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Daredevil Epic Collection
Daredevil Epic Collection, Vol. 13: A Touch of Typhoid
How do you solve a problem like Mary? That's Typhoid Mary, the lethally seductive assassin unleashed by the Kingpin in his campaign to break Matt Murdock. She's a love-maker and a man-hater with multiple personalities - including one to target Matt, and another with her sights set on Daredevil! Under attack from both sides, the champion of Hell's Kitchen may be powerless to resist! Then, DD dances with demons when INFERNO rages in Manhattan, and his old life will be left in ashes. And everything goes to hell when the -Devil locks horns with Mephisto! See both sides as Daredevil clashes with the Punisher, and meet the dark soul known as Blackheart! Will the Man Without Fear be left as a Man Without Hope? Collecting DAREDEVIL (1964) #253-270 and PUNISHER (1987) #10.
472 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2016
About the author
Ann Nocenti
695 books106 followersAnn Nocenti is most noted as an editor for Marvel Comics, for whom she edited New Mutants and The Uncanny X-Men. She made her comics writing debut on a brief run of Spider-Woman (#47-50) and subsequently wrote a long run of Daredevil (1st series) #236-291 (minus #237) from 1986 to 1991, directly following on from Frank Miller's definitive Born Again storyline. She also wrote the 1986 Longshot limited series for Marvel, and in the same year produced the Someplace Strange graphic novel in collaboration with artist John Bolton. She wrote "the Inhumans Graphic Novel" in 1988. In 1993, she wrote the 16-issue run of Kid Eternity for the DC Comics imprint Vertigo.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 15, 2023
A Touch of Typhoid collects Daredevil 253-270 and Punisher #10.
So Daredevil is my favorite Marvel character these days so I'm reading whatever I get my hands on. I read one comic in this run hot off the rack back in the day so I had an inkling of what to expect.
Ann Nocenti, John Romita Jr, and Al Williamson are the creative team for the bulk of the book. JRJR's art with Al Williamson on top makes Hell's Kitch feel like a dirty, dangerous place. Ann's stories reference Daredevil's recent Frank Miller past so you know Matt's not getting an easy ride. The majority of the book feature's Typhoid trying to destroy Matt's life and Matt dealing with the aftermath. There's a strong sexual component to Typhoid's relationship with Matt and I'm surprised the code let all the innuendo go by. It's a pretty powerful storyline, ending with Matt going walkabout.
Nobody takes an ass-kicking like Daredevil and this book was no exception. If I had any doubts about Ann Nocenti as a writer, they were dispelled with this. Not only does she integrate the Inferno event into the book, she tells two whole issues with Daredevil mostly dead in a pile of garbage and makes them interestin.
Four out of five stars. I guess I'm getting Ann's other Daredevil Epic Collections now.
So Daredevil is my favorite Marvel character these days so I'm reading whatever I get my hands on. I read one comic in this run hot off the rack back in the day so I had an inkling of what to expect.
Ann Nocenti, John Romita Jr, and Al Williamson are the creative team for the bulk of the book. JRJR's art with Al Williamson on top makes Hell's Kitch feel like a dirty, dangerous place. Ann's stories reference Daredevil's recent Frank Miller past so you know Matt's not getting an easy ride. The majority of the book feature's Typhoid trying to destroy Matt's life and Matt dealing with the aftermath. There's a strong sexual component to Typhoid's relationship with Matt and I'm surprised the code let all the innuendo go by. It's a pretty powerful storyline, ending with Matt going walkabout.
Nobody takes an ass-kicking like Daredevil and this book was no exception. If I had any doubts about Ann Nocenti as a writer, they were dispelled with this. Not only does she integrate the Inferno event into the book, she tells two whole issues with Daredevil mostly dead in a pile of garbage and makes them interestin.
Four out of five stars. I guess I'm getting Ann's other Daredevil Epic Collections now.
September 21, 2023
Awesome!!! Ann Nocenti really hits her stride with this volume. In comes her creation, Typhoid Mary. Man, does she do a number on Daredevil. Got him to fall in love with her other personality, Mary, while terrorizing him as Typhoid. Kingpin is the one who sicked her on him. Matt and his free legal clinic was making him lose too much money in some of his endeavors. Typhoid made DD’s life hell for half this book. In the end, she gathered up all his past villains who he recently took down, and had them team up to beat him within and inch of his life leaving Typhoid to administer the final blow by tossing him off a bridge. While he laid there about to die, the Inferno crossover starts up with the city coming alive attacking the people and demons popping up. After all that, city in shambles, Typhoid telling Karen Page about her and DD making her leave, Matt just leaves NY and just starts traveling city to city like a nomad. I actually really enjoyed those issues also. Such a great volume. On the the next one.
