Issue(s): Daredevil #206
Cover Date: May 84
Title: "Every good and perfect gift..."
Credits:
Denny O'Neil - Writer
David Mazzucchelli - Penciler
Dan Bulanadi - Inker

Review/plot:
The Micah Synn plot continues in this issue. We see that the Kinjorge tribe is not (and probably has no intention of) adjusting to modern society.

The one possible exception is Synn himself, who is currently discussing a partnership with the Kingpin.

The Kingpin slips away when Debbie Harris enters the room, bearing a gift. It's an idol of the Kinjorge tribe's god Mow, and we get a sampling of the philosophy behind the religion.

The Kingpin puts a stop to the kissing and tells Synn that it is out of bounds.

Since i've been clutching my pearls over the treatment of Debbie Harris, let me just say that i find the above scene effective. I like that she's tempted. She knows that going to Synn is wrong, but she's attracted to him and she keeps putting herself in situations like that. I think it's really well handled.

Additionally, as Michael points out in the comments for Daredevil #202, this is not necessarily a new character trait for Debbie.

Later, Synn invades Matt Murdock's apartment.

I like how in that third scan, the panels are literally falling apart as the scene descends into chaos. Really good storytelling. It works because for the most part the panel layouts are very clean and traditional. This is David Mazzucchelli's first issue on Daredevil. William Johnson will be back for one final issue and then Mazzucchelli is the regular penciler. Artwise, there's no major shift here; it's consistent with previous issues.

Matt manages to get the lights out, change into Daredevil, and take the fight outside. Synn still has DD on the ropes when the Kingpin intervenes.

An interesting alliance is being developed...

Now here's where i switch sides on the Debbie Harris issue. In the previous scene, she was tempted and things got a little out of hand. Realistic. Here, Synn stormed into Murdock's apartment, grabbed her and tried to pull her away, pulling her hair, while attacking her friends. And now that Synn has been beaten up, she's mooning over him?

I find that the strokes are just a little too broad, i guess. I get what O'Neil is doing and generally speaking i think it works well. But a panel like this one just seems like it's not subtle enough.

This is a great storyline, and it's well told. I'm judging the scenes like the one above a little more harshly because the quality of the writing merits it. If this were a Roy Thomas book i'd roll my eyes and that'd be the end of it (nah, you're right. I'd probably gripe and moan about it then, too).

Matt and Glorianna begin to develop a love interest. It's Matt Murdock, the Casonova of the Marvel Universe, of course, so that's to be expected.

Quality Rating: B+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A