This issue is no exception. Waid has built a new status quo for DD that is paying dividends. With DD’s theft of the Omega Drive, Dr. Doom and Latveria are obviously angry. Doom doesn’t even make an appearance in this comic, leaving Matt Murdock to his underlings. This showdown was telegraphed back in issue 2. But obviously, Daredevil can’t billy-club his way through Doom’s armor, so Waid throws out a new (and already memorable) new underling in Chancellor Exchequer Beltane. Beltane has a personal, devious, and frankly cruel punishment in line for DD, and it instantly makes him a despicable foe. Doom could really use a competent henchman/2nd banana, so I’ve got high hopes for this guy.
And what a cliffhanger!
Chris Samnee’s art is perfect. Beltane’s outfit is the perfect blend of Kirby’s Latveria and Fourth World. He looks like he walked out of a Prussian battlefield into Marvel Comics. Samnee had big shoes to fill getting this regular gig, and I’m happy he’s handling it so well. Instead of continuing in exactly the same tone as the previous artists, this work almost looks like Michael Lark or Francesco Francavilla. That’s fine company.
Excellent
2 comments:
You are not alone. I too find this title at the bottom of my pile the week it comes out. Yet it is the one I am most eager to read.
It is probably because I have faith that I will like it and want more. That I will walk away from my stack thinking comics are still great no matter what else I read that week.
For the opposite of that feeling you can read Alan Moore's latest installment of his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Century: 2009).
Note that I say you can read it. Not that you should.
Is it at the bottom because it feels like it comes out twice a month more often than not so it can slip by?
And is Waid a rarity that he does almost every issue as a single story and is amazing at the cliffhangers to draw you back for the next one? Sure it's a throwback style, but why does it feel so fresh and great?
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