September 22, 2016
Call it 3 1/2 stars. My fond memories of Ann Nocenti's Daredevil run clash with reality. Her scripts are rife with '80's excess, sub-Claremontian in stereotyping and pseudo-deep purple prose. She barely gets below the surface of many of the characters she depicts here. In fairness, there is some really good stuff to be found here: the gradual buildup of Typhoid Mary, a truly original Nocenti creation. The storyline climaxes in DD's battle with Mary's minions, with the lady herself delivering the killing blow, which cautions against violence while reveling in it, a fascinating dichotomy. Nocenti also writes a wonderful Spider-Man.
The legendary art team of John Romita Jr. and Al Williamson produced some of their finest work in this run. I can't imagine any other artists doing justice to this material.
In summary, not the milestone I remember, but well worth revisiting.
The legendary art team of John Romita Jr. and Al Williamson produced some of their finest work in this run. I can't imagine any other artists doing justice to this material.
In summary, not the milestone I remember, but well worth revisiting.
June 16, 2021
Sempre que alguém fala no Demolidor, a primeira coisa que surge é o Miller, a segunda é o Bendis e ninguém lembra da Nocenti.
Vou contar um segredo, as primeiras edições da Nocenti - logo depois do Miller - colocam o Bendis no bolso e sobra troco.
Enfim, a história básica é o Rei do Crime contratando mais uma assassina profissional - Mary Typhoid - para quebrar o coração do Matt Murdock, que tá de bem com a vida, trabalhando com uma assessoria jurídica e morando com a Karen Page - a mulher mais azarada da Marvel. Acho que a história caminha por dois pontos básicos: o valentão e o espelho.
O valentão - "bully" americano - é o cara que obriga as pessoas a fazerem algo que elas não querem; então qual a diferença entre o Rei que obriga alguém a fazer algo "ruim" através da intimidação do Demolidor que também obriga alguém a fazer algo "bom" através da mesma intimidação? Os fins justificam os meios? Cada um é apenas um reflexo distorcido do outro?
Enquanto isso, a Mary Typhoid vai se infiltrando na vida do Matt/Demolidor, ora como a vilã Typhoid, ora como a singela Mary. Isso é muito bem conduzido pela Nocenti e pelo Romitinha. Até que chega uma hora em que o nosso herói quebra, e ao se olhar no espelho, ele nota que toda aquela soberba moral que ele exala enquanto surra pequenos criminosos não é verdadeira, é só mais uma máscara - vermelha e com chifres - usada para esconder o fato de que ele é humano, como todo mundo, com erros e defeitos.
O problema são os mutantes.
No meio do caminho, há o Inferno, aquele crossover bem ruim dos mutantes noventeiros.
E por algum motivo resolvem colocar umas três ou quatro edições do Demolidor aí pelo meio, são bem ruins, melhora quando ele toma uma breja com o Mephisto num boteco sujo. Aí ele sai caminhando pelo mundo - foda-se a Karen Page - com todo um processo de "prestar mais atenção aos detalhes".
No meio de tudo isso, tem uma edição do Ditko saída dos psicodélicos anos 60 em que o Demolidor enfrenta o Coruja - o segundo pior vilão da Galeria do Demônio. O plano do Coruja: roubar milhões de dólares para construir asas mecânicas para poder roubar mais milhões de dólares.
Alguém dá o telefone do Abutre pro Coruja.
Vou contar um segredo, as primeiras edições da Nocenti - logo depois do Miller - colocam o Bendis no bolso e sobra troco.
Enfim, a história básica é o Rei do Crime contratando mais uma assassina profissional - Mary Typhoid - para quebrar o coração do Matt Murdock, que tá de bem com a vida, trabalhando com uma assessoria jurídica e morando com a Karen Page - a mulher mais azarada da Marvel. Acho que a história caminha por dois pontos básicos: o valentão e o espelho.
O valentão - "bully" americano - é o cara que obriga as pessoas a fazerem algo que elas não querem; então qual a diferença entre o Rei que obriga alguém a fazer algo "ruim" através da intimidação do Demolidor que também obriga alguém a fazer algo "bom" através da mesma intimidação? Os fins justificam os meios? Cada um é apenas um reflexo distorcido do outro?
