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Rating:  -
This is what a friend of mine would call a "moving a sofa" story - consult 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency' for the concept.
It introduces the new love interest for Matt Murdock, whose father was once the Kingpin's right-hand man, until the Kingpin killed him because he was 'too crazy'. Maya herself has the powers of the longtime Marvel villain the Taskmaster - anything she sees done, she can duplicate. She also is deaf.
The Kingpin takes advantage of Maya's questions about how her father died by telling Maya that Daredevil killed him. He also asks her to talk to Matt Murdock at his law offices about a few things, resulting in the inevitable "you're really Daredevil?" moment. Needless to say, when Maya finds out she's been tricked, she goes to deal with the Kingpin.
High points in this collection are a autobiography of the Kingpin, rendered as his thoughts to himself; a story placed at the end that would have broken the narrative flow, but is extremely well done and, I think, part of one of the 'special event' months at about that time; and Maya's - or as she's called, Echo - plan to deal with Daredevil's senses, especially his hearing, to give herself the edge.
Overall, though, it was disappointing. The art, however, is stunning, especially the rendering of Maya's thought balloons.
Rating:  -
Most of the reviews listed for this title aren't accurate at all, since they're for a completely different edition, so I thought I'd chime in.
This hardback is part of Marvel's new oversized line. And as I've come to expect, it's of fantastic quality. From the glossy attractive cover to the vibrant coloring of the pages, Daredevil Vol. 1 screams for a spot on anyone's bookshelf or coffee table.
As a special treat, the inspiring introduction is written by Tom Sullivan. If the name isn't familiar to you, he's a blind man that has managed to lead a very productive life despite his disability. From skiing to bungie-jumping, Mr. Sullivan has happily experienced what life has to offer, blind or not. He was also a consultant on the Daredevil movie.
Included in this hardback are the issues of Daredevil #1-11, and #13-15, the Guardian Devil (Smith/Quesada) and Parts of a Hole (Mack/Quesada) storylines. Nothing will probably ever compare to Miller's sagas (Elektra, Born Again, Man Without Fear), but these are wonderful reads, with a huge impact on recent continuity. Also, while Smith's Guardian Devil storyline seems like a rehash of the Elektra saga, there's still an incredible emotional impact, that's still being discussed today (see Daredevil: Yellow for more).
Many cameos are present, including a touching appearance by Spider-man, who is one of the few people that can truly understand what Matt has gone through at the end of Guardian Devil.
The "special features" featured after the collected issues are lacking, though that's hardly something to dock the book for. And the few sketches and artwork included are great to see. Still, comments from the writers/artists would have been wonderful.
Pick this edition up soon, or risk not being able to find it later. Besides, sales for this and Vol 2 could inspire Marvel to release the Miller sagas as oversized hardcovers. ;)
Rating: -
Title: Daredevil:: Parts of a Hole
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: David Mack
Artists: Joe Quesada and David Ross
For Fans of: Kabuki, The Hear No Evil See No Evil movies, pulp heroes,Greek Tragedies, Irony
After Matt's loss in the last chapter of his life, we find a pensive hero who is about to get his world turned upside down once again. We are also introduced to Maya Lopez, who was born deaf but later found ways to compensate for this loss. She can duplicate the any action she sees exactly. Anything from piano playing to martial arts can be duplicated by simply watching the masters of these activities. Also like Matt she is driven by her father's murder and seeks vengeance. Her father was an associate of the Kingpin's, who was also his executioner and this is how Kingpin was able to take her under his wing. Maya's trust in him is the reason he is able to pull off the ruse that Daredevil is her father's killer, not himself. Since Kingpin also knows Matt's identity, it is a simple matter to have these two similar individuals meet, without Maya knowing who Matt really is.
This story has romance, super heroics, tragedy, symbolism, irony, life, death, and the one of the biggest shake ups in the status quo of a BIG member of the Daredevil cast. Mack's first venture into writing already established characters is inventive as well as creatively paced. Known for his award winning creator owned book, Kabuki, Mack must have felt some intimidation coming in after a very popular and well received run by film-maker Kevin Smith. However, he didn't show his intimidation with this chapter. He actually tried to one up Smith's shock ending with a interesting bit of irony which will be explored further by Brian Michael Bendis in issues to come.
Quesada's art in this book is not only his best work, but wildly creative. It was like he was in the mood to read some Sienkiewicz and got caught up in the style! If you only know Quesada as Marvel's Editor in Chief, then you need to see that when he has time, he is also one of the best artist in the industry.
The best aspect of this story was the humanization of the Kingpin. You see what motivated him and how his achieved the position he resides in. To make a character come off as both frightening and tragic is a rare feat.
Rating: -
What is it about Daredevil that seems to bring out the best in a writer and artist..? Miller and Janson, Kevin Smith, Quesada & Palmiotti, Bendis & Maleev, and now David Mack....
