
GLX gives his take on Daredevil #17.
Writer - Mark Waid
Artist - Mike Allred
Colorist - Laura Allred
The last time that I bought a Daredevil comic was during Daredevil: Reborn. It was the end of an era of gritty tales that the character found himself in. Then, Mark Waid joined the title and his scripts were brought to life by talented artists such as Paolo Rivera and Chris Samnee. Unfortunately, my interest in the character and a small budget kept me from even trying the title. I managed to find a little bit of room in my budget for this week's Daredevil #17, as it was a done-in-one with art by Mike Allred. While I'm not going to be adding Daredevil to my pull list any time soon, I can't say that I had a bad time with this comic.
The script is entertaining and moves the action along at a steady pace. Waid's characters play off one another well and the conversations between Matt and Foggy ring true. One of the problems with the comic is that the conflict between Pasko and Fortknight is shallow. The conflict acts more as a means to add depth to Matt and Foggy's relationship than a plot thread that not only enhances other parts of the comic, but also gives the reader interest into how the conflict is resolved. Without spoiling the comic, the twist near the end of the issue does a wonderful job of meshing the importance of the tale with Daredevil's present.
Allred's art really makes this comic work. He tackles the action scenes and the emotional scenes with equal care and skill with ease. The characters feel real not through realism, but through energy and consistency given top priority under Allred's hand. His creative and functional layouts enhance the comic in ways that the average artist would be unable to do. There are moments in the comic in which the script and the art come together to create something splendid. Laura Allred contributes the colors to her husband's work, which gives the comic a fun and exciting pop to the comic.
Due to budget reasons, it is highly unlikely that I will buy this series on a regular basis; however, that does not mean that I did not have a good time. Waid's writing is entertaining and the Allreds' work elevates what was an already solid tale. Daredevil #17 is worth a look for Daredevil fans and people who are just looking for a fun comic to read.
7.6* out of 10*
Written or Contributed by GLX
READ THIS ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE, HUMANS!