TPB Review: The Man Without Fear

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Hey guys, time for another review from the Smartmarks very own Batman villian: Mr Zsasz! This time I'll be reviewing another Frank Miller Daredevil TPB. Daredevil: The Man Without Fear. For those who don't remember, this was a four issue origin story he did LONG after his run on DD. Before we get to the review here are the stats:

 

Wrtier: Frank Miller

Penciler: John Romita Jr.

Inker: Al Williamson

Original Series Editor: Ralph Macchio

 

The Story:

The story is basically a combination of Daredevil #1, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Batman: Year One. Matt Murdock is a mischevious child who prides himself on never being caught. One day after he sneaks into the gym his father "Battling" Jack Murdock works out in he overhears "The Fixer" a local mob boss and Slade, his brownshirt beating his father, trying to get him to work for them . Jack only agrees to do it after they threaten Matt's life. Jack makes Matt promise to study and follow the rules so he could grow up to be somebody. After he picks a fight outside Jack loses his temper and hits Matt. Matt thinks about this and decides that his dad was wrong for doing this because of society's rules, and he will study these rules. Matt studies constantly, and makes a commitment to following the rules, even if he is beaten by local bullies for it. The children give him a new nickname "Daredevil". In secret matt trains at the gym, and is watched by a mysterious figure.

One day Matt watches a truck filled with chemical drums careen down the street. An elderly man is in it's way, and Matt dives in the trucks path to save him. He succeeds, but when one of the drums leaks it's contents over his eyes he loses his sight. At the hospital he discovers while he lost his sight, his other senses are magnified. (Strangly the "radar sense" is absent) A kind nun visits him and tells him that his senses are a blessing and he must use them to help others. After he returns home he tries to workout at the gym again. When he fails, the mysterious figure makes his presance known.

The man's name is Stick and he is blind as well. He trains Matt to use his other senses to "see" as others do. Matt becomes adapt and trains in secret every night. Meanwhile Jakc Murdock is on a winning streak and is told to take a dive in his next fight by the "Fixer". Jack refuses and is killed after the fight. Matt hunts each member of the Fixer's orginization down, but when he attempts to catch the last one, he inadvertantly kills a hooker. Stick declares him a failure to his order and refuses to teach him furthur.

Years go by, Matt joins law school and meets Foggy Nelson. He also meets Elektra. They fall in love, but unbeknownst to him she is a clod-blooded killer. Stick warns Matt to back off or he will kill him. However the warning is fultile. Elektra's father dies and she leaves the US anyway.

We are introduced to Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin of Crime. He is ruthless and will take any racket no matter how evil. He uses his personal assassin, Larks to kill anyone who disobeys his orders.

Matt graduates law school and joins a law firm. he returns to New York on business. He befriends a small girl named Mickey. They train together at his dad's old gym. He reunites with Foggy and helps him prepare a defense for a client. Meanwhile, one of the Kingpin's underlings kidnaps Mickey for ransom money. Fisk sends Larks to difuse the situation before the police get involved and he kills the underboss. He takes Mickey to the harbor where the Kingpin keeps children for use as slaves or in snuff films. Matt infiltrates the complex, frees the kids, kills Larks, and decides to use his gifts to fight crime as Daredevil. Meanwhil Murdock decides to go into business together with Foggy, and Stick tells him not to get cocky.

 

A gripping, violent, gritty, tale. Loses points for having Daredevil commit muder.

 

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

 

 

The art:

Brilliant. In that one word sums up how excellent the art in this book is. Everything from the pencils, to the colors, to the inks is outstanding. it's perfect.

 

***** out of *****

 

 

Overall:

Get this, NOW

 

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

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Glad to see all the feedback. It makes it all worth it to see so many people tell me if I'm doing good/bad.

[Guest areacode212]

I thought Miller covered DD's origin during his run. I didn't realize he did it later. I'll have to find this thing.

 

As for your review, IMO, it's more interesting when you describe why you liked/disliked it, as opposed to retelling the story. But do more of these!

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

As for your review, IMO, it's more interesting when you describe why you liked/disliked it, as opposed to retelling the story. But do more of these!

Story:

 

Likes:

 

Gritty urban feel that captures DD's real world style.

 

Covers every aspect of the DD character and WHY it's like that

 

Wilson Fisk is perfectly depicted as a dangerous calculating man who orders death without qualms.

 

Murdock's battle with the Fixer's men is awe-inspiring in it's pace and sheer utter brutality.

 

 

Dislikes:

 

Elektra segment wear thin with me. She's never been a very interesting character and she certainly isn't here.

 

DD kills. Shyeah, right.

 

Art:

 

Likes:

EVERYTHING. LITERALLY EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.

 

Dislikes:

There isn't more of it.

[Guest starvenger]

Glad to see all the feedback. It makes it all worth it to see so many people tell me if I'm doing good/bad.

