What I Bought 12/31/2011 - Part 4

If you were wondering, I'm planning to kick off the 2011 Year in Review posts next week. Probably Monday through Friday.

Daredevil #6, 7 – Issue 6 concludes the second arc, as Matt defeats Bruiser, and rescues Austin and Mr. Randall. He does this by getting his hands on something that 5 major criminal organizations all want, thus making it clear he’s the threat, not Austin. I’m not sure Austin still wouldn’t be targeted simply because he does know about the Omegadrive, but yes, Daredevil having would be a bigger problem. Issue 7 involves Matt trying to take some kids on a nice holiday jaunt, only the bus crashes and a wounded Matt has to try and lead them through a frozen wilderness. He makes a few missteps in trying to keep their spirits up and have them involved in saving themselves, but things work out well in the end (except for the bus driver).

It’s a nice contrast of issues. From Matt being beaten nearly to death saving two people from worldwide criminal networks, to Matt nearly dying leading some kids through the woods in winter. High stakes both times, but one is caused by deliberate maliciousness (or indifference), the other is just bad luck (stupid deer). It’s amazing how calm and in control Matt is with five guys pointing ray guns at him, and then he keeps losing his cool trying to rally the kids. Different challenges, and we get an idea of which ones Matt’s more accustomed to handling.

Marcos Martin draws #6, Paolo Rivera #7, so it’s a good-looking book either way. I don’t know whether to credit Martin or Joe Caramagna for the nice work with the sound effects. I like the sound of the boat following the boat’s path, while simultaneously moving into the next panel, adjacent to DD’s ear, the effect showing the change in direction, and moving back into the original panel. I also need to give some credit to Muntsa Vicente, the color artist on 6. Martin’s a top notch artist, no doubt, but it doesn’t hurt that the colors are so bright, vivid, and distinct. It’s not the murky look a lot of the other books have, and it helps Martin’s art pop off the page. For example, I love the radar effect look at the Omegadrive, and part of that is the hues of everything Matt’s picking up within it. Rivera and his color artist, Javier Rodriguez, do a similarly good job with it in issue 7.

I love wrapping up reviews on a positive note.