| Title | : | Daredevil: Born Again |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 176 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1986 |
| Awards | : | Harvey Awards Best Graphic Album (1988), Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books (2013) |
Daredevil: Born Again Reviews
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One of the strongest stories of Marvel Comics!
This Trade Paperback edition collects “Daredevil” #227-233 which is known as the “Born Again” storyline. Also as bonus includes “Daredevil” #226 which is a stand-alone story where the creative team were introduced to the title.
Creative Team:
Writer: Frank Miller
Illustrator: David Mazzucchelli
A COMIC BOOK MASTERPIECE
I have shown him... That a man without hope... is a man without fear.
I wanted to read this storyline since some months ago when I found out about it on the magazine that Marvel Comics published to celebrate its 75th Anniversary (that includes since its age as Timely Comics) where they printed a list made by the voting from the fans choosing the 75 most popular storylines ever, by Marvel, where Born Again got the fourth place in the list, only under Kraven’s Last Hunt, Civil War and The Death of Gwen Stacy. And honestly, Born Again is so strong that it could easily got the top spot.
Frank Miller did a superb writing job here, and I have read a lot of his material and believe it or not, Born Again is a product as good as The Dark Knight Returns, and taking blindly (pun intended) the quality of narrative displayed here, the use of the words, the richness in the prose, it could being considered even a better product than its distinguished competitor, but don’t get us into a messy fight that nobody would be able to win (after all, both stories are written by the same author!). Let’s just say that Born Again is, without a doubt, one of the strongest storylines ever published in the comic books’ industry.
David Mazzucchelli delivered a wonderful artistic direction and while the proper artwork may be consider not as impressive as the current ones in nowadays’ comic books, definitely it’s an awesome and carefully planned job in the whole storyline to bring symmetry in key moments of each issue along with a spectacular use of angles and perspectives in the scenes.
PAYING FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS
It’s not every day that you sell your soul.
A woman looking for a “quick fix” in her life, provokes a long term disarray in the life of a man.
Karen Page, former girlfriend of Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) and also former secretary in the legal office of Nelson and Murdock, was long gone from New York. She went after her dream to become a Hollywood star, but her dream turned into a nightmare. She ended as prostitute in some non-disclosed Mexican border town (most likely doing porn movies too) and she fell into drugs, just to complete this awful package of her life.
Karen “sells” just for a measly drug shot, the real identity of Daredevil. No one can fall lower than that.
The information of Daredevil’s alter ego travels fast until reaching...
...the hands of Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin!!!
Just that is a powerful introduction to the storyline, crude, raw, real, but what the Kingpin does with the info is what makes this storyline so powerful, so great.
Wilson Fisk knows that Daredevil is just a costume, you don’t destroy a costume, you destroy the man inside of it, you destroy Matt Murdock, but slowly.
Instead of a typical comic book direct hasty assault towards the hero, Wilson Fisk takes his time. There is no rush. The Kingpin invests six months to plan the systematic obliteration of Matt Murdock’s life: Properties, money savings, legal license, reputation, friends, current girlfriend, physical health, mental sanity, everything has to go away, without Matt’s realization that somebody is behind of the orchestration of his personal downfall, but slowly.
The downfall of a good man must be like a glass of wine, you have to savor it, but slowly.
Born Again is a must-read for any Daredevil’s fan, but also a wonderful option for any fan of comic books in general, and even a great choice for any reader looking for a really good story. -
This was good. Really good, even. Yet what’s frustrating about “Born Again” is how SO FREAKIN’ CLOSE it comes to greatness…but ultimately, in the final stretch, falls short.
The first half of the arc, I would argue, is undeniably great–Frank Miller was born to write Daredevil, and the set-up of the story–which centers around the Kingpin finally learning Daredevil’s secret identity, and proceeding to make Matt Murdock’s life a complete and utter living hell–is sublimely done, especially as it’s narrated in that great, hard boiled voice that Miller nailed to perfection in the late 80s/early 90s. Which is why, when the narrative starts to go off the rails (one word: Nuke) the aftertaste it leaves is ESPECIALLY bitter: it’s like watching a virtuoso chess player spend hours meticulously arrange his chess pieces for the perfect maneuver, only to toss the whole board right as the moment of attack arrives.
Am I glad I finally got around to reading “Born Again?” Definitely. Do I hope that Season 3 of the Netflix show pilfers certain elements of it? You bet. Do I think it’s one of the great Frank Miller stories, up there with the likes of 300, Sin City, and Ronin?
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When Daredevil's old flame sells his identity for a hit of heroin, the knowledge winds up in the hands of the Kingpin and he uses it to destroy Matt Murdock's life. But The Kingpin made one mistake: HE LET MATT MURDOCK LIVE!
Daredevil: Born Again collects issues #226-233 of Daredevil, written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, the same team that would later create Batman: Year One. As much as I hate to say it, Born Again is the superior work.
When a man has nothing left, does he have anything left to fear? That's the question at the heart of this run. The Kingpin burns Matt Murdock's life down to the ground, seeing him homeless, defeated, and in the depths of despair. Then shit gets serious.
Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli were at the top of their game on Daredevil. Miller's writing is straight out of the old detective masters like Jim Thompson, Raymond Chandler, and Dashielle Hammett and that's what makes this run stand above countless others. Miller has read something besides comics in his life and that's what makes his voice so powerful. David Mazzucchelli's art is fantastic, the perfect moody accompaniment to the story. Both his character moments and his action scenes are spot on.
The story is all too plausible, the Kingpin using his influence to destroy Matt Murdock's life piece by piece. Matt struggles to keep his head above water until literally finding himself in the back of a cab as it plunges into the drink. Stabbed by a thug in a Santa Claus costume and stricken by pneumonia, Matt hits rock bottom until nursed back to health by an unlikely ally. It's orgasmic when old Hornhead finally puts the costume back on and embarks on the road to setting things right.
I rarely use the word "masterpiece" but Daredevil: Born Again is a fucking masterpiece. Five out of five blind lawyers. -
The Born Again saga; what a roller coaster of events and emotions!
Great, human story about being completely knocked down then finding the strength to carry on and rise up once more.
Not only for Matt but for Karen as well, I think.
Then that contrast of Foggy’s life, not to mention how well his new relationship was going.
I also loved how involved Ben Urich was plus seeing his messy and heart-wrenching journey.
I don’t think there’s much else I could say that hasn’t already been more eloquently said.
If you are any sort of Daredevil fan, read this story! -
8.6/10
Wilson Fisk can't defeat Daredevil but he might break down Matt Murdock.
Excellent storytelling.
A very dark tale by Miller who was on top of his game back then. The first couple of issues are absolutely brilliant, the quality drops a bit in the last couple of issues, but overall 'Born again' is a great story. -
Daredevil’s secret identity has fallen into the hands of The Kingpin. Rather than a quick and brutal strike, Kingpin elects to take a slow, punishing measure of revenge against a man who has been a thorn in his side for years. Stripping away everything Matt Murdock holds dear, Kingpin leaves Daredevil a shell of his former self. However, a man without hope… is a man without fear.
In the late 1970s, when Daredevil was on the ropes, Frank Miller took over as corner man and willed the Man Without Fear back into the fight. So in 1986, when writer Denny O’Neil was set to leave series, Marvel asked Frank if he’d be interested in returning to the character in which he had achieved tremendous success. Miller agreed but only if long time collaborator, artist David Mazzucchelli, could accompany him as the two would team up to write what many consider the definitive Daredevil story.
When I read this for the first time nearly six years ago, I remember appreciating it but not being blown away by it. However, given the rising popularity of the character due to the recently released Netflix series, I thought it was time to give it another shot.
The first three quarters of the story is nothing short of excellent. With Kingpin in possession of Daredevil’s secret identity, he begins a ruthless and systematic destruction of Matt Murdock’s life. The IRS freeze Matt’s accounts, the bank forecloses on his apartment and he becomes disbarred as a practicing lawyer. When Matt is at his absolute lowest point, Kingpin demolishes Matt’s apartment leaving the shredded remains of the Daredevil costume atop the rubble.
While Miller isn’t credited with first exploring Daredevil’s Catholic roots, he’s definitely one of few to first use it to great effect. In Born Again, Daredevil’s “resurrection” is due in part to help from Sister Maggie, a nun within the catholic church. Throughout Murdock’s rehabilitation, Mazzucchelli produces a few excellent panels showing Matt in a number of Christ-like poses.
As great as the majority of the story was, the last quarter or so involving Captain America and the patriotic villain Nuke felt like overkill. What seemed like a very intimate story involving two enemies in Daredevil and The Kingpin, exploded to include The Avengers, government conspiracies and destruction on a massive scale. It seemed like Miller tried to include too many characters and events, making what’s meant to feel like a big deal, fall flat.
Over the years, Daredevil has become one of my favorite comic book characters and while Born Again is considered the measuring stick, I’d throw Kevin Smith’s
Daredevil, Vol. 1: Guardian Devil up against it any day.
Also posted @
Every Read Thing. -
[ESP/ENG]
Muchas veces se habla de clásicos o de novelas y cómics fundacionales. A veces con demasiada ligereza. En el caso de esta obra, desde luego que lo es, y por méritos propios. Es un clásico del noveno arte, y es una obra fundacional del personaje, ese abogado ciego que por las noches patea culos embutido en un traje rojo llamado Daredevil.
El personaje de Daredevil se diferencia de muchos de los otros héroes en un aspecto, y es que Matt es profundamente religioso, y eso es algo que hay que aprovechar, y Frank Miller aquí lo hace y de qué manera, desde el mismo título (renacido en su traducción, menos mal que dejaron el nombre original que suena mejor) y los títulos de los capítulos individuales. David Mazzucchelli por su parte aporta a esto mismo con muchas composiciones realmente vistosas, como esa Piedad o una escena en la que Matt está tumbado y parece un cristo crucificado.
