Welcome to The Real World According To Sam! Today I'm discussing a Marvel prose novel for one of the company's popular New York vigilantes: Daredevil.
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
Synopsis:
A guilt-ridden father. A harsh mentor. A passionate lover. What drives the Man Without Fear? Matt Murdock was raised by a single father, an over-the-hill prizefighter with one last chance to make good - a chance that cost him his life. Taunted and tormented by other children, Matt's life was irrevocably altered after he was blinded by radioactive materials while saving the life of an old man. The payoff? An unbreakable will and a keen intelligence, helping focus the super-senses with which he was blessed during the accident. His story is one of love, pain, disappointment, and strength. In this brand-new adaptation, witness the strange machinations behind the life of one of Marvel's most beloved heroes.
Review:
This prose novel adapts the graphic novel of the same name, which was created by Frank Miller, John Romita, Jr., Al Williamson, Christie Scheele, and Joe Rosen. Fans of that comic from 1993, however, may notice some major changes to this novel. I'm not a huge Daredevil fan (haven't read many of his adventures yet), but I HAVE read the comic that this book was based on. Even with just a single read through of both, I can say with certainty that there were quite a few changes made. These may or may not sit well with fans of the original work. For me, it didn't make a lot of difference, though Elektra's role and that of Matt's mentor, Sticks, was significantly altered mid-story. The beginning was largely the same. Once Elektra enters, things shift up - and by the end there are quite a few adjustments for modernity, as well as some plot differences involving Matt's young friend in Hell's Kitchen.
This novel is basically an origin story that details Matt's childhood, his return to New York, and his eventual joint venture with his college roommate, Foggy Nelson. It also details the rise of the Kingpin - a very iconic and familiar Marvel villain. This book is likely to have a hard time finding its niche audience. At my local library, I found it in the children's section - however, I don't feel some of the action lends itself to being a children's book - even if more adult elements with Elektra are glossed over. I think this would be more like a teen appropriate book given how detailed some of the wounds within the book are.
Effectively, this book is an origin story. It might not hit well for adult fans who have already been into the hero for a while. There isn't much new here to discover. Since I only have base knowledge of Daredevil, this book worked alright for me. Sometimes the pace gets a bit slower, but it was a largely fun read that I enjoyed. I just don't know how many long-time Daredevil comic fans will love this book - even if they love Matt Murdock as a hero.
I think this book works well for slighter older comic/superhero fans who don't have very much knowledge about Daredevil. It's a great intro, but the content isn't ideal for younger readers. I also didn't care much for Elektra's brief - and quite frankly mostly irrelevant - role here, compared to the original comic the story is based on. I give Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (A Novel of the Marvel Universe) a Lone Star rating of ✯✯✯ and a half stars. It's alright, it can be a good time, but it needs the right reader and definitely has some drawbacks in certain contexts. Thanks for joining me for today's review here at The Real World According to Sam, where I bring the books to your screen and put in my two cents about them! See you at the next review!
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