Enquanto isso, a Mary Typhoid vai se infiltrando na vida do Matt/Demolidor, ora como a vilã Typhoid, ora como a singela Mary. Isso é muito bem conduzido pela Nocenti e pelo Romitinha. Até que chega uma hora em que o nosso herói quebra, e ao se olhar no espelho, ele nota que toda aquela soberba moral que ele exala enquanto surra pequenos criminosos não é verdadeira, é só mais uma máscara - vermelha e com chifres - usada para esconder o fato de que ele é humano, como todo mundo, com erros e defeitos.
O problema são os mutantes.
No meio do caminho, há o Inferno, aquele crossover bem ruim dos mutantes noventeiros.
E por algum motivo resolvem colocar umas três ou quatro edições do Demolidor aí pelo meio, são bem ruins, melhora quando ele toma uma breja com o Mephisto num boteco sujo. Aí ele sai caminhando pelo mundo - foda-se a Karen Page - com todo um processo de "prestar mais atenção aos detalhes".
No meio de tudo isso, tem uma edição do Ditko saída dos psicodélicos anos 60 em que o Demolidor enfrenta o Coruja - o segundo pior vilão da Galeria do Demônio. O plano do Coruja: roubar milhões de dólares para construir asas mecânicas para poder roubar mais milhões de dólares.
Alguém dá o telefone do Abutre pro Coruja.
July 29, 2016
On the whole this is an A+ collection. I always loved Ann Nocenti's work on the X-Men / New Mutants but never got around to reading her Daredevil stuff. side from the filler stories, one of which isn't even written by her, and the meaningless Punisher crossover, this collection which brings to life Typhoid Mary for the first time is a must have for fans of the horned hero.
August 18, 2023
So Ann Nocenti hasn't been a writer I've enjoyed however to be fair, that's based on all her work from 2012 onward which is...not good to say the least. Her catwoman is one of the worst comics I've ever read in my life.
Daredevil though is really pretty damn good.
With this collection it feels like the spiritual successor to Frank Miller's run on the character but also it's own look into real world problems. A lot of talks of politics slip in, but work really well for a character like Daredevil. When he has to defend a boy who was blinded thanks to a corporation run by Kingpin, and Frisk doing everything he can to be shady and get the case to his side, Matt gets more personal about it and strikes back. To the introduction of Typhoon Mary, as she seduces Matt and breaks him down while Daredevil is broken both physically and mentally. To Daredevil eventually leaving New York and trying to find himself.
It's dark, it's moody, and I really enjoyed it save for some issues with the crossover of Inferno from X-Men. Those issues were weaker and not nearly as interesting as the rest. A 4 out of 5.
Daredevil though is really pretty damn good.
With this collection it feels like the spiritual successor to Frank Miller's run on the character but also it's own look into real world problems. A lot of talks of politics slip in, but work really well for a character like Daredevil. When he has to defend a boy who was blinded thanks to a corporation run by Kingpin, and Frisk doing everything he can to be shady and get the case to his side, Matt gets more personal about it and strikes back. To the introduction of Typhoon Mary, as she seduces Matt and breaks him down while Daredevil is broken both physically and mentally. To Daredevil eventually leaving New York and trying to find himself.
It's dark, it's moody, and I really enjoyed it save for some issues with the crossover of Inferno from X-Men. Those issues were weaker and not nearly as interesting as the rest. A 4 out of 5.
December 17, 2018
AFAIK, Marvel never properly collected the Nocenti/Romita Jr. Daredevil run like they did the Miller/Janson one. There's also huge chunks of the run currently missing from Marvel Unlimited, so these pricey Epic Collections are the best way to read it. This one covers the middle portion of Nocenti/Romita Jr.'s time on Daredevil.
The Typhoid Mary story arc is the longest and best one in this volume. Mary, an original Nocenti/Romita Jr. creation, is a fun update to (and commentary on) old femme fatale tropes, and she's successful at bringing out the worst in Matt Murdock. Nocenti approaches the character of Matt Murdock and the genre of superhero comics with healthy doses of skepticism. The story arc never turns into a total "Watchmen"-style deconstruction, but it does provide a smart take on masculinity and violence while still functioning as an entertaining action comic. Romita Jr's artwork helps a lot in that regard; it's energetic and stylized, and he gives New York City a real sense of place.
The post-Mary issues are hit-or-miss. The goofy "Inferno" crossover gives us an entire issue of Daredevil having an existential crisis...while battling a demonic vacuum cleaner. The Upstate New York issues include some really good crime/pulp stories, and some really generic superhero fight comics.
