Daredevil is one of the best comics that Marvel puts out right now. It’s one of my personal favorites and it’s just kept getting better as the series has gone on. Mark Waid has brought a refreshing change to Daredevil’s life. Over the years Daredevil has been plagued with just relentlessly dark characterizations. Within his run Matt Murdock has decided to stop brooding on his life and just enjoy everything and everyone around him. Bringing this newly found sensibility to his life as Daredevil too. Paolo Rivera has assisted in issues of this series with a art style that’s fun, breezy, and truly showing a hero that enjoys being a hero. With using a unique way of showing you how Matt Murdock sees the world around him. With Daredevil #7 this is no exception, as this issue serves as a jumping on point for any new readers curious in this run.
The focus of the issue is Matt Murdock taking the kids from the Cresskill School for the Blind on a field trip. Just a nice peaceful trip, until the bus driver swerves to avoid an animal, and Rivera’s depiction of the bus crash has you feeling every bit of the impact of it. With one final thud of Matt’s head sends us into a flashback to a Christmas party he had. There’s an aside to an earlier story in the beginning of the flashback, it’s only focused on for so long though, which is what makes this such a nice jumping on point. In reference to the Christmas party, I’d love to know who’s idea it was for Matt Murdock’s, “I’m not Daredevil,” T-Shirt, I really want one now.
After the party flashback, you’re shown the aftermath of the crash which is as brutal to see at as any battle scene. Matt battered and bruised, with the kids wandering about. My heart was breaking at how these scenes were handled. With Rivera’s artwork adding the extra punch. It’s touching and the kids reactions are just perfect kid reactions to this situation. The moments where Matt is trying to keep the kids calm, singing Christmas tunes and talking about the holidays was sweet. His abilities don’t work as well within inclement weather and it was keeping him calm too. In the end though, it all comes together with a genuinely heartwarming ending, with the last page making me think that his team up with Spider-Man and the Black Cat next issue is going to be interesting.
If you’ve been wanting to give Daredevil a shot, this would be a good start for any reader. Outside of being a good Christmas story, it’s just a well done stand alone story. Mark Waid does a nice job of setting you up for the next story too in the next issue as Daredevil #8 is crossing over with Amazing Spider-Man #677. Paolo Rivera’s art works well for the story. Helping get across just a sweet and simple story in Daredevil getting these kids to safety. Especially when the kids end up being the ones to save the day, that you just have to see in the issue though. I don’t feel at this point enough people have really been giving this book a chance, I say you should be reading this. If you’ve wanted to see a different take on Daredevil, Mark Waid is giving you that month after month, continually making this a must read title. You won’t regret putting this series on your radar.
