Intermission: 'Daredevil' continues trend of comic book influence

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Jim Wunderle is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.|ret||ret||tab|

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As much as music, television and movies, comic books influenced the baby boomer generation to an amazing extent.|ret||ret||tab|

I will never forget the first Marvel comic I read "Fantastic Four" No. 26, featuring the Four taking on The Incredible Hulk. I had read "Superman" and other DC brand comics for a long time, but the Marvel stable, which included Spiderman, The X-Men and Iron Man, were of a different sort. These superheroes were more realistic with human foibles and frailties. I was hooked.|ret||ret||tab|

A new character came along right about the time I got interested in Marvel. He was "the man without fear" and they called him Daredevil. And boy, did he have some frailties. By day he was Matt Murdock, a lawyer trying to exact justice for a string of down-on-their-luck clients. |ret||ret||tab|

Oh, and he was blind. |ret||ret||tab|

A blind superhero? Stan Lee, the force behind Marvel, was a true genius.|ret||ret||tab|

Comics have changed a great deal in the four decades since; some superheroes have even had their back stories and origins re-written. I've long since quit following them, but the memories remain strong, and I must admit to feeling excitement every time a Marvel character finds his way to the silver screen. Most of the films based on these heroes, from "Mystery Men" to "Spiderman" to "The X-Men" have been enjoyable romps that bring a sense of the comic book experience to film. "Daredevil" continues the trend.|ret||ret||tab|

Ben Affleck stars as the man without fear. Before we see him in action, we have to know the origin of Daredevil. The basic formula here is as old as comic book superheroes themselves: Traumatic childhood events alter the physical properties as well as the philosophy of a normal kid.|ret||ret||tab|

In the case of Matt Murdock, a freak accident caused by yet another trauma involving his father's occupation leaves him blind. Young Matt soon discovers his other senses have been heightened to super-human proportions. He's soon doing things no ordinary kid could do. Then comes the next big trauma as Matt witnesses the murder of his father.|ret||ret||tab|

Everything's in place now, so when we jump to modern day it should all make sense inasmuch as having continuity in the world the film has created.|ret||ret||tab|

For my money, being a superhero isn't all it's cracked up to be. For one thing, the pay isn't so hot, and unless you're independently wealthy like millionaire Bruce "Batman" Wayne, you've got to get a day job. Matt Murdock's choice of profession is law, but he's no high-paid corporate lawyer. He chooses to represent people from the Hell's Kitchen area of New York City where he grew up. Some can't pay, and some pay with fresh fish or wheels of cheese. So after a hard day in court, Matt becomes Daredevil and prowls the neighborhood looking for wrongs to right and people to protect. The "New York Post," the cops and much of the public at large view Daredevil as somewhat of a vigilante, and the poor guy, besides getting precious little sleep, gets about as much respect as Rodney Dangerfield. |ret||ret||tab|

Every superhero needs a nemesis, and here it's a crime boss named the Kingpin. Kingpin hires another freakish sort (we never learn his origin) called Bullseye, who has an amazing knack for throwing things in just the right spots to kill or maim when that's called for his hapless victims.|ret||ret||tab|

Bullseye's latest assignment is a man who was partners with Kingpin but wanted out after realizing how crooked their business really was. The man also is the father of the beautiful (and nearly a superhero herself) Elektra Natchios. Like a nemesis, every superhero needs a love interest and Elektra fills the bill here.|ret||ret||tab|

Elektra falls in love with Matt, but mistakenly believes Daredevil killed her dad and has sworn revenge. Having a secret identity always seems to screw things up for a superhero, and Matt/Daredevil is no different. |ret||ret||tab|

I was a little worried in the beginning that the vigilante aspect might be a bit much. I should have had faith. Comic books (at least in my day) always worked things out so everyone concerned is able to learn a valuable lesson. This is true with "Daredevil," and while there are a number of deaths that might disturb the younger viewer, the lessons are loud and clear.|ret||ret||tab|

"Daredevil" fits in the superhero film genre quite well and is a fast-paced, beautifully photographed action movie with plenty of whiz-bang special effects and enough of a story to engage the viewer.|ret||ret||tab|

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