It seems as though I’m on a Daredevil roll this week. Last Sunday I reviewed Born Again and Wednesday I posted an interview with John Romita Jr. Combine the two and we come to Daredevil The Man Without Fear, the 5-issue mini series from 1993; it has been collected as part of of Marvel Premiere Classic Editions (Variant Volume 18).

This is a retelling of Matt Murdock’s origin inspired by Daredevil #1, from Stan Lee and Bill Everett, as told by Frank Miller. Miller, of course, wrote another origin story, Batman: Year One, that is considered one of the best Batman stories of all time.

Miller and Romita Jr. take what we know from that first issue and expands it in a number of ways including giving the reader greater depth between Matt and his father, “Battling” Jack Murdock, Matt’s purpose of becoming a lawyer and his desire to fight crime as a masked superhero. It’s also updated for the times giving it a more gritty and street level feel that we have come to know from the Daredevil comics throughout the years. Miller also gives us an origin of Elektra, the deadly assassin and Matt’s lover. Actually, I should say that Romita Jr. gives us Elektra. After all it’s his lines and curves that make her come alive. They do not disrespect the original run in any way, and if you have a copy of Daredevil #1 it’s a wonderful way to see how they compliment each other.

That said, this story is what it is – an origin. So there is a lot of background and I’m not giving anything away when we see Matt in tights at the end of the book. One pre-Daredevil costume that did catch me off guard (and gave me a chuckle) was when Matt donned a black ninja look. I can’t help but think that it was inspired by the Rex Smith outfit that was worn in The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk TV movie just a few years before this series was published.

As with Miller’s previous work on DD there is murder, despair and heartbreak. But we should come to expect this. This is a life of animosity, villainy, and overcoming the odds – at any cost. Miller knows this all too well and to an extent so does Romita Jr. Both have had to work hard to achieve greatness. They take no shortcuts and have become masters of their craft. Overall it’s a good mini and any fan of DD, Miller or Romita Jr. should visit it. As a whole you’ll get your money’s worth.

The extras in the Premiere Classic Hardcover starts off with an introduction from Marvel editor Ralph Macchio from the 1994 trade paperback edition. The back of the book is abundant material including an early script of Blind Justice, from Miller. This draft would later become The Man Without Fear. We also get pinups, several pencil pages and even unused covers and interior pages from Romita Jr. There is also the addition of Marvel Age #127, which is a a four pages prose piece written by Miller that fleshes out even more background on the development of the series. Finally there is cover art to previous collected editions.

Now then, if you want a bit more of DD’s origin, pick up Daredevil: Yellow by Tim Sale and Jeph Loeb. This four issue series reinterprets (almost verbatim) the first seven issues of the classic Stan Lee run; right up until #7 when Matt changes it up with the full red costume that was created by Wally Wood. There is a bit of Man Without Fear in Yellow #1 and the biggest difference I can see is at what age was Matt when his father was murdered? But if you can look past that discrepancy, you’ll be alright. As for the bonus material in this book, there is a n 8-page sketchbook with commentary from Loeb and Sale.

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear Premiere Classic Hardcover (Variant Vol. 18)
Written by Frank Miller
Art by John Romita Jr.
$24.99, 224 pages, Marvel Comics

Daredevil: Yellow Hardcover
Written by Jeph Loeb
Art by Tim Sale
$29.99, 160 pages, Marvel Comics

Also recommended:
Daredevil Omnibuses by Frank Miller, Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker
Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil Volumes 1-5
Daredevil: Born Again Marvel Premiere Classic (Variant Volume 19)