Daredevil #2 – Mind Games

A mysterious masked figure tells Daredevil that Matt Murdock will be murdered… That has thrown him for a loop… On both sides of his life…

Creative Team

Stephanie Phillips (Writer), Lee Garbett (Artist/Cover Artist), Frank Martin (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer)

Kat Walkington (Designer), Drew Baumgartner (Assistant Editor), Devin Lewis (Editor),
C.B. Cebulski (Editor-in-Chief)

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Mind Games

Issue two of Stephanie Phillips’ Daredevil takes readers through the visible trauma of Matt Murdock’s mental health from the events that concluded issue one. Readers will feel the anguish and turmoil that consumes every thought of his. Which begs the question of how can one statement break Daredevil this bad? This issue does a magnificent job at guiding the reader through Matt’s inner narrative to figure out the pivotal riddle that plagues him.

This issue does not solely focus on Matt and his night-time activities. No, readers take part in the secondary story dealing with NYPD Detective Daniel Forte as he continues to build an investigation into the incident that took place in issue one. Readers will see Detective Forte come to terms with his moral compass as he obtains new evidence for his investigation. The creation of this character is giving me “Batman and Commissioner Gordon” vibes for future issues!

Readers will also get a taste of Matt Murdock the Professor. We got a taste of this in issue one, but within this issue the tone is more intense, and you get a more authentic classroom atmosphere. I genuinely enjoy the creativeness of Stephanie writing Matt as a professor. It is something that I personally have not seen within Daredevil, and it generates a new avenue for storytelling. Avid readers of Daredevil are accustomed to Matt hiding his identity within a courtroom or even a church, but a college campus is something completely different!

The Writing

Travis:

Stephanie Phillips has taken a popular Marvel character and given him the reboot that fans needed! The writing for this issue grabs a hold of you from the very beginning! The narration and dialogue are so intertwined it is as if they are waltzing from page to page creating a work of art for the reader. It is within this dance of words that Stephanie entices the reader to continue reading with the thrill of not knowing what is to come.

Eddie:

Stephanie Phillips is crafting a fun psychological mystery for us all. The Omen has truly thrown the man without fear off balance. Her writing makes us feel the same as Matt as we navigate this story. Her scripting works in close concert with Lee Garbett’s artwork. Her writing allows him to transform words into action and clever paneling that puts the reader into the same imbalance as our hero. It’s truly effective.

The Artwork

Travis:

Lee Garbett brings a realistic touch to the art of Daredevil. The attention to detail is out of this world! Even the subtle details surrounding Matt Murdock throughout the issue are striking! The penciling is crisp and smooth allowing readers to really take in each panel and the details that lie within.

Frank Martin brings home the tone and energy for the art. The coloration is so easy on the eyes of the reader! Bold shades of red when Daredevil graces the pages are astonishing to see! One thing I did notice and enjoy was the variant backgrounds used when Daredevil would take a punch from someone else. It felt as if readers were seeing Daredevils “sonar” glitching because of the impact! Amazing!

Ariana Maher deserves credit for this issue as well! Some overlook the importance and art within lettering comic books. But as a reader, you cannot overlook the beauty in the lettering for this issue. Ariana brings anguish, frustration, and trauma that Matt is enduring to life. Some will argue and say you can get all of that just by looking at the art. I challenge you to read this issue without looking at the art, just once! And tell me that you could not feel exactly what Matt was feeling. Amazing work on font selections, dialogue box placement as well as adding color to help separate dialogue from narrative.

Eddie:

Lee Garbett’s artwork is nothing short of gorgeous. His vision of Matt’s sensory perception is used expertly to pull the reader into the action, especially when we need to see from his perspective. A special acknowledgment needs to go to Ariana Maher for her lettering. It progresses so well between moods. It goes from simply allowing to read monologue and dialogue to actually shaping the mental environment of the story to immerse us as readers.

Variant Covers

Final Thoughts

Travis:

Issue two is a continuation of a story that is a slow build, and I am here for it! Stephanie has a remarkable way of building and telling her stories. She gives subtle details here and there allowing things to grow into something more refined. I’m thrilled with how this new take of Daredevil is going and cannot wait to see where this series takes fans!

Grade: 10/10

Eddie:

In all, we get a meaningful and eventful second chapter in this run of Daredevil. A 10/10 issue, Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett and team work wonderfully together to weave a super-powered mystery that gave us a lot and is leaving us wanting more!

Grade: 10/10

Overall Grade: 10/10!

Links

Comic Book Reviews & Entertainment News: Nerd Initiative
Previous Daredevil Review: Daredevil #1: Class Is in Session
Travis’ Reviews: TravisComicHaven – Nerd Initiative
Eddie’s Person Content: WretchedHiveComics

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