Daredevil Volume 6 is the penultimate collection of Mark Waid's Daredevil series. Matt struggles to keep his law firm afloat while his best friend and partner Foggy Nelson undergoes treatment, a new case reopens a chapter from Matt 's past - pitting Daredevil against a conspiracy that grips the highest levels of law and order in New York City. Plus: Daredevil team-ups with Silver Surfer and the Indestructible Hulk. Collects Daredevil #28-30 and Indestructible Hulk #9-10 by Mark Waid with art by Chris Samee, Javier Rodriguez and Matteo Scalera.
Under the direction of Mark Waid Daredevil has easily become one of the best in superhero comics, It's exciting, fun, and engaging. This volume sticks to shorter stories, more than likely preparing for the final story arc of the series.
Now that the mastermind behind Daredevils recent troubles has been stopped. Matt Mudock can focus more on his life, Foggy’s recovery treatment and their struggling law practice. Matt's latest client is a man he once feared in his youth and now needs his help leading to a courtroom drama that takes a dramatic turn. It all gets very thrilling and exciting as a sinister organisation that has infiltrated the courthouse, opening up a new criminal conspiracy. Then, when Matt is visited by an alien seeking asylum on earth, that is being pursued by the “Cosmic Rider of the Spaceways”. It’s no big surprise that the guest star is in stand alone tale is The Silver Surfer. Teaming up with Daredevil is a delight and a fun action story.
The third and final storyline "Blind Rage " is another team up collected from “Indestructible Hulk” #9- 10 also written by Mark Waid with artist Matteo Scalera. This Hulk series has an interesting and innovative premise. Bruce Banner has willingly joined the spy organization S.H.I.E.L.D. allowing them to use the Hulk as a weapon in exchange for providing Banner with the means and funding to create a lasting legacy for himself. Matt Murdock is Banner's attorney, as insurance that S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't double cross him. Their latest mission; stopping a cartel of high tech weapons dealers just off the bay from Hell’s Kitchen. It’s a great concept and it’s definitely has its moments of big action and destruction scenes that only the Hulk can provide. It is great story as well as an extra bonus to the collection. It's not a integral to the Daredevil series but is still worthy inclusion.
These three stories has Matt Murdock, the man, being called upon more than his crime fighting alter ego. After everything that has happened in the series so far, Matt’s personal life and law practice are at the forefront. Shorter than previous Daredevil collected editions, the short self contained stories are enjoyable while not forgetting previous plot elements as the series gets better and better in one of the finest superhero comics series being published and being one of the best comic book runs in recent years.These books are serialized storytelling rather than self-contained tales. They're part of a larger story line unfolding with every issue, becoming one of the best superhero comic book runs. It is sad to see this much loved series in its final stages. I'm highly anticipating the series finale soon in Daredevil Volume 7.
Penguin: Pain and Prejudice is a 5 issue mini series written by Gregg Hurwitz and art by Szymon Kudranski that highlights Oswald Cobblepott's back story that now has him hailed as the much feared, evil and vindictive Crime Lord. He is known as one of Batman's oldest and most persistent enemies. The Penguin runs a vast crime empire that is always at the of risk faltering due to the interference of The Dark Knight. Cobblepott's Iceberg Lounge acts as a front for his criminal dealings whilst appearing as a legitimate businessman to the public.
Penguin: Pain and Prejudice is a dark, gritty and psychological tale taking you all the way back to his childhood and the abuses that turned him into the ruthless and powerful Crime Lord. It tugs at the heartstrings making young Cobblepott a figure of mockery from the earliest possible age; spurned by his father, mercilessly taunted by his older brothers and his peers. The story is crafted in such a way that the reader gains a huge amount of sympathy for young Oswald but without condoning his violent actions, as an adult you are swiftly reminded of how cruel and evil a man he is. He has grown to overcome his tormentors becoming one of the most feared men in Gotham City, this makes the clashes with Batman so interesting as The Dark Knight is the real ruler of Gotham. The Penguin sees him as the one final bully he has yet to overcome. A novel story highlighting his past but doesn't get too confined to that approach. Mid way through the narrative moves away from the grim and brooding character portrait and proceeds to the secondary plot involving the meeting a of a young woman as a love interest, in whom would give him the one this he was looking for.
