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[TV Review] “Marvel’s Daredevil” Episode 1.01, ‘Into The Ring’

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“Be careful of the Murdock boys, they got the devil in them.” Marvel’s Daredevil has officially made its Netflix debut, and episode one “Into The Ring” offers a refreshing take on the superhero origin story.

Right away we’re treated to a short origin scene of young Matt getting his powers, blinded by a chemical spill. But a coming of age story, or a tiresome realization that the city needs to be cleaned up doesn’t follow it up; instead we meet a man who is already Daredevil.

The fight scene on the docks does a brilliant job at setting the tone for the series. It may play out a little like the one from Batman Begins, but it’s noticeably more raw and unrefined. Matt’s powers are barely alluded to; they’re just taken as fact. The brutality of the first scene is immediately followed up by playful banter between Elden Hansen and Charlie Cox who have immediate chemistry.

It’s quickly apparent that this episode is more Karen Page’s origin story than Daredevil’s. Foggy and Matt meet her in a moment of desperation. She wakes up covered in someone else’s blood framed for a murder she didn’t commit and with nowhere else to turn she goes to Nelson and Murdock.

Visually the show uses a ton of natural lighting to create intense and dramatic moments that help to establish a noir appeal. The camera angles don’t have a ton of inspiration just yet, but a scene later in this episode lit only by a intrusively bright billboard proves the show may still have tricks up its sleeve.

Early in the first episode the burning question of how this all ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper is answered by way of “The incident.” That’s what they call the events of The Avengers. But, Matt and Foggy are in the beginning of their career and willing to rebuild in Hell’s Kitchen.

As they get tied into Karen’s story, they start to uncover the secrets of Union Allied Construction. There are vague ties to Wilson Fisk, but he doesn’t appear anywhere within the full running time of the episode. He’s smartly absent, and because of this his presence becomes all the more foreboding. Thanks to stellar casting his known associates create just as much menace as the big bald Kingpin. His assistant is calm and menacing with only a few scenes.

So far, the biggest issue to take with Daredevil is that it doesn’t abide by the normal conceptions of serialized storytelling for television. There is nothing resembling an act break, or even really a story break. It’s designed to be binged and heavily serialized, made with the foreword knowledge that the next episode will be immediately available to those who seek it out.

This might be an issue for some, but we live in culture obsessed with binging. There is something to say about the obvious rise and fall of drama in a week-to-week presentation, but perhaps this represents a new age of television.

Which is certainly true of Daredevil as an entry in the ever-popular world of superhero genre fiction. This show is less capes and tights and more crime and punishment. It immediately edges itself out as something more daring. The result is a smartly crafted 13-hour movie that isn’t afraid to play with expectations set forth by the genre.

“Into The Ring” proves to be an excellent episode of television but a weird pilot that only feels like one small step in a very large story. Again, this perhaps represents a different age of television outside the tight reigns of the ratings box, but as a compelling set up for the remainder of the season it leaves a little to be desired, which is probably what Netflix is counting on.

 

 

 

 

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‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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