Marvel Comics
Daredevil #116
By Hervé St-Louis March 22, 2009 - 21:10
Publisher(s): Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Ed Brubaker
Penciller(s): David Aja
Inker(s): Stefano Gaudiano
Colourist(s): José Villarrubia
Letterer(s): Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artist(s): Marko Djudjevic
$2.99 US
This issue focus on the Kingpin, who had last given up
his American citizenship and retired, out of respect to his late wife and in an
attempt to stop his continuing conflict with Daredevil. The Kingpin has
recreated his life with a new woman and her child, somewhere in Spain. His life
is idyllic quiet and perfect, until the Hand, the ninja clan that fights
Daredevil comes and shatters his life. Who will the Kingpin take his revenge
on?
While the story is interesting, it’s all too clear from
the first page that it will turn bad for the Kingpin’s new family. On that
alone, I question the impact such a story can have on future development. It
felt more like a rabbit pulled out of a magic hat and quickly pushed aside to
provide the Kingpin a reason to return to this series. This story is the kind
of thing one would expect from a Jean Claude Van Damme or Chuck Norris film to
make the protagonist come out of his shelf and exact vengeance. Although the
story is not bad, it’s dangerously approaching camp territory.
Aja continues in the tradition of past Daredevil
illustrators to create a crime noir” what I like about his contribution, is
that it’s so embedded with the general tone of this series, that’s it’s
difficult to differentiate from other Daredevil illustrators. It’s good work.