10 Thoughts Review on Shadowland Daredevil #508 by Andy Diggle, Antony Johnston, and Roberto De Le Torre

10 Thoughts, Reviews

1. Andy Diggle and Antony Johnston team with Roberto de le Torre to give us the next chapter in Shadowland, wherein Daredevil, ruler of the Hand, has built a castle in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen, deemed himself it’s ruler, and killed archenemy Bullseye.

2. The reaction of Foggy Nelson and Dakota is excellent, as they know Matt Murdock better than anyone and know what this betrayal of values means to him. It also has to be them reacting as they not only care the most, but unlike guys like Spider-Man, aren’t hanging around Wolverine regularly.

3. Daredevil becoming distant from even his allies like White Tiger and Black Tarantula is fully in character for him when he freaks out.

4. Unfortunately though, he seems to be being possessed by an evil spirit of some kind. That’s really the cheap way out as this is only compelling if crossing the line is a concious decision.

5. Foggy and Dakota being kept from Matt makes sense, but the Hand attacking them is flat out stupid. Are they trying to turn Murdock against them? I hate when characters are dumb in service of plot.

6. If Hand attacking them and then ressurecting Bullseye is what turns Matt good, I’m going to be pissed. It’s trite and predictable.

7. Daredevil leaving the theives hanging with a sign only works if he’s leaving them for someone. Since he’s the entire law there, it’s really a bit… over the top.

8. The cops clearing out of Shadowland-turf already just doesn’t work. There are just too many heroes in NYC that are a stones throw away to let that happen.

9. Elektra is introduced as an agent of Master Izzo here, but she trusts Matt and, in character, should surely join him on this undertaking.

10. Rating: 3/10 – Everything good about Shadowland #1 is missing here. Instead of compelling character development, we get demon Daredevil. Instead of logical plot progression, we get a rushed scenario where no one acts intelligently. It’s hard to believe this storyline could go off the rails this severely quite this quickly.

Glazer is a former senior editor at Pulse Wrestling and editor and reviewer at The Comics Nexus.