Daredevil #223 Review - Secret Wars II

Issue Review
Daredevil #223

Direct Market Release Date: June 4, 1985

Credits

Title: The Price
Writers: Denny O'Neil and Jim Shooter
Pencils: David Mazzucchelli
Inker: Kim DeMulder
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colors: Ken Feduniewicz
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Summary

Matt Murdock's girlfriend, Glorianna, has her camera stolen off of her arm while walking in Chelsea. Distraught, she tells Matt that the camera belonged to her now-deceased father. Matt vows to help her get the camera back.

Meanwhile, the Beyonder arrives at the financially strained offices of Nelson and Murdock, Attorneys at Law, and offers them a retainer of $1,000,000 to help him in his latest endeavor - to legally acquire the entire planet. Matt Murdock refuses, and leaves to start tracking down Glorianna's stolen camera. The Beyonder follows Murdock on his quest, and calculates what it would take to convince Murdock to change his mind.

Daredevil learns from a pawn shop owner that the camera thief's descriptions matches a man named "Skeeter" Frizzel. While tracking Frizzel down, Daredevil decides that he will accept the Beyonder's proposal. The Beyonder, aware of Daredevil's thoughts, responds by restoring Matt Murdock's eyesight. Daredevil, shocked by the return of his missing sense, plummets into a chemical vat, leaving Frizzel to escape.

Stunned, Murdock heads for Glorianna's apartment. Revealing that his eyesight has returned, Glorianna shows Murdock the sights of New York, leaving him stunned and shocked at it's beauty. Coming to the realization that his desire to keep his sight might one day overtake his desire for justice, Murdock excuses himself from Glorianna's company.

Daredevil forces the Beyonder to take his gift back. Puzzled, the Beyonder agrees. Daredevil tracks down Frizzel, and retrieves Glorianna's camera.

Quotes

The Beyonder: Hello, Mr. Murdock.
Daredevil: So... you know. Do me a favor and don't say it too loudly. What do you want?
The Beyonder: Only to tell you that your partner has accepted a retainer on behalf of your firm.
Daredevil: It can always be returned. Tell me -- Why US? There must be thousands of lawyers in New York...
The Beyonder: But YOU, Mr. Murdock, have the most profound sense of justice. That is very important to me. I wish to conduct my business fairly. As my counsel, you would stand for no less.
Daredevil: Flattering... But I still have my doubts.
The Beyonder: I am as aware of them as you are. I am aware of everything I choose to be. I know that you cannot be bought -- so I will not attempt to entice you with offers of payment. I shall pay you well, however, if you agree.

Glorianna: Matthew, you're weepin'. What's wrong?
Matt Murdock: I'm not sure... I grew up in Hell's Kitchen... at the time, one of the nastiest areas in the city. Never got out of it, really... never really saw anything but filthy streets and crumbling buildings... I lost my sight when I was barely into my teens. I guess I'd forgotten the little of beauty I'd experienced, and I had no idea there was so much more. So much, Glorianna... so much beauty. Everything -- so beautiful.

Daredevil: I quit. I'm not going to work for you. Do you hear me, alien? I RESIGN! So take your retainer back. NOW!
The Beyonder: You desire sight more than anything else. And yet, you will not have it if it casts the slightest shadow of self-doubt upon your integrity...
Daredevil: Right.
The Beyonder: Very well. I can sense that there is no point in arguing. You are relieved of your obligation to me. I won't remove your sight, though. Keep it as a gift.
Daredevil: No. Take it back.
The Beyonder: Why should you suffer such incompleteness? The restoration of your sight was an act of no consequence to me. Keep it. Consider it fair payment, if you must, for the insight you have given me into a strange facet of human nature.
Daredevil: Take it back or I'll sue.
The Beyonder: Very well.

Commentary

Quite possibly the best crossover in the series. The Beyonder, and his powers, are treated very well here, and set up an interesting premise - would Matt Murdock do anything to jeopardize his ideals? Perhaps Jim Shooter's co-writing credit explains how well this issue integrates with the main series.

John Byrne graces yet another Secret Wars II crossover cover, although there are a few inexplicable elements. At no point does Daredevil really "Face the Beyonder - ALONE", as the caption states, and at no point does the Man Without Fear ever show any, contrary to the facial expression on the cover. Perhaps the story was originally quite different than what ended up being published.

There is some evidence to support this idea. Two pages of unpublished artwork can be found on this site's Secrets of Secret Wars II page, that not only contain different dialog, but also a different look for the Beyonder. Could this issue have been completed, only to have Shooter come in and change some details (hence the co-writing credit)? It's a long shot, but it might explain the seemingly unrelated cover art.

As much as the story wonderfully explores Matt Murdock's character, the Beyonder's actions are a bit of a puzzle. In Secret Wars II #3, he used his powers to take over the world, which gave him no satisfaction. He gives up on that idea, and decides to try to fulfill his emptiness by helping others (see Avengers #260), which also backfires. Now, even though he's fully aware now that taking over the world is unsatisfying, he's suddenly gone back to trying to to take it over again, this time through legal means. It's a bit of a ping pong ball that can be rationalized by assuming that the Beyonder thinks satisfaction can be gained by doing what he had just done, but without the use of his godlike powers.

Regardless, this issue is a fantastic tie-in. If you are to read only ONE Secret Wars II crossover, this should be the one.

Up next...

Secret Wars II continues in Incredible Hulk #312!