Apr 10, 2009

Notes on DD Noir from Various Quarters

CBR's Buy Pile:

Jump from the Read Pile. Overheard: "Has there ever been a character better suited for a noir treatment than Daredevil?" True indeed -- given his existing trappings with a murdered father and a walk-up office, this character was ripe for noir-i-zation. Using a chat with the equally noir-ready Wilson Fisk as a framing device, this one issue tells you everything about how this character came to be (which, in some ways, makes more sense than the real version) and what's going on in this seedy, criminal-caked world. The delightful and stylized artwork from Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman casts everything in the perfect grimy light and this issue hits every note just about perfectly. Then there's the narration and dialogue -- "Home. The place where you're supposed to be able to leave the outside world behind. Not me ... home is a prison I carry in my head" -- making this a great re-read already.

Comics Bulletin:

Irvine's confident, assured storytelling makes this a compelling read, and his framing device gives us a welcome glimpse into the story's future, allowing him to tease us with developments yet to come and also allowing him to end on a neat cliffhanger that encourages readers to have faith in him to deliver an equally compelling continuation of the series next issue. I'll certainly be interested enough to check it out.
[...]
I came into this review a bit biased; as a fan of noir, I've made it a point to read both X-Men: Noir and Spider-Man: Noir (my current favorite release of the year, but nonetheless…), so I wasn't too sure what to expect from a franchise that's never really been able to keep my attention. But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised -- Daredevil: Noir is a great read.

M3teor:

Irvine’s storytelling makes this a compelling read. The dialogue has the noiristic pulp feel that makes it feel like something straight out of the 1930’s. He gives us glimpses to future events without spoiling a thing, allowing for a cliff hanger ending that forces you to pick up the second issue. Complimenting his story is Coker’s artwork, which is perfect for the pulp style Irvine presents. [...] This is one miniseries everyone should be reading.

Independent Comics Site:

This is back to the Hell’s Kitchen that the rest of the world remembers, during the golden age of gangsters, when the warehouse district was a key source of bootlegging for New York City. It is, in a sense, the way Daredevil was always meant to be. But the comic doesn’t rest on having a new setting. [...] Best Daredevil I've seen in a long time.

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