written by Charles Soule
drawn by Phil Noto
Yet again I've fallen behind in reviewing this series, in part because of work but also because I found myself a bit nonplussed by the competent but unremarkable conclusion of the last story arc.
I should not have been quite so hasty, as it seems that Charles Soule, in what I am sure is the final story arc of this series before a major relaunch, judging by Marvel's marketing moves lately, has come up with something pretty entertaining.
Issue #606
At the end of the last arc, Matt Murdock aka Daredevil, having resigned as Wilson Fisk's Deputy Mayor of New York, happened to hear, with his heightened hearing, Fisk's Lieutenant Wesley mutter "good thing he doesn't know you cheated in the election" or something like that, to Fisk, which has set the current story in motion. Murdock is now on a mission to expose Fisk's duplicity and take him down, and for this he approached Frank McGee, the one time investigator for the Inhumans who would not only be more than happy to help, but who also brings a couple of pretty valuable players to the team: Doug Ramsey, aka Cypher, a mutant who can translate any language, and Reader, an Inhuman who can actually bring things into existence just by reading about them. However, Matt's crusade may hit a bit of a snag when he has a run-in with Hammerhead and his goons robbing a bank, but even moreso when a completely unexpected figure from his past breezes into town.
I quite like Soule's non-linear approach here; it makes the issue feel that much more packed, which isn't an easy thing to do in an era of 20 to 21-page stories. The overall pacing is good, and Soule does a canny job of setting up Matt's mission.
While it's been fun watching Soule introducing new characters in this series, ranging from Blindspot to the Inhumans and even the Ordo Draconum, it's equally refreshing to finally see him bring back a couple of classics. Kingpin's return was almost a foregone conclusion, but having a much more humorous character show up at this point in Matt's life brought back some much-needed fun that's been missing since Mark Waid left the book. I also like the fact that Soule has brought back Cypher, one of Chris Claremont's most underrated characters who, after being a regular mainstay of the New Mutants back in the 80s, never seems to stay in one place for very long. I still maintain he'd be great in an espionage-type story, maybe alongside the Winter Soldier.
Soule is joined here by his Poe Dameron collaborator Phil Noto, and while I can't really say I'm a big fan, he definitely does solid work, sort of like a more talented Alex Maleev.
Issue #607
After running into his "twin brother" Mike Murdock who is actually an alias Matt Murdock assumed many, many years ago to throw people who suspected his secret identity of his scent, Matt sets out to find out exactly who, or what, he is. After trouncing some c-list thugs in the Bar with No Name, which was where Mike showed up in the first place stirring up trouble, Matt takes Mike to an Inhuman "expert" to figure out what he is, and solves the mystery of his existence. When the time comes to solve this little problem, though, things go awry.
This issue wasn't quite as well put together as the last one, but if nothing else Phil Noto's art improves noticeably, and some of the humor lands pretty well. Soule does his best to keep the exposition on who Mike Murdock is short, and Noto helps with some lively illustrations that really pop thanks in no small part to Mike's gaudy wardrobe, but it still feels ever-so-slightly clunky. Unfortunately, Matt's whole "get Kingpin" mission is completely sidetracked here, but fortunately, this little subplot is genuinely interesting, even if it does feel a little thin to be stretched out till next issue (or more).
This weekend, I'll pick up #608 and get all caught up.
Issue #606: 8/10
Issue #607: 7.5/10
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