La obra trata de la caída a los infiernos del diablo guardián de la Cocina del infierno y su posterior renacimiento. Cuando Kingpin se entera de la identidad civil de Daredevil urde un plan a largo plazo para causarle todo el sufrimiento que pueda antes de matarlo. Todo lo que va sucediendo hace que Matt vaya perdiendo la cabeza poco a poco hasta convertirse en poco más que un desquiciado. Ambos autores hacen un gran trabajo, Miller al guión demostrando que los superhéroes pueden ser algo más que una cosa para niños, y Mazzuccheli representando a un personaje en declive, en un barrio sucio y maltratado que solo puede tocar fondo.
El tomo en sí es una edición muy buena, con tapa dura y una portada fantástica (una composición en formato vidriera colorida que muestra cosas que sucederán dentro), que incluye los 5 números que conforman la saga propiamente dicha y dos números m��s que cierran el arco, que tienen un nivel un pelín más bajo pero que tienen apariciones sorpresa y se leen muy bien. Un obligatorio para todo fan del cómic y sobre todo para fans del cuernecitos.
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Many times we talk about classics or foundational novels and comics. Sometimes too lightly. In the case of this work, of course it is, and on its own merits. It is a classic of the ninth art, and it is a founding work of the character, that blind lawyer who kicks ass at night stuffed in a red suit called Daredevil.
The character of Daredevil differs from many of the other heroes in one aspect, and that is that Matt is deeply religious, and Frank Miller uses this here and in a wonderful way, from the very title to the titles of the individual chapters. For his part, David Mazzucchelli contributes to this with many really showy compositions, like that Pietà or a scene in which Matt is lying down and looks like a crucified Christ.
The work deals with the fall to hell of the devil guardian of Hell's Kitchen and his subsequent rebirth. When the Kingpin learns Daredevil's civilian identity, he hatches a long-term plan to cause him as much suffering as he can before killing him. Everything that is happening makes Matt lose his mind little by little until he becomes little more than a madman. Both authors do a great job, Miller writing the script showing that superheroes can be more than just a kid's thing, and Mazzuccheli portraying a character on the decline, in a dirty, rundown neighborhood that can only hit rock bottom.
The volume itself is a very good edition, with hard cover and a fantastic cover (a composition in a colorful stained glass format that shows things that will happen inside), which includes the 5 issues that make up the saga itself and two more issues that close the arch, which have a slightly lower level but have surprise appearances and reads very well. A must have (pun intended) for every comic fan and especially for fans of Daredevil. -
SPOILERS
Matt Murdock's ex, Karen Page, sells out Murdock's secret identity as Daredevil to the Kingpin for an armful of junk and Murdock soon finds his life destroyed by the Kingpin's vast resources. Without a home, money, a job, and seemingly without friends, the Man Without Fear is crushed by the world spiritually and mentally and, in a desperate and hasty fight with the Kingpin, physically as well. This is the rebirth of the Daredevil... Born Again.
I'm a huge fan of Frank Miller's work, not his recent blip with "Holy Terror", but the classics like "Dark Knight Returns," "Year One", and the Sin City series. "Born Again" was the only remaining major work of his I'd not read so I thought it high time to read it despite not being the biggest Daredevil fan. And I have to say it was unimpressive. It had some good moments but it felt a bit weak, underwritten, and generally uninteresting for the most part.
Murdock is brought down too easily; it's hard to imagine someone being "destroyed" like Murdock is in this book so quickly as he is, even with someone as powerful as the Kingpin, without outside forces stepping in. It's also a bit too convenient to have Murdock believe the worst in his oldest friends without strong enough reason to. So his situation where his character becomes "Born Again" was a little too contrived for my liking.
The side story of "Foggy" (what a name), Matt's partner in the law firm they ran, and his current girlfriend, the Irish stereotype Glorianna O'Breen was dull, as was the reporter Ben Urich's whose own story arc was too predictable. Urich is forced not to write the truth about the Kingpin in the Daily Bugle, but finds the courage when the story demands it. Timing is everything ain't it?
Even Karen Page's storyline was boring. She's a heroin addict who starts the ball rolling on all of the events in the book but I just don't buy her as a real person. She's the template heroin addict, always going on about fixes and guilt, I didn't like her and felt that her story arc too was just too one dimensional.
There are some good moments when Murdock/Daredevil has to fight his way back to his true self by fighting a fake Daredevil and some nationalistic psycho called Nuke, and some intrigue with the nun who nursed him back to health - is she Murdock's ma? David Mazzucchelli's art is normally top notch but I kept noticing how thick the inking was throughout which put me off. There's too much black in those panels, it dates the book and makes the pages look blotchy.
Murdock is brought down too easily at the start and is brought back up at the end just as quickly so the ending feels rushed. Kingpin is defeated, you know this because he's got a frowny face and is crushing a newspaper with headlines to that effect; Murdock wins because he's walking down the street smiling with Karen on his arm - she got over her heroin addiction fast didn't see? And what about Foggy (ergh, that name again!) and Glori, and their practice? Is he back in Hell's Kitchen, starting a new law firm? Who knows, it's not explored here, the book just ends with Daredevil defeating "Nuke".
