Writer Andy Diggle talks about...

By Kevin Mahadeo

This October, writer Andy Diggle lets out the devil inside when he takes over writing duties on DARDEVIL and sends the high-soaring hero down a dark path riddled with risk and danger—just the way Matt Murdock likes it.

"For a long while now, Matt's been bouncing around like a pinball, reacting to one event after another in his personal life," says Diggle. "Now it's time for Matt to stop and take stock, and for Daredevil to become more pro-active. He vows to start taking the initiative, instead of always just running to catch up. But this is going to mean severing the connections to his 'normal life' even more than he has already, which can't be healthy. Plus his new 'pro-active' approach is going to start ruffling some feathers in high places—like Avengers Tower."

Preview art by Roberto De La Torre

Diggle follows on the heels of writer Ed Brubaker and artist Michael Lark and hints at big changes coming into the life of Murdock when the current creative team closes out their run with August's issue #500. And although Diggle's stint with artist Roberto De La Torre begins with issue #501, his first official dance with the devil occurs in the DARK REIGN: THE LIST—DAREDEVIL one-shot which will be illustrated by Billy Tan.

Despite never working with the character before, Diggle shares a definite fan familiarity with the Man Without Fear.

"It feels like I have some big shoes to fill, certainly," he notes. "I was familiar with Frank Miller's work of course, plus Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker's run, and I'd enjoyed the few issues of Ann Nocenti's run I'd read back in the day, too. While I can't lay claim to being a 'hardcore' fan, I'm certainly familiar with the character, the title and its pedigree. So I'm going to try to be respectful of what's gone before, without necessarily trying to mimic it. I've got my own style and I think the readers will dig it."

Preview art by Roberto De La Torre

As for the character of Daredevil, Diggle points to the 1990 graphic novel by Miller and Lynn Varley, ELEKTRA LIVES AGAIN, as a book that "sums up everything that makes Matt Murdock/Daredevil work as a character—plus it looks amazing." Diggle jokes Murdock drives himself through "Catholic guilt, but honestly that's a little glib and not necessarily accurate." However, the British-born scribe points to a certain moral obligation that gives the hero his signature sense of stubbornness over right and wrong.

"Matt has an uncompromising, bloody-minded streak that makes him a force to be reckoned with," explains Diggle. "It can also make him a right royal pain in the ass to those closest to him, but that's the price they have to pay. Matt makes no apologies for doing what he believes to be the right thing. But you know what they say about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions."

De La Torre will pencil the title and Diggle gushes over the artist's amazing artwork, which he says fits the book as perfectly by combining a "dark and gritty style with soaring beauty." As for villains, Diggle decided to keep extremely quiet about his plans, but he did give one little tease:

"Some old, some new. One very old, but that's all you're getting. I don't want to spoil it!"For all the latest news updates from Heroes Con 2009 and Wizard World Philadelphia 2009, keep checking back right here on Marvel.com all weekend!

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