DAREDEVIL #192: "Promises", by Alan Brenn

[cricharddavies]

The year was 1983. Frank Miller had just ended his first run on the title that shot him to prominence. After its mysticism-shot climax ("Resurrection") and nail-biting finale ("Roulette"), the tale now focused on more quiet matters. It's often been said that Miller's take on Daredevil was inspired by The Spirit, and while I find that ... implausible, at best, it's impossible not to see the influence ofthe master on the tale that immediately followed his.



Technically, this wasn't Alan Brennert's first work for Marvel. In the seventies, he'd contributed interviews with other science fiction authors to a magazine that the company published. And, later, a story he wrote would be scripted by his collaborator Martin Pasko for an issue of Star Trek. (Given Mr. Brennert's history, I'm inclined to wonder whether this story might have been a plot idea for an episode of "Star Trek: Phase II", the planned TV series that was scrapped and later recycled into the first feature-length film.) But it was the only time, to the best of my knowledge, that he turned his skills as a writer loose on the characters of the other major comic book company.

It's a simple tale, at heart. Ben Uhrich has received information that one of his mentors may have been corrupt, and after being saved (by Daredevil, of course) from an assassination attempt which suggests that the information is credible, he asks Hornhead for help in corroborating it. At the same time, Ben and his wife Doris are considering buying a house in Westchester ... but there may be difficulties in getting a loan for it.

It's a simple tale, at heart. Ben Urich has received information that one of his mentors may have been corrupt, and after being saved (by Daredevil, of course) from an assassination attempt which suggests that the information is credible, he asks Hornhead for help in corroborating it. At the same time, Ben and his wife Doris are considering buying a house in Westchester ... but there may be difficulties in getting a loan for it.






"Sure it was", sneers Jimmy, and Ben leaves. "The trip back to New York is even longer than the one to Glen Cove."

Note Ben's trenchcoat. Note how his glasses look like a mask.

Meanwhile, Matt has been doing some digging, and decides to confirm his worst suspicions by visiting his book's costar.




Needless to say, Ben's just thrilled with this development when Daredevil comes to tell him about it, and they end up having an argument. Ben leaves with the horrible feeling that he has to buy the house, even though he knows it's the wrong thing to do, because it's the right thing to do.

The resolution.



The tale doesn't quite manage to combine the epic and the personal in the way that Mr. Brennert's various Batman tales do, but it does have his signature reliance on a character's history. (In a page I didn't include, Matt's suspicions about Ben's real estate broker tie back to an episode when Nelson and Murdock's building manager was a criminal mastermind.)

But it tells a tale of corruption, compromise and the sad, tiny triumphs of idealism. A good tale, deserving of more love.

Comments

[thehefner]

Goddamn, that was wonderful. I must find this whole issue. It's a perfect epilogue and tribute to Miller's DD. Thanks for posting it!

[midnightvoyager]

His wife is adorable. She looks so cuddly!

[starwolf_oakley]

I seem to recall that Doris was killed in a story recently. I'm guessing it was during SECRET INVASION, but I'm not certain. Any info?

Doris has her own hangups. After Matt Murdock was "revealed" as Daredevil in the Bendis run, Ben says how Drois griped to him that he was sitting on an uncashed lottery ticket.

[cricharddavies]

Well,.as Ben himself acknowledges that temptation in this very issue, it's hard to blame her for that.

[badficwriter]

It was in a Secret Invasion miniseries, I think. Happened off-panel, which.......speaking as someone who's FIRST Daredevil stories contained Doris in Born Again and this--because this issue is on the Top Ten Daredevil stories so it's one of those people are encouraged to pick up--was frankly, pretty dismissive. And Ben Urich's reaction is disrespectful as well. It's as if his wife never existed. I do NOT recommend getting it.

[blackruzsa]

DEFINITELY a good story. I love how they question the morals of certain people and draw the line where it counts.

[citygod]

Thanks for posting this - I read it when it was first published but didn't enjoy it at the time. Klaus' art was too much like the art from the Miller era, with all Janson's lovely polish and style, but without Franks amazing layouts (his greatest strength.) It was like seeing Sinnott without Kirby. (The panel of DD running away from Kingpins desk is pretty bad!) But the whole story looks much better now. And good call on the Spirit reference. But I have to disagree with "It's often been said that Miller's take on Daredevil was inspired by The Spirit, and while I find that ... implausible, at best," Really? But Miller admitted it himself! I mean, Electra IS Sand Serif, Black Widow is P'Gell... you have to remember, no-one was doing noir like this in the 80's, and the comparisons looked pretty obvious, even blatant. (Though I never got Frank's assertion that Eisner was his mentor - never heard that they where that close.) Anyway: thanks, lovely story, great to see it again.

[cricharddavies]

Natasha is P'Gell? If you said Silk Satin, I could maybe buy that, but ... well, I just don't see it. C'est la vie.

[citygod]

I hate to admit this, cos there are few bigger fans of Eisners, but... after Sand Serif, most of his female villains tend to fade into one vaguely Bette Davis-esue blur, for me.
I wish I could find an interview with Miller, from the middle of his DD run, when the interviewer lists the similarities between the Spirit and DD - it's pretty amazing. Miller laughs and cops to it.
You have to admit, Millers DD and Eisners Spirit have one big thing in common: no-one ever got their ass handed to them as much as those two!

[badficwriter]

Never read Spirit, so I'm puzzled where it's similar. I thought that character was a womanizer? Ben Urich is the epitome of fidelity here.

So many things to love! The oh-so-realistic sloppy dress of Ben and his wife at home. Kingpin's smiling (and somehow cute) acknowledgement of the limits of his power. His pointing out that Daredevil had only gotten power over him through the same methods. Ben's love for his wife where he considers selling his soul for her happiness. Doris' love, which is as honorable as any ancient fairy tale's.

Its funny, people always say how understandable it is when some hero's girlfriend throws a fit over his safety, but the kind of woman Doris is, is actually more common and realistic in my experience.

So hated when they killed her off for a cheap throwaway. And I really wished they'd had Ben and Doris keep that Frogman kid from 'Wake Up.'

[rainspirit]

In defence of the Spirit, I'll make a hideously outdated anime analogy (one of the only times I'll ever do this) and say that he's about as much of a womanizer as Tenchi Muyo is a debauched rake. I'd say the Spirit was for the most part a classy gent (with the occasional "I must pretend to be kissing this villainess so I don't blow my cover!") who had a long-time sweetheart... it was just that his universe had an overabundance of femme fatales who had the hots for him, tried to kill him or did a bit of both.

Ben's in a very familiar position, though - exposing crime as a renegade do-gooder, without consulting the police, wanting his own answers first-hand. Classic Spirit sleuthing. :)

[badficwriter]

Good thing you made it outdated! :D I'd never know any of the more recent stuff.

Never knew that about the Spirit. My goodness, that man must have some sort of out of control pheromones..

[rainspirit]

Neither do I, I only know about Tenchi Muyo because of Cartoon Network. :B

I love the Spirit. There's actually a whole book I have collecting quite a few issues featuring his most famous femme fatales. For all his faults with Ebony White (Spirit's VERY politically incorrect black teenage sidekick) he was awesome at writing strong, deadly women. And yes, Spirit had a thing about trying to dodge the attention of criminal women.. XD