Daredevil #83

Ed Brubaker // Michael Lark
May 2006
****

After Foggy’s funeral (note: no one saw a corpse), a court puts Murdock into the prison gen-pop—a case of the Watchmen line, “I’m not in here w/ you….” Brubaker’s style instantly contrasts w/ Bendis’, his violent action supplanting the dialogue-driven approach, & propelling the mag’s momentum.

last issue: Daredevil #82
next issue: Daredevil #84

also indexed for May ’06
Annihilation: Prologue #1 of 1
Iron Man #6
Nextwave, Agents of HATE #3
The Pulse #14
Young Avengers #11

Daredevil #13

David Mack // Joe Quesada
October 2000
**

Foggy tries to connect a client’s murder to Fisk while his partner seeks the witness, who in turn shoots & “kills” the acquitted Kingpin of Crime. Mack’s delays finally seem to catch up with him, as he squeezes about a year of plot into one issue. The trial scenes are particularly woolly & clichéd.

last issue: Daredevil #12
next issue: Daredevil #14

also indexed for Oct. ’00
Avengers #33
Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1 of 1
Thunderbolts #43

Daredevil #8

Kevin Smith // Joe Quesada
June 1999
*****

Having revitalized DD by resetting it to the Born Again era, Smith writes a lovely denouement. His arc’s main defect has been its high body count; he counters the ’90s machismo w/ honest emotion. There’s a lovely confession/absolution from Spidey, & Black Widow calls Matt out on his misogyny.

last issue: Daredevil #7
next issue: Daredevil #9

also indexed for Jun. ’99
Avengers #17
Avengers Forever #7 of 12
Thunderbolts #27

Daredevil #3

Kevin Smith // Joe Quesada
January 1999
****

Echoes of Born Again as Matt’s life tears apart; here it’s due to an infant messiah, object of a war btw angels. Disappointing tho’, that Karen Page’s AIDS diagnosis is mystical & not an outgrowth of her past. Joe Q pencils the paragon of the ’90s manga-influence, using Doré woodcuts as backdrops!

last issue: Daredevil #2
next issue: Daredevil #4

also indexed for Jan. ’99
Avengers #12
Avengers Forever #2 of 12
Captain America/Citizen V Annual 1998
Thunderbolts #22
Thunderbolts #0

Daredevil #1

Kevin Smith // Joe Quesada
November 1998
****

Maybe the strongest success (definitely the most popular one) of Marvel’s “soft” reboots after the moribund Image Era. Smith brings nerd-love AWA film experience & Hollywood caché, & delivers a v.g. script. But it’s future EiC Quesada who shines, w/ deceptively simple layouts & dynamic acrobatics.

last issue: Daredevil #380
next issue: Daredevil #2

also indexed for Nov. ’98
Avengers #10
Thunderbolts #20