Daredevil #512 – Review

by Andy Diggle and Antony Johnston (writers), Marco Checchetto (art), Matt Hollingsworth (colors), and Joe Caramagna (letters)

The Story: Daredevil’s friends deal with the fallout of Shadowland as Matt is nowhere to be found in the city.

What’s Good: I really do enjoy Checchetto and Hollingsworth’s art.  The art has often been the best part of Diggle’s run, and even a more laid-back, conversation based issue like this one, the work really shines.  It’s moody and perfectly Daredevil and as such, it has its own look.  Wherever the Daredevil franchise goes after this, I hope Checchetto, Hollingsworth, and De La Torre have a major role.

Other than that, this is an issue that focuses on examining the emotional toll Shadowland has on series mainstays Dakota, Foggy, Becky, and Kurtz.  I thought that the place Kurtz ends up in is an intriguing one that could be quite fun in the future.  It’s something you could see coming, so I guess it’s not the most imaginative turn of events, but that doesn’t change it from being a good one.  Foggy meanwhile gets some solid characterization as well.  His unflappable dedication to Matt is exactly the sort of thing that makes the character fun to read.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Detective Comics #871 – Although I think I may have given Amazing Spider-Man #649 a higher raw grade, taking a few more days to reflect really makes me appreciate the excellence of this first issue by Scott Snyder, Jock and Francesco Francavilla.  Not only have they crafted a very good, back-to-basics Batman story, but they have made it very much a Dick Grayson story and that is very important now that we have multiple Batmen running around.  Runner-up: Amazing Spider-Man #649

Most Anticipated: Heroes for Hire #1 – Although my brain says this might be the latest short-lived Marvel title (see Thor: TMA, SWORD, Doctor Vodoo, Spider-Woman, etc.) my heart really wants to see this one go.  Can’t you find room in your pull list for a mash-up of street level Marvel characters helmed by Abnett and Lanning?  Should be a LOT of fun!

Other picks: American Vampire #9, Marineman #1, She-Hulks #2, Taskmaster #4, Irredeemable #20

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Detective Comics #871 – So…I’ve been a bit busy this week with my new kitten (hurray!) and have yet to chew through the entirety of my monstrous stack, but from what I’ve read…wow, what a week.  Fantastic efforts all-around from Amazing Spider-Man, Invincible Iron Man, Action Comics, Fantastic Four, and the Walking Dead, just to name a few.  In the end though, it was Scott Snyder and Jock’s Detective Comics that did it for me.  Snyder clearly understands the Batman franchise and he’s made a comic that feels both new and classic.  It’s the sort of gritty, realistic take that I think is exactly what’s needed in today’s wacky, Morrison dominated Bat-universe.

Most Anticipated: Action Comics Annual #13 – Wait, what?  Two issues of Paul Cornell’s Action Comics in two weeks?  Hell yeah!  Regular readers will know that this is my favourite DC title currently running and now with this Annual, we see Lex butt heads with Darkseid and Ra’s Al-Ghul in a super-sized issue.  I can’t see how this will be anything less than totally awesome, even if it does lack Pete Woods.  This is a comic that I’ll gladly fork over $4.99 for, and that’s saying a lot.

Other Picks: American Vampire #9, Brightest Day #15, Daredevil #512, Shadowland #5, Sweet Tooth #16, Secret Six #28

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman and Robin #17 – I liked the start of Paul Cornell’s new arc in the Batman and Robin #17 and it takes this week’s prize for me.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #15 –  Brightest Day #15 is promising Aqualad and Aquagirl (I love reimaginings) and more of Firestorm’s problems. Johns and Tomasi have had some pacing problems with this series, but wherever they’ve given enough space for the story to move forward, the story has been great. It doesn’t hurt that Ivan Reis is on the art team either!

Other Picks: Adventure Comics #521, Daredevil #512, Ozma of Oz #2, The Boys #49

Joe’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Uncanny X-Force #2 – I honestly did not think this would be my pick of the past week, but, damn was this good.  Sure, Remender’s script hit all the right notes and delivered a well-balanced package of character beats and awesome action, but the show really belongs to penciller Jerome Opena.  The man owns this book like no other could and that, my friends, is worth the price of admission alone.

