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Daredevil vol 1 #201-250

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The Price

by Christine on January 3, 2010 in Commentary, Older Issues

Hey there! Glad to see you made it into 2010. For my first post of the year, I thought I’d take a closer look at one of those issues that usually ranks pretty high on many people’s lists of memorable Daredevil issues. It’s cheesy, cute, not perfectly logical, but an uncommonly emotional read. What am I talking about? Daredevil #223, The Price, by Denny O’Neil and David Mazzucchelli.

Published in the fall of 1985, The Price was a tie-in to Secret Wars II, featuring the mysterious Beyonder, a character as well known for his jheri curls and distinctly 1980’s look as for his background story. To make a long story short, the Beyonder is a very powerful alien being who is visiting Earth in search of enlightenment. While it’s the Beyonder’s desire to find a legal means to own the entire world(!) that brings him to the law offices of Nelson & Murdock – and thus gets the story going – this issue is very much about the title character. Matt is taken on an emotional roller-coaster when the Beyonder gives him his sight back as a retainer to persuade him to take the case.

The Beyonder materializes in Foggy's office

The Beyonder materializes in Foggy's office

Less Beyonder and more Matt under the cut –>

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Matt Murdock’s Christmas party from hell

by Christine on December 26, 2009 in Humor

I hope those of you who celebrate Christmas have had a good couple of days with your loved ones. I’ve spent Christmas at my mother’s and ate more food than any sane person should. Oh well, it’s only once a year, right?

With the holiday season still not quite over, I thought I’d take the opportunity to look at how our favorite hero likes to spend his Christmas. Or not. As always seems to be the case with Matt Murdock, things don’t quite go as planned in this longer scene from Daredevil #206 (volume 1), by Denny O’Neil and David Mazzucchelli, where Matt and his house guest Glorianna decide to throw a Christmas party. Let’s see how they do! (Keep in mind that you can click each panel to make it zoom to full scale without having to leave the page.)

Matt prepares for his Christmas party, Daredevil #206 by Denny O'Neil and David Mazzucchelli

Matt prepares for his Christmas party, Daredevil #206 by Denny O'Neil and David Mazzucchelli

More Christmas madness under the cut –>

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Yes, it’s time for one of those radar posts again, and we will finally be moving into post-Miller territory, and covering the Daredevil of Denny O’Neil. As we’ll see, there are a couple of noteworthy things about O’Neil’s interpretation of the radar, so let’s get on with the show and tell…

Radar image, from Daredevil #195, by Denny O'Neil and Klaus Janson

Radar image, from Daredevil #195, by Denny O'Neil and Klaus Janson

(Much) more radar goodnes under the cut –>

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Keep the kids away from Matt Murdock!

by Christine on November 23, 2009 in Humor

Remember Matt Murdock? The nice guy? Well, wouldn’t you know, he’s got some skeletons in his closet. Something along the lines of murder of a poor defenseless child…

From Daredevil #209, by Arthur Byron Cover and David Mazzucchelli

From Daredevil #209, by Arthur Byron Cover and David Mazzucchelli

Well, in his defense, this “child” is actually an exploding robot. The robot, and her many duplicates, have been set to detonate when they are within range of the house of horrors that Daredevil encountered in the previous issue, when going up against the Death-Stalker’s mother. Yeah, it’s a crazy story, but a pretty funny issue.

The issue in question is Daredevil #209, by Arthur Byron Cover, based on an idea by Harlan Ellison, with art by David Mazzucchelli.

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Racial profiling for the blind

by Christine on August 30, 2009 in Humor

Every now and then, when browsing older issues, you come across something that raises an eyebrow and seems to beg the simple question: What were they thinking? The scenario below, while not particularly politically correct, is hardly cause for indignation, but you have to wonder whether there is any scientific basis for the ability to smell a person’s ethnic background (though I should mention that one of my co-workers, with a relationship record that spans almost every continent, claims that you can). And while we’re on the topic of “weird,” what’s with Matt pawing this guy’s face to begin with?

For those who are curious, this panel is from Daredevil #224, written by Jim Owsley, in his first of two guest writer appearances, and penciled by Daniel Jurgens and Geoff Isherwood. The older man in this picture is Abe, for whom the issue is named, and comes into contact with Daredevil when caught in the cross-fire between some baddies, and the two spend much of the issue at a diner together.

