Daredevil #11 Review - Marvel Mondays

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Ron Garney, Matt Milla and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 7, 2016
Review by: Deron Murphree

Got to Deron's site murphmanor.blogspot.com for even more kickass goodness!

We last left off with Daredevil and his apprentice Blindspot on the trail of a blood-thirsty serial killer,
who has a penchant for bizarre artwork crafted from the remains of humans. It is an intriguing concept to say the least and it will be interesting to see how the devil from Hell's Kitchen goes about tracking this menace down. If you haven't already, you can read my review of Daredevil #10 to keep you abreast of current events. Let's see how Matt Murdock balances his life being the district attorney along with his nightly vigilante escapades.



The issue begins with a guy running from some thugs through the streets of Brooklyn. The little man's body and face is horribly disfigured which we soon find out that it's a direct result of a Terrigen Cloud. Breathing in the air from the cloud altered his physical appearance which stirs paranoia and fear from his would be attackers. He tries to reason with his the gang of thugs saying that he can only produce glowing snowballs but they say that they can't take any chances. As the guy demonstrates his abilities, he is saved from bodily harm by someone from the shadows who makes short work of the assailants.

We then go to an art gallery in Washington Heights where the gallery's owner and a college professor stand contemplating the value of a bloody art mural. Clearly, the art gallery owner is not attached to the piece that hangs on the wall in any sentimental kind of way but is instead more interested in seeing how much money it is worth. He goes about charging an admission fee of ten bucks for people to come in and see the painting. However one of many roadblocks in his plan presents themselves when the Speaker of the City Council shows up and informs the art gallery owner that the painting features the blood of over a hundred people. One of those victims happens to have been her niece. The gallery owner protests the local government representative by saying that he's going to open his doors to the public. Andrea Pearson, the city councilwoman, responds that she will have him stopped.

Meanwhile, Matt Murdock goes to see his boss on the lower side of Manhattan. Thinking he's about to get fired, Matt's boss informs him that Andrea Pearson wants Matt to shut down the art gallery owner's art exhibition due to poor taste and a need for police investigation. We then go to the West Village where Matt Murdock and his old partner Foggy Nelson are sitting uncomfortably in a cafe enjoying a hot beverage. They go on about one of Matt's old flames for a bit until the subject of the killing and the art gallery are brought up to which Foggy tells Matt that the name for the suspected killer is Vincent Van Gore. As Matt contemplates his next move, Foggy pays him an uncomfortable farewell for now.

 Back at the warehouse, a large crowd is anxious to get in to see the bloody painting at the warehouse. The police are able to get a preliminary injunction from the court which prevents the exhibit from opening up. The owner instead opts to go in himself and that's where we find a message scrawled in blood over the painting, "you're only as good as your last performance." An address follows the message.

We then go to the Bronx where Sam and Matt are called to go and see what they find from the report they were given by the police. What they find are several lifeless bodies propped up in unusual positions. As Sam continues to describe the scene to him, Matt hears a racket on the roof of the building which causes him to politely excuse himself. On his way up, Matt Murdock changes into Daredevil and pursues the sounds of the suspect through the rooftops, As Daredevil closes in on his man, he is greeted by a figure with no eyeballs and a big hole in his chest. The figure asks Daredevil if he likes his work.

Bits and Pieces:

There's not a lot of action this go round. This issue seems to primarily focus on trying to strengthen the plot. While there is so much that you could do with this story, I feel like I'm a little underwhelmed with what is presented here. The art is not bad but I am starting to think that the Daredevil costume itself is starting to bother me a little. There just doesn't seem to be anything that stands out to me about it like in previous costumes. It's just kind of there. I would like to see the story and action pick up some next issue. While I am trying to remain patient and optimistic, I feel like the flames need to get turned up on this one.

6.5/10