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Dustin Carson on the issue

From Bendis to Brubaker, Matt Murdock has been through the ringer in the past five years. He has gained and lost a wife in Milla Donovan, had his secret identity revealed to the press, surrendered to the FBI, been attacked by Mister Fear, the Enforcers, The Hood, and Lady Bullseye. Now, he has positioned himself as the new leader of The Hand. The mark of these two writers' runs has been Matt Murdock dealing with the numerous problems that have erupted in his personal relationships. In Daredevil 502, Andy Diggle takes the series into a new direction: Matt Murdock isn't handling the problems in his personal life- Daredevil is handling the problems in his heroic life.

The story opens on The Owl, who, after his last fight with Daredevil, has been left paralyzed from the waist down. His lieutenants visit him long enough to inform him that they are taking control of the streets, leaving the weakened Owlsley to fend for himself.

As the page turns, we find ourselves sharing a lucid dream with Daredevil. In it, he enters a run-down apartment to find the women of his life confronting him for the type of person he is. Diggle does it brilliantly with double meaning- Dakota tells Matt the he stinks. Matt, assuming that she is referencing the odor of his cloths, says "I'll change". Immediately, Milla simply states "You won't change." This is nicely done by Diggle as it shows Dakota's frustration with Matt as a person, "you stink", while giving Milla a chance to remind Matt that he is his own worst enemy, "you won't change." Prophetically, Elektra then adds "it is inside"- meaning change is inside him. Matt, who has disrobed, rips his skin off and finds the Daredevil suit beneath. The floor caves in and, as Daredevil hangs on for dear life, he asks the women to save him. Elektra replies, "Save yourself".

As the story progresses, we find that Black Tarantula's healing factor has broken The Hands' programming and that he has returned to normal. Master Izo, who Matt supposedly killed as a sign that Daredevil deserved leadership of The Hand, is alive and faking his death was all part of a grander plan to eventually destroy The Hand. Foggy has returned to court and The Kingpin has been pulling the strings of The Owl's lieutenants. And, most importantly, Daredevil has finally returned to clean-up the streets of Hell's Kitchen- only this time, he has The Hand backing his play. It would appear that Diggle plans to have Daredevil "save himself"-and, at least in my opinion, it's about time.

Written by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Roberto De La Torre
Cover by: Esad Ribic
Published by: Marvel Comics

Matt Murdock's spiral of self-destruction spins out of control and threatens to consume everybody! After painting a target on his own back in DAREDEVIL #500, Matt's got dozens of new enemies...including some old foes and familiar faces! The scorching new arc by the creative team of Andy Diggle (THUNDERBOLTS) and Roberto De La Torre (IRON MAN) intensifies...now's the time to jump on! Rated T

PRICE: $2.99
IN STORES: November 11, 2009