Daredevil #35

By Mark Waid, Chris Samnee and Javier Rodriguez

Finding new ways to praise a universally revered comic proves more and more difficult every month. Waid, Samnee, and company have created a comic that has secured its place in the Daredevil history books thirty-five times over. Now at the penultimate chapter of this volume, readers are left at a suspenseful juncture, one that could lead just about anywhere.

The magic of this Daredevil has always been the strict adherence to imagination, and more importantly, fun. Even in the face of his best friend dying and his entire life crumbling around him, Matt Murdock is always as willing to crack a joke and a smile, as he is to dispense justice inside the courtroom out. One of Daredevil’s oldest recurring characters even notes this shift in his character, remarking that she’s not used to his jocular side.

And the villains who have been pooled to be pitted against the Man Without Fear have provided more evidence to the notion that no villain is too silly to be a menacing or threatening character. Waid and Samnee have taken some of the most obscure and random characters from the Marvel universe, dusted them off, given them a new coat of varnish, and sent them on their way.

Similarly, the costumed action has always been properly balanced with non-costumed drama. Matt Murdock is actually free to remove his hero skin and realistically maintain his dual identities. In a world of monochromatic, one dimensional superheroes, Daredevil is always a breath of fresh air, a palate cleanser to remind us how hero comics aren’t required to be dark and gritty to be interesting.

Where Waid and Samnee conclude this volume of Daredevil is anybody’s best guess. This issue, along with every other issue in the run, have delivered twists and turns even the most dedicated analytical thinker couldn’t hope to uncover. Needless to say, thirty days can’t pass soon enough to see how this one wraps up.