Sometimes ya gotta give it some time. I was at the Toronto comic/sci-fi/anime con for about 3-4 hours and then I went out with my girlfriend for the rest of the day/night. Priorities and all that, you know.

 

Ironically, though (or is that coincidentally? Damn, you, Alanis!), JRjr was at the comicon.

 

Anyways, I agree with areacode. A plot summary is nice, but a breakdown of what you like/dislike is better. Still it's good work.

 

Anyways, I'd like to take this time to nitpick about the artwork. I'm not a big fan of the way Romita draws women - particularly the faces. It's not a particularly a bad thing, but Frank Miller is trying to portray Elektra as sexy, yet dangerous, and JRjr's artwork isn't really showing it to me. I find it somewhat ironic, actually, since his early stuff is a lot better in this regard.

 

...told you I was gonna nitpick. I mean, aside from that, the artwork is perfect, and I really don't think you could find a better artist for this kinda project.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Glad to see all the feedback. It makes it all worth it to see so many people tell me if I'm doing good/bad.

Sometimes ya gotta give it some time. I was at the Toronto comic/sci-fi/anime con for about 3-4 hours and then I went out with my girlfriend for the rest of the day/night. Priorities and all that, you know.

 

Ironically, though (or is that coincidentally? Damn, you, Alanis!), JRjr was at the comicon.

 

Anyways, I agree with areacode. A plot summary is nice, but a breakdown of what you like/dislike is better. Still it's good work.

 

Anyways, I'd like to take this time to nitpick about the artwork. I'm not a big fan of the way Romita draws women - particularly the faces. It's not a particularly a bad thing, but Frank Miller is trying to portray Elektra as sexy, yet dangerous, and JRjr's artwork isn't really showing it to me. I find it somewhat ironic, actually, since his early stuff is a lot better in this regard.

 

...told you I was gonna nitpick. I mean, aside from that, the artwork is perfect, and I really don't think you could find a better artist for this kinda project.

I love all things Daredevil...

 

 

But I HATE Elektra. HATE HER! HATE HER! HATE HER! Seriously, when Bullseye killed her was the best comic I had ever read. I still have it read it occiasonally.

 

You know how Miller is pissed they ressurected her?

 

He's got NOTHING on me.

[Guest starvenger]

But I HATE Elektra. HATE HER! HATE HER! HATE HER! Seriously, when Bullseye killed her was the best comic I had ever read. I still have it read it occiasonally.

I keep reading that and I keep getting the odd visual of Anderson Cooper doing his happy dance on the Mole 2. Quite disturbing, actually...

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

But I HATE Elektra. HATE HER! HATE HER! HATE HER! Seriously, when Bullseye killed her was the best comic I had ever read. I still have it read it occiasonally.

I keep reading that and I keep getting the odd visual of Anderson Cooper doing his happy dance on the Mole 2. Quite disturbing, actually...

I don't know, she always seemed like Marvel's version of Catwoman to me.

 

Bullseye was a much more interesting character.

 

That is all.

[Guest raptor]

I have never ever enjoyed Romita's artwork. His proportions seem all wrong, male or female. It really detracted from my enjoyment of the series. I bought the individual issues at Waldenbooks for a dollar, though so I shouldn't complain.

Great job on the review.

 

P.S. I know how it feels to not get feedback. I rarely get any outside of Starvenger, and areacode once in a while.

[Guest gthureson]

S'cause you don't review anything I read.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Raptor, areacode, starvenger and gthurson... I guess. Thanks for replying.

 

You guys rule.

[Guest pochorenella]

Glad to see all the feedback. It makes it all worth it to see so many people tell me if I'm doing good/bad.

 

Sorry, Szasz, I would have replied sooner but I almost never check the board on weekends. Anyway, I'm almost 100% in agreement with your review for DD:MWF, except that I think it's an interesting twist that Daredevil killed somebody, and the fact that I like the Elektra character. Maybe not as much as others but I like her anyway.

And John Romita's art: I cannot say this enough, he's become an awesome artist/storyteller. Granted, I disliked his first run on Uncanny X-Men and didn't like so much his early run on DD (his Iron Man run was overshadowed by Bob Layton's inks IMO), but his second stint on X-Men was a great improvement and his Spider-Man and Thor are just WOW. On Man Without Fear he shows his great ability to tell a story and I think he just keeps getting better and better. And on a sidenote: This was supposedly a Frank Miller Storyboard for a possible DD movie.

 

Since you're such a big DD mark, what's your take on these other TPBs? I'd do a review but I suck at it, so I'll just give my opinion:

 

Born Again: Absolutely, completey, totally AWESOME story. Maybe Frank Miller's best work on 'Devil. And Mazzuchelli's art was right on the money.

 

Kevin Smith Visionaries: Brought DD back into the mainstream with a great story that made a dorky villian great, and with sweet art by Joe Q himself.