The Typhoid Mary story arc is the longest and best one in this volume. Mary, an original Nocenti/Romita Jr. creation, is a fun update to (and commentary on) old femme fatale tropes, and she's successful at bringing out the worst in Matt Murdock. Nocenti approaches the character of Matt Murdock and the genre of superhero comics with healthy doses of skepticism. The story arc never turns into a total "Watchmen"-style deconstruction, but it does provide a smart take on masculinity and violence while still functioning as an entertaining action comic. Romita Jr's artwork helps a lot in that regard; it's energetic and stylized, and he gives New York City a real sense of place.
The post-Mary issues are hit-or-miss. The goofy "Inferno" crossover gives us an entire issue of Daredevil having an existential crisis...while battling a demonic vacuum cleaner. The Upstate New York issues include some really good crime/pulp stories, and some really generic superhero fight comics.
October 13, 2019
Nocenti and Romita Jr’s Daredevil was a strange proposition in the 80s and reads even stranger now, a superhero comic that seems to operate mainly on the level of symbolism and psychoanalysis, illustrated by an artist who gets more primordial and kinetic by the issue.
Typhoid Mary, Nocenti’s most lasting creation, works here as a kind of deranging anima more than as an actual character, but the collection really finds its stride once she’s off the scene, and the comic plunges into the Inferno crossover, with the boundaries between Manhattan and Hell breaking down metaphorically, mentally and visually. They never really go back up again, as Daredevil has a drink with Mephisto, tours the backwoods as a Western-style stranger in town, and finally tangles with Mephisto’s son in an issue Romita makes crackle with rough, dark energy. Not uncomplicatedly great, but always interesting.
Typhoid Mary, Nocenti’s most lasting creation, works here as a kind of deranging anima more than as an actual character, but the collection really finds its stride once she’s off the scene, and the comic plunges into the Inferno crossover, with the boundaries between Manhattan and Hell breaking down metaphorically, mentally and visually. They never really go back up again, as Daredevil has a drink with Mephisto, tours the backwoods as a Western-style stranger in town, and finally tangles with Mephisto’s son in an issue Romita makes crackle with rough, dark energy. Not uncomplicatedly great, but always interesting.
October 23, 2018
Goodreads just killed my very thoughtful and elaborate review of this collection. Short version: It's really good & holds up very well. Nocenti and Romita Jr may built on what Miller introduced in his seminal run, but their take is much more steeped in the real world (of the 80s) and makes for a more rewarding read (in the present). It's sometimes simplistic, sometimes complex storytelling, but always wrapped in am authentic moral tale. Sexuality and lust have a gravitas and impact, which is very rare for mainstream/superhero comics.
July 12, 2022
Esse volume é bem inferior ao seguinte (sim, eu li na ordem errada), porém a arte do Romitinha está no mesmo alto nível.
August 31, 2024
Some good stories but I feel like it is dragging along. Probably not something I would go back to.
October 30, 2016
Christmas (253). A great start to the volume, contrasting the Kingpin and Matt at Christmas — and it's more subtle than it sounds. It's the supporting cast that really makes the issue, particularly the kids [7+/10].
Kelco (254-256). These three issues feature a trial against Kelco Chemicals which on the one hand is very fascinating because it's a proxy fight between Matt and the Kingpin and on the other hand is very frustrating because Nocenti keeps applying the rules of criminal trials ("reasonable doubt", "unanimous jury") to a civil case. It's very hard to like a storyline where the author hasn't done the barest research, even though it's a good case that really goes to Matt's heart.
And these issues of course also introduce Typhoid Mary. Her powers are a little ill-defined and she's a little too prone to beat-the-hero-because-the-plot-says-to plotting. But her interactions with Daredevil and Mary's interactions with Matt form a beautiful and interesting little triangle [6+/10].
Shorts (257-258+P10). A crossover with the Punisher doesn't manage to say much interesting about either character, then a fill-in about Vietnam is decent enough, but stands out for derailing the continuing plot. [4/10].
The Final Triumph of Typhoid Mary (259-261). Thirty years later, you might not realize how innovative this next sequence is. First, Typhoid attacks Daredevil with a whole series of villains, then when Daredevil is missing, presumed dead, the Human Torch takes over the title. We've seen both of these plot tropes elsewhere, but not so much in 1988. The sequential attack of so many wacky villains is still breath-taking, and the placement of the Torch in Daredevil's world is everything that the Punisher crossover wasn't ... and a nice piece of tense wheelspinning while we wait for what's next. [7+/10]
What's surprising is that what's next is ...
