Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s 50 plus issue stint on Daredevil remains one of the most influential creative runs in comics. Their run on Daredevil started in it's second series, starting in December 2001 until January 2006 was at the time was the longest running tenure on Daredevil, which was only surpassed last year.
Daredevil was started anew in 1998 with Kevin Smith's Guardian Devil story arc launched the new series. With issue #16 Bendis joined the series with Maleev joining with issue #26. Their award winning run lasted until issue #81, making it one of the longest running and most critically acclaimed runs for any writer on the character. Its been regarded as one of the greatest creative tenures in the comic giants history, stating that it rivaled Miller's influential work on Daredevil.
These three massive trade paperbacks collect the entire Bendis and Maleev run. Each of the graphic novels collect around 20 issues, consisting of between 3- 4 story arcs of this best selling series.
Book 1 #16 - 19 and #26 - 40; Wake Up, Underboss and Out
Book 2 #41 - 50 and #56 - 65; Lowlife, Hardcore, The King of Hell's Kitchen and The Widow
Book 3 #66 - 81; Golden Age, Decalogue and The Murdock Papers, What If Karen Page Had Lived? and Marvel Ultimate Team-Up #6-8
Wake Up #16-19, with art by David Mack.
Ben Urich, Investigative reporter for the Daily Bugle. His current assignment is the murder trial of Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime. So why is Urich spending all his time with the catatonic son of a costumed criminal and how is Daredevil connected to a child he doesn't even know?
Underboss #26-31
Newcomer Sammy Silkie, plans to overthrow the Kingpin/Wilson Fisk and take his place. There is a connection between this uprising and the contract on Daredevil's life? The pulp noir crime drama begins here as the creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev start their epic run on Daredevil, also features a special silent issue.
Out #32 - 40
Daredevil's secret identity is exposed to the world! Matt Murdock's most guarded secret is sold to a tabloid newspaper. What can will the Man Without Fear go to reclaim his life? The volume ends with a three part intriguing court room drama story with artist Terry Dodson.
Lowlife #41-45
Matt Murdock is forced to reckon with the problems and legal ramifications that emerged as a result of his public outing. One of Daredevil's most dangerous foes returns to take over the NYC underworld as Matt dwells on his problems, as a new love appears at the most dangerous and complicated time of his life.
Hardcore #46-50
Matt Murdock life gets a lot more troublesome. He's simultaneously faced with murder charges, a new romance, being outted by the tabloids, the return of one of his deadliest foe's Typhoid Mary and the Kingpin's attempt to restore his fallen empire bring on a shocking and surprisng ending.
King of Hell's Kitchen #56-60
A year on since Daredevil did the unimaginable, beating Wilson Fisk to within an inch of his life and declaring himself the new Kingpin. Now that the Yakuza has come to stake their claim for Hell's Kitchen, targeting Matt Murdock leading to an unforgettable battle royale.
The Widow #61- 64
The Black Widow returns to her ex-lover Matt Murdock, on the run she in laying low as Daredevil comes face to horrible face with Jigsaw as assassins are aiming for Blakc Widow's own head.
The Universe #65, Special 40th anniversary double length issue. This story backtracks over the time period that Matt Murdock was outed and fills in some holes in the already heavy plot from the points of view of other heroes in the Marvel Universe with guest artists while setting up the next story arc in the series.
Golden Age #66-70
Following his release from prison, Alexander De Bont, former Kingpin of Daredevil's earliest days. setting his sights on the outed Daredevil enlisting the help of classic Daredevil
villain, Gladiator. This unique story is told in three different time periods featuring distinctive art and coloring in each era. A classic crime noir story.
Decalogue #71-75
Covering what happened during Daredevil's year-long reign as the new Kingpin. His cleaning up of Hell's Kitchen revealed in all the bloody detail. Told from the perspectives of a support group who've been affected by Daredevil.
The Murdock Papers #76-81
The climatic end to Bendis and Maleev's epic run. Their award winning run has reached its conclusion. The return of Wilson Fisk makes was for a thrilling finale. Fisk has in his possession concrete evidence that Mudock is Daredevil and in exchange Fisk demands complete immunity for past crimes. Daredevil and guest stars are on the hunt for the papers in a stunning finale.
The end of this final volume also features bonus issues. What If Karen Page Had Lived? is an imaginary story if the worst event in Matt's life didn't happen, if she survived the attack spiraling off to another chain of events. the three part story collected in Marvel Ultimate Team-Up #6-8 features the escape of Frank Castle/The Punisher from prison with Spider-man and Daredevil after the dangerous vigilante.
Following Frank Millers momentous work on Daredevil, few writers achieved the same level acclaim. Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev became the next great creative team for The Man Without Fear, their award winning four year work was the next great Daredevil run.
It brought readers back to the crime noir roots of success that Miller planted over two decades earlier. Their work emulates Miller's time on Daredevil, integrating the street level tone that Miller introduced and making it part of Daredevil's character. Their first story arc; Underboss is influenced by Miller's seminal Born Again story, The Kingpin's knowledge of Daredevil's identity is now made public. Bendis takes what Miller had introduced and takes it to new heights without retreading old ground. Within the first year of their four year run it introduced the biggest change to the status quo for Daredevil on a level not seen since Miller's run. It laid the foundation for the stories to come and beyond that's felt all the way to current Daredevil series, showcasing that this newest run was off to a very strong start.
The stories centered on the daily humanity of the hero: Matt Murdock’s personal life. It reversed the narrative taking it from a typical superhero comic and making it into a crime story that included a costumed hero. Its grounded stories are so real are a reason behind its influence. Bendis understood that plot of stories is very important but so emotion and character that's even more critical. Matt Murdock was flawed man, sometimes his actions were so distanced from what we’d expect of a classic Marvel hero and as a Lawyer he repeatedly compromised his oath-bound ethics—but this enriched the mythology greatly. The art by Alex Maleev created certain visuals for the series that matched the dark and gritty storytelling. It had wonderful sense of mood: dark, gritty and foreboding.
The outing of Daredevil's identity is the single greatest element factor of the run, it a common superhero trope that's been explored in a way no other superhero comics had ever done. There was no quick fix or close call like so many other masked heroes have faced, it's existed all the way to the current series and it's due to be rectconned in the new Marvel Universe reboot; All-New, All-Different Marvel. The revelation made way for great stories to come for the series and The Man Without Fear.
Bendis and Maleev continued what Miller had started, in the 80's Miller redefined Matt Murdock's world, but Bendis has pushed it to new heights without retreading old territory. The run inspired Mark Waid's 2011 Daredevil series as a counterpoint to all the dark stories and misfortune the character had been put through. Bendis and Maleev's four year work on Daredevil continues to be one of the major high point of the characters history. It is the eptionme of dark gritty and realistic Daredevil. All collected in these three big paperback volumes giving over 50 issues of brilliant and unforgettable Daredevil stories.
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