http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/comics/article/daredevil-to-become-marvels-newest-villain-104455[/URL]]Daredevil to Become Marvel's Newest Villain?
Is Shadowland leading Matt Murdock to murder?
by Joey Esposito
Jun 14, 2010 Matt Murdock has been on a dark path for quite some time now. In fact, it feels like the character has been on a one-way street of self-destruction since at least 1980's. In many ways, that's part of his appeal. To see the man they call Daredevil run the gamut of being publicly and personally ostracized by friends and lovers, suffering tragic loses of those he loves, being sent to prison after being publicly unmasked, being disbarred as an attorney... it all makes for stellar storytelling. Daredevil is about resilience and living up to his name as "The Man Without Fear"; his willingness to get back on the horse no matter what happens is part of what makes the character so interesting.
That's why when Marvel began releasing the newest Shadowland teasers last week (and check out the previous Shadowland teasers), suggesting that Daredevil, in a new black costume, may become Marvel's "Greatest Vilain", I feel a bit of trepidation regarding the impending mini-series. While it's probably a safe bet to assume that these teasers are in fact a bit misleading, what if the past two decades of life shitting on our favorite blind superhero finally pushed him over the edge to a full fledged heel turn?
While there is always the chance that something this drastic could turn out remarkably entertaining, the chances are making Daredevil bat-shit insane and evil is a terrible idea. Firstly, it undermines the entire appeal of the character. It's reasonable that any human being who has gone through what Matt Murdock has would eventually break. But this is a comic book. Sure, evolution is essential to any character, but there is a difference between evolution and a complete degradation of character. I'll admit I'm typically a huge fan of publishers taking big leaps with their characters, but something about the Daredevil situation just doesn't sit right with me.
There's plenty of potential left for stories without taking such a drastic change in direction. While some feel that perhaps dragging Murdock through the mud has pretty much run its course, why not stay true to the "Heroic Age" banner and go the opposite way with it? As much as I hate to say it, I'd rather see Daredevil more engrained in the main Marvel Universe than seem him turned against it completely. Bring Daredevil back to classic superhero storytelling; give the crime noir style a rest for a little bit. I think the noir style works perfectly for Daredevil as a character, but why not stay true to your editorial promises of a "less grim" universe with the Heroic Age?
Daredevil has teetered on the edge for so long, particularly in the recent runs from Ed Brubaker and Andy Diggle, that this shift in character would have to be handled meticulously and flawlessly, and I honestly don't have enough faith in Marvel editorial to think that can happen. Between the ever fluctuating retractions of new status quos and deaths, as worried as I am to see Daredevil go bad, should I even consider anything that might happen in Shadowland as being relevant for more than a few months?
I know that once Shadowland is completed, I'll look back on this article and think "Wow, I was way off", because these teasers are intended to bring about discussion. The teasers could be literal, a metaphor, or just plain misleading, but it's fairly certain that everything isn't as it seems. Any way you cut it, teasing such a drastic character change is bound to instigate some madness amongst comics fans, whether positive or negative. But as they say, any publicity is good publicity. So what do you think? Is Murdock going heel? Do you care either way?
