Customer Reviews

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought these original issues that make up this trade paperback back when they first came out. Anyone who knows anything about comic books knows that when Frank Miller writes Daredevil, you don't miss it. Frank Miller carved his niche on Daredevil as an impressive artist, then later we discovered he was even more masterful as a writer when he took over the writing duties as well (see Daredevil Visionaries vol. 1, 2 and 3). Frank Miller's legendary run on Daredevil had long since past, and he had gone on to do works that he would become even more famous for; most notably his work on Batman for DC with Year One and The Dark Knight Returns (both equally fantastic). When it was announced that Miller would be doing a mini series called The Man Without Fear (essentially Daredevil: Year One) everyone interested in the medium knew it would be something special, and it was.

Now Daredevil: The Movie is out after months and months of previews; previews that made me dread the release of this hollywood mucked up movie. Everytime I'd see a preview I'd think back to this definative Daredevil story. Not really knowing what the movie was going to be about, I would think there could be no better story for the film than this. Rather than digging the originals out of their storage, I decided to purchase the TPB not only so I could relive the magic, but so that I could let my girlfriend appreciate the real character and story before the film polluted her. She was interested in the movie (from the previews) and I knew we'd for sure be seing it. But I wanted her to see for herself, rather than have her suffer me trying to explain how the film missed.

Needless to say, she read it (too fast I feel) and loved it, and I didn't have to explain anything. The movie missed the character and story just as I knew it would (see my review of the film) and now she's reading through the Daredevil Visionaries set. And this is someone who's never really read or been interested in comics.

This book is amazing. The writing, while perhaps not Frank Miller's best, is deep and meaninful. He continues to prove to the world (that won't listen) that comics can be a legitimate medium of literature. John Romita Jr's art was just starting to come into it's own the time this series was drawn so is a litte rough around the edges in places, but wonderful none the less.

If you know anything at all about the medium, you don't need to hear anything I just said. You already know it. But if you are new or curious about it, this book is for you. And it's 10 times better than the movie.

What it's about: Every Daredevil-reader knows about the accident that altered Matt Murdocks senses, and every Daredevil-reader knows that Matt later became Daredevil, but what about the time between the accident and Matt's turning superhero ? THAT's exactly what this book is about. We first see a young Matt living in New Yorks 'Hell's Kitchen' area, and how he gains his abilities. Nothing new so far. After that a lot of first meetings with essential characters take place (like Stick and Foggy Nelson) who all turn out to become major influences is Matt's life (especially Stick ). AND we get to see parts of his teenage relationship with Elektra (much referred to in the ongoing Daredevil series as of #168 and up), which I personally think is really the best part of the book. Certainly the most enhancing at least. The book concludes with the first rising of the Kingpin in the Daredevil title, who will once become the most important villain Daredevil ever had. The writing in this Kingpin element brings back memories to good stories like Daredevil "Child's Play" and "Born Again".

I'll start off by saying that I definately think this book can be enjoyed best by people who have already been reading the ongoing Daredevil series, it being really a "Year One" in the Daredevil history. Not saying people who haven't read Daredevil before can't enjoy it, because there isn't much going on that neccesarily requires knowledge of past events, but you'll miss out on the essence of the story. If you're looking for your first Daredevil experience you're better off getting "Frank Miller visionaires vol.1 or "Kevin Smith visionaires vol.1". If you don't want to go into a lot of Daredevil stories but are just looking for a nice stand-alone story with Daredevil in it, just get the superb "Born Again" book (Note: If you ARE willing to get into Daredevil some more, read Born Again only AFTER the "Frank Miller visionaires" volumes !). If you HAVE been a Daredevil reader before (or currently off course) I think this will be a welcome book to your Daredevil collection which will clearify a lot of things in the Frank Miller run and Daredevil-history. Not essential things though, but still nice things to read about.

Most comic readers ignore Daredevil as a character, and most non-comic fans have never even heard of him. More's the pity, then, that they miss this retelling of Daredevil's origins by Frank Miller. The story is gritty, tough, and Miller knows what to do with it better than probably any writer out there today. If you're looking to get into Daredevil, or just want to check out a first class trade paperback, this one is for you.

