Daredevil #36 – Mark Waid and Chris Samnee Make the Best Superhero Comics Around

The best ongoing superhero series gets an ending, and  a new beginning

It’s hard to argue with Saga, but I’ll try.

In December we at Broken Frontier awarded Saga as our ongoing series of the year. A great choice I believe. But not quite the best choice. My book of the year for 2013 was Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s Daredevil.

When the book first launched in 2011, the series was noteworthy for taking Matt Murdock out of the darkness and into the light. You already know the story, Daredevil is now an action-packed, fun-loving, swashbuckling good time.

In 2013 Waid and Samnee introduced us to the Foggy Nelson cancer arc. At the same time, Daredevil fought newer and more dangerous threats than ever before. The fun of the series remained but the danger became more real. Fight scenes carried more weight, and Murdock’s personal life was just as thrilling as his superhero life.

All of that is exemplified in this issue.

Daredevil #36 is the last issue of the series, before it relaunches with the same creative team next month set in a new location. Even though nothing is actually ending, this issue ties the whole series together in a satisfying way. I’m glad we’re getting even more of this book, but if this had to be the final issue, it would have been a great finale. As is, it’s still a great chapter in this saga.

As I talked about earlier, this book takes on many different tones. Everyone of those tones that the creators do so well is in this one jam packed issue.

Foggy gets a moment that is both sad and inspiring, in the sweetest ongoing friendship in comics.

The thrills are twists are ever-present as Matt Murdock finally reveals that he is Daredevil to the world.

The action is as fast-paced and daring as ever.

And Daredevil, of course, gets to kiss the girl (in a beautiful panel that brings up the famous kiss from Mark Waid’s first Daredevil issue, bringing us full circle).

All of these moments exemplify the perfect team that Waid and Samnee are on this book. I can’t point to any of these scenes and say that they are perfect simply for the way they are written or the way they are drawn. It’s that combination of both that makes this series my favorite ongoing. As long as both of these creators are on board, I’ll be reading. Now bring on San Francisco!

Mark Waid (W), Chris Samnee (A) • Marvel Comics, $2.99, February 19, 2014