This episode of Oh Karen! looks at the early issues of the Mike Murdock era through Karen’s eyes. I don’t think I’ll ever do a separate post about the madness that was this strange plot development, so what I do have to say about “brother Mike” will have to be said here. I’m sure he’ll pop up again when I discuss an issue he was in, and quite possibly in Oh Karen! #4, but that’s about it. If you want to read more about Mike, I direct you again to the links in this post, and this post.
Completely unrelated, but apparently there’s also a televangelist named Mike Murdock. The annoyingly colorful design of his website, found at www.mikemurdock.com, is only paralleled but the look of his fictitious namesake’s clothes. I personally consider his hideous wardrobe choices as Mike to be solid proof that Matt doesn’t really “do” colors…
So, what does all this have to do with Karen? Well early Karen was quite promiscuous with her affections, and Mike Murdock managed to take her breath away. While she was still in love with Matt, Karen was quite taken with his other personality’s “bad boy” appeal. Below, we have the panel from issue #25 that started the whole thing. Spider-man has sent a letter addressed to Matt in which he confronts him with the fact that he knows that Matt is really Daredevil.
Karen reads a letter from Spider-Man, Daredevil #25
Karen feels embarrassed about opening Matt’s letter, but in the light of the fact that he’s been missing for a couple of issues, she and Foggy were hoping to find a clue. Of course, I do like Karen’s line: “But why would Spider-man have written such a letter — if it weren’t true?” I mean, it’s not like people ever make rash and unsubstantiated allegations, right?
When Matt shows up in the office, a couple of pages later, he is faced with having to come up with a story on the fly. Don’t ask me why a simple “Well, Spider-man is obviously mistaken, as evidenced by the fact that I’m totally blind” wouldn’t suffice in this situation. But then again, when you’re faced with such solid arguments as Karen’s “What would make him say that? Spider-man hasn’t the time to make rash accusations!” what are you going to do? Here, I’d actually like to take a moment and just consider the meaning of the adjective “rash.” My trusted online dictionary of choice gives the following definition: “characterized by or resulting from ill-considered haste or boldness.” Seems to me that rash accusations are exactly the kinds of accusations you make when you don’t have time to put together a solid argument…
Matt makes up a twin brother on the fly, Daredevil #25
Anyway, Matt is put on the spot, and makes up a story about a twin brother no one has ever heard of. Foggy shows an unusual amount of common sense in questioning why he’s never heard of this brother since they’ve been best friends for years. Good question! Matt then goes on to characterize his twin as both reclusive and the black sheep of the family. Things go from bad to worse when Foggy demands to see this mystery brother…
Mike Murdock makes his first appearance, from Daredevil #26
Description: Matt is sitting at his desk with his feet up, dressed in an uncharacteristically bright outfit with large colorful glasses on. A surprised Foggy and Karen walk in the door. The caption reads “And so it is, when Foggy and Karen reach the office next morning they find…” Foggy says “What’s Matt doing with those Loud clothes and sun-glasses? Say! Wait a minute…! Karen interrupts: “Foggy! That… That isn’t Matt Murdock!” Matt, or maybe we should call him Mike, replies “You can sat that again, doll! Ol’ Matt’s the one with the brains, but I’m the family pussycat! The name’s Mike, gang – and try not to applaud – I’m almost as shy as I am glamorous!” To Karen: “Say! No wonder Matthew likes working here! Any more at home like you, baby?”
Yes, ladies and gentlemen. You’re looking at Mike Murdock’s big debut. I always wondered why Karen or Foggy didn’t question the fact that he’s just let himself into their office, and why he and Matt where never seen together, but thinking too much will inevitably give you a headache. It’s like thinking about where the universe ends or something.
Despite being a fairly despicable figure, “Mike” manages to be quite successful in getting on Karen’s good side, whereas Foggy is more of a skeptic. I really do hope Matt has a good singing voice as he’s doing a song and dance (different panel) routine in the office in issue #26.
