Man Without Fear #3
Recap
***WARNING: This review contains major spoilers!***
A stubborn, broken Matt refuses to be coddled in a state-of-the-art rehab facility offered by Danny Rand (protector of K’un-Lun, sworn enemy of the Hand, the Immortal Iron Fist). Matt then begins to reminisce about the most recent case he and the Defenders took, which involved Ben Urich being in the sites of a serial-killer named Foolkiller (this villain tells someone they’re going to die during the next day, and then he kills them that day). Fast forward to Luke Cage (Power Man, surly & burly Hero for Hire, serial ruiner of yellow-shirts), who doesn’t equivocate “retiring” with “quitting”. Presumably, to Cage, retiring means you’re done, and you’ve earned your respite. Quitting means you walk away because you’re afraid, despite the fight left in you. And as he says at the end of Matt’s rehab session, “Matt Murdock’s got no fear.” This is far from true.
In his next rehab session, Jessica Jones (Alias detective, powered person, purple people puller, and…Jewel?) shows she’s always had Matt’s number; she’s always been dialed into there being more underneath his “badass act”. Next session, Danny still can’t believe that Matt, the toughest person he knows, is broken and done with Daredevil. And though Jessica has known there’s always been more to Matt underneath his implacable facade, she is shocked to realize that it is fear that has always been there, and it has finally broken him.
Review
Art: Coello does great work in this issue. It isn’t stunning, but it’s on point with the script every step of the way and Mossa still continues to be awesome. Though I love the cover, it’s my least favorite of the first three by Hotz and Brown, but only because of the text on the headstone (yes I know, it’s a critical nitpick, I apologize). Just like the others, it fits the arc like a gory, red glove.
Writing: In this arc, MacKay is gradually teasing apart what fear actually is for Matt. He isn’t some rampaging, self-destructive psychopath. Matt’s a high-flying, self-sacrificing HERO that suppresses and represses his fear similar to what the best athletes and soldiers are capable of doing. But the fear has finally won out, Matt IS human after all, and accepting that humanity may be his greatest trial yet. So in summary, yes, I’m fully invested and VERY glad tomorrow is NCBD!
Final Thoughts
Turns out Matt’s greatest foe isn’t an exotic super-villain, some demonic entity or even a disgruntled former-friend; but even the most mundane enemy can be unbearably horrific.
Man Without Fear #3: What Lies Underneath
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 7/107/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10
