(Late) NB of the Week

-THE RELATIVE MINOR IS THREE HALF-SPOILS DOWN FROM THE MAJOR, NOT UP!-

Daredevil #5

Written by Mark Waid

Drawn by Chris Samnee

Once revealing himself as Daredevil, Matt Murdock has moved back to San Francisco  to try and start new. However, Foggy (suffering from cancer) is said to have died, even though we the readers have seen him and know it to be a ruse. This is the how and why of that.

As Pym is shrunken down and trying to fight the cancer from within Foggy, Matt tries to convince him that faking his death will be the best thing to do. Villains are now out to get him and with knowing his identity, they'll go after those closest to him in order to achieve it. With his ailing condition, Matt believes it'll be best to ask forgiveness later and let Foggy fight his battle without all that trouble. During this speech, a new and improved Leapfrog attacks, in a new and improved frog-mobile (not sure what it's actually called so that's what it is). It captures Foggy and get Matt to give chase only to be stopped in the middle of the city. After apprehending the new Leap, Matt figures out the frog-mobile is set to blow, taking all around with it. Matt decides this is the time. Foggy wants to go out a hero and here it is. Foggy leaps into the machine and jets himself about the city before the whole thing explodes. Lucky for Foggy, Pym was still there and was able to shrink him out to safety. Foggy has died a hero. With the last page, we are given Foggy's thoughts on Matt:

"And that is what it's like to live in the orbit of Matt Murdock. He will confound you. He will frustrate you. He will make your choices for you, he will manipulate you without consulting you, and you will want to punch him in his self-assured face at least once an hour. He will make you wonder every single day why you ever put up with him, because the Devil is full of tricks.

But he will care about you in a way that no one else ever could. When it comes down to it., I guess I don't really need the world to know I exist. I'm just glad he does."

First off, I have absolutely no problem with a dark and gritty story if it's well told. I understand kids look up to characters like Spider-Man and Superman but the nature of what their stories involve should mean that some dark things happen to them and those around them. I get that. But thank God for Mark Waid proving that it doesn't have to be. Blood and violence and boobs and cursing are great and fun but not necessary to stay relevant. Waid continues to tell stories that are filled with character and heart and it forces you to remember why you should find inspiration in these "funny books." I care about Matt Murdock. I care about Foggy Nelson. Caring is one of the hardest things to get out of reading (in my opinion) and Waid does it month in and in spades.