Daredevil (Vol.2) #65

Background

Daredevil's secret identity as Matt Murdock has been revealed by one of the biggest tabloids in the city. Matt Murdock is now publicly denying his being Daredevil. The girlfriend that he secretly married has filed for an annulment and has left him. Matt Murdock has seen better days.

Story 'The Universe'

Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock wade though a sea of reporters and photographers to get into their offices. Inside, Jennifer, the receptionist, is also being flooded by phone calls. Nick Fury waits inside Murdock's office. He offers Murdock a job as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., a "way out of this". When Murdock declines, Fury tells him that the offer is there, and then disappears in a spooky way.

Spider-Man is hanging out by a newsstand. At first, he thinks that somehow it's his fault that Daredevil was revealed, but then he wises up and realizes that he's never told anyone--not even MJ. Peter goes to the Daily Bugle and finds Ben Urich saying that he knows who Daredevil is, and Matt Murdock isn't Dardevil. Peter finds himself backing Ben up. They leave and Peter and Ben have a moment of silence outside the Bugle. All the while Peter thinks, "Please don't figure out I'm Spider-Man."

Spidey perches outside Murdock's office surveying the media circus, when Mr. Hyde shows up and starts causing trouble. Though Spider-Man starts fighting Hyde, Daredevil shows up and finishes him off. The media rush them (or as Spider-Man describes it "a stampede of stupid") and they head for the rooftops. Spidey asks if there is anything he can do, and Daredevil tells him to just stay away from him. It surprises Spidey, but he understands.

Murdock and Captain America meet in the park. Cap offers Murdock the political help of the Avengers, but Murdock refuses. They shake hands and part ways. The Punisher and Daredevil cross paths a couple months after Daredevil announces that he's the new Kingpin. Punisher tells Murdock that he's "crossed the line." With a couple of well-placed billy clubs, Daredevil quickly knocks out the Punisher.

Dr. Strange (who looks really cool in this book) and Murdock have some tea and talk about life and stuff. Murdock asks Strange if there's anything in the room or if there's anything Strange can do to turn back time or take things back to the way they were. Strange says no. Murdock seems accepting of this answer, saying, "This is my life."

General Comments

This was a very good book. I like the way when one hero is down and out, other heroes come to offer help. The artwork in this book was especially good. I like the way the leaves made a shadow on Cap's face in the park. I love that kind of detail.

I never liked it when they show a picture and have a whole column of writing on the side margin. I buy comics for the speech bubbles not a full page picture with a lot of writing on the side. Although I can't complain too much, since it was the only part of the story that involved Spider-Man.

Overall Rating

The book gets a solid four webs. I had to take points for giving Spider-Man that lame big picture and writing on the side thing. It would have been way cooler if they'd have let Peter play out the story as opposed to summarize it. I think it could have been done. Also, Mary Jane was drawn ugly and had inhumanly large hips. Mary Jane must be hot at all times.