Comic Book Review: Daredevil #86

Brubaker has cranked up the tension to incredible levels in this current story arc. Rykers’ Island is a powder keg ready to explode. And I think we are going to see that explosion in this penultimate issue of Daredevil. I fully expect Daredevil #86 to be a great read. Let’s roll this review.

Creative Team
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Michael Lark
Inker: Stefano Gaudiano

Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: This issue begins with Matt hearing the “chatter” through out the prison that there is going to be a riot today. Matt then meets his two visitors: Becky Blake and Milla. Matt pleads with Milla to leave immediately. That she will get killed just like Foggy. Milla tells Matt if he has totally lost his mind. Milla asks him if he wants to be like the rest of the men in this prison. Milla tells Matt to remember who he is and to remember that she loves him. (Nice scene, but I find Milla to be totally uninteresting. Maybe Bullseye can kill her off Electra style.)

Matt then talks to Becky. Becky asks Matt if he has ever heard of Alton Lennox. Matt says he has not. Becky then tells Becky to put the prison guard on the phone. Matt then tells the prison guard what he will do to him if Milla and Becky don’t leave the prison alive.

We cut to Kingpin telling Turk to tell the men to be ready at the first sign. Then Kingpin gives Turk a deck of playing cards to give to Bullseye.

We then shift to Matt being led back to his prison cell. He hears Milla and Becky get back onto the ferry safely and head back to the city. Matt also hears the prisoners getting ready for the riot. Matt takes out his prison guard. We then see all hell break loose in the prison as the prisoners go into full riot mode.

Matt uses his radar to find the Warden and then takes out a couple of prisoners sent to kill the Warden. Matt tells the Warden that these men were sent to kill the Warden so he couldn’t call for support. Matt says that the men behind the riot are doing this so they can kill him and Kingpin.

We cut to Bullseye being freed by Turk and two of Kingpin’s thugs.

We zip back to Matt taking out prisoners on his way to getting to the Kingpin. Once together, Kingpin and Matt fight back to back against a mob of prisoners sent to kill them. Matt just loses his mind during this violent brawl.

We shift to Bullseye confronting the masterminds behind the plot to kill Matt and Kingpin: the Black Tarantula, Morgan and Hammerhead. Hammerhead immediately jumps off the ledge to flee Bullseye. Bullseye kills Morgan with some playing cards. Bullseye then kills the Tarantula. Bullseye then appears to help Kingpin and Matt in their brawl.

We cut to the Warden in his Security Tower calling for the Riot Squad. The Warden blames the head of the F.B.I. for this mess. The Warden realizes he would be dead if it weren’t for Matt. The Warden then attempts to access the video footage from today.

We zip back to Matt, Kingpin and Bullseye taking out the remaining prisoners sent to kill them. Matt is furious that Kingpin has involved Bullseye in their escape plans. Matt then remembers Milla’s words to “Remember who you are. Remember why I love you.” Matt then attacks Bullseye. Bullseye shoots at Matt. Matt dodges the shotgun blast which ends up hitting Kingpin’s knee. Matt then knocks out Bullseye. Kingpin writhes in pain and tells Matt that they aren’t done, yet. Matt responds “Yeah…We are.” Matt then leaves.

We see Matt walk over to the Punisher’s prison cell. The Punisher stayed in his cell during the entire riot. He did kill several inmates that came over to his cell during the riot. Matt hands the Punisher a shotgun and asks him if he wants to help Matt escape the prison. The Punisher responds “Thought you’d never ask.” End of issue.

Comments:
The Good: Daredevil #86 was an awesome read! The beginning scene was well done. I have never found Milla to be even remotely interesting. Her character bores me to the core. However, Brubaker does a nice job using her to reach out to Matt and try to bring him back from the dark side.

The fight scene with Matt and Kingpin battling back to back against all the prisoners was excellent. That is one scene that I didn’t think I would ever see. At this point Matt simply gives into his rage. Matt is at his lowest point. He has completely been torn apart and is nothing of the man that he used to be.

Of course, finally seeing Bullseye on the loose in this scene was fun. Bullseye is everyone’s favorite psycho. He is such a great character. And Bullseye is one of the tools that Brubaker uses in combination with Milla to bring Matt back from the edge of the abyss he has been teetering on for some time. Milla’s words and the thought of Bullseye escaping prison with him finally snapped Matt back. This is the point were we see the return of our hero: Daredevil. From this point on, we are going to finally see Matt attempt to claw his way back from the depths that he has fallen. And Matt’s final words to the Kingpin show that Matt is moving on. That he will never deal with men like Kingpin. That he will never act like them or stoop to their level ever again.

And it appears that Matt may have gained a powerful ally in the Warden. Matt saves the Warden’s life and the entire riot makes the Warden realize that his F.B.I. buddy has been trying to screw him.

The ending is great. I love how the Punisher just sat in his cell during the riot. Sat and waiting for Matt to either die, turn totally evil or finally wake up and come to him for help. It looks like next issue is going to be just as exciting watching these two men bust out of this prison.

Brubaker has done a phenomenal job on Daredevil. I loved Bendis’ run on this title. Brubaker is even better. The dialogue, the pacing, the action, it all comes together so perfectly to make one of the best comic books on the market.

I am glad that we are finally seeing the beginning of the reconstruction of a hero. Bendis spent his entire run deconstructing Matt. Brubaker continued that trend by deconstructing Matt even more with the death of Foggy. Finally, we are seeing the rebirth of our hero. I look forward to reading the reconstruction of Daredevil.

I’m not a huge fan of Lark and Gaurdiano’s style of art, but it is perfect for this title. It matches the gritty and dark storyline and gives a nice “realistic” look to this comic.

The Bad: Other than the fact that Milla didn’t get killed by Bullseye, I have no complaints. I mean, really, if a character close to Matt had to die that I would much rather it have been boring and uninteresting Milla rather than Foggy. Foggy was such a great character!

Overall: Brubaker continues to impress and Daredevil #86 was his gift to the readers who have patiently waited through his steady set up in the past several issues. I cannot recommend Daredevil enough. Seriously. Stop wasting your money on titles that are “hip” because they have a female lead showing her belly button like Supergirl. Or on titles that have a short hairy guy with claws. Daredevil is truly worth your money. Go out and give it a try!