Inferno (262-263, 265). Nocenti rather nicely dovetails together Typhoid Mary and Daredevil. On the one hand she uses Mary to create repercussions for Matt's personal life and on the other hand she uses Inferno to create repercussions for Kingpin's personal life. It's a nice balancing act that feels very organic. Unfortunately, the latter parts of these issues show off the worst elements of the Inferno crossover: mindless battles against inanimate objects and demons. So what started out as a tense interpersonal tale quickly becomes a dull crossover event [5/10].
Baby Boom (264). This out of sequence story is a crazy bit of silliness, appropriately illustrated by Steve Ditko [6/10].
On the Road (266-270). The shorts that Nocenti ends the book with suggest that she may very well do best with that form. The first three — another Christmas story, a meeting with a villain, and an interaction with some small-time criminals — are all superb, primarily for the very human people that Matt interacts with. The last two, featuring Freedom Force and a devil, are less interesting because they're big fights, but they're still decently good. Overall, these are among the best stories in the volume because of their tightness and their human focus [7+/10].
I haven't liked most of what I've read from Nocenti, and I've never understood the acclaim she gets from some. This volume better explains it because it's very strong Daredevil writing, backed up by great art, mostly by Romita Jr. Yeah, it's no Miller or Bendis or even Brubaker, but it's still a strong Daredevil run.
Kelco (254-256). These three issues feature a trial against Kelco Chemicals which on the one hand is very fascinating because it's a proxy fight between Matt and the Kingpin and on the other hand is very frustrating because Nocenti keeps applying the rules of criminal trials ("reasonable doubt", "unanimous jury") to a civil case. It's very hard to like a storyline where the author hasn't done the barest research, even though it's a good case that really goes to Matt's heart.
And these issues of course also introduce Typhoid Mary. Her powers are a little ill-defined and she's a little too prone to beat-the-hero-because-the-plot-says-to plotting. But her interactions with Daredevil and Mary's interactions with Matt form a beautiful and interesting little triangle [6+/10].
Shorts (257-258+P10). A crossover with the Punisher doesn't manage to say much interesting about either character, then a fill-in about Vietnam is decent enough, but stands out for derailing the continuing plot. [4/10].
The Final Triumph of Typhoid Mary (259-261). Thirty years later, you might not realize how innovative this next sequence is. First, Typhoid attacks Daredevil with a whole series of villains, then when Daredevil is missing, presumed dead, the Human Torch takes over the title. We've seen both of these plot tropes elsewhere, but not so much in 1988. The sequential attack of so many wacky villains is still breath-taking, and the placement of the Torch in Daredevil's world is everything that the Punisher crossover wasn't ... and a nice piece of tense wheelspinning while we wait for what's next. [7+/10]
What's surprising is that what's next is ...
Inferno (262-263, 265). Nocenti rather nicely dovetails together Typhoid Mary and Daredevil. On the one hand she uses Mary to create repercussions for Matt's personal life and on the other hand she uses Inferno to create repercussions for Kingpin's personal life. It's a nice balancing act that feels very organic. Unfortunately, the latter parts of these issues show off the worst elements of the Inferno crossover: mindless battles against inanimate objects and demons. So what started out as a tense interpersonal tale quickly becomes a dull crossover event [5/10].
Baby Boom (264). This out of sequence story is a crazy bit of silliness, appropriately illustrated by Steve Ditko [6/10].
On the Road (266-270). The shorts that Nocenti ends the book with suggest that she may very well do best with that form. The first three — another Christmas story, a meeting with a villain, and an interaction with some small-time criminals — are all superb, primarily for the very human people that Matt interacts with. The last two, featuring Freedom Force and a devil, are less interesting because they're big fights, but they're still decently good. Overall, these are among the best stories in the volume because of their tightness and their human focus [7+/10].
I haven't liked most of what I've read from Nocenti, and I've never understood the acclaim she gets from some. This volume better explains it because it's very strong Daredevil writing, backed up by great art, mostly by Romita Jr. Yeah, it's no Miller or Bendis or even Brubaker, but it's still a strong Daredevil run.
January 18, 2022
If I was matt I'd simply not cheat on Karen page but maybe I'm built different
August 25, 2023
A lot of fans of Daredevil are coming around to see how fun Ann Nocenti's run on Daredevil was. You will hear a lot of people saying "how could you follow Miller's run...especially his Born again storyline"? And it is true - anything looks bad in comparison to that.
