As a kid, I have always enjoyed cartoon series that were based on comics.
My favourites were Spider-man, X-men (even though I had no idea what was going on story wise) and Batman (even though the dark intro used to scare me a bit).
When I was in high school, I started reading and collecting comic books. My favourite series were Iron-man, MAX Punisher ( R-rated Punisher comic) and Green Lantern. That said, I also read other comics like the Walking Dead, Captain America, Thor and Daredevil.
For those curious about what I did over the weekend, I binged watched the new Daredevil series on Netflix. I have dabbled and read Daredevil comics and I have also been scarred by watching the 2003 movie version. Instead of reviewing the series myself, I thought it would be a good idea to use a review of my good friend Mike Nevada. In Mike's own words "Since I was a kid I always had an affinity for ol' hornhead."
The blind lawyer from Hell's Kitchen, the Man Without Fear, the Scarlet Swashbuckler (yep, they actually called him that back in the 70's), returns to the live-action format! Here's our review!
Marvel's Daredevil follows Matt Murdock, blind lawyer by day, a vigilante with keen supersenses by night. Sounds like a bad Ben Affleck movie doesn't it? I know a lot of people will pass on this show because of the very crappy Affleck movie. But in doing so, you're missing out on something really fun. Daredevil doesn't dissapoint, creating a great balance between the gritiness of the comics (taking inspiration from the Frank Miller and Bendis/Maleev runs) and still connecting it to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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| one of the Easter eggs referencing the Avengers movie |
The show plays out like a thirteen hour movie, tracing Matt Murdock's ascent to the hero of Hell's Kitchen. Because of that, however, the pacing of the show seems a lot slower than your usual Marvel fare. Some action sequences, though visceral and brutal, seem a tad too long. You also won't find the light/funny tone of the Marvel films. No, this show is gritty and bloody. That's not a bad thing, but people looking for the light tone of other Marvel properties like The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy should look elsewhere.
In terms of story, the writing is top notch. I feared that the show might come off too serious, but the writers (most of which are Buffy the Vampire Slayer alums), give the show a lot of levity. Classic supporting characters like Karen Page and Foggy Nelson get as much screentime as the titular lead, offering a well rounded show more akin to The Sopranos than something like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And like all Marvel movies, the show pays homage to fans with some fun easter eggs (what's all this talk about the Greek girl Matt dated in law school?) that may or may not lead to storylines in the next season (fingers crossed we get to see Bullseye and Elektra!).
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| The supporting characters: Foggy Nelson and Karen Page |
So, Mike, take away the Daredevil fanboy in you, is this show any good? Since I was a kid I always had an affinity for ol' hornhead. I always liked the idea that one blind man could make a difference in a world of god and monsters. But hey, as a fan, I feel I am way more critical than others and I gotta say the show ticks all the boxes for what it needs to be. Is it groundbreaking? Not really, other shows have done the gritty crime drama better (check out The Sopranos and The Wire). Is it fun? Hell yah. Angry Daredevil fans can finally wash away the bad taste of the 2003 movie with something that finally pays true homage to the comics. So for those looking for a darker, more gritty, superhero fare, look no further than the Man Without Fear, because this Daredevil fan is pretty happy with this show.
For the original article, click here.
For more of Mike Nevada's reviews and articles, be sure to check out Geek Happy Network
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