Daredevil Volume 5: Out TPB [Paperback]

Luckily Brian Michael Bendis "gets" Daredevil - much as Miller and Smith have before him. As others have said in their reviews before this one, this is certainly not a conventional superhero tale as it focuses more on Matt Murdock and less on his costumed alter-ego. What appearances there are from the spandex set are limited but very effective. And you have to give credit to ANY writer who can make Mr. Hyde interesting, if only for a few panels.

Two disapointments: 1) The conniving Mr. Silke, who basically sets Murdock up for much of the misery he experiences in these issues, essentially becomes a castrated character barely even appearing in these pages. Perhaps Bendis has something up his sleeve for Silke. I hope so, as this story really wastes his potential.
2) The final third or so of the book is taken up with a White Tiger storyline that is moderately good, but certaily nothing like the Bendis/Maleev stories that precede it.

Bottom Line: The Hollywood screenwriters could learn a LOT from Bendis and Maleev. This is a worthwhile read!

This is the best Daredevil storyline since Born Again.

Read Underboss before this to get the full story. In breif: Daredevil's secret identity has been outed by a tabloid newspaper (whose source is also an unconventional surprise). The repercussions are real and, no, there won't be a resolve with both Matt Murdock and someone else disguised as Daredevil appearring in the same place at the same time.

Bendis' strength as a writer of dialogue and creating memorable, vital characters is at its' peak here. Matt Murdock creates his own problems and ruins good opportunities because of his own flaws, not some super-baddie vowing revenge. Maleev's artwork is dark, gritty, moody and somber: an ideal match for Daredevil (and the colors by Matt Hollingworth and even the lettering by Richard Starkings are also well-suited and noteworthy).

Bendis and Maleev as a creative team for daredevil is so effective and evocative because they were both clearly influenced by Frank Miller. However, they are are not just aping Miller, they're embellishing. Their vision for Daredevil will forever change the character and in time may be remembered as just as important as Millers'.

The only drawback is the artwork in the last White Tiger story. It's okay, and it's a good story but without Maleev, it's just not the same, and it would have been really interesting to see what Maleev would have done with the story-line.

Pick this up. It's not just the best mainstream comic today, it may be the best thing in the entire field.

The pencils by alex maleev are incredible. His work constantly improves with each issue of Daredevil he draws. Buy this book. Bendis' best Daredevil story so far.

If this is your first Daredevil book, I suggest picking up "Underboss" before you read this book.