Parts of a Hole tells the triangular story of Daredevil, The Kingpin, and a new character, Echo. Echo was the child of one of The Kingpin's enforcers, and she blames DD for the death of dear old Dad....even though The Kingpin pulled the trigger. Echo is kind of the dark reflection of Daredevil- Where he is blind, Echo is DEAF, and the dichotomy this presents is perfectly presented by the talented David Mack. Add to this stew a romance between DD and Echo in their civillian identities, and you have the makings of a Greek tragedy....
The art, by Joe Quesada and others, is great; Quesada manages to stretch his palette in new directions, tipping the hat to David Mack's art, while still maintaining his own recognizable style.
A prevoius reviewer stated that the fill-in issue spoiled the pacing of the book, and shouldn't have been included in the collection. I must respectfully disagree, and say that I loved the fill in issue, and applaud it's inclusion. I found the way they were able to craft a tale that took place in the minutes-long span between issues AND make it thoughtful and exciting, to be nothing short of amazing, and I think that it was a highlight of the story for me. The great thing about including the story is this: If the reader gets a few pages into it, and finds it's not to their liking, they can just skip right by it and get back to the main story. (Don't skip it, though! I think you'll be pleasently surprised.)
Rating: -
Daredevil, blind hero of Hell's Kitchen in New York City, unexpectedly finds love in a deaf woman named Maya Lopez, who has as many secrets and complications as he does. In this graphic novel, Matt Murdock is recovering from the loss of Karen Page, his lover, and feels empty inside. Even though he and Foggy Nelson, his law partner, are stepping out into their own and about to start doing great things, Murdock's life isn't complete. He stands in the shadow of Wilson Fisk, a gargantuan crime figure known as the Kingpin. When a witness comes forward to the offices of Nelson & Murdock hoping to testify against the Kingpin, an assassin murders him, wounding Murdock as well. Donning his crimson suit, knowing that Fisk deliberately had the man murdered there because he knows who he is, Daredevil sets out in pursuit. As this story line progresses, the reader is also informed of Maya Lopez, the deaf prodigy that is the daughter of Fisk's partner. Maya has the uncanny ability to duplicate any skill she's ever seen, from piano playing to martial arts to ballet. Maya is also driven to find the man who killed her father and make him pay. The Kingpin puts Maya on a collision course with Matt Murdock, claiming that the blind attorney's alter-ego Daredevil was the one that killed her father. Even as Maya follows the assignments that Fisk has designed to pull her into Daredevil's orbit and eventually lead her to attempt to kill him, Matt Murdock falls in love, head over heels.
David Mack has been nominated for several awards as writer, artist, and creator. His creation, KABUKI, has garnered much professional attention as well as support from fans. In addition to DAREDEVIL: PARTS OF A HOLE, he did the painting for another recent Daredevil graphic novel, DAREDEVIL: WAKE UP. Joe Quesada is currently editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, and he has a host of work--writing and editing--behind him. Quesada has been a driving force behind Daredevil's current popularity. While over at DC Comics, Quesada helped birth and develop Azrael with Batman powerhouse, Denny O'Neil.
DAREDEVIL: PARTS OF A HOLE without a doubt is beautifully written. The three principal characters--Daredevil, Maya, and Wilson Fisk--are superbly drawn out in their own voices. The narrative structure, subjects, and presentation is evocative, and--like Maya's own secret identity--leaves the reader with an echo of the story long after the tale is finished. David Mack is an exemplary story-teller, and the three stories of the characters are deftly interwoven to create a cohesive whole while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the individuals. Mack worked from layout sketches, laying his vision of the panel breakdowns out for Quesada and Ross. In addition to the writing, the art is absolutely striking. The reader can feel the stillness of a frozen moment, or see the blur of movement as the protagonists battle each other. The colors, well presented in the comics that this story was compiled from, are beautifully rendered in the graphic novel. The Kingpin comes across as a dual force of emotions for the reader: the scariest person who ever lived, and yet one of the most tragic.
The only quibble about the graphic novel would be in regards to the last story. An editorial note said that Quesada and Mack felt the story should be left in the graphic novel collection to preserve the full run of the series (it was originally published as a fill-in issue) in graphic novels. But the story, even though it takes place in a few minutes during the next to the last issue and telescopes the action and the meaning, simply doesn't belong with DAREDEVIL: PARTS OF A HOLE. The addition of the story is like an after-dinner mint that really warps the memory of the taste of a good meal.
DAREDEVIL: PARTS OF A HOLE is definitely a keeper for the fans of Daredevil, David Mack, and Joe Quesada. For anyone brought back into the fold by Kevin Smith's work, Mack's Daredevil and insights into character and story will continue to be a lodestone for anyone looking for a good tale.
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