TPB Review: Daredevil: Gang War

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

DAREDEVIL: GANG WAR

 

Reprinting DD 169-172, 180

 

Writer/Penciller: Frank Miller (YES!)

Inker: Klaus Janson

Colorist: Glynis Wein

Editor: Dennis O'Neil

 

Okay, this issue reprents the awesome "Kingpin returns from retirement" story arc. Since it reprints actual issues from the title itself each one will be reviewed individually.

 

Issue 169: DEVILS

 

This issue introduces us to Bullseye, the world's most deadly assassin. Bullseye escapes from a midtown hospital during surgery. However when he goes into the outside world everyone is dressed like Daredevil. He goes on a killing spree before gaining his signature black-and-white costume. Meanwhile Daredevil learns that Bullseye has a tumor in his brain which is causing the hallucinations. After using his super-senses to hone in on Bullseye's sick hostage's coughing, he and Bullseye have a climactic showdown in the subway where Daredevil saves his mortal enemey from an oncoming train. Later, Lt. Manous asks DD why he didn't leave him for dead, and DD reaffirms his respect for the law and society.

 

Overall, a truly awesome issue that gives Bullseye the spotlight and his first truly epic battle against ol Hornhead.

 

**** out of *****

 

Issue 170: THE KINGPIN MUST DIE

 

Daredevil confronts his informant Turk, who tells him that the crime lords of New York have placed a contract on the life of the retired Wilson Fisk, who is currently living in Japan. Meanwhile, the Kingpin is considering a deal with the DA to turn over files concerning the East Coast rackets. The Kingpin's wife flies over to NY to negotiate a deal with Nelson & Murdock law firm. But she is kidnapped by the crime lords, who plan to use her to ransom the the files from Fisk. The crime lords also hire the recently released Bullseye, (The court determined his psychosis was do to his tumor, and he is cured.) to kill Fisk. Draedevil interrupts the meeting but is dispatched by Bullseye (!!!!) who pushs him from a window in the Fisk Tower. DD survives by falling into a trash truck. Meanwhile, Kingpin eludes an assassination attempt and makes his intentions to find his wife known.

 

This issue begins Fisk's turn back to crime. DD is much less prominent this issue, and barely survives his battle with Bullseye. Average Miller DD issue.

 

*** 1/2 out of *****

 

 

Issue 171: IN THE KINGPIN'S CLUTCHES

 

The issue opens with Fisk beginning his war on the crime lords by killing a meesage boy at a pay phone. Murdock disguises himself as a hitman and convinces Turk to take him to Fisk. Murdock gains employment with Fisk after he jams a gun with Kingpin's pen. Meanwhile back at Nelson & Murdock, Foggy comes in late and is depressed. Hmmmm. Back to DD, as Murdock uncovers Fisk's saferoom and comes face to face with Fisk himself. They fight and Fisk gets the best of DD and leaves him to Turk and Grotto to dispose of. Meanwhile, Fisk's plan to free his wife goes horribly wrong, leaving Vanessa Fisk apparantly dead. Fisk decides to take over again. We get the cliffhanger to close the issue, as DD is locked in a water mane by Turk.

 

Very busy issue that sees DD and Fisk come face to face for the first time.

 

*** 3/4 out of *****

 

Issue 172: GANG WAR

DD swims his way out of the water mane, and comes face to face with The Damned. a hellish group of homeless who live in the sewers. he eascapes, and confronts Turk. Turk fills DD in on Vanessa and Bullseye. Meanwhile, Kingpin blockades the crime lords narcotics shipments. The crime lords get so desperate they agree to pay Bullseye 15 million to find and kill the Kingpin. Bullseye goes on another killing spree, looking for the location of Fisk. Meanwhile, Turk informs Fisk that DD is still alive. DD then shuts out the lights, and attacks stealing the briefcase that Fisk claimed the files were in. DD brings them to the police and they are revealed to be only newspapers. Bullseye enters the underground cave he thinks is Fisk lair. Alas, it's only a decoy, and Bullseye narrowly avoids being killed by Fisk's boobey trap. Back at the Fisk Tower, Bullseye argues with the crime lords when Fisk walks in. Bullseye double-crosses the crime-lords and joins Fisk who becomes the Kingpin once more. Meanwhile DD uses a hooker to tell him about Fisk's interference with the narcotics deals. DD rushes over to the Fisk Towers where he once again battles Bullseye to a standstill, just barely preveiling. Kingpin enters and offers him a deal: Deliever the files and Bullseye to the police to destroy his competition, or be killed immeadiately. DD is forced to accept, and Fisk remains a free man. Later we learn that Vanessa Fisk is till alive and she wanders to the sewer...

 

Nearly perfect issue, that gives a satisfying and inventive conclusion to the arc.

 

**** 1/4 out of *****

 

Issue 180: THE DAMNED

The leader of the damned kills his "queen" and appoints Vanessa as his new one. DD finally busts Turk for good. Menawhile at the Daily Bugle, Ben Urich spots a bag lady who looks farmilar. He decides she is Vanessa Fisk. Urich and DD traverse the sewers looking for her. Meanwhile, it's election night and Fisk's puppet canidate is winning. The Damned attack both Urich and DD and bring them down to thier lair. Meanwhile, Kingpin decides he will retain the services of Elektra as his assassin. Back at the sewers DD defeats the King of the Damned for Vanessa's life. At the issue's end DD bring's Vanessa's ring to Kingpin and tells him she's alive in exchange for Fisk forcing his canidate to confess to mob ties and drop out. Kingpin is enraged and order's the death of Foggy Nelson in the cliffhanger.

 

Bleh issue saved by the ending.

 

** 3/4 out of *****

[Guest raptor]

Nice Job. It's good to see more reviewers hanging around.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Thanks, it took a while to write and I'm glad someone responded.

[Guest pochorenella]

I believe this was also released as a TPB a while ago, but I've never had the chance to check it out in either format. Still, by your review it sounds very interesting, and since Daredevil is my third favorite (after Iron Man and Spider-man) I might track this down and give it a read.

 

And for a while now I've asked our comics experts here on the board to do some TPB reviews and I'm happy someone is doing it. Keep up the good work, Mr Szasz.