This book is not to be missed by anyone who likes comic books, film noir, Tom Waits, or underworld drama. Frank Miller tells the MOST underestimated story of his life. The story adds depth and motivation to a second-string superhero. This book is not to be missed by ANYONE who is comic book reader (and non-comic readers should not pass it up !)

I was very skeptical about this book because I usually don't think of one-shots as being all too good. I wasnt dissapointed with this graphic novel at all. It had amazing art and enough interesting stories before Daredevil became the Man Without Fear; back when he was the boy with plenty of it.
Unfortunately, the origins of how some things went down (like Elektra's introduction) are different than they were in Frank Miller's original comics in 1980 (also featured in Frank Miller Visionaries Vol. 2). I guess it's just filling in the blanks to what we did not know before. Either way, this book is a masterpiece to any Daredevil collector or just someone interested in his story.

I have always been a DC fan first, but what's good is good and this is really good. They have to put this back in print because it is one of greatest comics Marvel ever published. It has a fast-paced cinematic style similar to the one Frank Miller used in Batman Year One and Ronin. I am not a big fan of John Romita Junior, but his style was perfect for this story. Its obvious that both Miller and Romita Jr worked very hard on this. Daredevil's origin has been told before but when you read this you don't feel like you are reading rehashed material. There are plenty of new plots and ideas to keep it interesting throughout. As usual, the character interplay between Matt Murdock and Electra is excellent and very foreboding since we already know what the future has in store for her.

wow....everything miller has a hand in seems to be gold. i'm pretty new to comics, but i got hooked on miller's style after reading the dark knight returns (this was further cemented with batman year one). this book's art is also some of my favourite, as i always loved what romita jr did with the uncanny bunch. this book didn't seem to have the same serious and dark tone of batman year one, but it's much of the same overall feeling. i think it aims at a slightly younger audience, and it's very very close to getting 5 stars from me (it's at like 4.25).

Miller and Romita do a fantastic job on this book. Romita sites this as his favorite work he's ever done, and with good reason. He managed to draw over 100 pages of work without ONE costumed hero! Only the last page of the book has DD in costume, the rest is the updated story of Matt Murdock. And when I say updated, that's what I mean. DD's history has been changed or "retconned" as we say, it's just been made a little more deep and a little more realistic. It's quite tasteful and very respectful to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's original work. A must buy for all Daredevil fans.

The Man Without Fear is an Origin story of Daredevil. If you are not familiar with DD's history, you might want to pick this book up, since its a solid story. However- if you already know the story, there's really no point in reading this since nothing spectacular if offered here, which is a shame because Miller is the definitive DD author.

Millar has written some terrific stories, including Daredevil: Born Again. However, his stregnth is in the realistic, gritty, dirt-under-your-fingernails, adult oriented story. Unfortunately, The Man Without Fear, reads more like something for kids. I don't know if Marvel had any influence over this because it seems very at odds with Miller stories. The heavy and serious tone so familiar with Miller's writing is almost nonexistent and so this book comes off very flat.

Usually, great writers, can carry on a book based solely on their writing abilities. For example, Jeph Loeb's Spider-Man: Blue, and J. Michael Straczynski's Silver Surfer: Requiem are so eloquently and beautifully written they are masterpieces. Certainly, Miller falls into the category of Great Writers, which is why I was so surpised by the mediocrity of The Man Without Fear. Again, if you want to read a solid Origin story, pick it up- Just don't expect to be wowed.

Like he did with Batman, Frank Miller re-invented Daredevil by tinkering with his origin throughout his influential run on the title by introducing characters like Elektra and Stick, and integrating them into his past. Daredevil: The Man Without Fear re-tells the story of young Matt Murdock growing up in Hell's Kitchen, and suffering the accident that would both take his sight and give him super-senses. From that point forward, he meets the mysterious Stick who becomes his mentor, seeks revenge for the death of his father, and later in college, meets the dangerous Elektra and falls in love, and has his first encounter with Wilson Fisk, AKA, the Kingpin of crime. Miller packs enough grit and surprising realism into his re-imagining of the origin of Daredevil that one could imagine this TPB re-titled "Origin: The True Story of Daredevil". John Romita Jr's pencils are superb as usual too, but it's how seamless Miller weaves everything together that really makes The Man Without Fear worth picking up. All in all, origin stories rarely get any better than this.