DAREDEVIL #7

[ ANGELS ARE US ] 

Dancing in the Snow. Upon a one man driven bus. They do not know where to go. Or what is all the fuss. Heah – Daredevil smells – clucking bells – children in dismay – lets all hope that this issue is better than wee-wee in the hay. Correct? Just ask Writer: Mark Waid; Artist: Paolo Rivera; and Publisher: Marvel Comics in January 2012.

So what’s the story morning glory?

In this self-contained seasonal issue of Daredevil, we are presented with a dilemma, a flashback sequence, a frosty resolution, and a question that is as strange as a lesbian scene between Beyonce and Miss Piggy.

The Dilemma – All Matt Murdock wanted to do, was to take a bus load of troublesome kids into the Catskill mountains, so that they can have a change of scenery and a dose of winters air. But no, the bus taking them crashes on route due to the icy conditions – leaving the bus in pieces – the driver dead – the children injured – and Matt with a bash on his head.

The Flashback – Whist in a dark-haze, Matt recollects what happened to him a couple of days previously. For example, his dilemma with the stolen data-disk – Foggy forcing him to join in with an ‘office party’ – plus him flirting with and talking to D.A. Kirsten McDuffie.

The Resolution – Once Matt regains his consciousness again, he rallies all of the children together, puts on his Daredevil costume, and then tries to get everyone to safety. However, this is not an easy thing for him to do – the weather impedes his senses, and he is injured as well. Still, with some help from the children, they all find a way.

The Question – Why would an unknown perpetrator steal Matt’s fathers’ body from his grave?

What is the most memorable sentence spoken in this issue?

The most memorable sentence in this issue is not spoken, but rather, embroidered. It’s written on Matt’s sweater whilst she at the office party ‘I’m Not Daredevil’.

That made me laugh straight way – funny.

Was the story any good?

Now I have to admit, I am a sucker for a self-contained story – especially one with a Christmas vibe to it. Moreover, I did find that this one had a really buoyant and cool manner – with it’s novelistic tone – it’s simplistic execution – and it’s jovial way of storytelling.

What more could you want from writer, Mark Waid? Blood? Hmnm – maybe next issue.

Was the art any good?

In this issue, artist, Paolo Rivera, really surpasses himself with the visuals he puts out on the page. The snow looks like snow, the sweater look like a sweater, and the pacing and the tone is just ‘spot on’ for such a dissolute type of a read.

Though, I have to say, that in places, his pencil work in peoples faces does come across as a might minimalist in execution - thus making peoples expressions ‘bitty’.

What is the best thing about this issue?

Apart from Matt’s sweater – that was fab – I did enjoy the overall premise behind this issue. Also, on top of that, I did find the last section of this tale especially captivating – when Matt started to ‘lose it’ in front of the kids, shows he’s human.

What is the worst thing about this issue?

The only slight gripe I have with this story; is why did Matt put on his Daredevil costume in front of the kids? OK, I know that he could not do a ‘disappearing act’, and that he needed to keep warm. Still, I am sure that this could have been portrayed a little differently is all – Matt could have used his ‘gear’ in another manner.

If you could sum up this issue in a phrase or saying, what would that phrase or saying be?

Due to some scenes in this issue, where we see Matt and the kids walking in the snow, all I can say is ‘Keep Warm’ – it feels natural to me.

If this issue were a movie, an object, or a piece of music, what would that be and why? 

This story is classy, Christmas in tone, and is lovely to read in front of a warm fireplace. Now George Michael’s song, ‘Last Christmas’, does it in one.

What do you think would have made this issue better than it was?

Not much could have made this issue better, or otherwise it would have been a completely different issue. Though, a bit more Foggy and Co would have been nice, and I would have liked to have seen more personality in the children Matt was saving.

Final thoughts...

Waid and Rivera have really stamped their mark on Dardevil with this new series. However, I just hope that they can stay on this title for as long as possible, because we don’t want a new creative team to dampen the tone of this book – which has happened in the past with previous runs.

Marks out of 10? 8.5