This issue starts with Daredevil looking for the Matador, who is “the greatest threat to Law in order in years.” While the astute reader may find the thought of our hero questionable, it works to build up the tension to the pending conflict.

They first meet in the streets, where Daredevil tries to intervene and stop him from robbing an armored truck. However, our hero has to divert his attention to save the life of a falling painter when his scaffolding breaks.

Then Matt returns to the office to learn that Foggy and Karen are set to go to a Costume Party; Foggy, however, has to be late and asks Matt to escort her (where he will show up later). Our hero, who is secretly in love with Karen, happily agrees. At this party, Our hero meets Matador again for the second time. Here, when he intervenes, the additional noise of the crowd prevents him from finding victory and works to turn public opinion. Including resulting in kids starting to idolize the Matador because “Kids like winners.”

Our story then continues with Matt Murdock back at the office, deep in thought about his trouble as Daredevil with the Matador, his love for Karen, and a desire to be scient about it no longer. This, however, is complicated by Foggy arriving and showing a ring to Matt while announcing his plan to propose to Karen…

I will stop here with the synopsis and get into my opinions on the comic.

Characters and Development

The love that both Foggy and Matt feel for Karen Page is not new to us, and has been growing with this cast. It however was quite a surprise for me that Foggy would be so close to proposing and that Matt would be so clueless that is a possibility. It might be fair to say that Matt is self absorbed and focused on his nighttime activities, but with his senses for this to hit him as unexpectedly as it does. Alternatively Foggy could be being implosive, given by issue end he has not built the nerve to ask the question and that we have not witnessed a strong relationship build (Even if the costume party may constitute what was to be a date). Ether way this rapid development is surprising and while growing the characters I think also hurts them.

Then we have Matt’s master plan to draw the Matador out by showing the press evidence that suggest that the Matador and Daredevil are the same person. choosing to hurt his own reputation to try to confront the rouge. If this was done purely out of trying to save the city or stop the criminals activity it would be easy to accept. However it is suggested in the pages that the Matador would likely be caught soon ether way; and that he is doing it to try to restore Daredevils reputation.

The Matador is a striking and seemingly one off foe at the start. but he is given some depth and a surprisingly interesting backstory. However these developments while adding to the story likely offer little long term payoff.

Originality and Continuity

as mentioned above, the characters seem to be growing from what was laid before, but perhaps too quickly. we have a minor reference to events before by Karen in how she is a shame that children are favoring the Manador to daredevil, given how he saved her in the past.

Artwork

This issue draws attention to the changing studio of Artest for Dareeevel, thanking Bill Everett, Joe Orlando, and Vince Colletta for their work on the first four issues while welcoming Wallace Wood on born as illustrator for the fifth (and suggesting he and lee as the new creative team).

I will admit that a change in artist and style can sometimes be Jarring, and this issue starts off with even some slight changes to the Daredevil costume (noteably the D on the chest is now two D’s linked) As you read the issue, the difference in artist it notabable yet Woods work still holds some of the things I talked about in prior issues of value. capturing the gritty , dark, well shadowed look to the streets and even Matts office during the climactic conflict.

the action sequence, particularly the climatic final battle are well done, taking pages to capture what fels like a quick paced battle and showing moment after moment instead of leaving much detail to be filled in by our minds between panels and pages.

Story

With all things considered, the story lands at just slightly entertaining. the stakes never quite seem high and the Manador takes most of the issue to build to any potential. This all while growth for our main cast feels rushed (while likely in comic book fashion any real movement on that growth will take time to really grip hold)