kevin smith's daredevil

[comicchick]

Does Kevin Smith's Daredevil TPB leave off from anywhere? i havent read daredevil before but i really want to read it, just needed to know if i need to read any other daredevil before i read it.

[daletron]

Hey there, i just asked a similar newb question bout daredevil about where to start maybe a month or two ago so i'll try to help you out.

If you just want to read the necessaries:
Daredevil was defined pretty much by Frank Miller, so buy Daredevil Visionaries 2 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785107711/sr=8-2/qid=1146606468/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-0885076-4167056?%5Fencoding=UTF8), then Daredevil, Born Again (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0871352974/sr=8-5/qid=1146606468/ref=pd_bbs_5/103-0885076-4167056?%5Fencoding=UTF8). From there you can start on the current 4th TPB where Bendis starts to write it.

I've picked those from reccomendations because DD Visionaries 1 was when Frank Miller was just the artist, but DD VIsionaries 2 was when he actually started writing it. Visionaries 3 I haven't read which he also writes, but isn't necessary but I heard is still a good read. Then everyone's favorite is Born again where Frank Miller really shines. From there you can go to the 4th TPB which is bendis's run and go from there. I didn't reccomend 1-3 tpb's because Mack's run wasn't neccessary and from what i heard repeats of already told stories, and i didn't hear a lot of good things about them.

Don't be turned off by the "old-school" look to Frank Miller's runs.. i was hesitant at first but his story telling and writing just blew me away. I'm on my way of starting the 4th atm.

Hope that helps

[Expletive Deleted]

It starts off relatively fresh. You might want to read some of the Miller stuff beforehand, since Smith has a tendency to go all fanboy with injokes and continuity references, but I don't think any of that is strictly necessary in terms of understanding the main storyline of "Guardian Devil."

[agrich]

Nope, it's completely standalone, virtually oblivious to the character's history. In fact, you'll hardly even think you're reading Daredevil.

But I can think of plenty of other Daredevil comics I'd recommend you read before it. Bendis's entire run....Miller's entire run....a year or two of the title before Miller took over...the current issues by Brubaker....

[The Foreigner]

Nope, it's completely standalone, virtually oblivious to the character's history. In fact, you'll hardly even think you're reading Daredevil.

But I can think of plenty of other Daredevil comics I'd recommend you read before it. Bendis's entire run....Miller's entire run....a year or two of the title before Miller took over...the current issues by Brubaker....

You obviously don't like it, but there's no way Smith's DD is standalone or oblivious to the characters history-- There's constant references to "Born Again," and other events in the characters past; heck, there's even a major reference to "Kravens Last Hunt"...

[agrich]

No, I didn't like it, I know some people do.

Granted there were references to Born Again, but I didn't feel that the characters, particularly Daredevil and the Black Widow, were written with a very good grasp of the characters. That's what I meant about oblivious to history; stuff just didn't ring true to me. I realize that's personal opinion.

Isn't Kraven's Last Hunt a Spider-man story?

edit: Although I didn't care for it, I do recognize it helped make the character popular again, which is a good thing.

[CURSD BLADE]

While Kevin Smith and Joe Quesada's run on Daredevil had roots in Frank Miller's run on DD and other Marvel Continuity. However, its a great jumping on point. I bought the TPB of the series a few years ago, having never read any DD before, and found myself caught up in no time.

Smith writes an extremely accessible tale that is rooted in past continuity, but also introduces new readers to it. This was my "gateway" drug into other Marvel series. Plus, it got me addicted to the character of Daredevil. Its more "superhero" oriented than the grittier, crime-noir yearnings of Miller, Bendis, and Brubaker's, but it feels true to the character and Smith definitely has a feel for the character and treats him with much respect.

[comicchick]

wow, that was a lot of replies in a short space of time. thanks guys. i would like to read frank millers ones too...i actually havent read any frank miller stuff.

[Kirk G]

Isn't Kraven's Last Hunt a Spider-man story?

edit: Although I didn't care for it, I do recognize it helped make the character popular again, which is a good thing.

Yes, you are right. It WAS a Spider-Man story arc... and too say much more will give it away in the Daredevil story you are about to read. Let us just say that you have a strong tie to Spider-Man in this DD story arc, including a villian and a twist ending.
Hope I haven't said too much, but it answers your question.
Just start reading from the first page through to the last and all will be revealed!

PS: Regarding the comment, "You'll hardly realize that you are reading Daredevil" that is exactly WHY I didn't pick these up when they came out originally. It didn't feel like Daredevil and hense, I didn't think it was. It was somebody else they were calling Daredevil...

[hoffmandu]

Guardian Devil was very cool. KS had some skills back in that day, not really sure now. I picked up DD about 3 years ago, it was good then and is still top tier, in fact, I rank it Marvel's #1 book. Anyway, I picked up the TPB about 5 months ago and had no problem reading it without previous lore.