Daredevil Message Board

[baker]

When I survey the shelves at shops, it always bugs me that Daredevil has 1/4 as many trade-paperbacks as any other Marvel superhero. Where's the love? Why is Nocenti and Romita Jr's run seeing print while other arcs at least 10x better are lost in back issues? With a big event like Shadowland upon us, Marvel needs to wise up and print more DD tpbs at cheaper prices.

Firstly, Marvel should release distinct trades reprinting parts of Frank Miller's run (although it's frequently reprinting, it's often overpriced in an omnibus-esque package). These are the books I'd propose:

Daredevil: Elektra
issue no's: 168, 174, 175, 176, 178, 179, 181
price: $13

This volume would chronicle the first introduction of Elektra, to her death at the hands of Bullseye. Marvel released something similar to this in the mid 1980s called The Elektra Saga, but that project just chopped scenes from different issues and rearranged them into a disconnected blob that didn't make sense. If these 7 issues were presented whole, as one story, we would have one of the best DD tpbs available.

Daredevil: Dead Hands
issue no's: 182, 187, 188, 189, 190, bonus: What If...Elektra had Lived?
price: $10

This would sort of be the sequel to DD: Elektra. Daredevil's mind snaps for the first time when he gets the idea that Elektra's alive. He even goes as far as digging up her buried corpse. Then with 187-190, DD and Black Widow work with Stick and the Chaste to take down the Hand and prevent Elektra's dark resurrection. I picked the title "Dead Hands" because it works on multiple levels for the story lines within. And since the Elektra What If? issue (written & drawn by Miller) hasn't been reprinted yet, I think it would fit nicely at the end.

Daredevil: Bullseye
issue no's: 131, 132, 146, 160, 161, 169, 181, 191
price: $13

DD: Bullseye would start out with the villains first appearances in 131 & 132. Then would be the oft-referenced, televised fight scene in 146 (with stunning art by Gil Kane). Then Bullseye's modern portrayal as sadistic psycho begins in the Miller-penciled 160 & 161, and continues deeper into DD 169. I would include DD 170-172, but Bullseye is the secondary villain in those, with the main antagonist being Kingpin, so they might not fit. Then Bullseye kills Elektra, and gets paralyzed (181). And finally, DD and Bullseye play Russian roulette (191).

Now, besides those, which aren't too much of a loss if they don't see individual print, there's also the matter of the amazing issues that take place after Miller's run. Dennis O'Neil took over as writer and wrote at least two story lines that live up to the Miller standard, and would bridge the gap between Miller's run and Love's Labors Lost:

Daredevil: Japan
issue no's: 196, 197, 198, 199, 200
price: $10

This is the conclusion/closure/culmination of DD and Bullseye's mutually hateful relationship explored in issues 181 & 191. This details how and why Bullseye gets a new lease on life as he is released from his paralysis. And it all takes place in Japan, with a touching story about Daredevil helping his newest girl-interest, by fighting her Bullseye-restoring evil father. The art by William Johnson brings Daredevil to new heights.

Daredevil: Synn
issue no's: 202, 204, 206, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214
price: $13

If I could see any of these imaginary books come to print, it would be this one. This is the entire story of DD's greatest short-lived villain, the savage tribe leader, Micah Synn. The brittle relationship between Foggy and Matt seen in Born Again begins in this story. One of the most hardcore portrayals of the Kingpin is in this story. This also contains one of the first times DD and Kingpin work together to take down a common enemy. The writing is top-notch, and David Mazzuchelli does some of his best art.

DAREDEVIL NEEDS MORE RECOGNITION. This is the way to do it. Print good books at cheap prices.

[AP]

I understand your thought behind this, but honestly, most of the Miller collections you are proposing can currently be bought with more issues for roughly the same price.

You can still find all 3 volumes of the Daredevil Visionaries - Frank Miller series on Amazon for roughly the same prices you are suggesting and with more issues. I often see them at my local comic shops as well, even though Marvel recently released 3 volume soft cover volumes that contain the same material found in the the Frank Miller Omnibus and the Frank Miller Omnibus Companion. In fact, Marvel put out a trade a couple of years ago very similar to the one you are suggesting for Bullseye. Only difference is they excluded #160-161 for some reason. You can find that trade on Amazon for under $10 with shipping.

I agree with what you said about the Nocenti/Romita Jr trades. I love Romita Jr but I'm not a very big fan of Nocenti. I would like to see more of the Denny O'Neil/David Mazzucchelli run reprinted. I'd love to see the Japan arc you mentioned reprinted. I'd be interested to pick up the Micah Synn one as well.

FYI: The "What If...Elektra had Lived?" story from What If? #35 has been reprinted at least twice. It's in the in the Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller Vol. 3 and the Elektra Omnibus.

[Dimetre]

[baker]

I know you can get Frank Miller's run cheap if you know where to look, but there's also people who don't know that used books exist. I was thinking more about the casual readers who aren't going to pay $25-$30 for a (new) single volume of Frank Miller's run, but would buy all the Elektra stories etc. for half the price. Yeah, it's pointless I know, but I think it would still further the cause.

I just want to see the best stuff from Denny O'Neil's run printed. It's the best run besides the holy three (Miller, Bendis, Brubaker).

[AP]

[Syrinxx]

First of all, I am a a huge fan of the early-mid 1980's DD comics, both the Frank Miller issues and the ones that came out immediatly after his run (but before "Born Again"). IMHO these post-Miller comics (especially the Klaus Janson & D. Mazzucheli-drawn issues) are superb, and far superior than many/most of the DD comics that came out afterwords. What I really liked about these was that, for the most part, the artists/writers kept the same urban crime/street level "feel" to the stories that Miller had begun, while still keeping them completely original.

I also enjoy the post-"Born Again" issues as well (Volume 1 only).

And, I think ALL of these comics should be reprinted.

That being said, I am continuously surprised and dissapointed that many/most of these comics have never been reprinted (in color, at least) by Marvel. However, I am much more interested in chronological reprints rather than storyline reprints (i.e. the way the Marvel Masterworks HC reprints are being handled).

So, my dream DD collections would be in large Omnibus form, as follows:

- DD Omnibus reprinting issues #192 - #226. Great stories, and these include the DD Japan/Wolverine/Bullseye issues leading up to #200, the entire Micah Synn storyline, etc. Though a handful of these issues were reprinted in the "Love's Labor Lost" TPB, most have never been reprinted.

- DD Omnibus reprinted issues #233 - #268. Though I haven't read many of these, from what I have seen they're exceptional (though not as good as Janson's or Mazuchellis' run). However, they still deserve reprinting.

- DD Omnibus reprinting #268 - #303. Haven't read many any of these issues, but based on the descriptions on this very website they sound great. And, I don't think any of these have been reprinted.

And, 4-5 more Omnibuses reprinting the rest of the issues in Volume 1 through #380 - these should also include all related DD Annuals/Specials, etc. that were coming out at this time.

Granted, I know this will probably never happen, but I can always hope. At the least, I would like to see the first two Omnibuses I listed above reprinted.