 

Parts of a Hole: I've never read David Mack's Kabuki, but his sotry here hit right home. A cool new villian, a nice love story (I'm a sucker for those), and perhaps Joe Quesada's finest work. Great stuff.

 

P.S. I know how it feels to not get feedback. I rarely get any outside of Starvenger, and areacode once in a while

 

Come on, guys. I think I do my little share of feedback here on the Comics Forum, uh... don't I? Guys?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Glad to see all the feedback. It makes it all worth it to see so many people tell me if I'm doing good/bad.

 

Sorry, Szasz, I would have replied sooner but I almost never check the board on weekends. Anyway, I'm almost 100% in agreement with your review for DD:MWF, except that I think it's an interesting twist that Daredevil killed somebody, and the fact that I like the Elektra character. Maybe not as much as others but I like her anyway.

And John Romita's art: I cannot say this enough, he's become an awesome artist/storyteller. Granted, I disliked his first run on Uncanny X-Men and didn't like so much his early run on DD (his Iron Man run was overshadowed by Bob Layton's inks IMO), but his second stint on X-Men was a great improvement and his Spider-Man and Thor are just WOW. On Man Without Fear he shows his great ability to tell a story and I think he just keeps getting better and better. And on a sidenote: This was supposedly a Frank Miller Storyboard for a possible DD movie.

 

Since you're such a big DD mark, what's your take on these other TPBs? I'd do a review but I suck at it, so I'll just give my opinion:

 

Born Again: Absolutely, completey, totally AWESOME story. Maybe Frank Miller's best work on 'Devil. And Mazzuchelli's art was right on the money.

 

Kevin Smith Visionaries: Brought DD back into the mainstream with a great story that made a dorky villian great, and with sweet art by Joe Q himself.

 

Parts of a Hole: I've never read David Mack's Kabuki, but his sotry here hit right home. A cool new villian, a nice love story (I'm a sucker for those), and perhaps Joe Quesada's finest work. Great stuff.

 

P.S. I know how it feels to not get feedback. I rarely get any outside of Starvenger, and areacode once in a while

 

Come on, guys. I think I do my little share of feedback here on the Comics Forum, uh... don't I? Guys?

Born Again will be covered very soon. I love the story and can't wait to re-read it.

 

My next review is X-Men: God Loves man Kills. Then An overview of the Stan Lee Just Imagine series, then I do Smith Visionaries, but be warned it will not be a glowing review. Miller's Visionaries will be covered in due time. Parts of a Hole will be coverd as well, but in original form (i.e. the individual issues.)

 

I will never except DD killing someone. If in Gang War, he wouldn't allow Bullseye to die, then killing a random punk is totally out of character.

[Guest pochorenella]

Born Again will be covered very soon. I love the story and can't wait to re-read it.

 

My next review is X-Men: God Loves man Kills. Then An overview of the Stan Lee Just Imagine series, then I do Smith Visionaries, but be warned it will not be a glowing review. Miller's Visionaries will be covered in due time. Parts of a Hole will be coverd as well, but in original form (i.e. the individual issues.)

 

I will never except DD killing someone. If in Gang War, he wouldn't allow Bullseye to die, then killing a random punk is totally out of character.

 

As I said on another thread, God Loves... is truly a one-of-a-kind read. Go pick it up now.

 

So you didn't like Smith's Daredevil? Ok then, let's see what you got to say when you do the review. And you better give Born Again ***** all around, or else!

 

Was it in the Gang Wars storyline that DD let Bullseye fall from a building, thus breaking his spine, thus giving him the adamantium spine? Correct me if I'm wrong please. But you do make a valid point about DD not killing before.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Born Again will be covered very soon. I love the story and can't wait to re-read it.

 

My next review is X-Men: God Loves man Kills. Then An overview of the Stan Lee Just Imagine series, then I do Smith Visionaries, but be warned it will not be a glowing review. Miller's Visionaries will be covered in due time. Parts of a Hole will be coverd as well, but in original form (i.e. the individual issues.)

 

I will never except DD killing someone. If in Gang War, he wouldn't allow Bullseye to die, then killing a random punk is totally out of character.

 

As I said on another thread, God Loves... is truly a one-of-a-kind read. Go pick it up now.

 

So you didn't like Smith's Daredevil? Ok then, let's see what you got to say when you do the review. And you better give Born Again ***** all around, or else!

 

Was it in the Gang Wars storyline that DD let Bullseye fall from a building, thus breaking his spine, thus giving him the adamantium spine? Correct me if I'm wrong please. But you do make a valid point about DD not killing before.

No, in issue 169 "Devils" Daredevil saves BULLSEYE'S life by picking off train tracks. When asked why he didn't let him die he said it was because all death is a waste and because of his respect for the law. The issue with the adamantium spine wasn't DD's fault. There was no way he could have prevented it.