Serials for 2-22: Mr. Murdock Goes to Hell, Peter Panzerfaust, and more

Daredevil #9
by Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera
Marvel Comics, $2.99

Get past the moloids and the Black Cats, and you'll see that this issue is about a son's love.There isn't much dialogue in this issue, and that's because it's mostly Matt Murdock's narration that guides the story. It's a personal issue for him. Matt Murdock is many things -- he's a lawyer, a super hero, a lover (boy is he a lover!), but he's also a son, and he's a son who loves his father. The story is about Matt's journey to hell for his father.

The issue achieves an atmosphere that's hard to define: the caverns manage to be both claustrophobic and gigantic. Matt blinds his sense of smell, because the stench is too powerful, and he's unaware of a lot of things in the caves, but he soldiers on regardless. There's a tussle between him and the Mole Man, and the end of the issue sees Daredevil in danger. Daredevil manages to freshen up an old comic book and old characters with new, interesting ideas. Don't miss out.

Peter Panzerfaust #1
by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins
Image Comics, $3.50

Dig that name! There are two things that'll catch my eye: a great cover, or an interesting title. This one got through with its title, and it's a mash-up between Peter Pan and WWII. There's an orphanage in Calais, France amidst the Nazi invasion, and when that orphanage is bombed, a curious guy named Peter Panzerfaust leads them to safety.

That's pretty much the content in the issue. There are a few fine moments in the middle, but it ends far more abruptly than it should. The splash page has no indication that it's the final page, and I legitimately thought I was missing a few pages. There's no clue as to whether this is a limited series or ongoing, and it certainly didn't feel like a $3.50 comic book, but I'll bite for another issue at least.



Secret Avengers #22
by Rick Remender and Gabriel Hardman
Marvel Comics, $3.99

Remender takes on the Secret Avengers in this first "official" issue. His premiere issue was the 21 and 1/2, which I didn't receive from Marvel subscriptions, and is fortunately not needed for the enjoyment of this story. We follow Captain Britain, guardian of the Omniverse, as he joins the Secret Avengers under Hawkeye's leadership. Remender captures the dry wit that Hank McCoy's known for, and throws big idea after big idea at the reader: one of those is that during a firefight in Iran, a woman's superpowers emerge.

That person turns out to be a mother who just wants to protect her son, and there are three groups that come after her: 1) a terrorist cell, 2) a quartet of super-people called the "Adaptoids" and 3) our very own Secret Avengers. Not only is it exciting, Hardman makes it intriguing with his layouts and emotions. Together the two craft a smart, hi-fi and classy version of the Avengers with a clear thesis statement for the storyarc.

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