DAREDEVIL #54 REVIEW

[BoomBot]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54t.JPG" align=left alt="Daredevil #54 Cover"></a>Reviewer: Omar A. Safi, safi@sbcglobal.net
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Echo, Part Four: Two Dogs Fighting

Echo encounters Wolverine during her vision quest!

Story & Art: David Mack
Letters: Virtual Calligraphy’s Cory Petit
Editor: Joe Quesada
Associate Managing Editor: Kelly Lamy
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. “Oh man, not another meaningless Wolverine appearance…lame!” Well, in the penultimate issue to ‘Echo’, David Mack puts Wolverine to good use. As a fitting element of ‘Echo’, Wolverine acts as Maya Lopez’s (Echo) animal spirit during her vision quest.

When Logan and Maya first meet, Maya is frightened by thunder and strikes at Logan. Mack narrates Maya amazingly well and descriptively. For example, as she first hits Logan, she says, “I have a feeling like I failed a test. Like I put something in motion that I shouldn’t have.” Her feeling that lashing out at Logan was a mistake is felt strongly by the reader through her words. The excellent analogies created by Mack are once again present like “the lightning goes again and again and frames us in flashbulb snapshots.” Maya also says that she only feels thunder’s impact and that it is like a “drum beat.” In addition, Maya explains their fight well and her actions against Logan. Displaying her enjoyable naivety again, when Logan unsheathes his claws, Maya asks, “What sound do claws make?”

Eventually, the two stop their quarrel and Maya explains herself. Logan takes her to his camp site where the two casually discuss much, including his struggle to maintain his humanity and sustain his bestiality when Maya asks whether he is a man or animal. Mack writes Wolverine accurately in various ways. When Maya first stands against Logan, she notes that he is shorter and his frequent drinking later. His dialogue is well done; to exemplify, Maya asks, “Are you one of the animal spirits?” in which Logan sarcastically replies, “Sure.” Logan also tells of how he met the Chief when he was in the forest embracing his animalistic side; the Chief then set him on a vision quest. Maya tells Logan what she has seen on her vision quest, including the two dogs fighting. Logan says that the Chief told him of a story called “Two Dogs Fighting”, which helped him in his struggle.

<table border=0 align=center><tr><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54-1.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54-1t.JPG" alt="Daredevil #54 Page 1"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54-2&3.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54-2&3t.JPG" alt="Daredevil #54 Pages 2-3"></a></td><td align=middle><a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54-4.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/firstlooks/031119/ddv2-54-4t.JPG" alt="Daredevil #54 Page 4"></a></td></tr></table>

Mack again creates some truly stunning artwork. As seen in the above pages, Mack displays the lightning against the darkness well through a very Hugh Jackman-esque Logan’s face. Pages 8 and 9 create a complicated yet brilliant winding battle between Maya and Logan. Mack again proves to be a versatile artist with this issue. His characters are illustrated nicely with different styles and appearances. Maya appears abstract while Logan is quite statically done while both are done photo-realistically and then with a more different rough sketch feel. Logan’s variant face is done well and Maya’s portrait one the last page is amazing. I have also noticed that Mack utilizes two artistic templates throughout ‘Echo’; one is a more blended painting style while the other is the sketch work style.

Each issue of ‘Echo’ so far has made for a quick and satisfying read and Daredevil #54 has seen more progression than previous issues. Although, each issue adds to the recycled feeling as the writing is becoming so and the art goes through similar images each page and issue. Mack may be going for an overall feel for the story arc but it does falter the quality slightly.

Daredevil #54 is definitely recommended with fine writing and diverse artwork.

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

[Alan Lynch]

This arc's disappointed me. The first issue, even the second, were wonderful. The art, the dialogue, and everything inbetween were wonderful (even allowing for the fact that part 2 was still an introduction). But it's getting dull now - I appreciate a writer taking his time to tell a story, but Mack seems to be taking his time to tell us nothing. It's still a wonderfully clever arc, and I daresay had it been released as a graphic novel, or even a mini I would've liked it more, but as it stands it's just an annoying obstacle in the way of the classy crime stuff Bendis and Maleev were doing. Mack understands Echo, I get that. But that's not why I buy Daredevil, frankly.

[Gat0r-ManX]

I think this is the first issue of this arc that has a definite point of meaning to me. But it seems like a Wolverine-thing to do these days isn't it? (I'm not an animal - Wolverine 6, i believe)

But i do enjoy this particular issue. And i like your review! :D

[NMBradbury]

I need to ask something before I pick this up. Is Daredevil himself actually in this arc at all? Or is it just this Echo character?

And also, another Wolverine guest appearance. Greaaat. God knows Wolverine isn't in enough comics as it is.

[BoomBot]

Originally posted by NMBradbury
I need to ask something before I pick this up. Is Daredevil himself actually in this arc at all? Or is it just this Echo character?

And also, another Wolverine guest appearance. Greaaat. God knows Wolverine isn't in enough comics as it is.
He was in the second issue and might appear in the next issue. As for Wolverine, did you read the review?

[NMBradbury]

Originally posted by Omar A. Safi

He was in the second issue and might appear in the next issue. As for Wolverine, did you read the review?

Yes. You said that he has a good reason for being here and it's not just a gratuitous sales-boosting tactic. However, I am still opposed to Wolverine guesting in any book at the moment, no matter how well done. Except in Punisher, because that's just an excuse for Ennis to relentlessly mock the character. Which I like. :p Am I the only person in the world who doesn't like Wolverine?

[Morgan-Paladin71]

Mack is truely amazing in this issue...adding his own art style to the movie wolverine. the art is gorgeous as always, and i like the story so far.

[Kizmet]

Originally posted by NMBradbury


Yes. You said that he has a good reason for being here and it's not just a gratuitous sales-boosting tactic. However, I am still opposed to Wolverine guesting in any book at the moment, no matter how well done. Except in Punisher, because that's just an excuse for Ennis to relentlessly mock the character. Which I like. :p Am I the only person in the world who doesn't like Wolverine?

Once upon a time I liked him, now I'm extremely sick of him. I wish it were possible to avoid him. I mean I don't read his solo title, I don't read the X-billion mini-series in which he's a character, and yet he's still impossible to avoid over dosing on.

Why can't Marvel put him on ONE core X-title and leave him there, why couldn't the Exiles go at least three arcs without running into some version Wolverine? Why can't the rest of the X-Men in Ultimate X-Men be more than guests in their own series? Isn't there anyone else who can guest star once and a while?

I honestly don't mind the endless stream of Wolverine/some other character minis and his solo book, but aren't they enough for his fans to get their fix?

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

man...i swear, i can't just sit down and read an issue of this comic while Mack is on it. i mean, i feel like i have to be in the right mindset and i can't just flip through it. I have to sit and absorb it, study it carefully for every detail and nuance. It makes for really engaging reading and as weird as this sounds, i'm gonna be a bit sad when Bendis comes back. lol.

Of course...it's Bendis so i won't be sad for more than, like, the recap page. :D

[Al Brown]

So...am I the only guy who thinks David Mack's sortof a pretentious boob?

Don't get me wrong, when he actually paints something it looks great...but when he's doing the sketchy scribbly thing with the words all over the place and all, I'm not such a fan anymore. C'mon, don't you have any other guns in the arsenal? Cause it's been like a million years since Arkham Asylum...

I'm just marking time til the real story starts up again.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Alx
So...am I the only guy who thinks David Mack's sortof a pretentious boob?


If there's any hope for the human race...yes. ;)

[Marvel Dude]

I hate this arc. I like david mack an all,but his arc is putting me to sleep. It's just so boring. I can't wait for bendis to start writing again.