Another pretty funny thing about this issue is that I think it has one of the most contrived instances of must-insert-reference-to-origin-and-powers I think I’ve ever seen (click to enlarge): “That sound… the momentary burst of heat… Possibly a large burst of energy being released. Energy like the radioactive burst that robbed me of my sight when I was a child and heightened my remaining senses to paranormal levels.”

That’s it for today, folks!

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“He wears the flag”

by Christine on July 4, 2009 in Commentary

Last year this time, I decided to celebrate the 4th of July by posting a panel from one of Ann Nocenti’s issues (where the story was actually set on the date in question). I thought the idea of continuing to post something with a touch of Americana might be a fun tradition, so I hereby present these classic panels from the last issue of Born Again, Daredevil (vol 1) #233.

The man wearing the flag in this case is Nuke, the well-known pill-popping and crayon-wielding crazy whose affinity for red, white and blue naturally escapes Matt’s attention. There are, of course, many ways to interpret this particular exchange between Matt and Captain America, and I love the ambiguity of this panel. Also, nice dive off the building, Matt. You make the superhero biz look so effortless.


Happy Independence Day to all Americans out there and happy Saturday to the rest of us!

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Of Mice and Superheroes

by Christine on January 8, 2009 in Humor

I wanted to mention a few things. First of all, I’ll be taking about a week off from blogging and look to return in the middle of next week. There’s no particular reason for it, I just need to recharge my batteries. Do keep checking the Daredevil feed though (it needs a tweak actually, so I might get to work on that instead).

Speaking of which, I noticed that Kuljit of ManWithoutFear.com fame linked to Matt Hollingsworth’s website earlier and I immediately had to go check it out. It’s really a great-looking site so check it out if you haven’t already. I also swung by his blog while I was at it, and now I’ve developed some kind of intellectual cyber crush on this guy. There’s tons of interesting stuff on that blog that has nothing to do with comics at all, but is right up my alley in other respects. He writes about living in Croatia and lots of other things, and I had great fun learning that the guy is even into genealogy. I am too! How cool is that?! Very cool!

Okay, back to being a composed and dignified woman in her early thirties, and on to the final subject of this post. I was browsing through some 80’s DD and came across these couple of panels from Daredevil #220, by Denny O’Neill and David Mazzucchelli. This is actually a very serious and tragic issue which sees Matt’s ex-girlfriend Heather Glenn commit suicide.

Following a hunch and a “misplaced” scent, Matt investigates further in the hopes that Heather was murdered, in which there’s some vindication to be had by finding her supposed killer. This leads him to the scenario below, where he has to get past a pretty advanced security system. A master of resourcefulness, he outsmarts the surveillance by bringing ice and breathing like a mouse. Yeah… My first thought was: “He can do that?” Amazingly, he actually gets away with it. And, in case you guys were wondering, a mouse has a rate of respiration of about 160 breaths per minute. Daredevil can pull that off and haul two heavy sacks of ice around. It’s nothing short of impressive, I tell ya!

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Random Reviews – Trumps! (vol 1, #203)

by Christine on October 4, 2008 in Older Issues

Trumps! is the name of this issue, and the main villain, but it is hardly the fight between Daredevil and the Trump that people remember from this issue. I suspect that even those of you who have read it might be wondering who the heck the Trump is, as he is one of those easily forgotten characters with an equally forgettable MO. But if I mention Stymie, does that ring any bells?

Starting at the beginning of the issue, we find Daredevil interrupting a heist carried out by the Trump and his men. Daredevil narrowly escapes being shot by evading a bullet in classic DD style but is incapacitated by the sound of the gun going off. In the ensuing confusion he manages to force an incoming truck, driven by an accomplice of the Trump’s, off the pier and the band of thugs disperses. Daredevil, who went into the water himself, gets himself and the driver of the truck back on dry land. Looking for more information, Daredevil seeks out Ben Urich to see if he has any more information on the Trump, whose real name turns out to be Carlton Sanders, a magician and a children’s television host. Sort of like the Marvel Universe version of Sideshow Bob from The Simpson’s, minus Krusty the Clown.

