over the edge

drive-by readings

Daredevil #510 (Marvel) Andy Diggle Antony Johnston Marco Checchetto Matt Hollingsworth Joe Caramagna John Cassaday/Laura Martin (cover)

what we learned: the heroes are getting desperate on what to do with the worsening situation in Hell's Kitchen, and even the Kingpin shows up to goad them to whack Matt before its too late. Tarantula's conscience kicks in, but he's also too late, as White Tiger reveals her true colors, and Daredevil himself seems to be really out of it anyway. in a victory for women's rights, Dakota North knows her way around a SPAS-12 which is cool. in other news, Foggy Nelson is still useless and its a miracle for all of 46 years of Daredevil, he's still alive (faked deaths notwithstanding).
oh shit moment: its cliche, but when its Tarantula who's thrown off a building and smashing into a car below ...
what's next: The Beast is revealed! no, he's not Hank McCoy or that evil one from Age of Apocalypse.


"he say man who wear colorful costume to fight crime look stupid."

who's killing who

drive-by readings

Shadowland: Blood On The Streets #2 (Marvel) Antony Johnston Wellinton Alves Nelson Pereira Frank Martin Dave Sharpe Francisco Mattina (cover)

what we learned: Paladin gets punk'd by the Shroud (gotta hand it to Pig Pen). Misty finds out that its not the Hand that killing mobsters, the Hand ninjas also tell her the same thing, and Paladin and Shroud are also two steps behind.
oh shit moment: not much sighting of Silver Sable and her fantastic treasure chest this issue. still not sure what her angle is in this story, but do i care? LOL
what's next: always the first question to ask in a murder mystery: who profits?


the "K" disappears twice in this book. that's a crime!

rolling to the edge

drive-by readings

Daredevil #509 (Marvel) Andy Diggle Antony Johnston Roberto De La Torre Matt Hollingsworth Joe Caramagna John Cassaday/Laura Martin (cover)

what we learned: Master Izo and Elektra infiltrate the Snakeroot HQ and find out who's pulling the strings. apparently, they have no teleporting device and Matt's not exactly answering his Droid X. so they need to get back to the States by foot. meanwhile, Typhoid Mary shows up at Matt's door, ostensibly to work for him and work him, if you know what i mean.
oh shit moment: anybody seen the new-look scruffy Iron Fist? awesome!!
what's next: something exploded in Shadowland, and i doubt if it was the ninjas who had polished off the burritos for lunch.


then there was that time Master Izo joined Takeshi's Castle (Wipeout for you Americans)

street fighting

drive-by readings

Shadowland: Blood On The Streets #1 (Marvel) Antony Johnston Wellinton Alves Nelson Pereira Frank Martin Dave Sharpe Francisco Mattina (cover)

what we learned: the first time i saw The Shroud, he was involved in Latverian politics and Henry Kissinger. the last time i saw Paladin, he had that Spear of Odin thingy and went off his merry way after Siege. now they're both in this Shadowland spinoff moneymaker. apparently someone is offing bad guys and all signs point to Daredevil and his Hand ninjas. the Shroud and Misty Knight feel something's not right, but we don't know what Paladin's thinking. he shot Daredevil once from long range (look who can't do that!) so he might be looking for a repeat performance. i think this is all just confusion (par for the course) - they'll all team up and fight the common enemy in the end.
oh shit moment: i haven't seen Silver Sable's chest in years. oh mama.
what's next: Pig Pen, Robot Arm and the two mercs duke it all out, to provide entertainment for Lord Daredevil.


why, because she's better looking?

a backhanded compliment to Gray's Papaya

not that Nathan's will complain ...

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Daredevil: Cage Match one shot

turning Japanese

drive-by readings

Daredevil #505 (Marvel) "Left Hand Path" Andy Diggle Antony Johnston Marco Checchetto Matt Hollingsworth Joe Caramagna Paolo Rivera (cover) who wants to be the new Wolverine? well, who else but our newest Hand Puppet Master, Matt Murdock. in his quest to turn The Hand into a force of justice (easier said than done), Matt is building bigger prisons and doing networking stuff to get them to follow his lead. whereas Wolverine pretty much chased skirts, drank beer and brawled like a drunken sailor, Matt wants to effect change. i'm just not sure how long this'll last and then we get the next writer having Matt ruminating on his past life as an 'enlightened organized crime boss' and admits to biting off more than he can chew. especially when these Japs find out he really didn't whack Master Izo. despite Matt's noble intentions, he's not going blindly (we hope), as we see other sinister plans are afoot and not just with the obvious antagonist in front of him, the South American daimyo named Bakuto. its one thing to have Danny Rand walking around K'un L'un because he practically grew up there; white guy Matt addressing all these ninjas and samurais right in their own turf seems a little off. good thing they're more or less subservient to tradition, until of course, that opportune moment when they can stick a knife in your back. its fun to explore this new territory left behind by Ed Brubaker, although i can't wait for Matt to get back Stateside and deal with the aftermath of Siege and the re-ascension of his superhero friends.