Mark Waid’s DAREDEVIL seems to be filling the “superhero comic for people who don’t like superheroes” slot with topnotch stories and art. Chris Samnee (THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER) is joining the book as a part-time artist in #12, in which busy Matt Murdock makes time for a lady pal, Kirsten McDuffie, who is actually hoping to make time to discover his secret identity.
“I’ve been a lifelong Daredevil fan and Mark happens to be one of my all-time favorite funnybook writers, said Samnee in a statement. “I’ve have been head over heels for this latest run of DD since I first caught a glimpse of Paolo’s onomatopoeia filled cover for issue one.”
“When Chris’s pages come in over email, I drop everything to admire them” explained Waid. “He’s astounding.”
Daredevil #12 (Mar120608)
Written By Mark Waid
Pencils By Chris Samnee
Cover By Paolo Rivera
Rated: T+ …$2.99
Foc – 4/09/12, On Sale – 5/2/12
DAREDEVIL is, in my opinion, the best superhero comic going nowadays. However, in my case, it’s not the “superhero book for people who don’t like superheroes”, it’s the book for people who love superheroes but hate the noisy, scattered, flabby storytelling that happens so often in mainstream books these days.
Mark Waid is writing stories that are consistently entertaining and coherent (strange that that should even be noteworthy, but it is), with strong, appealing characters. Even more than that, he has Daredevil facing off against villains who are thematically tied to DD’s blindness, thereby making these things feel like a Story, not just another episode of Villain of the Month.
And every artist who’s worked on it is in the top tier–Marcos Martin, Paolo Rivera and now Chris Samnee are all wonderfully expressive, from Martin’s gorgeous layouts to Rivera’s lovely rendering to Samnee’s flexible, kinetic figure work (can’t wait to see what he does on the title).
Anyway, I’m gushing. I love this book.
What Mr. Southworth said, times 1,000. (Also worth noting: Expand things beyond superheroes to best comic nowadays, put Stumptown in the ring with Daredevil, and it’d be a hell of a fight. Can’t wait for Dex to return.)
Also, I know the rotating artists on Marvel books are causing some teeth-gnashing online, but when the lineup is as good as it has been on DD, those complaints seem pretty goofy to me.
Looks great.
The complains are primarily concerning Khoi Pham’s upcoming two issues. Which, I’m sorry, are rightly justified in this case.
I agree with @Earth-2 Chad,@Matthew Southworth sums it the frack up.
Thanks Chad (and Shannon, too)!
Part-time artist? So is Daredevil going the double-shipping route now? Uh oh.
… Much as I like this art, I hate the art change of a Marvel book every 2 issues or so. Top quality artists yes – but it breaks up the momentum. The day artists stay for long uninterrupted runs seems to be over at Marvel.
Those pages look great! And still only $3! I’ll be picking this up! :)
Who is the other part time artist on the book?
Daredevil’s about the only superhero comic I read these days. It’s casually amazing and the art’s second to none.
DAREDEVIL and SCALPED are the best two monthly comics being produced today. Bravo for snagging Samnee on DD.
Wacker & Waid, I’m waiting for my phone call, please!
I am not currently reading any superhero titles, but that could change after this preview. I’m very intrigued by the interpretation of Matt’s radar sense, and the hint of the story in these pages.
Can anyone tell me if the early issues of this title have been collected yet, or do I need to hunt down digital editions at Marvel (I’ve toyed with the idea of getting their app or an account to read some current stuff).
@Mike Mitchell Online
Currently it is available digitally only starting with issue #8
Issues #1-#6 are available in collected form: http://www.amazon.com/Daredevil-Vol-1-Mark-Waid/dp/0785152377/
@James
The other artist is Paolo Rivera. Awesome.
@Mike Mitchell Online–
Get it. If you like that radar thing, you’ll love the first couple issues, which really explore what it’s like for Matt to be blind. It’s great.
The artists on the first arc are the amazing Marcos Martin, who has since left to do a creator-owned project (with Brian Vaughan, I think?), and Paolo Rivera–inked by his DAD, which is the coolest thing ever.
@JReyes–I can understand the frustration with rotating art teams. However, doing a monthly book is a grind that some fantastic artists can’t quite keep up with, so the advantage this plan gives the reader is that he gets GREAT artists who couldn’t necessarily do it if they had to make it monthly. Steve Wacker chooses artists whose styles are very compatible, too, so it’s not jarring when the art team changes on this book.