The next day, we find Foggy talking to a Stewart “Stymie” Schmidt, arrested for his involvement in last night’s heist gone awry. Matt comes by, and (oddly enough) doesn’t recognize the man as someone from his childhood, until he hears him call him Daredevil. It turns out that Stymie was one of young Matt Murdock’s tormentors, and for reasons yet unknown Matt immediately decides to take the case, against Foggy’s wishes. Matt explains his decision by saying, “A lot of what I am today is due to that man. I owe him more than you’ll ever know. This may be my one chance to pay him back.”

Thus begins the more interesting subplot of this issue, but before we get to see what Matt is really up to, we pay a visit to the Trump again who is busy planning his new heist and informs his men that he will deal with Stymie before he decides to spill the beans. Matt, meanwhile, is throwing himself into Stymie’s case and has both Foggy and Becky worried about his obsession with it. When Matt tries to get a deal with the D.A., Foggy points out that he’s handling the case as if he wanted Stymie to get the worst possible sentence. He realizes that there’s something going on and rushes out to find out what it is.

Matt visits his client in jail and recognizes the heartbeat of a passing prison guard as belonging to the Trump. When he reaches Stymie’s cell he finds that his client’s heart has stopped beating and resuscitates him (is there nothing this man doesn’t know how to do?). When the doctor shows up, Matt rushed out, changes into costume and goes after the Trump. The two of them have a magic-enhanced fight that leads them into the subway, but the Trump eventually gets away.

Foggy does some investigating of his own by going to Max’s Candy Store (presumably located in Hell’s Kitchen) and shows the owner a picture of Matt as a child. Max does indeed recognize the boy and he remembers Stymie as well, and how cruel he was to Matt.

Matt, meanwhile, is still in costume and pays a visit to Turk and Grotto for some standard information gathering and catches up with the Trump who’s busy robbing the mob. A fight erupts between the two of them and the Trump appears victorious when he immobilizes Daredevil with some fancy ribbons and hits him with a jolt of electricity. In a very nicely done scene, the taunts of the Trump as Daredevil tries to get to his feet are echoed in Matt’s mind by the taunts he heard as a child, and he forces himself to get up and fight back, stripping the Trump of most of his costume which apparently fuels some of his magic. In a last attempt at getting the upper hand again, the Trump tries to blind Daredevil with a flash of light (always with the blinding rays…) to no effect. The fight is over and the Trump is left for the police.

We then see Matt rush over to Max’s Candy Store where Foggy and Max are waiting. He has received an urgent message from his partner, and Foggy confronts him with what he knows. He says that it’s unethical to do what Matt is doing, and while Matt initially refuses to see that he is deliberately trying to take down Stymie, the past soon catches up with him and he rushes into an alley and has something of a breakdown. Foggy plays the part of the loyal friend and walks him home. The next day, Matt turns the case over to a public defender and confronts Stymie one last time. He asks him why he treated him the way he did, and Stymie appears surprised that Matt even still thinks about it, talking about his past bullying as if it were nothing. Matt walks away and thinks to himself that the past does matter, at least to some people.

This issue manages to be both deep, and thought-provoking on the one hand, and a little silly on the other. The Trump is not a particularly intresting villain and he doesn’t seem to have an agenda outside of stealing guns and doing magic tricks. However, this issue isn’t really about the Trump, who is almost like the alibi villain thrown in by the writer so he can tell a different and better story in parallel. I find the exploration of Matt’s past to be quite interesting, and the suggestion that his demons are still very much alive is quite intriguing. As a fill-in issue, it is really quite good. The art, just to mention it briefly, is very good in places, but strikes me as a little uneven with some scenes being very rich in detail and others just looking a little off, with strange proportions and angles in some panels.

Look this issue up if you haven’t read it. Chances are you’ll remember it for years. But, let’s face it, you won’t remember the Trump. Oh well, no loss there.

Further reading: I recommend Kuljit Mithra’s 1998 interview with Steve Grant which specifically talks about this issue.