But what you do have is the truly outstanding art by JR JR and an inker I don't hear enough people praising, Al Williamson. Together they gave this run of Daredevil a unique and beatiful look. In my opinion this was JR JR at the peak of his powers. His early work didn't really have a unique style. It was good but it didn't stand out. His recent work is a bit too blocky (geometrical) for many people's tastes. But here you have his unique style without it becoming too over the top. The only critique I have of it is JR JR for some reason has trouble drawing profiles of women...their noses tend to become pointed little ski slopes and it has always bugged me.
What about the writing? There is a lot to like but also things to criticize. The Typhoid Mary character, usage and storyline get top marks for me. I particularly like how she plays Kingpin as much as she is playing Daredevil. I hate the fact she causes Matt to cheat on Karen... it seems like he is mind controlled but that never is clarified. But mainly I hate it because Miller had just bought Karen back as a key figure in Matt's life and Ann seems to discard that quickly (I have read the next volume and Matt becomes a wandering hero). I also hate the fact the resolution isn't Daredevil winning he just..walks away from his life? Yikes. Not a strong ending by any means. He never even says goodbye to Karen.
Ann, sadly, discards most of Daredevil's backstory and seems to prefer writing him not as a lawyer or with his friends (Foggy barely gets seen) but as a metaphor wandering through America. Compare that to Bendis or Miller or Brubaker (other classic runs) who knew how to write to fit the character and their history. Ann creates a lot of interesting new villains but other than Kingpin who acts indirectly we don't see any of Daredevil's established villains.
I do like a lot about Ann's writing but she gets waaay too preachy at times and very abstract in her writing in the sense the characters make these speeches that are not really in character but serve to make HER point. It isn't helped by the fact that 3 issues are devoted to the Inferno story line where machines come alive and she uses these issues to write very weird tales.
Beyond Inferno we also get a touch of Mutant Massacre with Daredevil having to protect a mutant in a small town from Blob and Pyro. God I hated these Marvel events back in the day and they caused me to give up comics. How can you get into a run of a comic when it is broken up every year by one of these events...which weren't even that interesting or logical. Blob and Pyro...two known killers going into town and blowing it up to arrest one mutant. The government is backing this? Wow.
So yes, there are a lot of wasted issues and I really wish Ann could write Daredevil as Daredevil. Or knew how to properly end her stories with a resolution. Like Daredevil she seems to just walk away from ideas without following through. I wonder what became of the black blind boy Matt was trying to teach? But through it all you do get touches of brilliance and the stories were never dull even when they were frustrating. And yes, the art carries it through the rough spots. Overall, not one of my favourite Daredevil runs but deserves to be remembered.
But what you do have is the truly outstanding art by JR JR and an inker I don't hear enough people praising, Al Williamson. Together they gave this run of Daredevil a unique and beatiful look. In my opinion this was JR JR at the peak of his powers. His early work didn't really have a unique style. It was good but it didn't stand out. His recent work is a bit too blocky (geometrical) for many people's tastes. But here you have his unique style without it becoming too over the top. The only critique I have of it is JR JR for some reason has trouble drawing profiles of women...their noses tend to become pointed little ski slopes and it has always bugged me.
What about the writing? There is a lot to like but also things to criticize. The Typhoid Mary character, usage and storyline get top marks for me. I particularly like how she plays Kingpin as much as she is playing Daredevil. I hate the fact she causes Matt to cheat on Karen... it seems like he is mind controlled but that never is clarified. But mainly I hate it because Miller had just bought Karen back as a key figure in Matt's life and Ann seems to discard that quickly (I have read the next volume and Matt becomes a wandering hero). I also hate the fact the resolution isn't Daredevil winning he just..walks away from his life? Yikes. Not a strong ending by any means. He never even says goodbye to Karen.
Ann, sadly, discards most of Daredevil's backstory and seems to prefer writing him not as a lawyer or with his friends (Foggy barely gets seen) but as a metaphor wandering through America. Compare that to Bendis or Miller or Brubaker (other classic runs) who knew how to write to fit the character and their history. Ann creates a lot of interesting new villains but other than Kingpin who acts indirectly we don't see any of Daredevil's established villains.
I do like a lot about Ann's writing but she gets waaay too preachy at times and very abstract in her writing in the sense the characters make these speeches that are not really in character but serve to make HER point. It isn't helped by the fact that 3 issues are devoted to the Inferno story line where machines come alive and she uses these issues to write very weird tales.
