Last issue might have marked Frank Miller’s return to Daredevil, but #220 really builds on his legacy. I’m not sure why he gets a “special thanks to” on the credits page, but it’s certainly appropriate. This issue is all about the fall out from the Heather Glen story.
Remember her? She was engaged to Matt Murdock, and Foggy and Black Widow broke them up using forged “dear John” letters. Granted, Matt was a total dick when he was dating her, but breaking them up behind their backs was an even bigger dick move. Next time you feel sorry for Foggy, remember this issue. ‘Cause it’s very, very dark.
It starts with Heather drunk dialing Matt, begging for help. He won’t go to her because (he thinks) she dumped him, and Matt’s a proud guy who seems to be able to sleep with anyone he wants. But he’s tormented, clearly. So he throws himself into work.
Alone, scared and abandoned, Heather hangs herself, and Matt finds the body.
I don’t remember any comic book before or since dealing with suicide like this. The repercussions are dramatic: Daredevil is convinced Heather was murdered, and goes after some mob guys who were involved in the corruption of her father–the very reason Foggy and Widow interfered with Matt and Heather’s relationship in the first place.
Angry, guilty, and not quite himself, Daredevil uses a gun for the first time ever.
He’s not good at it. The bullet ricochets back and hits him in the head. It’s a great way to show how torn up, how out of his element, he really is.
But what kills me is the ending. Matt feels terrible for not answering Heather’s cries for help, and Foggy tries to build him up by telling Murdock it’s okay because he just didn’t love Heather as much as she loved him.
Huh?
He at least loved her enough to help her. Or should have. But then when Murdock says he’s still responsible, Foggy doesn’t talk him out of it. Foggy lets the secret of what he and Widow did go to Heather’s grave.
This was as much Foggy’s fault as Matt’s. And nobody ever recognizes this–ever. If this were a novel, I’d fault it for leaving a big issue like this unresolved. But as a serialized comic, it makes sense. The little evils that men do often go unrecognized, unpunished, and forgotten.
Daredevil, as a series, is simply one of the greatest character-driven comic books of all time.
Miller requested Heather Glenn be killed off leading into Born Again. Prep work that Matt was already in a downward trajectory mentally before the Kingpin gets involved. I think Miller even suggested it be suicide. Born Again is often considered as an isolated work but it really is a big payoff to everything going as far back as Miller’s work with Roger McKenzie.
I had always wondered what had happened to Heather Glenn- now I know. Geez. Dark stuff. But you’re right- ‘Daredevil’ is one of the greatest character-driven comics series of all time. My favorite period-era for DD was in the early Seventies when Gerry Conway was writing, Gentleman Gene Colan had the art, and Hornhead was shacked up with the Black Widow first in New York City, and then later in San Francisco. Good times!
When I re-read those old issues I’m reminded how good they are but they don’t stand out the same way as Frank Miller, Brubaker, Bendis, Waid…Even Nocenti. They’re really good though. Often overlooked!