Overall the book didn't suck me in like Miller's stories usually do. Daredevil is a somewhat interesting character but his world sure isn't, and neither is this book. The story feels too much like a story with the kind of literary devices that ring false when used in the ham-fisted way Miller deploys them in this book. I wish I could agree with the many reviewers here who are obviously big fans of the book but I'm sorry to say that, to me, this is one of Miller's weaker efforts. -
"A man without hope is a man without fear."
If you're new to Daredevil then don't start with this book, go back to Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's Daredevil Visionaries Volume 2, #168-182. Then read Volume 3, #183-191. Then read this. Then read Man Without Fear. You're welcome.
David Mazzucchelli is a talented and now almost forgotten illustrator. Like Batman Year One, his splash pages are incredible, his action swift and evocative, his faces realistically emotive. His style is epic, effortless, and highly dramatic. And he's one of, if not the, greatest of 80s illustrators.
When I first read this I didn't get it because I had no backstory. You can't appreciate a character's downturn if you don't know who they are. After learning about Matt and Heather, Elektra, Bullseye, Kingpin, Foggy Nelson, and the politics of Hell's Kitchen, Born Again is a master stroke of grit, characterization, and drama. This is one of the greatest revenge and comeback stories I've ever read. -
I can remember in 1980 when Frank Miller took over Daredevil. I was twelve years old and I was stunned by the changes that he implemented. Suddenly one of my favorite costumed crime-fighters had moved into the world of adult crime fiction - or so it seemed to me at the time. Back in 1980 we weren't using the term "re-boot" for such an action, but that's exactly what Miller did. Throughout the decade other characters would undergo the same treatment by Miller and others, but Daredevil was one of the first.
In 1986 when the Born Again storyline took place I was in my senior year of high-school and hadn't picked up a comic-book in years. However the following year I was in college and discovered that comics were changing. That was a great time for the medium. The Watchmen, The Darknight Returns and others were in print and it was cool to read "graphic novels". I picked up the compilation of the Born Again storyline in 1988. I was impressed - very impressed. Little did I know that this was going to establish the framework for the character for the next several decades.
This is still a very good story. It's held up well and is deserving of its status as a seminal work in comics. The atmosphere and attitude of Miller's Daredevil can be experienced in the Netflix Daredevil series. If you haven't read this one yet I suggest you do so. It's well done. -
9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“La cocina del infierno es una sinfonía compuesta de músculos doloridos y estómagos rugientes... de pies de niños que caminan sobre cristales rotos... y de una risa desesperanzada que reverbera por todo un solar vacío.”
“Yo nací... y renací en la cocina del infierno.”
Una joya atemporal gracias al guión de Frank Miller. La extraordinaria capacidad narrativa de Miller, con influencias de género negro y una gran carga de simbolismo cristiano, dejan un guión más propio de gente de a pie que de superheroes.
Dibujo "ochentero" de David Mazzuccheli, con la paleta de colores de la época, destilando aire de clásico al leerlo en la actualidad. Aportando, para mi gusto, más encanto y valor a esta obra.
¡Un clásico imprescindible! -
When I saw this at the library I was excited: getting to re-read one of the definitive Marvel tales from my childhood? Definitely. I flipped through it and all the imagery came flooding back, and I started thinking this would also fuel my upcoming talk on building great storytelling experiences in modern comics. Slam dunk eh? Hell, if this is half as good as what I saw flipping through DKR, I'm gonna have to take a cold shower.
And it gets underway in a hurry. Not with a bang, but with an economy of movement that resembles speed, but still lingers on each step so we know in great detail (and by explaining every move in dialogue or narration) what's happening.
And so each chapter unfolds as a study in the stages of degradation that the Kingpin unleashes. Each scene being shown is less a fluid story and more a vignette, a snapshot of the effect on Matt's life and how much the Kingpin enjoys it.
So about a quarter the way through this, I start to realize that Miller... isn't that great a storyteller after all. His plot ideas are stellar, and some of the set pieces are brilliant. The dialogue is all over the map though - when he boils a thought down to a one-liner, it's juicy, like "Except this day has a special glow to it. It's not every day you sell your soul." But then there's the agonizing explaining how pained Matt is to know the source of his torment, or his thoughts on who he is and how he got there. Ugh, it's a slow slog through many unnecessary words.
Miller does a great revenge fantasy though. The level of viscous, brutal and damn-near sociopathic violence that is wrought upon people in this book - works absolutely brilliantly for a teenage wimp, a comic book reading need who doesn't know how to fight back against their bullies. It's amazing how much teenage me just lapped this up like a hungry feral cat - and how it *still* appeals to a primal animal inside me, decades later.
Mazzuchelli's art? Services the story better than it should have. The writing elevates on the back of the art, and there's a few sequences and establishing shots that make this stand out, like the "same pose of Matt sleeping at the start of each issue". OTOH, there's the brutal ripoff of La Pieta that hits you over the head like Hacksaw Jim Duggan's two-by-four, just begging you to see how clever an artist he is. Eh, not so much by half, though admittedly comic art has stood on the shoulders of journeymen like Mazzuchelli to exceed their reach in the last 25 years.