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Happy 232nd birthday America!

by Christine on July 4, 2008 in News & Updates

Since today is the 4th of July, I thought I’d celebrate by posting the only panels I could think of that had anything to do with the American Day of Independence. The below is from Ann Nocenti’s run (#236, American Dreamer). On a side note, I strongly doubt Matt is a big fan of fireworks. Not only can he not see them, even I think they’re loud enough to make me want to put in a pair of ear plugs. Oh well, at least Natasha got an eyeful. Happy 4th of July to all of you yankees out there (where I’m from, all Americans are called yankees, just so you know). Take care!

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Here’s one of these points where all comparisons with Batman really fall apart. Bruce Wayne has a cool hi-tech car – the Batmobile. Matt Murdock… Well, let’s just call him “vehicularly challenged.” Luckily for him, he lives in New York where there are cabs everywhere (if his battle with Bullseye in issue #169 is any indication, he’d probably prefer to stay out of the subway). He’s also been known to travel billy-club style across Manhattan and I think he currently lives within walking distance of the office.

Being blind, Matt obviously doesn’t have a driver’s license, and the fact that he lost his sight before the age of sixteen pretty much guarantees that he never had any driver’s ed either. That hasn’t prevented him from driving on numerous occasions in the Daredevil comic. Heck, in issue #100 (Vol 1) he was even seen piloting the Avengers’ jet, though I suspect that was before it was widely known in the superhero community that the guy probably shouldn’t be operating aircraft (though it might be argued that he can do so more safely than drive a car).

When it comes to driving, Matt has met with mixed success. He’s never hurt either himself or anyone else that I can recall, but he’s had a couple of close calls when an emergency situation has forced him to get behind the wheel. I actually sort of buy the idea that he would do okay on a highway in the middle of nowhere, but inner-city traffic is certainly a little more challenging. After all, most road signs and traffic lights are not just for decorative purposes. Although considering Dakota North’s sweet ride in #107, he probably doesn’t mind hitching a ride with her.

Anyway, let’s take a look at Daredevil driving, starting with Daredevil #8. Since this was back in Stan Lee’s day, Daredevil comes across as an expert driver. While Stan doesn’t actually say that Daredevil can “drive more safely than a sighted man,” we sort of get that feeling as he stops a runaway car, complete with a car bomb. If you recognize this first panel, it also appeared in a previous post on the radar sense, since it features the first depiction of the iconic radar rings emanating from Daredevil’s head.

This next panel (these are all in sequence, by the way) strikes me as hilarious. I love the whole “No brakes! No brakes!” I’d love to see him yell “Look, no hands!” while taking both hands off the wheel.

“I’ve got to keep guiding it… till the end!” Oh Matt, you’re such a drama queen (below).

This panel below is actually pretty funny. First of all, I’d like for someone to explain to me the difference between images and sights (seriously). Secondly, the “master driver” bit? Gotta love it.

In the last panel of DD driving in this issue, we seem him drive the car into the sea. His head looks dangerously close to colliding with that sign overhead.

The next time we see Daredevil drive a car is in issue #54, written by Roy Thomas. As I mentioned in another post, it seemed that the book got significantly goofier for a while after Thomas took over and this page is certainly full of all kinds of goofiness. First of all we have another instance of Matt apparently wearing his shades under his mask. The rest of the page is of him remembering some of the details of faking his own death, which he did quite callously. Here he drives to an air field, and rents a plane with a fake license, disguised with a hideous black wig and – oddly enough – not wearing any shades. In case you’re wondering, the “passenger” in the car is a dummy that’s supposed to look like Matt Murdock. What I never got about this was why the dummy was necessary. It’s not like the people who find it at the crash site are going to confuse it with an actual corpse, right?

There are many more instances of Daredevil driving, but the rest will be revisited in a second post. Before rounding this off, however, we’re going to look at two Frank Miller classics that both feature Matt behind the wheel of a car. The first group of panels below is from the last issue of Born Again. And the second from the last issue of Man Without Fear. Neither one of these occasions bore the marks of a “master driver,” but at least no one got hurt. And, in an emergency, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do, right?

For a more recent example of Daredevil driving a taxi, take a look at the panel from Vol 2 #103 posted by Francesco, which was the lead-in for this post, incidentally. More driving in a few weeks when I round up more panels of DD goodness.

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