4 out of 5

Since Waid’s 2012 / 2013 DD series mostly didn’t have made-for-trades 5-part storylines, I’ll review them by how they ended up being collected.

As waxed upon in more detail in my series overview (though written before this volume completed), the overall charm of Waid’s rejiggering of horn-head was his balance of comic pop cheekiness with awareness of the modern landscape of superheroes, managing to straddle for almost the entire run a tight-wire that remained above the Marvel clutter.  Waid has been hitting this note for years, but it can still sway toward something- over substance, depending on the book; but DD, for my comic bucks, was the ideal blend.

The difference is immediately noticeable as the series kicks off because of the way it’s not “part 1 of 5” or 3 and because the first issue doesn’t end with a world-exploding cliffhanger.  Rating just those first three books, it’s five stars all the way… but the next three issues that were collected for the first TP shift the direction toward the Omega Drive storyline that would overtake the next few issues, and although those issues pay off in spades in the next collection (and afterward, ramifications carrying forward, adding to the wonderful insular feel of the writing), it’s a noteable change and, admittedly, a bit disappointing because of how much fun the initial pitch is… and, I’m sorry to say, because of the change of artists.

Paolo Rivera’s work just knocks our socks off as Waid tiptoes through a mystery in which a client of Matt Murdock’s is being terrorized by a source which DD must track down.  The issues rope in the Spot for an amazingly kinetic attempted kidnap at a wedding that Matt foils (Mark already seamlessly seeding in bits for the future), Captain America for a fun confrontation that helps smooth the transition from the darkness of the previous writers storylines to Waid’s more colorful intentions (again, underlining Mark’s awareness of the world but management of keeping his hero’s adventures mainly self-contained and reader friendly), and finally, an unexpected villain who’s written to present a truly believable challenge for DD… all while slipping in a lightly emotional component to humanize Matt.  Paolo finds a unique and effective way to detail radar sense, to show DD’s method of absorbing his environment at all times; every panel is stunning.  The issues also introduce a fun hook wherein Matt, pretty much outed as DD prior to the volume, cannot argue a case as they always turn into a circus wherein his ‘supposed’ alternate identity is used against him – thus, Matt decides to take on clients whom he will train to argue cases for themselves.  Its an awesome underdog vibe, and we get the feeling at the end of issue #3 that that will be our stepping stone for further fun tales.

And it is, but the client whom Matt hopes to coach introduced in issue #4 takes us out of the courtroom immediately for something a bit closer to hero antics – vs. HYDRA, AIM, and whatever other crime organization you can imagine.  It’s still handled with the same charm, but it’s a bit of a reroute into “bigger” territory, leading to the fear that the series was immediately going to get off track (it didn’t).  Pairing this change with new artist Marcos Martin (whom was smartly introduced in a backup in issue #1) – of the more minimalistic style that later series artist Chris Samnee also employed – it was hard not to hold the issues side by side with the first three, as Martin used his own methods of showing radar sense, and it couldn’t help but seem like something of a copy of Rivera.  The Omega Drive is introduced, as are further ties to what’s to come.  And Waid gets a bit repetitive with his “I’m outnumbered… just how I want it,” pap, moving that tight-wire over the “too cute” crowd… but again, that would swing back once the initial setup settled into a groove.

The letters pages also do add something to the books.  While we always know that we’re only getting a purposefully selected sample of letters, Steve Wacker gives us what at least feels like an honest take, some criticism, but mostly the praise the series deserves, and a lot of “DD is an inspiration” letters that bring a tear to our collective comicy eyes.  And Steve’s responses balance between chuckles and considered feedback, proving you can do this effectively even when it’s only allotted one page.