Reviews by Harold Bloomfield (HB56@aol.com)

Daredevil #22

Bob Gale's done it again. He's taken an issue thoroughly devoid of spandex action and full of legal give and take and produced something enjoyable and absorbing.

As with his introduction of Foggy and Matt's new legal aid Gale introduces another new promising character, Daredevil's attorney, Kate Vonikur. She's a beautiful, intelligent women who appears to have a great deal of integrity. As with Matt and the legal aid, Elaine, there are sparks there that indicate a romance between Daredevil and Kate seems a distinct possibility. As with Elaine there's no way to know if Kate will continue to be a part of the Daredevil universe once Bendis takes over as the full time writer.

Basing an issue, and mostly an arc, on legal wrangling runs another risk in addition to being dry and that is presenting something legally that is way off base. Even in the world of super heroes a story must stay consistent within the fantasy world it has established. When the law is entered into the mix that standard now becomes one of accuracy. Although I have no legal expertise I find it hard to believe that the Jester didn't break any laws in his little escapade at the bank last issue. Although they turned out to be toys he still brandished what people believed to be weapons at the time.

I also think this arc could have used a bit of foreshadowing or clues as to what exactly is going on here. Three issues in and Daredevil has no idea who, if anyone, impersonated him that night at Griggs or who is behind this whole thing. Even if Daredevil hasn't the foggiest idea perhaps Gale should have thrown something in to at least let the readers have a guess or two.

The issue is full of nice moments: lawyers wanting to know DD's secret identity before taking his case, Kate and Daredevil's first meeting, DD's mistakenly breaking in on a technology demonstration then offering to pay for the damaged property, JJJ and Claude Unger's TV debate, and Kate and DD having coffee in a cafe. These touches are just as important to the story as the actual legal case.