Comic Reviews

Daredevil Reborn #2

Writer: Andy Diggle

Artist: Davide Gianfelice

Publisher: Marvel

The fish-out-of-water saga continues with issue #2 of Daredevil Reborn. Murdock, after the harrowing incidents of Shadowland, has opted to leave his station in Hell’s Kitchen (in good hands mind you, see T’Challa as the new Man Without Fear) and go for a soul-searching journey. But in classic comic-book fashion he doesn’t get very far before he has to take a detour.

The same things that made issue #1 an enjoyable read are continued here as well. While the characters are run of the mill and mostly static, the plot, while not entirely original either, is entertaining and exciting; it’s interesting to see Murdock outside of the Daredevil suit doing battle. We’re given a bit more back-story into the blind child from the first issue, which makes a dichotomy of lawfulness between this youngster and Murdock in a town full of misdirection and ill-intentions. Hopefully Diggle continues this subplot and makes something of it.

Much like issue #1, it’s likely not going to blow your socks off ; but it’s continuing along at a good pace.

Pros:

-Gianfelice’s art helps give a gritty and run-down feeling to the town

-Seeing Murdock consistently out of the Daredevil suit (and 3-button suit) is oddly enjoyable

Cons:

-Some pretty static supporting characters

Hellblazer #276

Writer: Peter Milligan

Artist: Simon Bisley

Publisher: Vertigo

Fresh off his wedding and honeymoon, master occultist John Constantine is at risk of losing his Brixton apartment. This standalone issue follows the newlyweds as they arrive back home and are prompted with this scenario. Epiphany, his new bride, doesn’t mind the idea but Constantine says over his dead body.

This is the first Hellblazer comic I’ve ever read; though I’ve encountered the character before, in the pages of Sandman, and I know what he’s all about. This comic served as a great stand-alone issue. You literally need not know anything of the character’s past, but knowing a bit about who he is and what he does definitely helps.

I found the story read pretty quickly, but not to say it wasn’t interesting; a pretty common scenario— that of being evicted—is made fascinating and dark when it happens to a master of the occult.

Milligan’s writing is really good at capturing and mixing the noir-detective style with the gloom and doom of the occult, and is accompanied well by Bisley’s pencils.

If you enjoy tales of mysticism or the dark arts, or are a fan of Sandman, this is a great comic for you.

Pros:

-Great art; the darks are dark and the horror elements are done well. The hallucination scenes are especially top notch.

-Superb as a stand-alone.

Cons:

- It’s pidgeonholed by its genre, so if you don’t typically enjoy this stuff you likely won’t enjoy this story. Other than that, none.