We've talked before about the illusion of change versus real change in stories. This story is powerful because it really changes Matt. His whole life is broken to pieces and never pieced back together again; but he realises by the end that he is stronger in the broken places.
Old-school DD fan here, from the classic Bullseye-Elektra-Kingpin run by Miller, issues 168 thru 182 of the original series (which I still have in the Marvel omnibus edition and read from time to time). I had moved on from the character by this point and didn’t read these until they were collected sometime later…had actually read Miller and Mazzuchelli’s BATMAN YEAR ONE first, which is outstanding. But this is even better. Nice recap, thanks!
I first heard about this story when Jim Krueger spoke at a storytelling conference at our church. Jim spoke about how redemption is one of the most powerful stories, and how Daredevil: Born Again lives up to that realization. Immediately I hunted online for the trade paperback edition. But the only version I found was the IDW artist edition at full size black and white—now my most prized item that I enjoy studying time and again. Even Joe Rosen’s lettering is impeccable.
It's been a while since I've read the early-90s Daredevil, but I remember not liking it nearly as much as the 80s runs. The first DD comic I ever got was part of the "Fall from Grace" arc, and I wasn't interested in buying another anytime soon. Karl Kesel's more lighthearted run was what initially hooked me -- it was a nice, fun antidote to the grim-and-gritty trend.
Grim and gritty only works if there's some light to balance things out. "Born Again," as dark as it got at times, was ultimately hopeful. It showed who Matt Murdock was when you strip away everything else.
I did enjoy Bendis's and Brubaker's runs. Right after that, things tilted too darkly again, and I dropped off for a while.
We've talked before about the illusion of change versus real change in stories. This story is powerful because it really changes Matt. His whole life is broken to pieces and never pieced back together again; but he realises by the end that he is stronger in the broken places.
Excellent point. This completely changed the status quo for multiple years.
Old-school DD fan here, from the classic Bullseye-Elektra-Kingpin run by Miller, issues 168 thru 182 of the original series (which I still have in the Marvel omnibus edition and read from time to time). I had moved on from the character by this point and didn’t read these until they were collected sometime later…had actually read Miller and Mazzuchelli’s BATMAN YEAR ONE first, which is outstanding. But this is even better. Nice recap, thanks!
Batman: Year One is another of my favorites -- I even prefer it over The Dark Knight Returns. Mazzucchelli brings out the best of Miller.
I first heard about this story when Jim Krueger spoke at a storytelling conference at our church. Jim spoke about how redemption is one of the most powerful stories, and how Daredevil: Born Again lives up to that realization. Immediately I hunted online for the trade paperback edition. But the only version I found was the IDW artist edition at full size black and white—now my most prized item that I enjoy studying time and again. Even Joe Rosen’s lettering is impeccable.
That's a great find. This one is definitely worth studying.
What did you think of the tendency later on, post-Miller, to make Daredevil books TOO grim and gritty?
It's been a while since I've read the early-90s Daredevil, but I remember not liking it nearly as much as the 80s runs. The first DD comic I ever got was part of the "Fall from Grace" arc, and I wasn't interested in buying another anytime soon. Karl Kesel's more lighthearted run was what initially hooked me -- it was a nice, fun antidote to the grim-and-gritty trend.
Grim and gritty only works if there's some light to balance things out. "Born Again," as dark as it got at times, was ultimately hopeful. It showed who Matt Murdock was when you strip away everything else.
I did enjoy Bendis's and Brubaker's runs. Right after that, things tilted too darkly again, and I dropped off for a while.
Fun note: I subscribed to Karl Kesel’s ’Mazing Man back in the day!
Kesel/Nord was one of my favorite runs as well; I was bummed when it got cut short.