The colourist though, who takes over a few issues in? Max Scheele is the true unspoken genius of this book. He does a thing with Ben Urich's face, while the world spins around him and he listens to a horror committed over the phone...it's one of the most chilling moments of the book, and the effect only comes through with these stark, almost hellacious colour choices.
In all, this book makes me understand just how much better Bendis/Maleev did this degradation story - more believable characters and motivations, more artfully and more beautifully. Should really get myself down to re-reading *that* run in a hurry. -
The first half of this story was amazing and on its own would totally be worth five stars. The forced deconstruction of Matt Murdock was heartbreaking to see, but so inspiring to watch his rebirth. Also really enjoyed seeing Ben Urich get fleshed out a bit more, kind of like Gordon in Long Halloween (still have a hard time viewing Foggy as a real character, though.) The place where this one kind of veered off the rails for me was with Nuke. That whole concept seemed ridiculous to me and got even worse when the Avengers showed up. The end of the book seems to almost drop Daredevil completely in favor of ending as a Captain America tale. That whole intervention to me felt like a cheap cop out, a deus ex machina that really held it back from getting five stars. Still definitely worth a read, though.
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The Best Daredevil story arc of them all!
I remember reading these issues years ago when they were first published and it felt so good to re-read them in this most excellent collection. Miller's writing is fantastic. Matt Murdock goes thru hell and then redemption. I need to read this again in a few years. I never get tired of this story. -
Frank Miller's "Daredevil: Born Again" was written in 1986. Frank Miller was brought in to replace the departing writer, Denny O'Neil. He wrote a story arc that covered #226-233 and this arc is called "Born Again". Artist David Mazzucchelli's work was also quite good and has aged well.
This is the quintessential Matt Murdock-Wilson Fisk story. No, not Daredevil and Kingpin, but rather the fundamental nature of Matt and Wilson and what makes them who they are at their core. Frank Miller's look into the mindset of both is truly telling and one of my favorites looks into these two awesome characters.
Any Daredevil fan knows that Matt Murdock has absolutely shit taste and common sense when it comes to females. At some point, he developed a boner, mistook it for love (it happens-take a close look at most married couples these days), and dated Karen Page. Karen was a ditzy blonde secretary and that naturally stole Matt's heart. Karen, eventually, moved on to making porn movies and developed a serious heroin addiction. Awesome.
This is where the story begins. A desperate junkie Karen sells a secret to a dealer in South America for a fix of heroin. Guess what the secret is? The identity of Daredevil. This information finds its way to the Kingpin.
The Kingpin starts in motion a devious plan to destroy Matt's life (if this sounds familiar, yes similar story lines have popped up but this is the original and best version). What follows is an in-depth look at what drives Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk. Since that is where the conflict really occurs. daredevil doesn't really show up till the last quarter of the story. Miller nails it on the head of the spiritual conflict between these two foes. It's easily the best "lore" behind the unique relationship between Daredevil and Kingpin.
This plan will make Murdock lose everything, only to realize what makes him Daredevil. The story throws in some interesting twists with a pill popping psycho, Captain America, and a very cool look at Ben Urich of the Daily Bugle. If you are a Kingpin or Daredevil fan, then this Frank Miller masterpiece is a must-read. -
Trang reviewing a comic ?! ITS BEEN LIKE YEARS LOL Of course it had to beDaredevil. Not any ordinary volumes. This graphic novel is a must for any Daredevil Fans. Although, it picks up wayy wayy after the incidents from Netflix's show so if you don't want to get spoiled. Do not read this graphic novel hahaha. A marvelous classic and having plunged into the Marvel Universe there are familiar faces that came back in this volume and different details referencing to other series from Marvel. The action was amazing. But what STOOD UP FOR ME WAS THE WRITING. So beautiful !
Trang Tran- Book Blogger
http://bookidote.wordpress.com -
Τον Ιούλιο του 2017 διάβασα και απόλαυσα το φοβερό "Daredevil: Ο ατρόμητος", το οποίο αποτέλεσε και την πρώτη μου επαφή με αυτόν τον εξαιρετικά συναρπαστικό σούπερ ήρωα. Ε, λοιπόν, τώρα δηλώνω ακόμα παραπάνω ενθουσιασμένος, μιας και το "Αναγέννηση" μου άρεσε ένα κλικ περισσότερο. Θα έλεγα ότι είναι από τα καλύτερα κόμικς της Marvel που είχα την τύχη να διαβάσω μέχρι σήμερα, αλλά και γενικά από τα καλύτερα με σούπερ ήρωες ανεξαρτήτου εκδοτικής εταιρείας (και, εντάξει, μπορεί να μην έχω διαβάσει εκατοντάδες τόμους, αλλά έχω διαβάσει κάποια πολύ κλασικά κομμάτια). Από την πρώτη μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα με κράτησε δέσμιό του και δεν ένιωσα ότι διάβαζα ένα ακόμα υπερηρωικό κόμικ με απλοϊκή πλοκή και ρηχούς χαρακτήρες, αλλά ένα καλογραμμένο μυθιστόρημα σε μορφή κόμικ, με ουσία και βάθος σε χαρακτήρες και συναισθήματα. Το σενάριο είναι πολύ ενδιαφέρον και καλογραμμένο, με όλες τις απαραίτητες δόσεις δράσης, βίας και αγωνίας, η γραφή στους διαλόγους και τις σκέψεις των χαρακτήρων γλαφυρή και λογοτεχνική, ενώ και το σχέδιο απογειώνει την όλη ιστορία, με τις ωραίες φιγούρες, τις... χορογραφίες των σκηνών δράσης, τα φοβερά κινηματογραφικά πλάνα και τα υπέροχα χρώματα. Βέβαια, οφείλω να παραδεχτώ ότι οι τελευταίες σελίδες, με όλο τον χαμό και τις μπλοκμπάστερ σκηνές καταστροφής, είναι μάλλον υποδεέστερες αυτών που προηγήθηκαν, όμως σε καμία περίπτωση δεν μου χάλασαν την αναγνωστική απόλαυση. Άλλωστε, τέτοιες σκηνές υπερβολής θα έλεγε κανείς ότι είναι άκρως απαραίτητες σε μια ιστορία με σούπερ ήρωες, και αν μη τι άλλο οι συγκεκριμένες είναι ωραία σχεδιασμένες και αρκετά ουσιώδεις. Ναι, είναι ένα κόμικ που με ενθουσίασε και σίγουρα θα το πρότεινα στους λάτρεις του είδους.
