Daredevil: Love and War (Marvel Graphic Novel)

Daredevil: Love and War (Marvel Graphic Novel) by Frank Miller. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780871351722.

Frank Millers "Daredevil: Love and War", with art by Bill Sienkiewicz, follows Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, as he kidnaps the blind wife of a doctor in order to force that doctor to treat Fisks own wife, Vanessa, who suffers from an unknown ailment. Daredevil works to find the kidnapped wife, but Miller tells most of the story from Fisks point of view. Like much of Millers work, the female characters exist solely to advance the plot of the males, but Fisk remains a compelling villain. One could almost sympathize with him if not for the evil deeds he does. Sienkiewiczs art is lovely and expressionistic, designed to convey certain emotions rather than realistically portray the events of Millers story. His rendering of Fisk as resembling an oversized infant fits Millers characterization of Fisk and his feeling of helplessness in this story. Millers work is considered some of the defining storytelling of Daredevil for reinvigorating the character and this is no different. Fans will find plenty to enjoy, though references to established parts of the Daredevil mythos and Sienkiewiczs expressionism may be somewhat alienating to new readers. This is a must-read for the character, but not an introductory story.