Where Do I Start With... Daredevil

Who?

Created by Bill Everett and Marvel giant Stan Lee, The Man Without Fear debuted in his own eponymous series in 1964, as a blind lawyer granted superhuman senses by the very radioactive substance than cost him his sight.

Now defending the New York neighbourhood of Hell's Kitchen as Daredevil, Matt Murdock applies his unique sensory gifts and his uncanny fighting skills in his tireless quest against injustice.

Okay, so where do I start?

Daredevil has always been a cult favourite amongst both fans and creators alike, and has had many different big names working on the series over the years, so there is a lot of good points to start with this character.

If you are the nostalgic (or obsessive) type, then you may want to go right back to the beginning, with the Essential Daredevil collection, of which there are five volumes (paperback, B/W).

I know I mentioned Frank Miller in the last "Where Do I Start With..." post, but his run on Daredevil is renowned for making the character more serious and melancholy (or, as some would say, more grim). His time writing ol' Hornhead is collected in three Daredevil Visionaries -- Frank Miller volumes.

But if it's a bonafide, classic superhero origin story you're after, Miller also wrote Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, retelling Matt Murdock's transformation into the protector of Hell's Kitchen in his familiar style. It's a good read, but nothing special, in my opinion.

There is also Daredevil: Yellow, retelling yet another take on the origin, by one of my favourite creative teams; Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Sadly, I have yet to read it, so cannot comment.

Now, on to some modern runs. Kevin Smith's short run (starting with Guardian Devil) and Brian Michael Bendis's acclaimed run (starting with Wake Up) both helped to bring this character and series into the present day, updating his supporting cast and tone. But I started with The Devil, Inside and Out by one of my other favourite teams, Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark.

Honestly though, it's up to your own personal tastes. All of these names are very talented, and if you will undoubtedly find one of them who speaks to you.

If you're just looking to jump on the train with the current run by Andy Diggle, you might want to check out The Devil's Hand, although knowledge of Brubaker's immediately previous run may be essential. Nevertheless, Daredevil is at the centre of a "mini-event" called Shadowland featuring many of Marvel's street-level characters, and masterminded by Diggle. It is yet to be collected (January, I believe), but will probably be a good place to start, as they will likely be changing the status quo in there.

What next?

There's certainly a lot of material for you to go back and read if you so desire, but if you've been intrigued by Daredevil's fellow street-level crimefighters, Luke Cage and Danny Rand AKA Power Man and Iron Fist, then you should be aware that they have their own series and will be featuring in both Shadowland and their respective tie-ins.

They also starred in Heroes for Hire which has just started a new run in issues (but old trades exist) and Luke Cage is one of the main characters in Thunderbolts: Cage, leading a team of supervillains.

But if it's femme fatale Elektra who has caught your eye, then know that she has also had a few series of her own, collected in various formats, including one by Frank Miller again and one set in the Marvel Knights continuity.

Hope that's been informative for everyone. Do let me know of any suggestions. This article is available in braille for the blind.