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An absolute classic and revolutionary collection by Frank Miller. Came out around the same time as the masterpiece that is The Dark Knight Returns, this trade paperback will bring great joy to any Daredevil fan. The highlight lies in Miller's writing and narration. Powerful and lyrical, he doesn't fail to capture a dark moment in Daredevil's life with one of the most disastrous event that Matt Murdock would have ever imagined. I however thought the perfect execution started to slow three quarters into the book. Thing's started to become messy in plot direction, but that main storyline was gold. All fans of Daredevil shouldn't skip on this iconic volume. Born Again is a must.
P.S. A full review to come in the future.
Yours truly,
Lashaan
Lashaan & Trang | Bloggers and Book Reviewers
Official blog:
http://bookidote.wordpress.com -
Fue entretenido, Daredevil es uno de mis personajes favs de Marvel. Peeero prefiero la serie de Netflix because 🧚🏻Charlie Cox🧚🏻
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When the Kingpin learns about the secret identity of the Man Without Fear, he sets up some elaborate plans to destroy the life of the Blind Devil.
The writing is gritty and hard-boiled, that grips the readers' interest. Every character is written perfectly, even the supporting ones. The Kingpin is shown as a ruthless gangster and is the perfect villain for Daredevil. Although he is super strong, he is just as big of a criminal mastermind. I loved how he breaks down the hero, not physically, but psychologically (and financially).
Frank Miller proves yet again, why he's a great Daredevil writer. Accompanied by beautiful artwork from David Mazzucchelli, Daredevil: Born Again is an essential Daredevil story and a must read for any fans of the character. -
Being one of the quintessential writers on Daredevil in the eighties, Frank Miller returned to Matt Murdock’s life in Hell’s Kitchen. Although Miller returned to the character of Daredevil in the nineties with his retelling of the origin story The Man Without Fear, Born Again feels more like a final send-off to Daredevil from one of the great pioneers of the modern comic book.
Karen Page, the former secretary of the Nelson & Murdock law offices and Matt’s ex-girlfriend, is struggling with her acting career and is now a junkie, leading her to reveal Daredevil’s secret identity just for a fix. This information is passed to Wilson Fisk – the Kingpin of crime – and then the life of the attorney/vigilante starts to crumble and Daredevil is no more.
At the same time working for DC with his magnificent reinvention of Batman on The Dark Knight Returns, Miller reconstructed what many would say is Marvel’s darkest superhero, in a story that marks both the end and the beginning of Murdock’s life. In classic Daredevil territory, Matt’s world plunges into hell as he loses his job, girlfriend, home and most importantly, the costume. Most of the story consists of Matt – without the costume – descending into insanity and destitution at the hands of the Kingpin, as well as his subsequent struggle to build a new life for himself.
No doubt that Matt goes rock bottom at one point as he fights the Kingpin, failing miserably of course, and as crime continues to rise, everyone Matt knows and loves becomes threatened, including Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich who has a great subplot about his conflicted friendship with Matt. While the supporting characters are a joy to read, including Foggy’s relationship with Matt’s recent girlfriend Glorianna, at the story’s heart is the distanced bond between Matt and Karen Page, both of which are at their darkest moment and only can find peace when they’re together. This all is to help Matt regain his heroism and certainly there is a catholic redemption story in which Matt is indeed born again, while discovering that the hero within him had nothing to do with the costume, which is just the dressing-up part.
Prior to working on the greatest Batman story of all-time Year One, Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli present memorable sequences – from violent action to touching character drama – that are cinematic. Certainly the return of Daredevil is a masterpiece alone as he fights the psychotically patriotic super soldier Nuke who was destroying Hell’s Kitchen. In one extraordinary sequence that indicate that this is the Marvel universe, during the aftermath of Nuke’s chaotic actions, three of the Avengers arrived: Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, the latter having a prominent role, similar to Superman’s involvement in The Dark Knight Returns.
