Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 are both Pick of the Week for me. Both stories were so strong in a similar way that it was hard to choose between the two. I tried flipping a coin, but my daughter ran into the room screaming “It hit the floor, it is mine,” and ran off with the quarter before I could see which way it landed.
Daredevil #30 and Batman and Nightwing #23 both made Pick of the Week!
Both are Team-Ups
Batman and Nightwing #23 obviously teams Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (I will never get used to calling him Richard), but this issue could also have been entitled Batman and Alfred. I can’t go too much into that as it would give away parts of the story. On the flip, Daredevil #30 teams Daredevil and the Silver Surfer.
Both Contained Stories
Both issues are fairly contained stories. While both draw on elements from past issues in the series (in the case of the Batman title, it pulls from other Batman Family titles as well). Both could be considered as issues which could stand alone from the rest of their prospective runs as they both have a set beginning, middle, and end.
Contained Stories Rare
In today’s market, it is very difficult to find fully-contained stories. Many issues might have a beginning , but you have to wait until the next month for the middle and a few more months for the end of a story. Once arc storytelling took over, many comic book creators and publishers apparently forgot that you can tell a story in one issue. Both Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 were fresh air.
Would Have Purchased Both in Graphic Novel Form
Both Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 are tight stories which pack a ton of information into a limited number of printed pages. Both stories are strong enough, though, that they could have been expanded into their own graphic novels. This is a compliment to the writer of Batman and Nightwing #23, Peter J. Tomassi, and to the writers of Daredevil #30, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. It is a very difficult task for a writer to create a story which leave you wanting more while satisfying you with what you received at the same time.
Both Have Had Pick of the Week Status
Both the Batman and Robin title and Daredevil have had Pick of the Week status in the past. This should tell you something. If you are not reading these titles, you should be. Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 are perfect spots to check out these titles if you have not.
