Rebirths

Over at Comics Should Be Good!, they are doing an issue-by-issue look at "Cool Comic Book Moments" from Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's epic Daredevil run, "Born Again." Published in 1985 and 1986 in issues #227-233, this is the definitive Daredevil story, the one that uses the character's obsessions and contradictions to their utmost, and the one space where Miler (who can be frustratingly erratic) makes the best use of his talents, merging art, language and narrative into perfect pulp poetry. You should really read the whole thing (which was collected in trade paperback a few years ago, but can also be found in single issues at your local shop), but if you want a taste, check out the website's recaps, which do a good job of boiling the tale down to its essential moments.

Comments

dave said…
I've been going by that blog periodically and enjoying the great moments. Good stuff!
bill r. said…
I think the ending of Born Again is a bit ridiculous, but overall I think it's pretty fantastic. And I can't believe that blog left out my favorite moment: when the nurse/hitwoman strangles the witness while Ben Urich listens on, helplessly, over the phone, his co-workers blathering on about nothing much behind him. That was brilliant!
Brian Doan said…
Bill,
Yeah, the end is a little over-the-top (a not uncommon thing in Miller's work), but it at least has an optimism that's rare and refreshing for Miller. And the rest of the story, I agree, is fantastic. That moment you cite is so eerie-- Urich is such a great character when he's written well.
Brian Doan said…
Dave,
Yeah, it's a nice blog, and I like the way those moments really stimulate me to go track down or re-read some of this stuff. It's kind of like that old feature FILM COMMENT used to run, where they asked critics to choose the "moments out of time" from the previous year of cinema that they loved.
Brian Doan said…
Bill, just looked at the update (they're posting moments from the run all week) and the one you mention with the phone call is up today. Guess they listened to you. (:
bill r. said…
Guh? I just looked, and I still don't see it. I must be using the internet wrong.

I also liked the hit on the nurse in the holding cell, with the photographer snapping away. I don't know a hell of a lot about who should get credit for certain things when it comes to comics, but the panel layouts in that whole comic were about as good as I've seen.
Brian Doan said…
Bill,
Here it is. The link on my post is to what was the most recent update on the series on Wednesday, but they post a new one every day. Sorry, I should probably update the link.

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