Reading Daredevil Trades

[The Ion]

Okay so it is my friends birthday soon and I'm planning on buying him a trade paperback, he's a fan of a few superheroes but never reads comic books, but wants to start.. One superhero he likes is Daredevil so I am going to buy him a Daredevil TPB, now I know he doesn't want to read too far back so the art is dated so I was wondering would Daredevil Volume 2: Parts Of A Hole be a good place to start?

[Codah]

Get him the first volume of Mark Waid's series. He can buy the next one and then read regularly.

[The Ion]

Get him the first volume of Mark Waid's series. He can buy the next one and then read regularly.

Okay thanks for replying

[The Ion]

Just wondering, can someone post me a reading list for after volume two of Mark Waid's Daredevil run? My friend doesn't use forum boards and a list would be great to give him for trades.

[Codah]

Vol 1: 1-6
Vol 2: 7-10, 10.1
After that it's just issues, #14 comes out this week.

[rolacka]

Hi Ion.

I don't think Parts of a Hole is the best place to start really.

Daredevil has had 3 really well regarded runs this century.

Bendis/Maleev issues 26-81 (though there is a gap between 50 and 56ish where they had a break). This is collected in trades starting with volume 4 -underboss, and going through to volume 7 - hardcore, then picking up from volume 9 - king of hell's kitchen through to volume 13 - the other Murdock Papers. I am not sure how available all of these original trades are though so you might be better off getting your friend the first of three 'ultimate collections by Bendis. These were later reprints that collected the same run. That way he would be able to continue more easily.

Brubaker/Lark - issues 82 - 119 + 500. This was collected in trades starting 'the devil inside and out part 1' then part 2, help to pay 1 + 2, cruel and unusual, lady bullseye and finishing with return of the king. I think there are ultimate collections again which are probably neater for a new reader.

And finally Waid's current run. This is ongoing, and i imagine your friend will not want to read monthly comics just yet. There is only one trade out so far so it wouldn't give your friend anything obvious to buy if he likes it.

All three are great though. Bendis' is where I would recommend somebody start just because it came first. I initially started on Brubaker's when I was getting into comics, but stopped and got all of bendis' after reading underboss.

Hope that helps. By the way, check out the recommendations thread at the top of the page. Lots of people suggest daredevil in there so may help you make up your mind.

I think daredevil is a great choice.

[CrazyOldHermit]

Its worth noting that since 1998 DD has only had two real lull periods.

Daredevil was relaunched as Volume 2 in 1998. Kevin Smith wrote the opening story arc, which I haven't read but is very well recieved and is considered to have set the tone for the rest of the series as it featured a major death. After that David Mack took over and none of that is considered legendary stuff but Brian Michael Bendis wrote an arc called "Wake Up" that was very good. Soon after that he took over for a very long run. The main thrust of this run deals with Matt Murdock getting his secret identity leaked to the press. It explores the ramifications of a superhero getting their identity exposed like that and matters are made worse by the fact that due to Daredevil meddling in Murdock's cases Murdock can face serious ramifications for his actions and basically have his career ruined. When Bendis' run ended it was immediately picked up by Ed Brubaker who continued the story straight off. After Brubaker left John Diggle took over. Diggle's run is considered to be pretty bad, as it ended with DD basically going bad while possessed by a demon. Mark Waid's current run however has gotten rave reviews. Its basically Matt picking up the pieces after a solid decade worth of stories that were basically kicking him in the ass.

So really Daredevil is one of the few characters where you can go back almost fifteen years and more or less run through to the present day.

[The Ion]

Thank you all for your replies, I will take it all on board when going to the comic book store and will definitely help my friend out.

[Tupiaz]

I know your friend has probably had his birth day but I would recommend the TPB The Man with out fear written by Frank Miller and drawn by Jphn Romita Jr for others that have the same problem. Hope your friend enjoyed his present.

It is more or less the Daredevil version of Batman: Year one. Get into why Daredevil is the man he is and introduced Stick and Elektra. Even Kingpin has a role (Daredevil and the Kingpin don't meet). A great read and a good introduction to Daredevil.