So, what will happen to Daredevil after Reborn? My bet has been that we would see the launch of a new Daredevil title – with a new #1 – some time this fall. I’d also be willing to bet that Daredevil will find himself with a new tagline. In s statement passed along by Tom Breevort and Axel Alonso in their most recent T&A with CBR, Daredevil editor Stephen Wacker had the following to say:
“Andy ends his thrill-a-minute Daredevil run at the end of “DD: Reborn,” so that’s where our focus is now. After that, we plan to work through the long, hot summer figuring whose hands to place Matt Murdock into next. It won’t be an easy act to follow, that’s for sure. And after the outstanding work that Andy and artists Davide Gianfelice are doing right now, there may not even be a need for more Daredevil for a while.”
What this tells us is that Daredevil’s return to an ongoing title of his own is still still an open question. There’s little doubt that he will be returning, but there are no set plans about his future.
Giving the Daredevil franchise some time to breathe and then launching a new title with the potential to attract both old and new readers could be a very good thing, but there is also a very real risk that all this “meddling” with a character that in all honesty didn’t need a major intervention to begin with (except perhaps a slight change of pace) has turned off a lot of readers for good.
If the people at Marvel feel that there are enough new readers out there to replace the ones who have had enough, then maybe this gamble will pay off, but I remain concerned for the long time longevity of the character in a day an age when more and more comic book runs are unable to survive even one year before being cancelled. True, Daredevil is different from many other characters out there in that he’s actually been able to carry a solo title for more than 45 years, but there are certainly no guarantees.
How do you feel about knowing that we might have to wait six months or more for a new Daredevil book after Reborn? And, what word of advice would you send to the powers that be in their plans for a re-launch?
7 comments
fatalfrancis says:
Jan 16, 2011
Perhap that they will would feature Daredevil in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man for the mean time.
Mark C says:
Jan 16, 2011
Perhaps Matt will be a part of the upcoming summer event “Fear Itself”. Nothing has been said and he hasn’t been in any preview art but he was the Man Without Fear for 45 years. New titles are usually spun off of events so the timing would be right for a fall launch.
Robert says:
Jan 16, 2011
“a very real risk that all this “meddling” with a character that in all honesty didn’t need a major intervention to begin with (except perhaps a slight change of pace) has turned off a lot of readers for good.”
Yep.
The only thing from Marvel I might pick up is the eventual Daredevil: End of Days, which there are rumblings that Bendis and co. are working on again. I will get the trade of Reborn, cause it does look like its gonna be a decent story. A DECENT story. After six months of being fed dirt, a ham sandwich tastes pretty dang good.
“It won’t be an easy act to follow, that’s for sure. ”
It would be a simple act to follow. Just put DD back in his own book as soon as possible with a writer untethered by editorial “event” stories and at the “regular” price.
All the “new readers” who bought Shadowland to see Spidey, Wolvie, and Punisher, trashing everything and being all “badass” have moved on as they ALWAYS do. There are no “new” readers waiting to see what happens to Matt Murdock.
JTRobin says:
Jan 16, 2011
I say put him the Secret Avengers; Steve Rogers can parlay that as “rehabilitating” Daredevil, while as Murdock, he can handle the legal ramifications that a Secret Avengers team must operate by
Aaron K says:
Jan 17, 2011
@JTRobin – I think that would have been a really good idea when SECRET AVENGERS launched. Now, whatever role Matt would occupy is already taken up by Moon Knight & Black Widow; but it would have been a nice opportunity for Steve Rogers to try to help him out.
@Christine – I also assumed we’d get a new DAREDEVIL #1, but now I’m not so sure. Marvel just announced that they’re turning THOR back into THE MIGHTY THOR with a new #1. (Ok, no problem there.) But, they’re re-launching JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY at issue #622! JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY ran from #1-125 and then again from #503-521. It’s like the opposite of drawing attention to a title? “What’s this new title? JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY? Well, if I went 621 issues without buying it, I think I can go another one.”
Don’t be surprised now if we get DAREDEVIL #666 just for the hell of it.
Luis Dantas says:
Jan 28, 2011
Maybe I’m just an oddball (duh, what are the odds
) but I like high-numbered books. They bring a sense of tradition that I find appealing.
C.Malmberg says:
Mar 30, 2011
DareDevil has had so many great writers throughout the years. I recently met Christos N. Gage and asked him if would ever be interested in doing a run on DareDevil. He responded by saying that he would love to do it with a huge smile on his face. I think he would be the perfect candidate. I think he has a real knack for details when it comes to writing about the heroes and villains alike. But that choice will be left to marvel and the powers that be. As far as numbering and renaming the title I don’t care how they do it just as long as I get my daredevil fix.