Beyond Inferno we also get a touch of Mutant Massacre with Daredevil having to protect a mutant in a small town from Blob and Pyro. God I hated these Marvel events back in the day and they caused me to give up comics. How can you get into a run of a comic when it is broken up every year by one of these events...which weren't even that interesting or logical. Blob and Pyro...two known killers going into town and blowing it up to arrest one mutant. The government is backing this? Wow.
So yes, there are a lot of wasted issues and I really wish Ann could write Daredevil as Daredevil. Or knew how to properly end her stories with a resolution. Like Daredevil she seems to just walk away from ideas without following through. I wonder what became of the black blind boy Matt was trying to teach? But through it all you do get touches of brilliance and the stories were never dull even when they were frustrating. And yes, the art carries it through the rough spots. Overall, not one of my favourite Daredevil runs but deserves to be remembered.
September 10, 2018
Well, well ,well. Let's start with the good: the art is flawless. It takes a little till your eyes get used to John Romita Jr.'s extensive use of pencil, it's quite unusual at first but it's definitely a key element of his signature style. And to be honest, filled in with Al Williamson's wonderful colors, it is an unmatched eye candy. (Not to mention, I was absolutely lured by the late 80's style/atmosphere of the artwork.)
On Ann Nocenti's writing: Filling in Frank Miller's shoes after his epic run on DD is not a piece of cake, so I won't measure her after it. She contributed a lot to DD's history by creating Typhoid. Her superpowers are a great match for a street level hero like DD, and I really liked that storyline, climaxing in the "judgement day" moment of issue 260, where Mary was kind enough to gather some of DD's old foes to beat the crap out of the horned vigilante.
Bringing in the Human Torch to this very street level environment (where his mighty power only makes him clumsy and does more harm than good) was a beautiful way to show how irreplaceable DD to Hell's Kitchen is.
I even liked that Punisher run, that shows the same story from two different perspectives.
The Inferno run was a good stuff too.
The bad: Okay, it started horribly. In the first story we have Kingpin chasing after a fly with a WEIGHT BAR. For Christ's sake! First: It is Kingpin, the brilliant, mastermind ruler of all crimes, the genius mob head, who does everything with so much elegance and style (like communicating on phone with short sentences such as "Wait for the kill order."). Got it? He is not a D-class dumbass, brain dead bad guy from some horrible 80's action movie. Come on Ann, try to understand the character before you write it and ending up putting the Lord of Crime in such an embarrassing position.
Second: it's wintertime! Has anyone ever seen a fly in winter?? Yeah, I know, in that scene Leslie was speaking about DD and Ann couldn't miss using the painfully obvious metaphor of the fly annoying the Kingpin. We got that, but please.
And we have this awful (or owl-ful, yeah, apologies) story with the Owl. Just don't read it. Imagine it's not there and go to the next story. God, how much I hate these awkward fillers of Marvel comics.
The verdict: Overall, it's a 4 out of 5 for me. Good story, even better artwork and definitely worth a read. Great 80's vibe, buy it while it's out on the shelves!
On Ann Nocenti's writing: Filling in Frank Miller's shoes after his epic run on DD is not a piece of cake, so I won't measure her after it. She contributed a lot to DD's history by creating Typhoid. Her superpowers are a great match for a street level hero like DD, and I really liked that storyline, climaxing in the "judgement day" moment of issue 260, where Mary was kind enough to gather some of DD's old foes to beat the crap out of the horned vigilante.
Bringing in the Human Torch to this very street level environment (where his mighty power only makes him clumsy and does more harm than good) was a beautiful way to show how irreplaceable DD to Hell's Kitchen is.
I even liked that Punisher run, that shows the same story from two different perspectives.
The Inferno run was a good stuff too.
The bad: Okay, it started horribly. In the first story we have Kingpin chasing after a fly with a WEIGHT BAR. For Christ's sake! First: It is Kingpin, the brilliant, mastermind ruler of all crimes, the genius mob head, who does everything with so much elegance and style (like communicating on phone with short sentences such as "Wait for the kill order."). Got it? He is not a D-class dumbass, brain dead bad guy from some horrible 80's action movie. Come on Ann, try to understand the character before you write it and ending up putting the Lord of Crime in such an embarrassing position.
Second: it's wintertime! Has anyone ever seen a fly in winter?? Yeah, I know, in that scene Leslie was speaking about DD and Ann couldn't miss using the painfully obvious metaphor of the fly annoying the Kingpin. We got that, but please.
And we have this awful (or owl-ful, yeah, apologies) story with the Owl. Just don't read it. Imagine it's not there and go to the next story. God, how much I hate these awkward fillers of Marvel comics.
