DAREDEVIL #17

[ BIG STAND FOR A BIG SALE ] 

Why would a villain want to wear a pair of stilts? Is it because he is ashamed to wear a kilt? I know that this garment is loose. As it has been known to attract many a goose. As well as confirm if the is wearer well built. Ha! These guys know who I am referring too. Writer: Mark Waid; Artist: Michael Allred; and Publisher: Marvel Comics in August 2012.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

I once watched a gardening program on the television where the host of the show attempted to splice-together a watermelon and a cauliflower. He wanted to call this new creation of his 'melancholy'. Though, do you know what is so serendipitous about this story? It's that I could use this exact same word to describe this issue of Daredevil, entitled 'Divide By Hero'.

• Well, since the recent devolution of the Nelson and Murdock legal partnership, Matt has started to get a bit maudlin in his manner.
• He reminisces about times past, of when both he and Foggy were starting off their respective careers.
• An incident with the Stilt Man. An encounter with a crook called Forkknight. Plus a meeting with a scientist called Pasko too. All of these events giving Matt and Foggy a warm and strong bond that's lasted till this very day.
• CRACK! Maybe?

To be continued.    

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

There were two expression used in this comic that I thought were 'spot-up' where the overall temperament was concerned. Firstly, when Matt musses to himself 'This street corner is a lot like my life: Constantly being rebuilt from scratch because it keeps on getting flattened'. And secondly, during the fight-scene between Daredevil and Stilt-Man, I did like it when he surmised 'Despite his ludicrous appearance and one note schtick, that hydraulics suit was well built -- like Iron Mans armour as if it was built by Napoleon'. Referring to Mister Bonaparte small stature of course.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

As implied in my silly 'lead in' statement, this comic book has a very strong melancholy tone behind. It started off on a nice recount of what happened at the end of the last issue. Then it continued into a past tale which reinforced the present. And finally it hit home why this tale was relayed in the first place.

Bravo Mark Waid. You're one talented writing machine.   

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

Oh! This is going to be a right bugger for me to answer. Though at a touch, I suppose the one very-very-very small thing I wasn't too keen on, was that it acted as a 'stop-gap' into whatever is coming up next.

Still, whilst saying that, that's the whole point to a 'stand-alone' story, huh?

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: To be perfectly honest with you there wasn't anything really new or creative about this story -- apart from the fact that it was very well presentment and had a nice retro vibe about it. Maybe on a certain level I could say both of these aspects combined were somewhat original? Huh?

ART: Do you know why artist, Michael Allred, is actually called Allred? It's because everything he draws has to be read in it entirely. Honest to God, his stuff is really sublime on this book. It's as if he and Mark were meant to work together. Both of them in one way or another merging into a singular entity that is just outstanding in my eyes. Smashing.

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

STILT MAN: Nicolas Cage has proven that he can make the goofy into the real -- just as he's done in the comic book movie 'Kick Ass'. But can he do the same thing but now on stilts? Metallic stilts might I add!!!! That I would like to see.

FORKKNIGHT: Now I am not sure if should cast British Actor, Terrance Stamp, in this small role. On the one hand he could pull off the exteriors with no problem at all. But on the other hand relegating him from General Zod to street thug may be slightly demeaning for him. Choices. Choices. That's life!

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

From The Past Comes A Future Cemented In Stilts.

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

From a conceptual stand point this tale was about friendship, right? Of how two people can rely on each other for both 'good times and bad times'. Hmm? Can you see where I am going with this? So can Dionne Warwick and her friends too. Well, most of them anyway -- 'That's what friends are for'.

FINAL thoughts...

Up to this point I have really liked the fact that Marvel has employed artists on this to series who share a similar style.  However -- why? Why not just get one artist on this book and leave it at that? Why not allow for some consistency where the art chores are concerned? Just like the writing is. It does not make any sense to me, unless this is a deliberate tactic made by the 'big wigs' leading onto something else.

Well, can you think of a good reason for the rotating artist?

OK, I am sure that Editors -- Steven Wacker, Axel Alonzo, and Ellie Pyle -- can come up with some excuse or reasons why this is the case. Moreover, I am also sure that they can back-up their statements by stating that they've tried to remain consistent were the art style is concerted too. Nonetheless, statements are statements, facts are facts, and art is art, and none of this means 'diddly-squat' unless Daredevil is respected with a modicum of focused stability.  

It would be nice, huh?

MARKS out of 10? 9