Daredevil, Vol. 1: Yellow [Paperback]

Jeph Loeb (Author), Tim Sale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 2003

In this retelling of the early career of The Man Without Fear, the Eisner Award-winning team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have taken an inspiring action adventure story and blended it with a romantic comedy. The result is the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of two young people in love--Matthew Murdock and Karen Page.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Comics; Direct Ed edition (January 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785109692
• ISBN-13: 978-0785109693
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yellow to Red..., October 23, 2003

By 

Noumenon (Chennai, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daredevil, Vol. 1: Yellow (Paperback)

A friend recommended this to me and the first thing that struck me was the funny title. Daredevil, the man without fear - YELLOW?. What an irreverent oxymoron. It's like saying "Superman Weakling" or "Flash Slowcoach". A look at the book allayed my fears - he really WAS yellow, but perhaps only in costume, not in character. I opened this book reluctantly, expecting to see a travesty of one of my heroes. Five minutes later I walked out of the store with a fine addition to my comic collection.

PLOT:
Jeph Loeb has outclassed himself yet again. The slow yet beautiful story recounts Daredevil's origins and his gradual rise to fame as "New York's favorite son". It reads like a personal diary with beautiful introspective monologue, especially the references to boxing and his dad. Essentially it's one long flashback explaining why the costume changed from yellow-and-red to all-red, with our hero remaining mired in tragedy all the time. Along the way Daredevil/Matt Murdock meets his first love, battles a few guest supervillains and there is even a cameo appearance by some other Marvel uberpeople.

Daredevil's blossoming relationship with Karen Page is explored deeply throughout, yet I found the denouement to be unsatisfactory. After developing one phase of the man's past so well, the ending is a little rushed and abrupt. The book's conclusion is squeezed into 3 brief pages starting with "the rest of the story you know too well". At this point the book was already too big and needed to end soon, but the main threads (e.g. just how did one of the important characters die?) are left dangling in unsavory suspense for the DD newcomer.

ART:
Exquisite water colors! There are loads of full-page panels and several double-page spreads. In fact each page has at the most 3 to 4 panels, which is appropriate becuase this is not an action thriller. The attention to detail can vary from a monochromatic background to a full-paged intricately pencilled Manhattan skyline stretching away to the horizon. There are unforgettable scenes like DD ruminating on the Empire State Building's spire. And there is good use of the color black (yes black is a color!) though there aren't too many dark moments here.

OVERALL:
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have proved themselves a formidable team once more. Adrenaline junkies will be disappointed with the book if they're expecting a series of senseless bashemups. This tale is not fast-paced or action-packed. The plot is a "year-one" rewrite lacking twists and turns. There are no hysterias or histrionics. The book is a carefully designed work of art. Those who appreciate subtlety or visual poetry will dig this title. Overall, this is one colour-changing trip you'd want to experience at least once.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Retelling of the Daredevil Origins, July 17, 2002

By 

K.H. - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Daredevil: Yellow (Hardcover)

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have produced another great book, but this time they deal with Daredevil and his origins. In particular, they bring back the yellow union suit and retell they story on how Daredevil went from Yellow to all red.

The book is a retelling because the authors do not go back to Matt Murdock's (Daredevil) childhood like Frank Miller did in his 1993 epic "The Man Withot Fear." The story gives enough background for a newcomer can follow the story. The authors intent seems to be to deal with the entire Karen Page episode and the values of doing the right thing that his father instilled in him.

The dialogue and artwork are great and the story moves quickly and enjoyably. This story deals with Daredevil coming to terms in regards to Karen's death and he travels back to the time he met her. I do prefer Miller's origins story. It is slower, more detialed, and much more psychological, but this does not in anyway should take away from Loeb and Sale's book.

A fun book and a must for us Daredevil fans.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what got me hooked on Daredevil, July 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Daredevil: Yellow (Hardcover)

When I finished reading this graphic novel, the only thing I could think for several moments was "Wow." It was my first introduction to the character and I'm pretty much obsessed now. It covers how Matt came to be don the costume of Daredevil, from the death of his father to the change to the red costume we all know and love.