Geekshow

Review: Daredevil – Born Again (Marvel Comics)

Captain Wednesday takes on the Frank Miller classic Daredevil: Born Again.

Frank Miller was on his game in the mid-1980s. There was his Dark Knight Returns for DC, which established Bats into what he is today and set the tone and changed the way authors write everything in comics.

And then there was Daredevil: Born Again, which Marvel has collected (once again) this week as part of its Premiere Hardcover line. Born Again is the seminal moment for “the man without fear.” Just like Gwen Stacy’s death at the hands of the Green Goblin in the 70s established Peter Parker and Spider-Man, Born Again is the blueprint for everything Matt Murdock and Daredevil.

Born Again ran over seven issues and collects all eight Daredevils (#226-233) that Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli collaborated on. This is not the first time Daredevil’s life has been changed by Miller, as it was the writer’s earlier stint that killed off Murdock’s love in Elektra at the hands of Bullseye (in the classic double-sized issue Daredevil #181).

And while Elektra’s death was stunning and heartfelt for the blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen, Daredevil went on about his business. His every decision afterwards was not filled with guilt over her death (like Spidey’s with Gwen Stacy). Part of the reason I believe is that Elektra knew the deal when she was putting on the costume.

Born Again is the moment in Daredevil lore when everything changes and it is the ultimate Kingpin story. There is betrayal, loss (and a lot of it) and rebirth. It has Foggy Nelson (of course), establishes Ben Ulrich and reintroduces one Karen Page (and boy have we missed what was going on her life). Why are all the best Daredevil stories with Karen Page (Yellow, Guardian Devil)?

Miller pens a terrific tale of deconstructing a character and then picking them back up. It is a shame some of that beauty can not translate into what he has done recently – i.e. The Spirit and All-Star Batman and Robin.

I have never been a huge fan of Mazzucchelli’s artwork, but in this story it works really well. He has a gritty style that combined with Miller’s hard-boiled story telling becomes the perfect complement to the letters on the page. After experiencing this story all at once (I read the original month-by-agonizing month) and taking in Mazzucchelli’s splash pages, I have to think today’s artists whether knowingly or not took a page (or two) from Mazzucchelli’s run on DD. Simon Bianchi – I ‘m talking to you.

Anyway, that’s all I have for today. Remember to tip your waitress on the way out – Peace!