Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale
Colourist: Matt Hollingsworth
Original Release Date: August 2001

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As the next step in my recapping of some of my all-time favourite DD stories, I thought I’d take a look at 2001’s Daredevil: Yellow from the powerhouse tandem of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. It’s safe to say that there have been a great many retellings of Daredevil’s origin story over the years – maybe too many.  Some have been felt flat and uninspired, some have been genuinely interesting in their own right – and then there’s Daredevil: Yellow.  For my money the most dramatic and powerful of all the looks back at the formative years of the ‘Man Without Fear’, this series gives us a deeper look at the doubts, insecurities and passions of a younger Matt Murdock, and nestles comfortably amongst the other top-quality offerings from Loeb and Sale’s “colour” series.

The story is framed as Matt struggling to come to terms with the loss of his murdered former love Karen Page, and has him writing letters to her as a way to try and cope with his crippling grief.  Skipping over the accident that served as the source of his powers, the letters begin by touching on Matt’s ultimately tragic relationship with his father before moving on to the early formation of the Nelson and Murdock Law Firm, before finally chronicling Matt’s first meeting with Karen herself. While it undoubtedly has its bright, colourful, swashbuckling moments (the showdown between an early DD and Electro, for example, is beautiful in its Golden Age simplicity), this is essentially a love story, and the blossoming – yet heartbreakingly tragic – relationship between Karen and “Mister Murdock” makes for utterly compelling reading throughout.

As powerful and evocative as Sale’s writing undoubtedly is, however, the main selling point for this series – for me, at least – is the typically flawless work of artist Tim Sale. His utterly distinctive ink-washed style draws you in from the very first panel, and while ‘detail junkies’ may not necessarily find what they’re looking for here, the sheer energy and dynamism of his pages push this series to a whole new level. Shadows take on a life of their own as emotions play out subtly on the character’s faces, stolen glances telling the true story. Honestly, this is utterly sublime visual storytelling, a masterwork in understatement and nuance.

That said, when Sale wants to, he can still cut loose with the best of then, as shown in his series of jaw-dropping ‘stop motion’ double page spreads that show Matt leaping, twisting, brawling and gliding in a glorious step-by-step style. Poster worthy, every last one. There aren’t many artists out there whose name on the cover will make me pick up a title regardless of the writer or subject matter, but Sale is most definitely right at the top of that list.

In a back catalogue filled with iconic stories, arcs and runs, Daredevil: Yellow has to be placed right near the top of any “best of” list that’s being compiled. Serious and fun in equal measure, and with an undercurrent of tragedy that serves as a perfect microcosm for just what makes Daredevil so incredibly appealing as a character, this series is absolutely essential reading for any fans of the “Man Without Fear” – or fans of top quality sequential storytelling in general.

Rating: 5/5.

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You can purchase Daredevil: Yellow from Turnaround Publisher Services (who generously provided the review copy of this title) via their official website.

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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson (aka Ceej)
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