Mike Murdock strutting his stuff, from Daredevil #26
Issue #26 is also famous for featuring the story where Daredevil took on both Stilt-man and Frogger (sorry, Leap-frog…). This was enough to score quite a few points with Karen who seems to be thinking “wow, isn’t he just too dreamy…?” Foggy, meanwhile, seems more inclined to agree with the teaser for the next issue: “Mike Murdock must die!”
Foggy is complaining and Karen is smitten, from Daredevil #26
Mike Murdock does not die in issue #27. But Karen and Matt do manage to get themselves kidnapped by the Masked Marauder aka The Evil Landlord. The Masked Marauder wants to get at Daredevil and tries to get his name. Matt finds himself in a jam, once again, as he is forced to reveal Daredevil’s “true” identity while coming off as the most disloyal brother in the world.
Matt betrays his twin when he and Karen are kidnapped, Daredevil #27
In issue #28, Karen is still upset with Matt for his disloyalty, but seems to have all the time in the world to spend with Mike. Between all the kidnappings and the soap opera twists, it’s amazing they ever did any work at all in that office.
Karen watches while Mike juggles, from Daredevil #28
Before going to Carter College to give a lecture about the legal ramifications of aliens arriving from outer space (though Mike has told Karen and Foggy that Matt has already left), Daredevil decided to ruin his friends’ date by dropping in unannounced. In this panel, from issue #28, we see Karen actually thinking, and getting dangerously close to figuring out how the whole thing fits together.
Karen does too much thinking, from Daredevil #28
Karen: “How can Mike be so unconcerned about Matt almost giving away his secret! If his hidden identity is so important to him, Daredevil should have been more upset! Unless… there’s another and more important reason…! Something we haven’t guessed! What if it’s Matt, not Mike who’s really… Oh no! It’s too mad! It couldn’t be what I’m thinking… for we know that Matt is blind!”
By issue #29, Matt has decided to propose to Karen. At first, he can’t quite decide whether he should do it as Matt or Mike since he can’t really decide which one is his true identity(!) So, he does what any sound superhero keeping up three identities would do, he lets other circumstances dictate his course of action as he changes outfits high up on a window ledge.
Matt changes into his suit on a window ledge, Daredevil #29
Matt: “Looks like I’ll have to propose in the identity of Matt Murdock… since I just remember that I left my loud Mike Murdock threads back at the apartment!”
First, Matt gets a chance to redeem himself and clear his name when Karen is kidnapped by the Masked Marauder’s men. They have been tipped off by a note left by their boss that the people at Nelson & Murdock know Daredevil’s true identity. Daredevil rushes over there and now pretends to be Matt dressed up as Daredevil in order to protect his brother. Did you follow that? Me neither. This ends in the wonderful “unmasking” scene that is also portrayed on the cover, where we are led to believe that Matt actually wears his shades underneath his mask!
Daredevil is unmasked!, from Daredevil #29
Matt: “I knew the real Daredevil was on his way here! I knew you’d be waiting! I thought… If I could impersonate him… get you to shoot me first.. then you’d think he was finished and you wouldn’t be expecting him! It was the only thing I could think of. The only way to repay him…! But.. I’ve failed!”
At the end of this issue, Matt comes to the conclusion that being married to him is simply too dangerous. In light of his track record as far as relationships are concerned, this is probably a valid assessment. His proposal to Karen was not to be, and it would be quite a few issues before they took their relationship to the next level.
Matt decides that marrying Karen is too dangerous, Daredevil #29
Matt: “Her very life was threatened… because someone merely suspected she knew me! If she became my wife… she’d never be safe for a minute!”
On the other hand, considering that she’d already been kidnapped five times since joining the firm, one wonders how big a difference it really would have made. I really hope she got paid for all those hours she spent as a hostage. Who knew being a legal secretary could be that exciting?
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