secret identity of Matt Murdock, attorney for the downtrodden. I always thought this made DD the ideal Marvel character to have his own television series, which could involve equal parts courtroom drama and superhero action, but the movie pilot they did a few years back simply did not click. This particular collection of ten issues are dominated by a couple of team-ups between old hornhead and a pair of other Marvel heroes, Ka-Zar, Lord of the Jungle, and the Amazing Spider-Man (check out the classic cover on issue #16). I always liked the scene where Spidey figures out Daredevil's secret identity and tries to get Foggy Nelson to confess. In terms of villains there is a two-issue fight with the Gladiator (whose whirling circular saw blades on his gauntlets always struck me as a rather bad idea) and Colan's debut involves a two-part return engagement with DD's old nemesis the Owl.
On the interpersonal level the love triangle between Matt, Foggy, and Karen Page hits a low point when Foggy dresses up like a rather frumpy Daredevil to impress Karen and has to be rescued by the real article. The Spider-Man issues are above-average but you will not really find any classic "Daredevil" tales here. What you do have is the stage being set for the first period of glory days in the history of the comic book, when Matt had to create his twin brother Mike and the Jester first showed up to cause headaches for old hornhead.
Classic, but--.......2002-09-07
Great artwork. John Romita. Gene Colan. Stan Lee at the helm. 'Nuff said.
But what's interesting is to compare these issues with the Lee/Ditko Spiderman issues of the same time period. Daredevil's personal problems are weak and insipid, especially in comparison: "Karen can't love me because I'm blind, etc." An ace lawyer with super hearing should be able to detect her pulse picking up when he's near. Then later, "I can't tell her I love her because Foggy loves her too." Some of it reads like a bad "Millie the Model" issue. I can only think that the early issues covering DD's personal storyline were hindered because the artists (though all great) kept changing.
Even with some lousy thought-balloons and odd plot twists, it's still early DD. It's still Marvel when it was creating one of its most unique characters. It still ran circles around the DC issues of that day.
Good, but could have been better..........2002-03-31
I see that some people criticsized the previous Daredevil Masterworks volume for the coloring -- i.e. coloring was too garish. Well, unfortunately that again is the case with this volume. The coloring is garish and simplistic. This really backfires on the Gene Colan issues since his rendering technique had a subtletly and style to it. That type of illustration really calls for a corresponding subtlety and style in the coloring. Unfornatunately that's not what we get with these reprints. And didn't Frank Giacoia ink issue #20? ...
Lee, Romita and Colan at their Best!.......2001-10-22
Daredevil Masterworks Volume 1 introduced the character as a unique hero with unusual abilities. Under the direction of Stan Lee and Wally Wood, Daredevil was defined as an urban-adventurer who also relied on his smarts as Matt Murdock, Attorney-at-Law. Wood gave the Daredevil strip a look reminiscent of 1940's detective films and Lee wrote imaginative scripts with pulp-fiction flare. Volume 2 gives us a different interpretation. With the introduction of Johnny Romita as artist, and his more streamlined, super-hero look, Stan Lee turned Daredevil into a swashbuckling adventure strip in the same mode as many of the Marvel books of the 1960's. Issues 12-14, which begin this volume, are so far removed from the original concept of Daredevil, that it must have been a shock for original readers. Ka-Zar, Lord of the hidden Savage Land is on hand for a tale complete with lost siblings, destructive weapons and pirates! Issue 15, featuring the Ox, returns Daredevil to the original concept and it's all the better for it. Romita's artwork is especially great on this classic Stan Lee tale of betrayal and redemption. Issues 16 and 17 are a super-hero slugfest as Daredevil vs. Spider-Man in their second meeting. The supporting cast plays a pivotal role as Lee creates a great sub-plot that ends much too soon. These are the issues that proved Romita was the right artist to succeed Steve Ditko on Spider-Man. Issue 18 introduces the Gladiator and once again returns to the original concept and continues the sub-plot from issues 16 and 17. Issue 19 is Romita's final issue and it's great. Stan merges the two styles of writing and creates a template for things to come. With issue 20 we're introduced to the definitive Daredevil artist of the 1960's, Gene Colan. Colan achieved the perfect balance to Wood and Romita's work. Part film noir and part super-hero faire, Daredevil was never in better hands. Hopefully Marvel will remain faithful to the original coloring as the previous volume was criticized by many for it's garish tones. Though expensive this really is the only version of Daredevil in print worth purchasing.
Definitive Collection of early Daredevil Comics 1-11 c.1964.......1999-03-03
This is the best, though flawed, collection of the first 11 issues of Daredevil by Marvel Comics. Some recoloring of a few pages are funky, but readable. The artwork by the late Wally Wood is dramatic and inking/shading supurb. Of special note is the issue 7 guest star by Prince Namor, the Submariner. Stan Lee has referenced this as the definitive example of how a comic book should be written.
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