Daredevil - copyright: Netflix (distributor) and Marvel Television / ABC Studios (publisher)
The adaptation of a work from its original
media to another is always a difficult subject. On one hand, it is necessary to
preserve the original work must, keeping most of its essence; on other hand,
sometimes it is almost impossible to adapt a work to another media without some
changes. Nowadays, this dual problem is found frequently in comics adaptations,
as superheroes movies and series are becoming very popular.
One of the best examples of how to adapt a
comic is the Netflix original series Daredevil. Released in April 10, 2015,
Daredevil was a production of Marvel Television and ABC Studios, along with
others companies. The Netflix series was capable of dealing with the
originality/adaptation balance (almost) perfectly, being one of my favorite
series.
 |
| Daredevil promotional poster |
The comic main structure is as follows: Matthew
Murdock, son of a former boxer, suffers an accident with radioactive chemicals,
losing its vision in the process. However, as a compensation for his lost eyes,
the other four senses were enhanced to great levels. He can hear and identify a
heartbeat inside a big crowd. Or smell the sweat of people around him. His
touch is so sensitive that Matt can even read a newspaper just feeling the ink
with his fingers.
 |
| Daredevil comics by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli are really great! |
In addition to his improved senses, Matt
acquired a “radar sense”, just like a bat or a submarine. He is able to “hear”
the reflection of sound waves when they hit objects, which allows him to create
a mental reconstruction of everything around him. Using these extraordinary
senses, Matt trained his body and mind in order to become the Daredevil, a
superhero that protects the city of New York, mostly the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood,
where he always lived with his now deceased father.
The series was able to fully adapt the
Daredevil action, full of intense acrobatics movements and great martial arts.
Another potentially complicated point, the superhuman senses, was also well
adapted during the story. The public can understand what Matt is feeling,
without any unnecessary overreaction.
 |
| The fighting scenes are very intense and exciting |
As a classic superhero, Matt Murdock (played by
Charlie Cox) has two lives. Besides being the superhero Daredevil, he is also a
lawyer alongside with his best friend Franklin “Foggy” Nelson (played by Elden
Henson). Other important characters are: Karen Page (played by Deborah Ann
Woll), Matt’s eternal love, the journalist Ben Urich (played by Vondie
Curtis-Hall), the nurse Claire Temple (played by Rosario Dawson), and the main
antagonist Wilson Fisk (played by Vincent D’Onofrio), a great business man and
mafia boss also known as Kingpin.
 |
| From left to right: Fisk, Claire, Matt, Karen and Foggy |
The cast selection was great, resulting in very
believable interactions and conversations. Foggy and Matt really look like old
friends (even if, in my opinion, Foggy is not very physically similar with its
comics version), Matt and Karen make a lovely couple, and Fisk surely is a genuine
egocentric mafia boss. Every character is played marvelously (as expected from
Marvel…), which makes the plot advances very naturally along the 13 episodes.
Without telling any spoilers, Matt has to deal
with some tough personal/professional problems during the story. This fact is
another great adaptation from the comics, where the bad guys are not the only
difficulties. A dark past, the conflict between acting as a vigilante and a
lawyer, the danger in what of those around him are: Daredevil is much more than
just a superhero series. Many social principles and complex feelings are questioned,
but always in a very captivating way.
 |
| Behind the scenes: in the beginning, Matt does not use the classic Daredevil outfit |
Daredevil is one of the best superheroes adaptations
so far. For those who are used to read the comics, the characters and plot are
pleasantly familiar. Even if you are not used, you will get along with them
naturally, as the cast selection is great for both main and supporting
characters. The plot is solid, being able to bring many comics references
without losing any touch with reality. Moreover, the fighting scenes are all exciting
and well performed. Never reading a comic and watching a series was so close
and so funny.