An American in Paris

Daredevil 90 follows Matt Murdock’s trail through Paris as he tracks down the men who ordered Foggy Nelson’s (failed) assassination. DD bumps into an old enemy, finds a dead enemy, and another skeleton from the closet is apparently still in action. The writing and art combine to give this issue a cool, Day of the Jackal vibe that makes Daredevil 90 worth the money.

Ed Brubaker’s work on Captain America was quite good. So far, his take on Daredevil is interesting, but takes a page from the Miller/Bendis approach that makes Daredevil a “pulp hero” who focuses on organized (instead of super-powered) crime. Brubaker’s writing about Tombstone, the concrete-skinned hitman, stands out. Phrases like “break my fingers trying for a pressure point” highlight Tombstone’s menace. Brubaker’s writing makes this second-rate villain truly threatening, and that’s not an easy task.

The efforts of artists Michael Lark and Stefan Gaudiano, combined with Brubaker’s writing, make this an issue worth buying. The issue’s fight scene with Tombstone is well drawn and has a layout that matches the tussle’s frenetic pace well. The drool-worthy aspect of #90 is Matt Murdock’s trip through the Paris underworld, complete with a beautiful half-page image of Daredevil on the Paris skyline with the Eiffel Tower in the background.  The dusky red Matt Hollingsworth chooses for DD’s costume makes it blend in with the lurid back alleys and seedy bars of Parisian crime.

Worth the money? Yes.

Daredevil #88