Death-Defying 'Devil #2 - Dynamite Entertainment

DEATH-DEFYING 'DEVIL No. 2, September 2019

Considering that this book is absolutely packed full of nostalgic nods to the super-powered Mystery Men from “the early days of Western comics”, and a healthy dose of head-breaking as this comic’s titular lead brings his brutally badass style of street-level crime-fighting to the aisles of Miss Thomas’ local super-market, the vast majority of its audience probably thoroughly enjoyed the opening half of Gail Simone’s screenplay to Issue Two of “Death-Defying Devil”. But whilst the twenty-two page periodical continues to contain plenty of socked jaws, broken ribs and bust guts all the way to its utterly bizarre conclusion, the Oregon-born writer’s disconcerting decision to suddenly transform Daredevil into an actual boomerang-slinging cowboy probably made them then drop the publication like a partially read hot potato.

To begin with however, there is a reasonable amount to enjoy regarding the former hairdresser’s narrative, courtesy of a somewhat sickly-sweet sentimental scene depicting Bart sat upon an ornate settee, munching a slice of homemade coffee cake and delicately holding a tiny cup of tea. Literally surrounded by cats and old movie posters, this well-penned look back over the Swan from Milan’s motion picture career provides a convincing rationale as to just why the frustratingly mute super-hero would ever consider accompanying the elderly actress to the “Food 2 Go” store for some vanilla or rum raisin ice cream.

Yet sadly, once the “comic strip” adventurer has bloodily dispatched the axe-wielding assailants such a shopping trip was bound to enrage, things take a horrific turn for the worse as events are seemingly sucked back in time to an old black and white picture studio, where corrupt police officers are transformed into trench coat-wearing marshals, Louisa rejuvenated into a buxom wench, and Daredevil distorted into “a rotten actor in a lousy B-movie.” In fact, almost everything which was compelling about Simone’s story-telling is arguably torn away from beneath the feet of this comic’s readers within the space of a single sheet of paper; “I’m askin’ one last time tenderfoot. A bullet here, or a noose at the penitentiary. What’s it gonna be?”

Wretchedly, even worse is to come though as Gail decides a brief sojourn to Robert Zemeckis’ 1990 science fiction film “Back to the Future Part III” isn’t pulp enough for her perusing bibliophiles, and shockingly reveals that one of the modern-day cops turned Wild West desperados is actually a cloven-hooved, red-skinned demon, who instantly teleports Bart to a lynching atop a ludicrous-looking, antler-bearing satanic beast. Poorly pencilled by Brazilian artist Walter Geovani, who quite possibly couldn’t quite believe what he was being asked to illustrate, this change of events completely ruins what had initially appeared to be an enjoyably grounded tale of penniless house-bound tenants fighting against the tyranny of their town’s indigenous crime boss.

The regular cover art of "DEATH-DEFYING 'DEVIL" No. 2 by Inhyuk Lee