It is a dark and disturbing tale of a man who has and can get everything, but lacks the means to get the one thing that would truly make him happy: love. It explores this notion as Penguin meets a young woman name Cassandra, who is not concerned with external beauty. He quickly falls for her but there's more under the surface here making the subtext so compelling. That is the beauty of the series, it's a much deeper story than the Penguin showing off how he always get what he wants, it's why the series is such accomplishment. When he meets a and falls for Cassandra, you believe it as it's genuine. He is not using her, he shows that he is capable of love, but is dubious because his own self loathing. You feel a great swell of pity for him as he finds himself incapable of trusting his love interest. On another occasion The Penguin demonstrates he's not a complete monster. For those that show love and kindness are generously rewarded displaying a humanity, a caring side previously unseen. While others that he views as having been disrespectful or wronged him suffer a horrible fate. Doing what he feels is right based on his own experiences, the Penguin doesn't just get even with someone, he ruins their lives with a series of horrible events befalling their loved ones. It works well because we've seen the the beginning of this in his childhood, isolated by his appearance he cultivates his precocious intellect to concoct schemes to rid himself of those that jeer him. He is rightfully feared.
Batman's appearance is limited in throughout the story. When he does appear, the reader is given only brief glimpses where very little of The Dark Knight is view. As we are repeatedly shown how young Oswald Cobblepot suffered at the hands of bullies as a child, we see how he views Batman as the worst bully of them all, who even acknowledges as much in a conversation with Jim Gordon. Questioning if it is fair that the people they protect are often just as terrible as the him. A view shared by the Penguin retaining that belief that has been the definition of the character since he was child persecuted because of his appearance. Batman and Gordon's heroism is preserved in the story, rather than portraying them solely as villains from the titular villain's perspective.The art is well suited to the materiel, The Penguin's world is a cold one, the overwhelming darkness reflects the way the light has gone out of Oswald’s life. Also included in this book is Batman: Joker’s Asylum: The Penguin #1 He Who Laughs Last, it shares a similar plot and could be viewed as inspiration and expanded into the five issue mini series.
One of my favorite Batman stories is Year One and The Long Halloween, stories that utilized mobsters and crime bosses such as Carmine "The Roman"Falcone. The Penguin is Gotham's current crime boss. It is a great story and the also gives fans of the Gotham TV series a better understanding and background of the one of the show's main antagonists. Pain and Prejudice gives us a new origin for The Penguin, the only back story I was familiar with was that of Tim Burton's Batman Returns, the climatic ending of the story is very and reminiscent of the movie.
It's not just a story that gives you a better understanding of a villain so evil and cruel but allows them to empathize with in a character driven story, seeing his point of view. It has similarities to Alan Moore's and Brian Boland's classic Batman: The Killing Joke. Building on DC Comics trend of villains in the main role in their own graphic novels and mini series.
The New 52 universe's examination of the character exhibits that the Penguin is rightly feared crime lord. It's dark, menacing, unsettling at times but more importantly fascinating. He is capable to kindness in rare circumstances as this story examines his pain and his prejudices. We see how young Oswald Cobblepot has went from being his mother’s good boy to the leader of underworld gangs and adversary of the Batman. Penguin: Pain and Prejudice is a thrilling and emphatic story of one of Batman's most memorable villains that can highly be considered as a definitive Penguin story.
Thanks for reading and more to come,
K
Hello all,
I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Having not done a blog post and review in over a month. I'm glad to get back into my corner of the internet to share my reviews, opinions on comic book graphic novel and collectors items.
So on the lead up to Christmas I hadn't bought any books for myself but now that its all over I've got a few new ones and a exciting new collectors figure to post about. The only books I had purchased over the last month were Ultimate Spider-man for my kid brother and a few Wonder Woman books for my amazing girlfriend.
I'm looking forward to getting into my new books and sharing my review of them, First up will be New 52's Penguin:Pain and Prejudice followed by Shazam Vol. 1, Batman - Zero Year: Dark City and Daredevil Vol.6
More to come and see you soon
K
