Daredevil #8
“City Without Fear” Part 1
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Lee Garbett
Colorist: Frank Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
There’s a new drug taking New York by storm—one that removes all fear from whoever takes it. Maybe Matt Murdock should try some of it, he’s not quite himself these days…
The Price of Valor
Matt Murdock is being dumb and self-destructive again. Since his maybe-wife Elektra (are they still married if he died, came back without his memories, and became a priest named Father Matthew, then remembered who he was again and is now back to being Matt Murdock as if nothing ever happened?) returned and made off with Wilson Fisk's secret ledger, he’s been neglecting his classes, ignoring basic self-care, and spending all his time looking for her. Because ninjas are so easy to find when they don’t want to be. Maybe she’s just not that into you anymore, Matt.
Matt soon finds his attention turned to a new drug called Valor, which removes all fear from anyone who takes it and leads to people being dangerously crazy and reckless. The mastermind behind Valor? None other than Mr. Fear—who shows up in the middle of Matt’s law class. And right when he was about to tell his student he’s resigning, too…
Guest Lecturer
This issue was a quick read that set up the new conflict with Mr. Fear while still keeping loose ends from the prior story arcs in play. I'm glad to see Detective Forte sticking around, and that he didn't just magically get over the trauma that Omen inflicted on him. And of course there's the Elektra factor, and Matt's obsession with her. As Foggy said, he's like a moth to a flame when it comes to her.
Although it's very much in Matt Murdock's nature to shove everything aside in favor of one of his obsessions, I'm finding myself very disappointed in how this run has handled his job as an adjunct law professor. That was such a great idea and an interesting new direction for Matt, but we've seen very little of him actually doing that job. And now he's going to resign? If he actually follows through with that, then this will go down as a major misstep for this run. The sheer irony of a man who follows the law by day, and then breaks it every night, teaching the next generation about the law is too delicious to not explore farther.
Another misstep in my mind is the new design for Mr. Fear. It's not bad, per se, but the old design was so striking and so good. This new one is more like a horror movie serial killer type of look—which works for a character like Mr. Fear, but just doesn't have the same impact as the old look. That skull-ish mask was just cool. Although I'm not a fan of the look, I do like his new approach to his "work"—instead of causing fear, he's removing it. Who wouldn't love to not be afraid to ask their crush out, to try something new, to shoot their shot? Wouldn't a fireman love to have zero fear or hesitation when it came to running into a burning building? Unfortunately, once the feelings of fear are gone, human nature says that really stupid ideas follow too. Things like robbing banks Bonnie-and-Clyde style suddenly seem like good ideas.
How does the Man Without Fear operate in a city where everyone is just as fearless, if not more so, than he is? Especially when he himself is off his game? It's an interesting conflict that I'm looking forward to seeing explored more. And now the source of it all, Mr. Fear, has come to Matt Murdock's classroom... I'm not clear on whether the fearmonger knows that Matt is Daredevil or not at this point, so I'm very curious to see what his reasons for appearing in the classroom are. Unlisted special guest lecture series? Yeah, probably not...
Lab Assistants
Stephanie Phillips builds an interesting new conflict for Daredevil with Mr. Fear's return this issue. At the same time, she keeps things like the hunt for Elektra and Omen's prophecies front-and-center. It's a tough balance, and so far she's managing it pretty well. Her take on Matt Murdock remains strong, although I'm starting to wonder if the self-destructiveness is turned up just a bit too much. If there's a payoff coming, then it's understandable, but that's hard to say right now.
I'm so glad to see Lee Garbett back on art this issue. It's not that Flaviano was bad the last two issues, but his style really wasn't to my taste. Garbett's art fits so well with Phillips's take on the character—the stories don't feel the same without him. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not big on his new design for Mr. Fear, but that's my personal taste. You might think it's awesome. But one thing I'm definitely a fan of is his panel layouts—they are always great to look at, and his clean pencils allow for plenty of detail. Plus some incredibly dynamic action sequences.
Frank Martin's colors are the perfect mix of bright shades and shadowy tones, just like the stories being told here. The world as a whole has a darker edge to it, but the red of Daredevil's suit stands out no matter what is around him—even when he's beating up Mr. Fear's manufacturing teams who are dressed head-to-toe in white. And I do have to admit, the one place where Mr. Fear's new look really works for me is when he appears with his face filling multiple monitors—the coloring gives him an otherworldly look that sells the new look in that moment.
Know Fear
Daredevil #8 sets up the "City Without Fear" storyline through the return of Mr. Fear and the introduction of the fear-removing drug Valor. It's a fast issue that still manages to check in with the ongoing plots like Elektra, Wilson Fisk's ledger, and Omen's prophecies. I'm really disappointed with the direction that Matt's teaching career seems to be going, and Mr. Fear's new look doesn't really work for me. Those issues aside, I am looking forward to seeing what tortures Phillips and Garbett put Daredevil through next.