DAREDEVIL #45 REVIEW

[Tan K.]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/DD_45.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/DD_45t.jpg" align=left alt="Daredevil #45"></a>Reviewer: Tan K., Tan@xfan.cjb.net
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Lowlife (part 5 of 5)

The Owl gets his, and an old friend decides to make a "conjugal" visit.

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Alex Maleev
Cover by: Alex Maleev
Lettered by: Cory Petit
Colored by: Matt Hollingsworth
Editor: Joe Quesada
Associate Managing Editor:Kelly Lamy
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

I have to say Daredevil never really interested me before. I had missed out on Frank Miller's run and really only read D.G. Chichester's "Last Rites" and "Fall from Grace" arcs. I found them entertaining, but because of my lack of understanding/attachment to the Daredevil/Matt Murdock character, I was not drawn to the book. Then the Marvel Knights imprint was created with Daredevil becoming its flagship title. I decided to give the relaunch a try mainly because of Joe Quesada’s art. “Guardian Devil” gave me my first insight into Matt Murdock the man. This was the first time I got to see what made him tick. For various reasons, I dropped the title, but the seed was planted. Then in a stroke of genius the 25 cent issue came out. I could not believe I had ignored this title for the last three years.

It is no secret that the main ingredient behind Daredevil’s success is Brian Michael Bendis. I had never read any of his previous works before, but after reading “Lowlife,” I may actually seek out his name when searching the racks at the comic store.

Side Note: What I found to be interesting is that Mr. Bendis has not been tagged with the “verbose” label yet. From what I have seen, he uses word balloons galore, which I think is wonderful, but he as of yet has not come under fire for it. End Side Note

The man can write conversation sequences with the best of them and is a master of the art of everyday interaction. He is able to give each person their own unique voice without resorting to cliché techniques. Each character’s speech patterns are altered but in a subtle way without making them sound like verbal caricatures. Matt’s and Foggy’s talks are some of my favorites. There is nothing special about the verbage of the conversations, but their sincere friendship shines through Mr. Bendis’s words. I am not that familiar with the Owl, but he came across as a psychopathic, babbling idiot, but not in the typical sense. He was in my opinion made out to be mentally deficient. Nice take on a once throw away villain.

I look for depth of relationships and a conveying of rich characters. That is what makes Mr. Bendis’s style so appealing. He is able to provide the reader a clear window into the core essence of a person through their actions and words. He has already established or reestablished various full relationships in 5 short issues. This is not an easy task, but it looked effortless.

I am a fan of a full issue of story progression. I dislike feeling like I spent $3 on a dollars amount of story. As I was reading “Lowlife,” it seemed like there was not much going on, but then I realized how much Brian Michael Bendis was able to squeeze in. That is the sheer beauty of it. He was able to find the right balance without making the issues seem too sparse or engorged (which lends itself to becoming underdeveloped).

What stands out to me is Mr. Bendis not taking anything for granted in his storytelling. For example while others may write the title character into every resolution of a plotline, he may not. In real life, there are many ways a particular section of life can resolve itself. By utilizing each of these aspects of life, the actual use of the primary protagonist becomes more special, and the reader gets to have the occasional treat of not being able to totally predict the ending. For me the fact the FBI were the ones that brought the Owl down stunned me. It made sense, but it surprised me. Better yet, it was not forced. I love being surprised.

Alex Maleev: For those who know of my artistic preferences, it may surprise some that I absolutely love his work. His style is very deceiving. A quick glance may give the customer an impression of sloppy, jagged art. This most definitely not the case. In all art forms I look for true form, and Mr. Maleev can draw some of the most realistic characters in the business. In an industry where it seems like there are only the “pretty”or “storytelling” artists, Alex Maleev is both. Not only can he draw a near perfect face, he adds an extra page of written description with each panel. I cannot recall being able to see so much feeling and language being given to me as I have in this title. To be honest, I do not know if the praises I gave to Mr. Bendis are not actually a result of the powerful art. The only negative comment I have is that his action sequences and his Daredevil seem flat and somewhat bland.

This is one of the best titles in the industry, and as a result of the movie, more people are discovering it. I think us newcomers have jumped on at the right time. Brian Michael Bendis has made the relationship between Daredevil and the Kingpin so intriguing and with the latter’s return to these pages, I think the coming year will be full of some of the most compelling storytelling to come.


ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=87&cat=DAREDEVIL)

[thewrite1]

I am becoming a fan of Daredevil too. I don't know whether its the writing or the artwork that makes reading it so special but I love the storylines and the characters. The best moments are those between Matt and Foggy, but the supporting characters are always very much part of the story and everyone has their own individual look. The artwork is realistic and beautiful at the same time, the detail is fabulous.

Nice review.

[Anthony Zisa]

Originally posted by Tan K.
Side Note: What I found to be interesting is that Mr. Bendis has not been tagged with the “verbose” label yet. From what I have seen, he uses word balloons galore, which I think is wonderful, but he as of yet has not come under fire for it. End Side Note

Because Bendis' word balloons are not extraneous. Kevin Smith and Bendis like to use a lot of words, but they do so in a manner that it's usually not repeating stuff visible in the panel.

