Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Vol.1 Review

Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Vol.1 is the beginning of one of the most influential and acclaimed comic book runs of the man without fear – Daredevil. Frank Miller began his highly successful tenure starting as penciler then co-plotter and finally series Writer taking over from Roger McKenzie who was an early influence on Miller’s own writing. It collects Daredevil #158 – 161 and #163 – 172 with inker-penciler Klaus Janson. Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #27-28 is also collected. Miller and Janson’s daring reinvention of the character quickly made Frank Miller on of the biggest and most influential stars of comic book industry. This character defining run begins here on the first of three collected trade paperbacks and the beginning of his four year run.

First appearing in 1964, Daredevil got a new lease of life during 1979-1983 by Writer-Penciler Frank Miller. This trade collects the beginning of Miller’s legendary run starting with issue #158 when Miller first began penciling Roger Mc Kenzie’s scripts. He first drew Daredevil in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #27–28 which guest stared Daredevil assisting a temporarily blinded Spider-Man. Miller then began Daredevil art duties beginning with issue Daredevil #158 and later took over from issue #168 where he introduced Elektra, who would go on to become a long time fan favorite character and staple of Daredevil universe. The majority of the book features mostly standalone stories with appearances from Natasha Romanoff/The Black Widow, The Hulk, Doc Ock and classic Daredevil villain The Gladiator, while lengthier three part stories arcs feature The Kingpin and Daredevil’s best and greatest adversary Bullseye. Investigative Reporter Ben Urich sets up a new relationship for Daredevil for many stories to come. The issues collected from February 1979 to July 1981 and contain a few noteworthy issues including; #158 first Frank Miller art of the Daredevil series, #168 Miller took over on the series and first appearance of Elektra and #170 the first appearance of The Kingpin to Daredevil comics and remains a big part of the Daredevil universe.

Miller brought many new aspects to the Daredevil series during his four year run. As an artist on issue #164 Miller which was a re-envisioning of Daredevil's origin story, the creation of ninja assassin Elektra and bringing Spider-Man villain Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin to the series, all these elements would be something Miller revisited during the retelling of origin story in his 1993 miniseries The Man Without Fear, which now incorporated included all these elements for the redefined Daredevil origin story with John Romita Jr. Elektra remains to be one of the greatest parts of the Miller’s time on the series. Her first appearance in Daredevil #168 marked in debut and first meeting with Matt Murdock during their college years. Although a single appearance Miller would later bring her back as presented in the second volume of this trade paperback series in a larger story arc that became one of the one of the highlights of Millers tenure as well as becoming on of the most iconic moments in comics. Miller’s inclusion of The Kingpin is a recurring foe connects to his later work on the series and character including Love and War, The Man Without Fear and the permanent classic Born Again.

These classic stories mark the start of Millers run on the character that reinvented the series. The series quickly evolved into a sprawling epic with riveting dramas and Miller infused the series with its noir tone that is now synonymous with the character. These are elements were still remaining for a long time after the torch was passed to new creative teams. He laid the groundwork for many years of stories to come and setting a darker tone for character which pretty much remained up until a 2011 relaunch from writer Mark Waid. This collection is a fantastic start to a new era for the character that influences had been felt all the way up to the current Daredevil series on Netflix. Daredevil Vol. 1 collects the beginning of Miller’s critically acclaimed series that brought the character to new level of heights fame and success. If you’re like me and a big Frank Miller fan, having already checked out the best of his other Daredevil work, its great going back to beginning of Miller’s initial run on the character. 

Since his creation by Stan Lee and Bill Everett in 1964, the work by Writer Artist Frank Miller became one the first major highlights of the characters lifespan. Miller’s influential tenure during the early 1980’s evaluated the character popularity as well as Miller’s own reputation. This collection is the begging of a new era for both; Comics legend Frank Miller and one best character’s in comics Daredevil. Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson Volume 1 is where Miller slowly sows the seeds for many of the iconic elements of the Daredevil mythos to come, starting off the most influential period for the character.