Here Came Daredevil!

[spectralbovine]

It's only fitting that the year I become re-obsessed with Daredevil, I close it out by reading the legendary run by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson from the early eighties. Frank Miller is credited with redefining the character, so I wanted to see how it compared to the Bendis/Maleev run, which I consider definitive for me since I imprinted on it

Comments

[lodessa]

I also marveled at the old-school storytelling style. Back before writers began writing for trades, comic book issues were meant to be issues, not just parts of a story. I was impressed with how much plot could be fit into 22 pages.

This is why I cannot read singles. They are just like the teaser before the credits a TV show episode and I end up feeling like it is pointless and frustrating as a format. It is interesting to consider that they weren't always like that.

[spectralbovine]

Yeah, I do appreciate well-crafted single issues. Which, I think, is another reason I'm loving Chew, since each issue is sort of a mini-story with a prologue and a punch of an ending. And yet I do love serialized storytelling, so using issues as pieces of a tale can also be very fruitful.

[lodessa]

They definitely should be part of a greater whole, but at the same time they should be a good thing on their own. Like episodes of TV in a really well crafted season.

[equustel]

Beating up dudes, speaking in court, scoring hot chicks. Thank you, Frank Miller, for writing good comics before going crazy.

I KNOW RIGHT? There's a bit of a Frank Miller backlash going on these days, but dude, back in his Daredevil era he deserved every bit of hype directed his way. He totally made that character.

I should not mention Heather Glenn, one of Matt's girlfriends I had never really heard of, and that's because she's boring. More Black Widow instead, please.

LOL. Yes, wasn't she the one on Matt's voicemail in the movie, saying she's gonna break up with him? I found that amusing.

Oh gosh, DD's world is just so badass. I have always wanted to write fic for it. It may not be as huge as Batman's universe but the relative intimacy of it makes for such great stories. It needs more love.

[spectralbovine]

back in his Daredevil era he deserved every bit of hype directed his way. He totally made that character.
He definitely made the 'verse, but I'm not sure I particularly liked what he did with the character, exactly. To me, he seemed more focused on Daredevil ("Aaugh, my powers are going haywire...again!") than Matt. But I guess he did start the cycle of Matt angsting over his girlfriends?

Oh gosh, DD's world is just so badass.
It is!

It may not be as huge as Batman's universe but the relative intimacy of it makes for such great stories.
But he really does have a shitty rogues' gallery.

It needs more love.
This is true! My friends are all, "Bleh, you and your Daredevil, whatever."

[equustel]

I agree that Matt has perhaps been written better since, but Miller is still responsible for making him the psychologically complex, hot-blooded character he defaults to today. Daredevil became a lot more specific once Miller wrote him - sharply intelligent, a bit unhinged, more violent than most superheroes (which he ties back into Jack Murdock), with a strained definition of justice, and even some religious angst thrown in. And yeah, I he definitely cemented the idea of him as a ladies' man. ;)

[hecubot]

Elektra was hugely popular from the get-go. Same with Bullseye and the way Miller wrote Kingpin. That's why people were so blown away by the conclusion of that storyline.

[spectralbovine]

Cool! What was interesting to me was that Elektra wasn't as fridged as I thought. Bullseye kills her because she's a rival assassin, not because she's Matt's love. He doesn't even know about their connection. (Karen Page, on the other hand...)

[hecubot]

Btw, have you read Douglas Wolk's review of the Bendis run?

[spectralbovine]

I have not! That was a great review, thanks. Man, I do love that run. Have you read it?

[hecubot]

I have not, but now I'm intrigued.

[spectralbovine]

I have it all if you want to borrow it sometime.

[chrryblssmninja]

Klaus Janson is legendary. I think he did work on Batman: Gothic, and that's where I first noticed his style.

Thank you, Frank Miller, for writing good comics before going crazy.
hee so true
I think Frank Miller's work on Daredevil is the best stuff he's done. I need to get through some of his other work from that time, but I think that's when he had greatest control and balance between story + character and the Frank Miller style.

[spectralbovine]

Klaus Janson is legendary. I think he did work on Batman: Gothic, and that's where I first noticed his style.
And what is his style, exactly?

I think Frank Miller's work on Daredevil is the best stuff he's done. I need to get through some of his other work from that time, but I think that's when he had greatest control and balance between story + character and the Frank Miller style.
And what is his style, exactly?

[chrryblssmninja]

What I know of Klaus Janson's style is that it's heavy inks; moody, gothic (as used in Batman: Gothic) to noirish; anything involving lots of dark. But it's still visually comprehensible, well-lined and clear. There's also a good guide to inking that he wrote.

What I know of Frank Miller's style is that he puts characters into the darkest situations Miller can imagine at the moment. In his best works, Miller's prose narration can reach pulp poetry; at other times his prose, story and characters wallow in the muck for effect's sake. I liked his setup for Wolverine too, and the Japanese element he added to Logan's backstory was melodramatic but well-suited to the character.