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While it’s not without its moments of greatness (Wood, Colan, etc) and always possessed of something special, the more I read of the pre-Miller DAREDEVIL, the more amazed I am that the book stayed in print for the 14-15 years between DD’s creation and Miller's defining of the character: doubtful we’d’ve made it to the red costume had he been created in today’s publishing milieux.

ECHO (2024)

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Favorite Marvel series since WANDAVISION: fantastic performances all around, especially from Alaqua Cox and D'Onofrio whose father/daughter dynamic proved particularly affecting. Wears its TV-MA proudly, especially in the first few episodes (the DD fight was solid), but waters things down (Skateland being its last great action moment) by the end of its brisk five-episode run. Ending elicited a solid cheer, but given its earlier penchant for gritty, weighty action, I'd hoped for something to rival the DD/Fisk throwdown at the end of Netflix's first (and still best series of Marvel TV) season of DAREDEVIL: there was room for it – emotionally (even more so than DD, TBH) and run-time wise (36 minutes for the final episode seemed a bit too brisk), certainly. Wouldn't have diluted the power of the denouement. That being said, hope we get more: Alaqua Cox's Maya is, by far, my favorite addition to the Marvel pantheon in the D+ era.

echo still: maya kicks ass

D yellow but not DD yellow in posable plastic

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Staring up and in circles around the Paintshop, as is my wont when I'm getting nowhere quickly, I'm fascinated that none of my yellow-costumed Daredevil figures, variant or otherwise, ToyBiz or Hasbro, use the DD symbol of Wally Wood's two yellow and red costume issues (five and six, feat the first of his changes to the suit before the all-red switch in seven): they all use the single D. Not sure why things worked out this way – or if this extends to the figures I don’t have, or why I've become fascinated with it (other than I needed something to stare at), or why I felt compelled to share it, but here it is. DD Yellow doesn’t get enough posable plastic love so I suppose we can add that grave injustice to the world’s list.

last week’s comics this week, 2023w42-43

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  • DAREDEVIL 02: big improvement over last issue. Intrigued by where it goes next. In, still.

  • NIGHTWING 107 / TITANS 04: love Taylor, et al's work with these characters. Still very in; along with Ryan North's FF, TITANS is the rare team book that I enjoy.

  • CATWOMAN 158: waiting for Gotham War to end so we can get on with the new status quo. Will decide with the next issue if I continue, as I do love Selina and how Howard writes her.

  • BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NO ONE CAN SEE 01: dark, disturbing, and utterly brilliant. So very, very in; my favorite release of the week.

  • CYBERPUNK 2077: XOXO 01: trend of amazing transmedia CP deepenings continues. Love / in.

  • SUBGENRE 01: I'm a sucker for over-sized genre playtime. In.

five quick notes on DAREDEVIL (2023) No. 1

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  • Dig Matt's new employ quite a bit. Intriguing angle.

  • Kuder’s art is solid, but isn’t speaking to me yet.

  • A little rushed getting him back into (SPOILER)

  • First exposure to Elektra DD and I dig (missed the entirety of Zdarsky's run).

  • Want to know where Ahmed's going to take everything so I'll give it a few more issues, maybe the whole first arc, before deciding whether or not to continue. That being said, DD’s at its best when it rises above itself and acts as a vehicle for a unique vision– Miller, Bendis/Maleev, Waid/Martin/Samnee – and I’m not (yet) convinced that that’s the case here.