The Good
I've never been a big fan of Hank Pym; his appearances in Marvel comics just haven't been all that interesting to me -- until now. The interaction seen here between both two Hank and Matt was both interesting and unconventional -- namely because it was unlike any interaction I had ever seen before. In this issue we see Hank Pym literally get thrust into Daredevil's shoes whilst trying to save Matt and lure him out of a coma that has held him hostage for over a week. There's a fantastic moment where Hank, after making an escape out of Matt's brain, reveals that he doesn't think they (as in the Avengers) give Matt enough credit for all the struggles he's had to endure. That Matt really, truly is a "man without fear," as the saying goes, and that he hadn't realized just how scary the obstacles Matt was forced to overcome really were. It's a great scene that is really beautifully written and establishes a really personal and emotional moment shared between the two characters which is further reinforced in the way that Matt responds to Hank letting him know that he "is not alone."
This issue is as much of a Daredevil book as it is Hank Pym -- and I liked that a lot. I think the depiction of the character's inner strength, his fond memories of his late wife (Janet Van Dyne) and his unique characterization add up to being a really compelling series of moments that I was not expecting to see. It's also nice to see that Daredevil has some great super-powered friends on his side, and that when things get really bad, there are people he can turn to.
There are also some huge character and plot developments dealing with Matt's relationship to his closest friend, Foggy Nelson. Being a lawyer and not showing up to work for over a week is kind of a cause for concern, and I am really glad that Mark Waid addresses the strain on the relationship between Foggy and Matt as a result of the events of Shadowland. What happened when Matt was being manipulated is serious and it's also something Foggy stresses that he feels his friend should deal with. If you were possessed and forced to do things against your will, wouldn't you seek help afterwards? This is a great point made by Foggy (and a great scene) that aids in grounding the story. This scene provided the needed balance in this book -- it's realistic that Matt's career as an Attorney would suffer if he continued to play the part of Daredevil. There's no way that he could possibly do both with ease. So you are presented in the beginning of the issue with a scene where Hank literally shrinks down to microscopic size and goes inside Matt's brain, and the end of the issue is totally grounded in realism.
I also really like Chris Samnee's art on this book, I think the heavy inking and colors really aid in telling the story and depicting emotions; both of which are fantastic.
The Bad
Not much bad to say here, I thoroughly enjoyed this comic.
The Verdict
This series has been spectacular and this issue is no exception. I love the way that Waid deals with Daredevil's issues and the way his heroics factor and influence his life as Attorney Matt Murdock. The two pivotal moments in this issue are in stark contrast to one another; one is absolutely incredible and impossible, and the other is completely grounded in reality and real emotions. This balance is what made this a great comic.
The art from start of this issue to finish is also absolutely spectacular. The cover is totally representative of the events that take place in this comic and is a perfect example of Chris Samnee's incredible talents as an artist. This is truly one of my favorite issues of Daredevil so far, and I am definitely looking forward to the next one.