
If you aren't reading Daredevil by now, all I can tell you is that you should be. What Mark Waid, Chris Samnee and Javier Rodriguez are doing right now is special. You don't have to look any father than the awards that have been heaped on this book to see that.
For 31 issues, Mark Waid has made Daredevil the most interesting character in the Marvel universe, bar none. The current art team of Chris Samnee and Javier Rodriguez is such a perfect match for Waid's writing that they almost make you forget Marcos Martin and Paolo Rivera were the guys who started with Waid on this run.
In my opinion, the hardest thing for a writer to do in a superhero book is to make both the hero and their alter ego equally interesting. Not only has Waid done that, he's made each and every character that walks into the pages of Daredevil compelling, from the supporting cast to even D-list villains. Between Foggy's illness, the ups and downs of the law practice, and Matt's attempts at a social life, there are times when I don't even care if Daredevil shows up. But he always does, and then immediately reminds me why Daredevil is such a unique hero.
Let's say Waid (and hopefully Samnee and Rodriguez) was on Daredevil for 75-100 issues, and the quality was consistent with what we've seen so far. Could Daredevil become the Batman of the Marvel universe? Could he be seen as one of the top five heroes for Marvel?
I think he could. He's one of the most complex characters in comicdom. He's got a great origin story. His civilian life has a million story possibilities. He's got an everyman quality to him that some of the more powered heroes don't.
If there's a character in the Marvel U that I think fills the Batman role right now, it's probably Spider-Man. But I see no reason why Daredevil can't share some of that spotlight.
If Waid left Daredevil tomorrow, this run would still go down as one of the best in many years. The longer he stays, the better the chance of Daredevil getting the recognition he deserves as one of the best characters in the Marvel universe.
What do you think?