DAREDEVIL #283: Cap and DD in "American Nightmare!"

[starwolf_oakley]

Ann Nocenti: I remember after a Captain America story we got a letter that said, "Get the commie off the book." We had a big laugh about that one. Luckily, I had an enlightened editor, Ralph Macchio, so while we had lots of fun conversation about the issues, and he often disagreed with my politics, he let me do what I wanted. He was an extremely supportive and intelligent editor.

DAREDEVIL #283 is an Ann Nocenti story that features artwork by Marc Bagley. It has "The Cold War is winding down, now what?" themes and guest stars Captain America.





So, let's go back a few days, when Daredevil and Captain America are in the same town in upstate New York. Daredevil is leaving Inhumans Karnak and Gorgon behind to return to New York City. Cap is there for some reason.



I get Steve Rogers was around during Prohibition. And a guy who wears the flag as his costume can get frustrated when it seems America can't do anything right. And this was 1990.

Anyway, an immigrant named Victor shows off a car he invented that flies (or at least hovers a few inches off the ground) he built out of garbage. It runs on harmonics.

Suddenly, Victor is getting hassled by immigration, the IRS and an FBI agent all within an hour. Cap and DD stop the FBI agent from planting narcotics in Victor's house. A TV report says Victor's car was a hoax, much to his annoyance.



Cap's odd behavior is that this is taking place during the STREETS OF POISON story line in his own book. Cap is exposed to an exploding crystal meth lab, the drug bonds with the Super Soldier Serum, and Cap starts acting strange. He doesn't completely lose it like he does in his own book.



Matt doesn't always know what he stands for, which is his appeal. If he stands for the law, why be a vigilante? But Matt being a very good lawyer and a very good Daredevil is why they should show him balancing those aspects of his life.

Also, "Daredevil" was a childish taunt since Kid!Matt was more interested in studying than playing with the neighborhood ruffians. Yes, I just said "ruffians."



Hired goons arrive to trash Victor's harmonics-powered hover-car. Cap and DD try to stop them, but the car is wrecked.

Since Victor designed for the car in a state of "lucid dreaming" he can't make another one.

He leaves a note for his wife and that is what in the text of the first page.

Comments

[hradzka]

Ann Nocenti is one of the great hit-or-miss comic writers for me. She does some absolutely amazing stuff, and her run on DAREDEVIL is still one of my favorites of all time. She's got a great emotionalism and power, and when she's on her game she lands like nobody out there. Her weakness that she has a very hard time writing sympathetic characters unless they share her politics, and if she touches on politics with her villains it comes off as cartoony. She's *phenomenal* with villains when she keeps them personal; her Kingpin is one of the creepiest incarnations of that character ever.

Definitely check out her DAREDEVIL run if you haven't.

[featheredserpent]

Damn, I love some Nocenti. I've been following her since Longshot and wish she had more airtime.