Since Born Again, every subsequent Daredevil writer and artist has been influenced by the work that Miller and Mazzucchelli are done on what many considers to be the most quintessential Daredevil story. To quote the Kingpin: “A man without hope is a man without fear”. -
Daredevil is my favourite Marvel character, if not my all time favourite comic character and this is supposed to be one of the best stories about Daredevil.
There are three reasons I read this title
1. It's supposed to be frank millers best daredevil story
2. It was on digital sale
3. They are basing the TV show on it and I wanted to get an overview.
It's quite an old story and like most of Frank millers stuff it has a lot of inner dialogue, which can become a bit tiresome if I'm honest. However, I was prepared for that as I've read most of Millers' stuff. The story starts slowly and without spoiling it, it's basically about some really downright dirty mind games between the kingpin and DD. However, this story is different from all those other times, because this is where DD loses....badly! The Kingpin is in heaven when he sees how much torture DD is in (I'd compare it to when Spider-Man quits!), but what the Kingpin sets in motion ends up causing so much damage to other people, that it really comes back to bite him. Even Captain America and the avengers become involved and Cap even breaks a few rules just to see what Kingpin has unleashed!!
The story really grabbed me when Melvin Potter gets involved, good old Gladiator! It's when he gets involved later on that Daredevil comes back to life, it's a beautiful moment and it made me believe in the strength of his character.
Overall, I'd say it is probably the most memorable Frank Miller DD story, but it is dated. Don't get me wrong I like reading classic comics, but by today's standards it's not perfect. -
It *is* Frank Miller. But Daredevil is *NOT* Batman!
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Chic writing, complemented by blocky art. Cheesy for pages on end, riddled with plot conveniences, but only quality cheese and quality conveniences are applied. Provides popcorn entertainment while asking the bigger questions. Marvel's Daredevil show is, in my opinion, the best thing they've ever put out. So I wanted to check out comics on the Man Without Fear and I wasn't disappointed. Except maybe a little by ending, where things get a little too American.
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Much better than the Daredevil origins story by the same author, in my humble opinion. Miller should’ve stuck to doing just later stories like this one for Matt Murdock instead of the origins one he wrote, for which he wasn't the ideal scriptwriter; and this further demonstrates why he's better suited for these types of stories dealing with Matt's adult years past his beginnings.
This story matches perfectly with the origins story told in
Daredevil Legends: Yellow as well, because it complements the plotline begun there. For that, and put together with the good art by Mazzucchelli, this graphic novel averages 3.5 stars from me. -
La saga definitiva de Daredevil, el relato del principio y del fin de su carrera como vigilante. Solo por el arte del gran, enorme Mazzuchelli ya amerita su lectura. Por ahora le dejo 4 estrellas porque no me cerraron algunas partes de la trama y sobre todo el final, pero es probable que cuando lo relea cambie el puntaje. En resumen, otro indispensable de nuestro querido Miller. Es el equivalente para Daredevil de "El regreso del caballero oscuro" de Batman
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Hacía años que no lo releía y me sigue pareciendo maravilloso. Un gran guión (Karen, siempre te he odiado) y un buen dibujo, con páginas para enmarcar.
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"A man without hope is a man without fear."
I pick on Frank Miller a lot, mainly because people give him the lion's share of credit for revitalizing Batman for the modern age with titles like
Batman: Year One (which I do recommend by the way) and The Dark Knight Returns despite the fact that guys like O'Neil and Adams were already putting out work that brought the Caped Crusader back to his gothic noir roots. But the character that Miller really revitalized was the character of Daredevil, and for that he deserves all of the credit for giving this formerly C-note Marvel hero new life.
He took a rather generic swashbuckler and made him into Marvel's version of Batman. Though Miller made Daredevil grungier, more dangerous, and more sexy with his hard boiled noir take on the character. While Frank has faltered hard over the years, you can count on him to be on tip top shape when writing Daredevil, and I'd say that Born Again is the apotheosis of his storied career with the Man With No Fear.
I think it's fair to say that Born Again, along with Year One, is one of Frank's most polished stories. It has none of the more goofy aspects that plague some of his other works, such as blocky, ugly art work, ridiculous characters, and an obsession with tough guys and prostitutes. I suppose that he's like Morrison where he writes extremely well when he has a good editor to rein him in. Much like his contemporary Alan Moore, Miller, at his best, finds a way to make this world of superheroes and gods walking among us feel like a real and 'lived in' universe. The character dynamics and themes of death and rebirth still hold true all of these years later, and Miller manages to find a way to weave these themes into the story without feeling too preachy or heavy-handed.
The biggest strength of this book, and the thing that Frank Miller understands so keenly about the character of Matt Murdock is that he is someone who will never give up, despite all of the things you could throw at him. It's his perseverance that keeps him from completely breaking under the constant pressure that's thrown his way. Matt Murdock's life and existence is completely and ruthlessly stripped from him as the story moves along, yet Murdock continues to push on. It is this where the Kingpin makes his fatal mistake: once you've taken everything from a man, you will have made him into someone without anything to lose.
