Bendis launches a new story arc in this issue, and with it, he delves back into the idea of Matt Murdock public explosure and his angry decree that he is the new Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen. Daredevil has been one of Marvel's most consistently strong titles, and that's why I was surprised this issue didn't quite click for me. Sure, it boasts the same grounded dialogue, strong characterization and gritty artwork that's pleased me in past issues, but it's missing an important element: a plot. This story tells us nothing new about the title character or any other key players. Exploring how people see Murdock and Daredevil is a good idea... or at least it would have been back when the pot developments were fresh. It's time for this story to move forward.
A year ago, Daredevil beat Wilson Fisk with his bare hands and announced that he would be running things in Hell's Kitchen, that no more drugs, no more crime would be permitted under his watch. That mysterious decree has since transformed the neighborhood, and reactions to the chance and to Daredevil are as diverse as one could imagine. A group of Hell's Kitchen resident gather in the basement of a church to discuss how they feel about the situation, and one woman defends Daredevil's actions and speaks of how his example enabled her to turn her life around.
Maleev's art here is a bit different than what we've seen in previous issues, and I'm impressed with the shift. The characters here are far more down to earth than what we usually see in this title, and Maleev's seems to have softened his style somewhat to reflect that. I was most impressed with how he distinguished between the former junkie's look today and her appearance when she was addicted. It's a subtle difference, but it's an important one. A Sin City-esque color motif is employed toward the end of this issue to highlight the title character's fury and determination to bring about change and the junkie's zombie-like sense of being lost. It's an effective use of splashes of color.
I love the cover design on this issue. The large letters grab the reader's eye, and I like that they cut into the silhouetted figure of Daredevil. There's just one problem: the hero, meant to appear larger than life, looks silly instead. I realize he's holding his billy club gadget, extended for swinging across Manhattan rooftops, but it looks as though he's getting ready to skip rope.
Bendis goes for a realistic feel in the script here with a few false starts to the support group. No one says anything, and a couple of people stop short of participating. It's believable, but it's also frustrating. The reader wants to get to the point, and the characters' hesitation serves only to tease and frustrate.
It's been far too long since we've seen how his public exposure has changed his life. Too long since this story advanced in any significant way. Bendis seems to be spinning his wheels here. I don't necessarily think a quick resolution is called for here; I like that the writer has been thinking long-term when it comes to the larger plot. But little has happened in some time. 6/10
