A review by caitcoy
Daredevil, Volume 18: Cruel & Unusual by Matt Hollingsworth, Ed Brubaker, Chris Eliopoulous, Paul Azaceta, Stefano Gaudiano, Greg Rucka, Michael Lark, Marko Djurdjevic
4.0
Cruel and Unusual covers issues 106-110 and centers on the devastation caused in Matt's life after the events of Hell to Pay.
Struggling to cope after having to place Milla in the care of professionals after her Mister Fear-induced breakdown, Matt is wallowing in self-pity. It's a little hard to blame him since one of his own nemeses was responsible for Milla's situation but Matt's friends aren't about to let him freak out like he did after Karen Page. His private investigator friend Dakota North and the superhero Luke Cage are handed an extremely interesting death row case that they hope will bring Matt back to himself.
Side note: I'm gonna admit right now that I can't stand Luke Cage. It could be because I've only seen him as a side character in Daredevil but he is such a sanctimonious asshole every damn time.
And...back to the story. A man named Ben Donovan is sitting on death row, having been accused of decapitating three children and possibly responsible for the disappearance of their father. Trouble is...as far as Dakota and Matt can tell, he's innocent. Matt and Dakota suspect him of being framed despite his adamant confessions to the contrary, which means that it's up to Matt and Dakota to find out the truth.
This kind of crazy, gritty conspiracy story totally plays to Brubaker's and Rucka's strengths and the partnership between Matt and Dakota is both refreshing and heartwarming. It's nice to get a break from Matt's fucked up love life and see how much Matt relies on and is supported by his friends, even that asshat Cage.
And damn Dakota North is badass! Totally in love with how kickass and take no prisoners that lady is. Definitely one of the strongest women in Matt's life.
I really wasn't a fan of the artwork in issue 106 so it was comforting to know that it wasn't Lark's handiwork. That one is Paul Azaceta and thank God the rest is by Lark. It's not that it's terrible, definitely not the worst I've ever seen. It honestly is probably just that I like Lark's style so much when paired with Brubaker and I just don't like Azaceta by comparison.
Cruel and Unusual is a refreshing break from the darkness of Hell to Pay and yet another great addition to the Brubaker/Lark DD run!
Struggling to cope after having to place Milla in the care of professionals after her Mister Fear-induced breakdown, Matt is wallowing in self-pity. It's a little hard to blame him since one of his own nemeses was responsible for Milla's situation but Matt's friends aren't about to let him freak out like he did after Karen Page. His private investigator friend Dakota North and the superhero Luke Cage are handed an extremely interesting death row case that they hope will bring Matt back to himself.
Side note: I'm gonna admit right now that I can't stand Luke Cage. It could be because I've only seen him as a side character in Daredevil but he is such a sanctimonious asshole every damn time.
And...back to the story. A man named Ben Donovan is sitting on death row, having been accused of decapitating three children and possibly responsible for the disappearance of their father. Trouble is...as far as Dakota and Matt can tell, he's innocent. Matt and Dakota suspect him of being framed despite his adamant confessions to the contrary, which means that it's up to Matt and Dakota to find out the truth.
This kind of crazy, gritty conspiracy story totally plays to Brubaker's and Rucka's strengths and the partnership between Matt and Dakota is both refreshing and heartwarming. It's nice to get a break from Matt's fucked up love life and see how much Matt relies on and is supported by his friends, even that asshat Cage.
And damn Dakota North is badass! Totally in love with how kickass and take no prisoners that lady is. Definitely one of the strongest women in Matt's life.
I really wasn't a fan of the artwork in issue 106 so it was comforting to know that it wasn't Lark's handiwork. That one is Paul Azaceta and thank God the rest is by Lark. It's not that it's terrible, definitely not the worst I've ever seen. It honestly is probably just that I like Lark's style so much when paired with Brubaker and I just don't like Azaceta by comparison.
Cruel and Unusual is a refreshing break from the darkness of Hell to Pay and yet another great addition to the Brubaker/Lark DD run!