What I Bought 9/21/2013

I may not have done any comic buying at the convention, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do a little while Alex was working. And since I figured my comic guy wouldn't be sending these two earlier issues of Daredevil any time soon, I grabbed them while I had the chance.

Speaking of my comic guy, he ought to be sending September's books this week. Hopefully today. Not that it'll be much of a haul. With no DC books, and then you throw in Hawkeye #13 not shipping (for the 2nd consecutive month), Rocketeer/Spirit #2 not shipping (for the second consecutive month), and Atomic Robo: Savage Sword of Dr. Dinosaur #3 not shipping, and the field is down to 6 books, assuming Diamond didn't stiff him on anything, and he remembers everything.

Daredevil #28, by Mark Waid (writer), Javier Rodriguez (penciler/colorist), Alvaro Lopez (inker), Joe Caramagna (letterer), and Daredevil #30, by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee (storytellers), Javier Rodriguez (colorist), Joe Caramagna (letterer) - Never mind. No cover discussion because Blogger/Google's being a worthless asshole right now about uploading pictures. I don't want to upload something from my online account because the fucking image is on my desktop, you jackasses! {Edit, Thursday afternoon: The issue seems to have resolved itself. Not at all sure why. Perhaps a temporary problem on their end, I don't know. Anyway, the cover. Do you think Young Nate's head blocking the "without" in Daredevil's tagline is intentional? Since the kids all believed Young Matt was chicken, and therefore was very much with fear.}

Issue 28 adds some context to issue 29, which I already had, by outlining Matt's history with Nate Hackett, and Nate's dilemma. Nate was a jerk as a kid, but also one who inadvertently created Daredevil, which he figures sort of cancels it out. Besides that, Young Matt was kind of a mouthy, aloof brat, which you could understand certain kids finding irritating. Frankly, if you're going to talk a lot of smack about how great your dad is, and how you're going to be a rich lawyer when you grow up, I'm not really surprised other kids would decide to beat you up. Doesn't make it right, but you can understand it. Matt, despite his misgivings, recognizes Nate really does have a case, and makes the right choice. I like the two aspects of their past separately, but together I'm not as big a fan. I suppose the revelation of Matt's childhood attitude was necessary, and I actually like it. There are elements of that kid in Matt even now, the bragging, the cockiness, the part of himself he holds in reserve. I kind of wish Nate had just been an unrepentant jerk, so I'd feel more confident Matt was really helping him because he had a case, and not out of any slight case of guilt over how Nate's life turned out.

The bit with Foggy at the beginning was really good., but that's about the bond of friendship, so I was an easy mark there. Page 3 looked good. Matt staring at himself in the dark mirror of a bathroom, then the middle of the page, where Matt gradually composes himself, then walks back into that room. The shift in the colors from that dark bathroom, where Matt's alone with his problems, to the hallway, where he has to set all that aside and be Foggy's support. And Foggy's room is the same shadowy colors as the bathroom, where Matt can't hide from the problem.

Issue 30 is more slight, Matt trying to adjust to former Assistant D.A. McDuffie taking Foggy's place in the office. Then matt's approached by an alien on the run, who cam seeking him because a) Daredevil knows the avengers, and b) Matt Murdock once argued that the laws should be adjusted to include protection from discrimination for people from other worlds. Which sounds exactly like something Matt would do, even if it was just a lark. Someone bets him he can't make a convincing argument for it, he smirks and goes out and does it. As it turns out, the alien is some sentient lie and the Silver Surfer is on his tail before he can wreck Earth's defenses. Is that some stealth Infinity reference? Eh, probably not. Matt and the Surfer team up to take down the alien, but not before it tells Matt McDuffie will never love him. Which might be a lie, might be the truth. It'll say whatever it senses will be most effective. Which makes me wonder if this isn't part of some long game, because it sure didn't seem effective at stopping Daredevil.

I kind of think this whole issue was just so Samnee could draw Matt steering the Surfer's board for a few pages. Which look pretty good. The contrast between Matt, who is having the time of his life, leaning into the wind, grinning like an idiot, and the Surfer, who looks completely bored, maybe even a little sour. This is one of the things I enjoy about the book, Matt's constant attempts to take his joy where he can. His life isn't one where he can always look on the bright side, always be upbeat. It would be dangerous to do so. But, there are still opportunities here and there, and Matt is making it a point to seize them, rather than stay wrapped up in his troubles.

There's another panel, where Matt catches the alien, where the panel is just Matt pulling the line in his billy club tight. Which doesn't sound like much, but the previous panel showed him tossing a length of the line in the general direction of the alien (who is hard for even Matt's senses to pinpoint). Matt can't really be sure he got his target, he has to tighten the line and hope.