We here at Multiversity get pretty excited about the holidays, and this year we’re sharing that excitement with the rest of you as we celebrate that wonder of wonders: THE HOLIDAY COMIC!
Each day for the next twenty-five days, and in no particular order, we’ll be featuring one yuletide yarn set to the tune of tidings of comfort and joy, and today brings Matt Murdock celebrating the holidays the classy way, from dumpster beds and the alleys of New York City in Daredevil #229 – “Pariah!”
Day #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18
Who Did It? This classy joint was put together by two all-timers in writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli
What Is It About? Matt Murdock is having a hell of a hard time right about now. I mean, the guy is busily recounting the story of how he went blind (sad…) while curling into the fetal position in a dumpster somewhere in the wilds of NYC (super sad!). Needless to say, he’s in a pretty dark place.
The good news is he takes all of the energy he can muster – which isn’t a lot because his life has been turned upside down, he was recently nearly beaten to death by Wilson Fisk, and, oh yeah, he’s sleeping in dumpsters! – to go across the street and help out a poor Santa who was being accosted by thugs Turk and Grotto. Yay! Good deeds will bring positive karma his way, right? Nah. Turk just stabs him, while dressed as Santa. The good news is this leads to Matt being rescued by a kindly nun/secret mother, giving Mazzucchelli a chance to channel Michelangelo for one hot minute.
In other story lines, Foggy goes shopping with Glori and saves the day from a mugger thanks to well-timed bowling ball tosses, Ben Urich meets a beast of a woman who could give the Kingpin a run for his money (and barely lives to tell the tale), and Karen gets a ride to NYC in exchange for…services.
Basically, the only person in this comic who isn’t getting entirely owned is Foggy, and his best friend was getting stabbed probably at the same exact time as his triumph.
Is It Holiday Friendly? This comic takes place during Christmas. It features a character dressed as Santa as well as characters Christmas shopping. That’s about it. It’s about a cast of characters in various states of disrepair, and, to be more specific, the stabbings one of them receives when he happens to run across good ol’ Saint Nick. Needless to say, Matt is probably not much of a Christmas guy after he recovers from Born Again.
It is a ridiculously great comic though. Just one that isn’t very holiday friendly.
