Comic Review: Man Without Fear (2019) #5

Man Without Fear (2019) #5

Marvel Comics

Writer: Jed MacKay

Artist: Danilo Beyruth

It’s finally here. The conclusion to MacKay’s interlude and starting point to Zdarsky’s take on Daredevil. And it’s amazing!

On this spectacular conclusion we see Matt finally figuring out how he will overcome his current situation and remain Daredevil even though he is no longer the Man Without Fear leaning on the only lesson his father could ever teach him: use pain to move forward. I liked it a lot that not only Murdock’s resolution didn’t come from other people, which we saw trying to console him throughout the mini-series, but from Matt’s own past and wisdom, acquired through years of getting beat down.

The storytelling for this issue felt very sentimental. Not only about Matt’s relation with his father, which every now and then resurfaces as a catharsis yet is always welcome, but also about Daredevil’s passion for his city and his mission (traits of the character that led me to reading the D.D. mythos) are transformed in determination to get through the dark times once more.

MacKay’s writing, continues to be the stronghold for the series, this time conducting the narrative through Mathew and his father’s dialogue about dealing with the cards life deals you, in a flashback, alternated with internal dialogue/dialogue with his Fear about how a hero doesn’t need to be without fear. The last one proving just how ready Murdock really is to live while afraid.

Danilo Beyruth is back for this final issue and, though all of the artists in this series deserve renown, it’s refreshing to see his artwork once again. And it’s good he’s back, since Beyruth’s clear familiarity with the human form allows him to portray the fight scenes in this issue with amazing realism yet without losing his cartoonistic-ish charm. The artwork for this issue even reminded me, of John Romita Jr.’s work, specially in the boxing panels, which I write as a compliment since I love JRJr’s art style.

The conclusion for this series didn’t come as I expected. I thought it would leave on an open ending and then Zdarsky might pick it up. But the actual ending was much better. The interlude is self-contained, making its main plot a new insight into Matt Murdock’s now afraid mind, and concluding the presented dilemma in an emotional, beautiful and epic way. This issue contains, yet again, sensational writing and storytelling, beautiful artwork and harmony between all of its elements that definitely make a great comic.