Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev

​   I didn’t realize just how comprehensive this volume was, must have looked up the wrong page count originally, but this was 411 pages and that’s a lot of Daredevil. More than I was interested in, to be honest, not being much of a conventional superhero comic fan, but then again if something is done well…and this was done very, very well.
   Most of my knowledge of the character comes from cinematic and tv adaptations and (this goes to show the amount of interest that sort of thing generated) I never actually finished the Netflix series. It was decent enough but didn’t wow. This comic to its credit does wow at times.
    I’ve read the author before to very middle of the road impressions, he did a Jessica Jones thing a while back, another Marvel Netflix superhero, which featured very average writing. This was a measure above. But what really elevate the proceedings was the art.
     Because this is such a large volume and it covers such a long span, it features four artists, in a strictly and noticeably declining level of quality. A very weird, almost perversely precise sort of lineup. The first story is a four comic arc featuring absolutely stunning art by David Mack. Watercolor-like, gorgeous, frame and hang it up sort of art. From there on it takes on a more superhero comic appropriate style and yet remains very good. The cover for some reason features by name only one of the artists out of four.  As the book progresses, the art streamlines into a more basic version of itself; all still decent though, until the very last comic.
      This is really weird, it’s the last one in a long arc done by another-superior-artist and the difference is striking. A very odd choice. I don’t know enough about the industry to know how it all works, but it seems odd to maintain the same author and change up artists, especially dramatic changes like that.
     Anyway, for someone who doesn’t care for traditional superhero fare or mafia stories, this ended up being strangely compelling. Fun was had. Enjoy these adventures of the Man Without Fear fearlessly.