Much like Year One, Miller paces Born Again at an almost pitch perfect speed. He does have his habit of repetition littered through the story, but it isn't bothersome as it is in some of his other stories. Frank understands Daredevil well, and he has a keen mind for what makes Daredevil tick. It's this understanding that makes his Daredevil stories, including this one, so appealing. In his own words:
"How many superheroes are known for what they can’t do? I mean Superman can fly, lift a building and all that, Batman’s ridiculously smart and he’s got all the technology in the world, and Spider-Man can spin webs and swing across buildings. Daredevil, he’s blind. He can’t see. That’s his distinguishing feature."
The other great feature in this comic is David Mazzucchelli's stunning artwork, it retains that cartoon-like, yet grounded style that was so prevalent in Year One. Yet the artwork looks cleaner, crisp, and filled with personality. It takes a different approach from the gothic noir tones of Batman: Year One. He makes New York into a far grungier, dirtier place, yet he also gives it life and personality. Mazzucchelli's New York is a place brimming with character, while also being grimy and disgusting as well. Mazzucchelli might have outdone himself with this story.
It is not perfect though, as no story ever is. The climax of the story is considerably overblown in complete contrast to the more personal tone that the series takes. It sadly isn't as grounded as the brilliant climax in Miller and Mazzucchelli's other collaboration in Year One. The final battle is rather over the top and has a deranged nutcase who's obsessed with America trying to kill Matthew Murdock and his love interest Karen Page. But luckily it is saved by a fittingly quiet ending that serves the narrative well. With that being said, the climax is the only reason that this story isn't a 5 star read for me.
Despite its faults and the fact that I hold Year One to still be superior, Born Again proves to be one of Miller's, alongside the Man Without Fear's finest outings.
Happy Darecember everyone! -
Daredevil: Born Again es un arco argumental del hombre sin miedo editado a mediados de los 80 con guión de Frank Miller y dibujo de David Mazzuchelli. Está considerada como la mejor historia de Daredevil y una de las mejores historias publicadas por marvel, un clásico que a día de hoy mantiene su valor y se lee igual de agusto que hace 30 años. Born again es una historia de venganza, renacimiento y redención, con una estructura imitada mil veces en cómics posteriores, y que el propio Miller ha vuelto a emplear en sus cómics de batman, en lobezno: honor, en sin city...
La historia comienza con Karen Paige, la antigua novia de Matt Murdock, que viajó a los angeles para iniciar una carrera cinematográfica, pero todo terminó torciéndose y en la actualidad es una drogadicta... Karen desvela que Daredevil es en realidad Matt Murdock para conseguir una dosis, y esa noticia va circulando por los bajos fondos hasta llegar a los oídos de Kingpin.
Tras estos sucesos kingpin se toma 6 meses para preparar una encerrona a Matt Murdock, Kingpin conspira usando todos sus contactos empresariales y en el mundo del hampa para concentrar en unos días una serie de circunstancias que dejarán a Matt Murdock investigado por corrupción y evasión de impuestos, sin licencia para ejercer la abogacía e incluso con la reputación de su alter-ego en entredicho y finalmente en la calle, sin hogar ni dinero. todas estas situaciones hacen que toque fondo .
Matt Murdock, después de pasar un infierno tendrá que renacer y buscar la forma de devolverle la jugada a Kingpin, que está dispuesto a cualquier cosa con tal de acabar con Murdock.And I... I have shown him... that a man without hope.... ... is a man without fear
Estructuralmente esta historia tiene dos partes bien diferenciadas, la caída en desgracia de Murdock, y tras su renacimiento, su resurgir y venganza, pero la grandeza de esta historia no reside en su estructura, ni siquiera en su argumento, sino en la forma de contarla... Miller sabe mezclar las escenas de sufrimiento de Murdock, con el nacimiento de la relación de Foggy y Glori, la caída en desgracia de uno con la felicidad del otro, mientras nos cuenta cómo Kingpin va moviendo sus hilos (y demostrando ser uno de los grandes villanos de los cómics Marvel), y los personajes secundarios (Manolis, Urich) van viviendo su parte de la historia con una gran intensidad. Todo desemboca en los dos últimos números en un gran despliegue de acción y violencia, que precipita la historia hasta un final que no es que sea sorprendente, pero si está muy bien hilado.
Hablando del dibujo David Mazzuchelli nos deja una gran cantidad de viñetas para enmarcar, quizás no sea el ilustrador más virtuoso ni el mejor narrador de escenas de acción, pero si sabe imprimir el aura y el significado necesario en cada escena, dejándonos decenas de imágenes icónicas, representaciones de actitudes, sentimientos... como un buen fotógrafo sabe captar el momento adecuado en cada escena y nos sorprende página tras página con viñetas que quedarán impresas en nuestras mentes.
En definitiva, un cómic que no debe faltar en cualquier colección de superhéroes, que no por ser de hace 30 años pierde su significado y que, aun siendo una historia dura, deja lugar para la esperanza.
