Ed Brubaker keeps delivering an excellent issue of Daredevil each and every month. Daredevil is one of the Revolution’s favorite titles. With Matt finally breaking out of jail, I expect that Daredevil #87 should be an action packed and entertaining issue. Let’s not waste anytime and head to this review.
Creative Team
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Michael Lark
Inker: Stefano Gaudiano
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: This issue starts with the fake Daredevil talking about how he has been following Dakota North and keeping tabs on the thugs who are trailing her wherever she goes. The thugs decide that Dakota is getting too close in her investigation and that it is time to kill her. One of the thugs wants to call the boss for approval. The other one tells him to forget it and be a man and do what they need to do.
The thugs then attempt to kill Dakota. However, the fake Daredevil appears and makes short work of the thugs. We then see the fake Daredevil after his encounter with Dakota North talking into a recorder saying that Dakota recognized him and that his may be his last report. At this point, the real Daredevil appears.
We then shift back one hour earlier. The Warden of Ryker’s Island is finishing doctoring the video tapes at the prison. He has edited out any video footage of Matt in combat. All that is left is footage of a blind man being held hostage by the Punisher and used as a human shield so that the Punisher could escape. The Warden then directs his secretary to call her friend at the 11 o’clock news and tell her that she has an exclusive.
We then see Matt and Punisher landing a helicopter that they used to escape from Ryker’s Island. Matt thanks Punisher for his help. Punisher responds that he knows that Matt has been hurting, but he doesn’t want to be the Punisher. That Matt needs to remember that. (That was a nice scene.)
We then cut to Matt having gotten one of his old costumes and approaching the fake Daredevil on a rooftop. We are then treated to some fisticuffs between these two gentlemen. Matt has the upper hand in the fight until the fake Daredevil lets loose with a chi powered fist. Matt recognizes that the fake Daredevil is his old buddy Danny. Danny then realizes that this is Matt in a costume and not some fake.
We shift to Matt and Danny back at Danny’s place. Danny gets into his Iron Fist costume. Iron Fist tells Daredevil how Alton Lennox hired him to impersonate Daredevil. Iron Fist thought this was all part of Matt’s defense to show that he wasn’t Daredevil. Matt says that Alton Lennox was the last person to speak with Foggy’s killer and that he is pulling Matt’s strings.
We then zip to Dakota North and Ben Urich breaking into one of Alton Lennox’s offices. When they enter the office, they see Iron Fist and Daredevil in the room. The four find no evidence of Lennox in the office. It has been swept clean and there are no paper or computer files. Dakota then hits the reprint button on the fax machine and out comes an e-ticket for first class fare to Monaco.
We then fast forward to later than night with Ben Urich meeting with Matt in his motel room. Ben urges Matt to not do anything stupid and to not get himself killed. Matt says that there was never going to be a case against him. That putting him in prison was all about breaking him and getting him killed. That failed. Ben mentions how the last time he say Foggy, that Foggy blamed him for everything. Matt assures Ben that none of this was his fault. (Another nicely done scene.)
We then see the 11 o’clock news where video footage of Punisher taking Matt hostage and using him as a human shield to escape Ryker’s is being played on TV. The news reports that the repeated sightings of Daredevil while Matt was jailed opens the debate wide open as to the question of who Daredevil really is. The Warden then gives an interview and states that Matt is an innocent man. That at no times did he ever appear to be a man capable of being Daredevil. That the blame should be placed on the FBI who forced Matt into a dangerous situation at Ryker’s Island and created this time bomb that lead to the massive riot.
We then see the FBI Director watching the same new report. The Director is furious at Warden Cole. The Director is then told that Senator Engel is on the phone and demanding to speak to him.
We then shift to Matt at the airport with a new ID, Michael Murdock, and he gets a ticket to Monaco.
We then cut to a non-descript typical American suburban neighborhood where a man in a walker walks outside his door to get the morning paper. The man with the walker is FOGGY NELSON!! An agent then appears from the house and tells Foggy to please come back in the house. That they don’t want anyone seeing him until he is off the walker and ready to assume his new life. End of issue.