The verdict: Overall, it's a 4 out of 5 for me. Good story, even better artwork and definitely worth a read. Great 80's vibe, buy it while it's out on the shelves!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2023
Typhoid Mary, Inferno, and Blackheart, these tales run the gamut. Decent artwork from JRJR throughout. I've never read much Daredevil, and this certainly didn't make me want to read much more, just not a huge fan of the character, but Typhoid Mary has always been a favorite, so reading her roots was great! Also a few great team ups with the likes of Human Torch and Spidey.
Plus the introduction of Blackheart was a nice story, but the interpretation of Mephisto was so awkward (I prefer the Ron Lim or Starlin version).
All said, I read this because if the Inferno tie-ins.
Plus the introduction of Blackheart was a nice story, but the interpretation of Mephisto was so awkward (I prefer the Ron Lim or Starlin version).
All said, I read this because if the Inferno tie-ins.
January 21, 2022
La etapa de Ann Nocenti a cargo del personaje me esta gustando. Obviamente no esta al nivel de la etapa de Miller pero creo que reprocharle eso seria injusto. Los números anteriores a los recopilados en este volumen variaban en diversas historias interesantes con un fuerte contenido político, y si bien eso se mantiene en este volumen creo que lo hace mejor todavía añadiendo personajes muy buenos como en el caso de Typhoid Mary.
November 10, 2021
4.5 stars. Loving Ann Nocenti's Daredevil run - some great, campy 80s humor, emotional arc with Typhoid Mary trying to splitup Matt & Karen, Kingpin behind the scenes, and NYC in the 1980s. Not to mention Ditko's "Bombers" issues and an entire issue in the bar on Christmas eve with Daredevil drinking!
January 8, 2022
I really enjoyed the character of Typhoid Mary. A very under utilized character by Marvel. She’s great, and Nocenti’s run of DD starts off strong in these issues collected in this trade. Love the artwork ass well. Especially when Romita Jrz hops on board. The tie in arc to the Hell stuff (while goofy) is pretty rad too.
August 25, 2022
ann nocenti is my worst enemy (sort of joking, sort of not). typhoid mary would have been far more interesting if she hadn't called it DID. disrespectful to actual systems. as for the story itself, it was hot and cold as with everything ann did. sometimes she'd have strokes of genius and then next issue bury them in the ground. read it because it's classic, not because it's good.
December 25, 2022
DNF
I really wanted to like this more and maybe it’s because i was reading it digitally but i really couldn’t connect with it. Not bad at all just average . I liked mary alot as an antagonist i liked the overlapping political angle but man it felt so disjointed especially when the punisher showed up. Opinion might change on a re read when i get it physically. 2.5/5
I really wanted to like this more and maybe it’s because i was reading it digitally but i really couldn’t connect with it. Not bad at all just average . I liked mary alot as an antagonist i liked the overlapping political angle but man it felt so disjointed especially when the punisher showed up. Opinion might change on a re read when i get it physically. 2.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2024
Explores the consequences of obsession and introduces the mesmerizing and complex villain, Typhoid Mary.
The plot delves into Kingpin’s relentless pursuit to destroy Murdock, this time by targeting his relationship with Karen Page.
The book offers a compelling story with a mix of romance, obsession, and action combined with Romita Jr’s artwork that provides an appealing late 80s vibe.
The plot delves into Kingpin’s relentless pursuit to destroy Murdock, this time by targeting his relationship with Karen Page.
The book offers a compelling story with a mix of romance, obsession, and action combined with Romita Jr’s artwork that provides an appealing late 80s vibe.
July 29, 2018
Nocenti's greatest creation
Ann Nocenti wrote tons of great comics at Marvel in the 90s. Her introduction of Typhoid Mary in these issues are some of her best. Typhoid remains a criminally underused character to this day and this book shows a ton of what makes her special.
Ann Nocenti wrote tons of great comics at Marvel in the 90s. Her introduction of Typhoid Mary in these issues are some of her best. Typhoid remains a criminally underused character to this day and this book shows a ton of what makes her special.
May 9, 2017
the best Romita ever and the second best run ever for daredevil !!!!
January 3, 2018
A stunning exploration of fear, sex, and gender roles in this early 80s superhero comic.
April 8, 2021
Pure 80's craziness. Loved it.
October 17, 2022
There is some enjoyable stuff in here but Nocenti's bleak writing keeps it from being a truly heroic tale.
The Inferno stuff was pretty rough to get through.
The Inferno stuff was pretty rough to get through.
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