Most Anticipated: Ant-Man & The Wasp #2 – Nothing jumped out at me from the pull list when I looked through on a search for the title I’m most excited about this week, so I’ll give it to a title who’s first issue surprised the heck out of me with how much fun it was.  Seeley’s odd couple pairing of this tiny duo was pitch perfect and especially captured the tone and humor of the cancelled Irredeemable Ant-Man series that introduced one of the titular characters.  Salva Espin’s artwork is also nothing to sneer at.  Here’s hoping they surprise me again.

Other Picks: Irredeemable #20, American Vampire #9, Brightest Day #15, Secret Six #28, Daredevil #512, Generation Hope #2, Ozma of Oz #2, Taskmaster #4, Wolverine The Best There Is #1

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Thunderbolts #150 – The main part of this issue was just awesome as we saw the Thor, Captain Steve and Iron Man tossed into the mix.  Oh….and I think Crossbones is off the team now.  Perhaps a few demerits for making us pay and extra dollar for some Wikipedia entries about the history of the Tbolts and a reprint of issue #1, but a great issue nonetheless.  Runner-up: Hulk #27 (great week for Jeff Parker!)

Most Anticipated: Batwoman #0 – It takes a pretty special book to nudge The Walking Dead off “top pick” status, but I can’t wait to see Kate Kane return with beautiful art (and story) from JH Williams, III.

Other picks: Detective Comics #871, The Walking Dead #79, Amazing Spider-Man #649, Vampirella #1, Scalped #43

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman Incorporated #1 – Wow, a Morrison Batman title as my pick of the week.  I figured I’d enjoy it, but I never expected to like it as much as I did.  This was pure fun and had lots of Catwoman and even more Japan.  Sold!

Most Anticipated: Batwoman #0 – Really, could it possibly be anything else?  There are so, so many great comics coming out this week that the fact that this is such a landslide should be proof of how much I want this comic book.

Other Picks: Action Comics #895, Detective Comics #871, Fantastic Four #585, Secret Avengers #7, Amazing Spider-Man #649, Captain America #612, Invincible Iron Man #32, Madame Xanadu #29, The Walking Dead #79, Scalped #43, DMZ #59, Daredevil #512, Shadowland #5, Secret Warriors #22

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman: The Return #1 – I really enjoyed Batman: The Return #1 and would put it among the comics that will be in contention for the best of the year, although I think the competition will be stiff. This series launched strong and I’m tuned in for the next issue..

Most Anticipated: Batman and Robin #17 – Although Batwoman’s premiere was a strong candidate, Paul Cornell is an excellent writer who has done some top-notch work on TV, science fiction prose stories, Marvel’s Captain Britain mythos, and others, and I can’t wait to see his slightly slanted take on Batman and Robin in issue #17. It doesn’t hurt that Dick and Damian are pretty much my favorite characters in comics right now.

Other Picks: Batwoman #0, Detective Comics #871, Captain America #612, Teen Titans #89

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Thunderbolts #150 – Jeff Parker’s script knocked this one out of the park.  By bringing the Crossbones situation to a head quickly and letting him have his much-awaited showdown with Steve Rogers as well as throwing the other Big Two of the Avengers in there (along with every other awesome element of the script), the scribe hit every chord perfectly.  Throw in Kev Walker’s amazing artwork as the beautiful cherry on top and there really is no question as to what comic was the best of the past week.

Most Anticipated: Ultimate Spider-Man #150 – If you take into account that I’ve been a huge fan of Ultimate Spidey since the beginning and that I’m a big sucker for anniversary issues, then this issue being my top pick shouldn’t be too surprising.  However, Bendis has been firing on all cylinders over the last few months on this book and I’ve eagerly been awaiting each new installment without fail.  So now I have three good reasons to pick this one up!  2nd place:  Batwoman #0 has me salivating for new JH Williams artwork!  The only reason this isn’t in the top spot is the absence of Greg Rucka.

Other Picks: Star Wars Blood Ties #4, Terminator 1984 #3, Batwoman #0, Detective Comics #871, Justice League Generation Lost #14, The Walking Dead #79, Amazing Spider-Man #649, Invincible Iron Man #32, New Mutants #19, Secret Avengers #7, Secret Warriors #22, Thunderstrike #1, Ultimate Avengers 3 #4, Uncanny X-Force #2, Uncanny X-Men #530, X-Men Legacy #242, Whispers in the Walls #4