DAREDEVIL #16

[ A BULLET FOR A BARGAIN ] 

Ready, aim, but don't fire. Not yet, anyway. Not until you check out the following bullet riddled installment of Daredevil, brought to us by Charles Soule, Goran Sudzuka, and of course, Marvel Comics. It's February, 2017, and it's time to see those beautiful sparks fly! Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang!

TO QUOTE Mark Twain: 'Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see'.

THE REVIEW:

Are you the type of person who goes to church every Sunday so you can listen to mass? If so, then you might find issue 16 of Daredevil a pretty interesting read.

Essentially it's a character study based on Daredevils relationship with Catholicism as well as his basic comprehension of good and evil. On the one hand he's a good person and he wants to do good by others. While on the other hand, it has been known that some of his good deeds have resulted in tragedy, which is starting to make it rather difficult for him to justify his own actions in spite of his good intent.  

Case in point, after the death of his one true love, Karen Page, DD blamed himself for her demise because it was partially based on her association with him. So what did he decide to do? He decided to turn his back on his chosen faith because he was unable to trust a God who would allow this to happen.

Years later, or to be more specific about it, two issues ago, a similar thing happened once again when his current partner, Blindspot, got his eyes ripped out by the serial killer, Vincent Van Gore. But this time, instead of Daredevil turning his back on Catholicism, he decided to do the complete opposite, by going to his local church so he could speak to the priest.

Here, he encounters a fairly butch Holy man who goes by the name of Father Jordan (no relation to Hal), who explains to Matt, now disguised as a homeless person, that, 'God made the world imperfect, and he made us seeing a better world and wanting it'. So, in simple terms, God wants us to fight for a better tomorrow, today, as he would like us to be good people and improve the society around us. Which sounds fairly reasonable, as it should to any member of the human race.

Now while this is going on, both Matt and Father Jordan slowly venture out from the church and into the streets, where eventually they come across a gang of street punks who intend to mug them. But don't worry! Father Jordan has God on his side, or should that be, a pretty good pair of fighting-fists, which he surprisingly uses to bat them away before Matt can even lift a finger. It turns out, that Jordan is a secret member of an old Catholic order, named The Order of the Dragon, and from the looks of it, they must have taught him how to kick ass with the best of them.

Funnily enough, as I'm on the subject of kicking ass, I best mention how this story begins and how it manages to fit in with Matt's conversation with the priest. As some of you may recall, last month Matt took out a contract on his alter-egos life so he can raise some money for Sam's hospital treatment. Well, when I say money, what I actually mean to say is that I initially presumed it was about money. But no. It's not. Matt's basic intention was to flush out a villain who would be able to help him with his quest, namely, the villain called Bullseye. So when this book begins, we see Bullseye perched on top of a roof far off in the distance, and of course, quickly takes aim and fires in Daredevils general direction (head shot). But before the bullet can hit, Matt starts to recollect the conversation he had with the priest two days earlier, and this goes on, back and forth, back and forth, until... until... nah! I best leave things right there, as I don't want to spoil how this issue ends. Which, trust me, is one hell of a show stopper!

But before I go, I would just like to end my review with a lot of love and respect for the current creative team. To Charles Soule, I must applaud your theologically themed adventure as it was a really great read; where as to Goran Sudzuka, I bow down to your exquisite pencil work I wholeheartedly admire, every page. Great job, guys. Please keep it up.

THE MUSIC:

One of the things I failed to mention in my review was what happened to Sam. So instead of implying what happened to him during my conclusion, how about I let Hall & Oates tell you in a very musical fashion! Although, please keep in mind that you should replace the word 'she' for a 'he'.

THE COMPARISON:

In no uncertain terms this adventure is about Matt going to a confessional. So with that said, how could I not compare it to -- yep, you guessed it -- a confessional!! Say no more. Amen.

THE CONCLUSION:

At the very end of this book Matt visits Father Jordan and tells him something rather surprising. So, for the sake of wholes in water, can you guess what Matt says out of the following eight options? Could it be...

1. I'm an Amish street fighter.
2. I voted Trump!
3. I buy my glasses wholesale.
4. A while back everyone knew who I was but now they don't. Let's talk about how that happened.   
5. Did you fart? Coz I smell eggs!
6. What's going on with my TV show? Is it a porno now?
7. Do you know where I can buy some eyes for Sam?
8. I know what you did last summer, and trust me; it had nothing to do with watching a film.  

Nuff said.