This collection gives us a look at two questions that are rarely answered in the annals of comic books: First, does a superhero ever suffer from stress? And second, what happens - what really happens - when a superhero's secret identity is revealed?

Matt Murdock was once involved with a woman named Karen Page, who eventually left to become an actress. She wasn't very successful, and eventually becomes a junkie. One time, she barters for her drugs with a piece of information she has: That Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer, is actually the superhero Daredevil. This information works its way back to New York, where it is learned by the Kingpin of crime in New York City. Daredevil's nemesis. In short order, the Kingpin uses his influence to destroy Murdock's reputation, freeze every cent he owns, and very nearly throws Murdock into jail.

And that's just the first chapter.

The remainder of the book involves Matt's struggle to find himself and build a new life, and the efforts of several other characters. Karen Page returns to New York hoping Matt can help her. Daily Bugle columnist Ben Urich attempts to expose the Kingpin's efforts against Murdock. Matt's former partner, Foggy Nelson, finds himself faced with the ramifications of Matt's sudden disappearance. And the Kingpin himself tries to make the transition from pure crimelord to respected businessman (with all the irony that implies).

Miller is well-known for his take-no-prisoners approach to writing (he almost single-handedly defined the industry buzzword "grim-n-gritty"), and he pulls no punches here: Matt can't simply go back to his old life, and he must walk the razor's edge of sanity and survival. Miller always peppers his books with an array of personalities, ranging from focused street toughs to corrupt men with careful diction and large vocabularies. His books always have at least one pure hero, although the hero is often viewed through a distorted mirror. (Ben Urich is about as pure as they come, though.)

Mazzucchelli, who began his career as a fairly ordinary artist in the Marvel bullpen, starts off the story with rich, realistic artwork, and rapidly defines himself as a unique stylist who uses sharp, heavy brush strokes to define form and movement.

This was one of the last great comics to come from the Marvel stable in the 1980s, and it's one of the most rewarding superhero comics ever published.