Comments
The Good: Wow. Just, wow. What a great issue. Just when I thought Brubaker couldn’t get any better he goes out and tops himself in Daredevil #87. We learn that the fake Daredevil is none other than Iron Fist. I expected that the fake Daredevil would be either Iron Fist or Hawkeye. No real surprise there. Luckily, I managed to avoid any spoilers before I read this issue. It is nice to see Danny back in action. I have always liked Iron Fist since the old 1970’s Power Man and Iron Fist comic book. Iron Fist can be a pretty interesting character if handled properly. In the letter column, we get a State of the Union address from Ed Brubaker. In it he informs us that he will be handling a project entitled The Immortal Iron Fist. I’m glad to see Iron Fist getting some love from Marvel and am quite confident that Brubaker will do a great job on that comic.
All right, we learned that Danny had been hired by Alton Lennox to parade around as the fake Daredevil. Just who is this Mr. Lennox and what is his obsession with Matt Murdock? I have no clue where Brubaker is headed with this storyline, but I know we are going to be in for one hell of a ride.
The scene between Matt and Urich in the motel room was perfect. Poor Ben Urich feels terrible about his last moments with Foggy. Brubaker does a nice job portraying the friendship and tight bond that Matt and Ben have. The dialogue was well done. Brubaker has such a talent for delivering realistic and enjoyable to read dialogue.
It was enjoyable to see Warden Cole totally burn the FBI Director by releasing the video footage to the news and giving a statement that exonerated Matt and condemned the FBI. We have waited a long time for the FBI Director to get what he deserves. That was rather satisfying. Matt has had such rotten luck over the course of the past several years. It was rather enjoyable to see Matt finally benefit from some good luck.
I look forward to the upcoming storyline of Daredevil over in Europe in his wild goose chase for Mr. Lennox. This should be a very entertaining. But, the storyline that really has my attention is the return of Foggy Nelson! Dude, that Brubaker is a master. You never see it coming. He gets you going in one direction and then slams a real twist on you when you least expect it. This is exactly why I love Brubaker’s writing. More twists and turns and unexpected events.
We see that Foggy has entered some kind of Federal witness relocation plan. First, I am so happy that Foggy isn’t dead. I was torn up over Foggy’s death. Foggy is one of the best supporting characters in the entire Marvel Universe. Foggy and Matt are like peanut butter and jelly. You have to have both of them. I also didn’t think that a character like Foggy deserved to go out in such a manner. But, I got over the death because Brubaker continued to deliver an incredible story and actually used Foggy’s death to further Matt’s character development and to serve as the foundation for the rest of the storyline. Having said that, I’m so glad that Foggy isn’t dead. I am very interested to learn more about what is going on with our boy, Foggy.
Brubaker never disappoints. His dialogue is enjoyable to read. He has such a nice feel for each character and that enables him to deliver some strong and entertaining dialogue. Brubaker has continued Matt’s evolution. Daredevil #87 is the beginning of the reconstruction of Matt Murdock. We have spent years deconstructing Matt. I am ready to see how Brubaker will handle this new Matt Murdock and how the recent events of the past couple of years will influence what type of man he is going to rebuild himself as.
Brubaker’s pace on this issue was just right. Things are starting to pick up and he definitely has me already starving for the next issue.
Michael Lark delivers more excellent artwork. I have really warmed up to his style and honestly don’t want to see anyone else drawing Daredevil. Lark’s style fits Daredevil like a glove and is a fine compliment to Brubaker’s story.
The Bad: No complaints at all.
Overall: I thought Daredevil #87 was fantastic! Brubaker continues to take the reader on a wild and unpredictable ride. With Brubaker spinning the story, you never know what wild twists and turns you are in for. This makes for a very enjoyable comic book to read. Combine that with the great artwork and you have one of the best comic books on the market right now. I heartily recommend Daredevil. It is definitely worth your money.