Daredevil Message Board

[Darkdevil]

I recently read the Love Labor's Lost TPB. These issues fall squarely within the O'Neil-Mazz run which was when I first started reading DD. Back then, I missed a few issues here and there, some of which were included in this trade so it was nice to finally read these missing pieces.

I liked seeing the build-up (or rather break-down) as Heather's death leads Matt into dark despair which clearly lingers and will grow into fruition in Born Again. Seeing Foggy's frustration as their law firm go under with little to no help or support from Matt.

A few questions though. #218 isn't reprinted here. Any reason why? Judging by the cover scan here on the site, was it because the story really didn't tie into the overall story arc?

#219, which was reprinted here....hm, interesting story by Miller and Buscema, but I may be missing something here with this standalone story. I take it Matt was the Stranger, right? But why was he in that small town? This felt more like a good noir story that just happened to be published in a DD comic instead of having some connection to the character(s). Am I missing something?

[Ash-n-Bone]

Yep, LLL is a very enjoyable trade, O'Neil is one of the best and most underrated DD writers.

I think 218 may have just been a self contained issue with no real connection to prior stories. As regards to 219 I think it was included because it's a Miller issue, so maybe its to prepare readers for Born Again which is the following trade, I think. I could be wrong though.

219 as a story is good, I always like it when Matt ventures out of Hell's Kitchen to somewhere less familiar, thus more threatening. Redemption is great.

[The Overlord]

I have read this trade recently and its a very mixed bag. Some of the plot elements are interesting, but most of the villains are lame and forgettable and some of the plot threads don't go anywhere. Some of the issues have plot threads that just seem like a throwaway plot points, Matt going to Arizona, Matt fighting bizarre neo fascists in Italy, Glorianna surviving a plane crash, being stuck in a swamp and some red necks try to force her into a shot gun marriage, all these stories are not particularly interesting on their own and didn't really contribute to an overall plot.

However I liked the stuff with the Gael and the IRA (though that plot point was partially derailed by the appearance of Cossack and his blindness device), I liked the story where he fought the Vulture, the story where he fought the Gladiator again, the story where Heather Glenn died and the story where DD goes to a town controlled by corrupt hicks.

The Gael is interesting villain who should make a return and the Vulture fight was fun, but the Cossack, those odd Italian neo fascists and the rednecks in the swamp are the type of forgettable filler villains who always bring a story down and thus will never seen again.

I was actually disappointed that DD 218 wasn't included, to me that issue brought an interesting plot point that was later ignored. By the end of that issue Jester reformed, having given the performance of his life and thus lost his motive for being a criminal. However much later, Jonathan Powers became the Jester again and started committing random crimes, for no explained reason. There should be an explanation for that. Jester will seem less like a Joker rip off, if he has a motive that is different then "Crime is fun and I want attention" that is Joker's motive to a T. Jester needs something that sets him apart from that, otherwise they shouldn't have undone this story by making Jester a criminal again.

[Darkdevil]

#215 is one of all-time favorites, showing a unique connection between DD and the Two-Gun Kid.

The secret group in Italy would have worked better if their goals and methods were shown over more issues than just this one. They stole patent plans from Heather's safe. Plans for what? Why did they need this device? How did it help accomplish their goals? The final fight was lacking too as if O'Neil simply wanted to wrap this portions of Matt's life quickly and neatly.

The rednecks in the swamp was filler and forgettable, still not quite sure how maneuvering in the swamp can so affect Matt's abilities.

Gael was an interesting villain, but also a sign of the times. An update is warranted.

About the oddest thing for me was Matt's break-in attempt at the hotel where the men who stole Heather's plans stayed. Carrying ice bags helps defeat heat sensors?? But Matt altering his breathing rate to mimic that of a rodent? How does he know what a mouse's breath rate is like?

[The Overlord]