Daredevil 266

A Beer with the Devil by Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr

One Sentence Overview:  Distressed at his betrayal of Karen, Daredevil spends Christmas in a bar where a mysterious woman attempts to seduce him

Well, ho, ho, ho.  This is the third issue in Ann's run to reference Christmas which makes you think that Ann's a fan of the season.  The first yarn in DD241 was pretty bleak stuff, whilst the following year's DD253 was a (slightly) upbeat sentimental slice of quasi-Dickensian pie.  This year's festive offering falls between the two... okay, it's probably closer in tone to DD241's 'Black Christmas' but, hey, there are people singing carols and kissing each other on the first few pages, so that's not so bad, is it?

However, we get to the nub of the problem when some bypassers outside a local drinking establishment tut about how much of a loser you must be to spend Christmas Day drinking your troubles away instead of seeking out the solace of loved ones. 

And who's indoors, exactly?  Why, the very fellow who was sitting at a bar stool in the last few panels of the last issue, still ensconced in his crimson red get up, jaw still bandaged up, a platoon of beer bottles on the counter in front of him.  The poor sod looks like he hasn't been home for days (and no doubt stinks to high heaven).  What's funny too is that, given the disregard heroes are held in in Ann Nocenti's Hell's Kitchen, no-one gives the superhero a second glance.  The only one interested is the guy behind the bar keenly waiting for the next order.

And whilst our morose hero drowns his sorrow, a phalanx of characters come and go around him.  One guy, ignorant of Matt's own crumbling love life, complains about his ex-wife; another lonely old soak wants reassurance that she is still beautiful, whilst another middle aged man regrets how his fear holds him back from preventing a mugging outside.  As usual, these inconsequential characters are beautifully realised by Ann, despite the fact they take up only a few frames.

Of more importance are a pair of brothers killing time before heading round to their mother's for the annual Christmas festivities.  Hector is sensible, Hugo more irresponsible but Hector envies him his freedom.  As Hector tries to persuade Hugo to get out of the bar, his jealousy builds and builds until...

Well, that would be tellling but it could be connected to the peculiar looking woman who's now occupying the vacant stool by Mr Murdock.  At first, given the big frizzy 80s hair, I thought this might be Typhoid Mary.  But actually, given that this is the 80s, this is just some other lady, though one with a slightly peculiar back story - she was in Cuba in 1960, Dallas in 1963... wait a minute, isn't she too young for that?  And don't those dates and locations have something in common...?

Odder still is that the other patrons passing Matt and Mystery Woman make mention that this woman is, er, well, a man.  How odd!  Why would they think that?  Look, Matt's even snogging her - that's no man!

Oops!  Next second, the guise slips and we find Matt's been locking tongues with Mephisto!  Now that's gotta be uncomfortable.  At this point, a very interesting downbeat little tale suddenly morphs into the surreal, the horrific as the reader suddenly realises that the story's title actually contains a double meaning.  There's a bit of pontificating from Mephisto about how small Daredevil is in comparison to the vastness of evil, wonderfully illustrated by a great splash page by John.  "You used to believe," Mephisto hisses, "that one man, no matter how small, could fight evil.... One day I'll tip the scales and I'll welcome you into my arms." 

It's a calling card to how much the whole tenor of superhero tales have changed since the halcyon days of the early 60s - crude realism burning away the dreams of the hero always saving the day.

To be honest, I was kind of disappointed by this sudden preternatural intrusion into the earthy world of Daredevil (perhaps Ann had been rummaging through MR James' Christmas ghost stories in preparation for this issue?).  It's very strange and somewhat disconcerting.  Ultimately Mephisto returns DD to earth, dumping him in the garbage in an alleyway, where the old soak and separated man find him and invite him to Christmas dinner at the soup kitchen.  Daredevil, bless his miserable soul, decides this is as good an offer he'll get this Christmas. 

No doubt, many readers dislike their heroes this hopeless... but, heck, I kinda like it.

Cast
Daredevil/Matt Murdock

Mephisto/Mysterious Woman
Hector
Hugo
Jack
Sammy

Rating: 8 out of 10