The Magdalena & Daredevil #1
The Devil In Longhand
Art and Story by Phil Hester
Inks by Ande Parks
Colors by Blond
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Phil Hester, Stjepan Sejic
Image Comics
Cover price: $3.99; Available now

OK, I admit it, I used to be a big fan of the old “Marvel Team-Up” comics back in the day. What I liked about them most that was that you usually got two cool characters for the price of one (a most important factor when you only make about $20 a week on your paper route”¦), and it seemed that the writers on this book were given free rein to run riot all over the Marvel Universe, which usually led to some pretty interesting plot lines. (An issue from the 80s that particularly sticks out in my mind was one where Aunt May becomes a herald to Galactus and has to procure Twinkies for him to devour. Yeah, you read that right. Twinkies.)

This team-up offering from Image, The Magdalena & Daredevil #1: The Devil In Longhand, is nowhere near as trippy, or as downright fun. It’s a by-the-numbers affair, written by Phil Hester, that pits ol’ Hornhead and the Magdalena (which is a new character to me and I must admit that I found her pretty intriguing”¦yeah, I’m a sucker for almost anything that is steeped in Roman Catholic mythos) against a demon that is kidnapping children throughout the city for its own nefarious purposes.

While the basic plot is kind of rote (DD and Magdalena clash at first, get over it, team-up, find the demon, and then lay the holy smack down), it is well told with a certain amount of literary panache, especially in the “hardboiled” captions.

The art in this book (also by Phil Hester, with Ande Parks and Blond ably backing him up on the inks and colors, respectively) is exceptional. I honestly haven’t seen Hester’s work since his run on Green Arrow (with Kevin Smith) a few years back and I have to say that it looks as good as ever, if not better.

You could do much worse as far as team-up books go, so pick up The Magdalena & Daredevil #1: The Devil In Longhand if you are fan of either of these characters. You won’t be disappointed. Me? I’m sticking with Aunt May and her Twinkies”¦