COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Daredevil #606 "If I Nailed a Hammer!"

By Justin Cooper

on August 16, 2018

Daredevil goes viral taking on Crime, and puts together a team of sleuths to take down Mayor Fisk.

Daredevil # 606
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Phil Noto
Colorist: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’sClayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
Editors: Devin Lewis Assistant Editor: Emily Newcomen
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cover A

What You Need to Know:

It seems like things are back to the status quo. Mayor Fisk has returned, and Matt and Daredevil are back to their old tricks again. This time interfering with a bank robbery from the Adamantium Laced Skull of Hammerhead!

Since the return, and the double cross of Wilson Fisk, Hammerhead wanted to get the word out, that he was still a top criminal in town. He stages an elaborate heist and commits the crime in front of the public. In the age of viral video streams, he plans to shock the town back into submission, and to do so by taking out whoever tries to stop him. His goons are even equipped with Nail guns to drive home his personal brand.

What You’ll Find Out: Cut to Earlier that night , Daredevil takes a rooftop meeting with Frank McGee ( the former head of New Attilan security, for the Inhumans).

The evidence is out there and he just needs someone with the guts to pursue it. Matt heard Wesley and Fisk say as he left the Mayor’s office that they fixed the election, so now Daredevil is out to prove this an send the Mayor packing! Frank happens to have some extra time on his hands, since he has resigned from his position of Head of Security for the Inhumans se. He accepts Daredevil’s offer and climbs on his Flying Motorcycle and heads off to make some contacts.

What Just Happened?

The story cuts back to the Bank Robbery and Hammerhead. The Maggia Crime Boss is dumb enough to take on Daredevil in front of a crowd of people recording it on their Cellphones. He knows they will record this and send him back to the top of the List of New York’s most feared Criminals. At least n, and his plan backfires, as the people record the hero saving the day, and inspiring the crowd.

Franks introduces his team. First the young Mutant named Doug Ramsey or Cypher as he is called. He has the power to decipher any language, code or even computers. He is fresh from helping Daredevil on an investigation looking for Logan, and was at one point addicted to the internet. The next team are a man and his seeing eye dog Reader and Foray. The power that reader has makes him also quite an asset. Anything he reads becomes reality, but only three times a day, then his powers do not work. To add to this he can only read braille writing. With the team set, and Frank at the head, the team begins their investigation of Mayor Wilson Fisk.

In the roughest of neighborhoods, we see what is obviously a Super Villain Bar. A very non assuming looking Red Haired Man sits at the bar downing drinks. He makes some conversation with a beautiful woman, and says his name is Mike Murdock, Matt Murdock’s brother. The woman’s Husband is almost immediately in his face and says that he is not welcome there. Mike tells them that he just wants to be one place in the city where people aren’t talking about how great his brother is. He then starts a Bar Brawl by hitting on this unstable man’s wife.

Daredevil shows up and tells them the scariest thing that they could her. “Hey idiots, I just texted the Hulk! He will be here any second.” The crowd quickly takes off, and Matt remarks “Idiots. The Hulk doesn’t text.”

Daredevil walks into the bar to see Mike just sitting at the bar as if nothing happened. The Man introduces himself and says he is a friend of his brother Matt.

He casually walks up to shake hands with Daredevil.

Rating: 9/ 10
Final Thought:

I was actually a big fan of this issue. I especially love the art by Phil Noto, but what I really appreciate is the transition that Charles Soule makes from the previous story arc. It doesn’t wash over it, it builds upon the foundation, and expands the tale. It is incredibly believable too, you know for a fictional Superhero story. That and they packed a lot into this short 22 page book. We get Hammerhead manipulating the media, Daredevil hires a cast of investigators, and the inevitable battle to take down the bad guy. Top that with an evil (or at least a disgruntled )Twin brother! There’s just a lot to unpack. Like I said the art is great, but I love this style. The story was fun, and a fresh look at the idea of how the vacuum of power can create trouble for a City run by the Kingpin. No stroke of the pen is wasted by Soule here, and as we have seen he layers the plots like an Onion.