Discussion: Daredevil - Born Again, by Frank Miller

[Brian G Turner]

Okay - just to start an informal discussion group going, I'd like to nominate this thread for the discussion of Frank Miller's "Daredevil: Born Again".

What to expect?

A Marvel superhero done in a way that only Frank Miller can do - a mature reader's tale of human tragedy.

As I remember it, this is one of Millers more human-focussed tales.

And there are some superb comic moments - after you read it, tell me you don't remember the prison cell incident with the matron. And the scene towards the end when they make an entrance out of the rain...

And it all starts with heroin.

I haven't read this for a long time, but I'll start reading it after Christmas.

If anyone else wishes to discuss one of the lesser known graphic novel collections, known as Frank Miller's Daredevil, then here you go...

 

[Brian G Turner]

Well, I’m already half-way through, and I’m really enjoying this – there’s a real mastery of the human element here across the characters.

What is “Daredevil: Born Again” about?

(Not really spoilers)

Simply put, Matt Murdock is Daredevil – and one of his ex-girlfriends, now a heroin junkie, sells the secret of his identity for a fix on the streets.

The news eventually reaches crime boss, the Kingpin, who decides to test the information. And he does so in a rather sublime way.

Rather than go in with guns and bombs to kill Matt Murdock outright, he slowly destroys him psychologically – and pauses long enough to savour the psychological destruction of a long-time adversity.

Starting with a tax investigation by the IRS, and culminating in his being disgraced from his profession, Matt Murdock has everything taken from himself, piece by piece – until all that remains is a broken paranoid street bum with no understanding of reality. Someone who once was Daredevil.

The other supporting characters add superb emphasis to it all – Ben Urlich, the reporter, who manages to uncover something of how Matt has been framed, is a brilliant example of good support casting – the way he is frightened off from even thinking of Matt’s name, due to brutality from the Kingpin, is excellent psychological drama in itself.

Overall, that’s what this work is – a highly enjoyable psychological thriller. And it’s all the more remarkable that Frank Miller is able to take a comic book character from mere “punch and slap” to real psychological drama – where the battle comes not from throwing punches, but simply from keeping some semblance of humanity against extreme adversity.

Anyway, I’m off again to read the rest of the book… .

 

[clareabella]

'ello Brian

I'm getting back into my comics, so I may just join you in this Daredevil discussion. I'd been thinking about reading some Daredevil but didn't know where to start. Therefore, I shall purchase 'Born Again' and have a read.

(Nice to be back again! Work reasons I may add mess with my internet usage!)

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Daredevil is a rather cool character, and Frank Miller is one of the best revisionists in the business. I shall look out for this comic, but I am not certain it is available here. Thanks for details about the story - seems pretty interesting.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Nice to see you back Clarebella.

It reads nicely until the point I reached above - but afterwards there's a danger that it rushes into "Marveldom". We suddenly have a physical enemy to combat, and there are a couple of cameos...

Still a adecent work - some risque themes touched upon for what I'd expect from Marvel.