Reviews

Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller, Vol. 1 by Roger McKenzie, David Michelinie, Frank Miller

kirkreads's review

4.0

Frank Miller's run on Daredevil is so highly acclaimed that it has become difficult to criticize. Before he took on both writing and art chores, Roger McKenzie handled the writing. McKenzie is often overlooked, but is also instrumental in moving the tone of the book from the swashbuckling hero tale that was the character's genesis, to the gritty crime noir character the Daredevil has mostly been ever since.

pariah735's review

adventurous

3.5

These are the only daredevil comics I’ve read so I can’t really compare them to anything but I enjoyed them.

darylnash's review

2.0

There are hints of Miller's dynamism here, but his artwork is still pretty rough. And though the stories by McKenzie are rather typical for their time, they don't hold up to modern expectations.

adrianasturalvarez's review

2.0

This was probably my least favorite of the three Visionaries volumes collecting Frank Miller's work on Daredevil. Mostly because, well, Frank Miller didn't write any of these stories. He just drew them. I've read in an interview that Miller nearly quit because he hated Roger McKenzie's writing and Marvel placated him by firing McKenzie and letting him write his own stories (beginning with Volume 2). Well I can see why they did it. Some of these story arcs are just embarrassing to read.

I recommend reading this volume only to juxtapose with Frank Miller's actual writing so you can see why he was considered so important.

birdmanseven's review

3.0

I liked some issues better than others, but I definitely enjoyed this enough to read volume 2.

jamberg's review

2.0

Even though I only have 2 stars for this book by Goodreads rating system, I still like it enough to hang onto a copy in my library. The stories had dark potential but the supporting cast (Foggy and Heather mostly) were jarringly silly or stupid.

The art is a mix of good and bad: the layout and finishes are usually exciting, but the figures are often rushed and strange. Black Widow looks awesome in this style.

I do have trouble reading any of Frank Miller's work without having outside information about the creator color my reading.

harmony's review

3.0

I neither loved nor hated this series, which I picked up to get a look at a little more of where Daredevil came from in terms of the comics. The character is pretty clearly defined and decently compelling on his own, but I just didn't love the series. The storylines started to feel like they were on repeat (Oh, look, Matt has to choose between crime fighting and a stable real life again. Yawn.) I also hated seeing Black Widow look so damsel-ish and helpless even when she was supposedly actively participating in the stories. I've fallen in love with her as a powerful, dynamic, and capable character, so to see her cast as the flutteringly semi-helpless, lovesick puppy was... unpleasant.

The art was pretty good, however, and some of the stories (like the fight/talk with Hulk) were interesting, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this volume.