DAREDEVIL #19

[ HEAD'S UP ON A BARGAIN ] 

How can blood run through the streets of New York City? Is it something to do with that businessman, Walter Mitty? He had a secret life you know. One that went too and throw. Especially when he started showing everyone his massive titty. No. Not unlike Writer: Mark Waid; Artist: Chris Samnee; and Publisher: Marvel Comics in November 2012. I think. Ha!

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Do you honestly think that this second part of 'NYsCene' will tell us who's more crackers? Matt Murdock or Foggy Nelson?

Well, is Matt a nut -- because he hallucinated seeing his ex-wife, Mila, last issue? Or is Foggy a nut -- because he tells District Attorney, Kirsten McDuffie, who Matt really is?

• Now I'd like to think superhero scientist, Hank Pym, could answer this question for us. But alas, all he can come up with at the moment; is allude to some radioactive substances swimming around inside Matt's noggin.
• And as for the New York criminal underworld on the other hand -- BOOM-BANG-BANG-BANG -- they're speechless -- so says 'Coyote'.

To be continued when Daredevil does an impression of Yorick from the play, 'Hamlet'.

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I loved that panel where Daredevil was falling out of the tall building -- after being shot at by all of those thugs -- only for him to say to Foggy on the phone -- 'I'll call you back'.

Funny, right?

I also liked Daredevils internal monologue when he was with Hank too, stating -- 'Hank Pym, a.k.a. Giant-Man, a.k.a. Ant-Man, a.k.a. what day it is, recently operated on my grey matter... on the inside. He is not comforting'.

Ha! Now how's that for pithy exposition with a twist!

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

Now there were two scenarios I really did like reading within this tale. Firstly, I liked the fact that Foggy admitted to Kirsten he still cares for Matt -- I knew this all along, I just wanted him to say it. And secondly, I liked the surreal last panel of this book, where Daredevil's head was in the hands of 'Coyote' -- Wow! What a shocker that was!

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

My only slight gripe with this yarn was that writer, Mark Waid, felt the need to explain what's been happening in Daredevils life recently, when this information has already been elaborated on in the inlay of this book.

Please note, this is not much of a gripe. I know. It's a nano-gripe at best.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: One of the most moving scenes in this story was the one where Foggy spoke to Kirsten at the bar. Not only did it have a nice 'film noir' atmosphere behind it, but it was also very expressive and shocking as a scene in its own right -- without any action having to be conveyed.

Nice. Nice and innovative.

ART: Chris Samnee might not be the most detailed penciler in the world. And Chris Samnee might not be the most expressive penciler in the world either. But what he is, is a stylish and moody illustrator, who can juxtapose the mundane with the high-octane, without any jolt in the quality of his art.

Take this issue for instance. Two of my most favorite scenes in it -- the bar-room scene, and the scene where Daredevil jumps out of a building -- were both crafted as if they were one and the same. Both with personality. And both with the appropriate about of tension.

Class.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

FOGGY: If Mister Nelson was an actual nut, what variety of a nut would he actually be? Cashew? No. Too flavorsome. I personally like to think of him as an un-salted and de-shelled peanut -- quite bland, but Moorish all the same.

MATT: As for this blind vigilante on the other hand -- well -- he'd have to be a walnut, right? A protective shell on the outside, and a slightly bitter aftertaste on the inside.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Who Will Crack First? The Vigilante? The Lawyer? Or The... CRACK... OUCH!... My Arm!!!!!

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

Alright, so conceptually speaking, this adventure is about two men who presume they're mad, or the opposing party, correct? So why not compare it to the Queen song 'I'm Going Slightly Mad'? Make's sense, huh?

FINAL thoughts...

Dear People Who Splash The Cash At Marvel.

Please, please, please, please, please do not f*ck about with this title. It is a great title. With great artists and a great writer too. Don't try and renumber it and slap a new creative team on it! Please. There's no point tampering about with this book one little bit. Each and every week Mark and... err... whoever... produce some really great stuff, keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last.

Just take a look at this issue. Nowhere else will you see a sidekick spill the beans on his 'buddies' true identify, compiled with a mystery about madness and a crime about surrealism?  Go on. Point to any book on the market today and tell me this has transpired? You can't, can you?

And with that I will rest my case.

Love light and peace, the reviewer. 

MARKS out of 10? 9