I've been a Daredevil fan for years now. No stories have impacted me the way Murdock's have. And for that, I thank all the legendary writers. The following are my favorites.
9. Daredevil: Noir by Alexander Irvine
A stylistic, poetic, and thrilling new take on the vigilante,
Noir gave Daredevil that edge into the 1920s that we never knew he needed. Sporting expert dialogue and a pretty fantastic twist, Irvine's tale is a short, sweet, and fascinating ride into a more atmospheric and creative take on the blind lawyer from Hell's Kitchen.
8.
The Man Without Fear by Frank Miller
The start of "gritty Daredevil," Miller brought the character to life by incorporating him into a world inclusive of the mafia and ninja; adding numerous (and now definitive) layers to the character, and ultimately setting him up in a world not afraid to break a few bones to keep spinning.
7.
Daredevil: In Love and War by Frank Miller
Possibly one of the most beautiful comics I own,
In Love and War shows an intimate and depressive Wilson Fisk as the Kingpin and sports some of the most sensational (though, definitely not to everyone's taste) art I've ever seen on paperback. A graphic novel that's a bit harder to find, this incredibly breathtaking story is an all-encompassing look at the humanity of everyone in the Daredevil universe; heroes and criminals.
6.
Daredevil: Father by Joe Quesada
Once you get past the hulking Matt Murdock in the opening pages, Joe Quesada's
Father is a haunting, chilling, and enthusiastic look into how Matt views his father's legacy. Almost like a swan song for Jack Murdock, the story also wonderfully balances Matt's hunt for a serial killer during the worst heat wave in New York's history. Full of fantastic action, turn-on-the-dime twists, and a few gut-wrenching final pages,
Father stands above the average Daredevil story.
5.
Daredevil: Yellow by Jeph Loeb
A Daredevil story by one of comic books' legendary writers, Loeb's
Yellow follows Matt as he rethinks his time as Daredevil with the love of his life Karen Page. In a sequence of letters Matt writes for the late Miss Page, we follow along one of the most moving and genuine relationships in comic book history. With art by Tim Sale,
Yellow is part homage, part love story, and all character study as we see Matt in a place of complete hopelessness...only to be revived by Karen's memory to continue fighting the good fight.
4.
Daredevil: Out by Brian Michael Bendis
While some superheroes are quite whimsical with their secret identities, Brian Bendis shows us that Matt Murdock is a man ultimately destroyed, both personally and professionally, as his identity is revealed to the public in a riveting and intricate twist with an FBI informant. Smarter, edgier, and more complex than most comics ever written, Bendis uses good old fashion pulp to deliver one of the most compelling stories in the Daredevil mythos.
3.
Guardian Devil by Kevin Smith
Filmmaker and comic book aficionado Kevin Smith has a real heart and passion for Mr. Murdock, and he flaunts it like none other in one of the most epitomizing Daredevil runs. Filled with "Smithian" dialect, the author rolls out a complex plot with theology, philosophy, and highly stylized action all taking notable roles. The infamous story of the death of Karen Page at the hands of Bullseye forever changed Matt's perception of the world; and the conclusion of Mysterio as the villain pulling the strings was a more than welcoming return to form as the former Spider-Man villain. Don't cheat yourself out of a wonderful run. Check out
Guardian Devil immediately.
2.
Born Again by Frank Miller
The definitive Daredevil tale, Miller breaks everything Matthew Murdock is as a man and hero down to nothing, and builds him back up with a side show of Karen Page returning to her lost love after selling out his identity. Full of emotion, action, and fantastically developed characters,
Born Again should rest upon the shelf of every man and woman who dare call themselves Daredevil fans.
1.
Daredevil: Redemption by David Hine
Surprised? Hine's
Daredevil Redemption is really a book less about Daredevil and Matt Murdock than it is just a flat-out incredible story. Taking keys from
To Kill a Mockingbird, Redemption is the fascinating tale of Matt's legal defense of a boy in the South put on trial for the murder of a child. Filled with suspense, twists, and some of the most inspiring dialogue ever penned in a comic,
Redemption is not only a run that takes Matt out of Hell's Kitchen, it takes him outside of himself, into a world filled with gray areas, heartbreak, prejudice, and injustice. A book I'd recommend to any comic lover,
Daredevil: Redemption is a masterpiece.
For all of you out there not caught up on Daredevil mania, go out and start with Mark Waid's run. You won't be disappointed, and I'll be happy to see more fans out there running about. Keep reading, folks!