Frank Miller, in his Daredevil work from 1985, made giant steps towards reinventing comic books on a par with any of his comic book contemporaries, including Moore, Byrne, and Morrison.  His treatment of Daredevil has the perfect tone: serious, objective, and solemn.  Turning Hell's Kitchen into a real life urban war zone allows an allegorical approach to the issues that are eating away at Matt Murdock's (Daredevil's), soul.

The "Born Again" graphic novel is like an onion of metaphorical meaning.  The juxtaposition of Nuke, a pill swallowing, plastic infused, mentally ill attempt at a new super soldier, with Captain America, a secret soldier serum swallowing, shield carrying, mentally fit super soldier, is fascinating when both of them are compared to Daredevil.  Certainly Daredevil has his incredible senses and eco-location, but he fights without any drugs amplifying his system.  Certainly the ideals of Captain America set him apart from Nuke, but the drugs in Captain America's system are definitely intended to contrast ironically with those in Daredevil's lover Karen Page (a recovering heroin addict).  The theme intended must be an allegorical look at the creation of war zones during the drug war of the 1980's, and the carnage that ensues in these comics is equal in scope to the worst of real life.

The fight scenes between Nuke and Daredevil in the ultimate chapter of Born Again are perhpas the most visceral and engaging in any Daredevil comic book ever.  Nuke is a worthy adversary, but Daredevil is simply too persistant, too relentless, and completely unstoppable when he is defending his neighborhood against this miltant encroachment.

Many of Nuke's comments have the aura of verisimilitude, but his ultimate defeat is necessary.  Captain America may be able to forgive him, but Hell's kitchen may remember things differently as the newly homeless, and possessionless innocent victims pick their lives out from the embers.  Karen Page is a perfect synecdoche of this process of renewal and the last frame of her happily cavorting with Matt out of costume is one of the better "happily ever after" moments the cynical Frank Miller will ever create.

Daredevil "Born Again," is still sold in graphic novel form, and I recommend picking up a copy.  Here there is more of the gestation of Frank Miller's Dark Knight within the belly of the greatest Daredevil story ever told.  In many ways almost everything that has happened in Daredevil in the past twenty years has its roots buried in this work.  Let yourself be buried in comic books and I'll see you tomorrow.  Blessed Be.