--acz

[theory]

Originally posted by Anthony Zisa


Because Bendis' word balloons are not extraneous. Kevin Smith and Bendis like to use a lot of words, but they do so in a manner that it's usually not repeating stuff visible in the panel.

--acz
a la "storm flies through the air with fury as lighting beckons from her inner being. ororo monroe is a mutant, a member blah blah blah...."
dont get me wrong, i love claremont and xxm.
but i also admire the way bendis uses his text to convey the story. theres alot to take in, but its fresh and offers more than background info or what have you. also, im loving his run on daredevil, he and maleev are really putting out some great work.

[Broadsword]

Right now I am trying to decide which book to pick up. Fantastic Four or Daredevil. As soon as I see something that makes me go one way, something comes along and drags me to the other book! :bawl:

Why do I have to be poor! Why can't I buy both! :bawl:

Oh, great review by the way. :worthy:

[Tan K.]

Originally posted by Anthony Zisa


Because Bendis' word balloons are not extraneous. Kevin Smith and Bendis like to use a lot of words, but they do so in a manner that it's usually not repeating stuff visible in the panel.

--acz


Originally posted by theory

a la &quot;storm flies through the air with fury as lighting beckons from her inner being. ororo monroe is a mutant, a member blah blah blah....&quot;
dont get me wrong, i love claremont and xxm.
but i also admire the way bendis uses his text to convey the story. theres alot to take in, but its fresh and offers more than background info or what have you. also, im loving his run on daredevil, he and maleev are really putting out some great work.
I can understand some people's aversion to recaps and what some consider obvious, but I have seen that label thrown at CC for extended conversations that possess none of the qualities you two are speaking of.

EDIT

Originally posted by Broadsword
Right now I am trying to decide which book to pick up. Fantastic Four or Daredevil. As soon as I see something that makes me go one way, something comes along and drags me to the other book! :bawl:

Why do I have to be poor! Why can't I buy both! :bawl:

Oh, great review by the way. :worthy:
I have only read the first couple of issues of FF since Waid came onboard. It is a great read, but there were a couple of elements that bugged me. My vote would be DD, but after reading the FF #67 review, I may pick it up.

It would help to know what other books you collect to get a feel for your preferred interest.

[ReaperFett]

Another great issue. Bendis really is in the elite group of DD writers, with Miller, Loeb and Smith.

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Great review, Tan. I loved this issue, but the issue lacked a bit of action until the last part of the issue, which was interesting. Although, I hadn't picked up this book until #40 was released, I found this book interesting, but I hadn't gotten it until after having read several issues of Elektra's solo book also placed into the Marvel Knights' line of books. And after picking up issue #40, I bought the back issue when Elektra made a guest appearance in issue #37 and issue #39, where The Trial of the Century arc was finishing up its arc.

[Padan Fain]

Very nice review, Tan. Good, good issue...and I agree; the FBI showing up to bust the Owl was GREAT! Not forced; just surprising, and then, after thinking about it for a minute, made a LOT of sense.

Geeze! I only picked up Lowlife because it was tying into the Alias 'Underneath' storyline...but, consarnit, it's really good. Bah; Daredevil was just one of those characters I never really cared about, so I could convince myself that I didn't need to read his comic....and Bendis goes and makes him interesting and COMPLETELY acceseble to a new reader. I'll probably get the next storyarc now....bye-bye money....

[Alex Guillen]

Tan, great review. first of all, i loved the cover, Matt seems to be in a boxing pose and I guess it has to do with the fact that he really doesn't have any weapons (except the billy club) and is more of a hand to hand fighter and that his dad was a boxer. Bendis is'n t really verbose but he tries to put too much into the stories but I like what he's donw with Matt right now. Claermont's problemm is thta he recaps obvious things and uses redundance too much.
Maleev's art is amazing, one of the best artists right now. he and Bendis have really brought back daredevil after all the shipping problems it had before back as Marvel knight's premier book.
I cab't wait to see the Kingpin back in action.

[Tan K.]

Kotsin, did you feel he underdeveloped some areas, or just that it was too much?

[Alan Lynch]

Illness has prohibited me from picking this up yet, but I have to say that Bendis is one of the finest writers alive, in any medium IMO. He has a style and a wit that can make even the most far-fetched ideas and stories somehow "real-life". I've loved his DD run so far, and I was a virgin to the character until this time last year.

[Andy James]

IMHO, Daredevil is the best book Marvel is putting out today so im glad to see a review done for it at X Fan at last.
I do think Marvel dropped the ball a little when promoting the comic in light of the movies success but thats another story.
Loved the issue so much as i have with every single issue of Bendis's run.
Having collected the adventures of hornhead for about 7 years now i can safely say that Bendis captures the essence of the character perfectlly and every single issue something important happens that really pushes the story along such as this issue with the Death of Sammy Silke at the hands- Literally- of the Kingpin. I mean Kingpins back, so how freaking cool is that?)
Its of course complemented by the superb pencils of Maleev who is my favourite artist in the industry right now. So you have my favourite writer and favourite artist on the same book. Any wonder why i love this book so much? ;)