In the long awaited Daredevil: End of Days, Brian Michael Bendis returns to his roots, in writing the man without fear, in an alternate future tale focusing on Matt Murdock's last battle. Bendis is joined in writing duties by David W. Mack, with the artwork done by Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz and a cover by Alex Maleev. This issue is the first of eight promised in the series.
The first issue of this limited series features the death of Daredevil at the hands of Bullseye after a particularly brutal fight and flashback to another particularly brutal fight between the Kingpin and Murdock. Seen through the eyes of Ben Urich, still working for J. Jonah Jameson at the soon to be defunct Daily Bugle, Matt Murdock's last moments have been captured in vivid detail for the whole world to see and Urich is struggling to cope with the loss and is essentially unable to write about both the man and his legacy but one last mystery surrounding Daredevil sucks him back in.
As written by Bendis and Mack, this first issue is not exactly a cheerful affair: it is dark and it is brutal. Daredevil is a character that has always lent himself to an interpretation that ends with tragedy for the hero, and whether it's written by Frank Miller or Brian Bendis or someone else: Daredevil does not have it easy. This particular take is unique in that it focuses on what happens after the man without fear fights his final bout while the whole world watches, and does nothing. The writing is solid, with most of it being comprised of Ben Urich's inner monologue, which ably supplies all of the information regarding the character needed to be known to the reader in order to fully appreciate this series. There is also a bit of a twist ending that establishes sufficient forward momentum in what is shaping up to be something more meditative, though there are still seven issues to go.
The art, drawn by Janson and inked by Sienkiewicz, is stunning. Switching between grittiness and psychadelis, and complexity and sparseness, the two artists have churned out a unique and effective visual look to what should be an interesting limited series. Additionally, the cover, done by Alex Maleev, is understated yet striking. The paneling is interesting and daring as well, for example, there is a two-page spread comprised of thirty-two separate panels focusing on thirty-two separate characters that efficiently and effectively drives home the overwhelming reaction to Murdock's death by the city he protected with his life and why it infuriates Ben Urich so much.
Daredevil: End of Days is already shaping up to be a worthy addition to the wealth of quality material already available about the character, and Bendis is in top form with Janson and Sienkiewicz going above and beyond in creating a stunning, and visceral visual experience.
9/10
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