Marvel 1976.05 - Daredevil #133

Daredevil #133

Title: Introducing Mind-Wave!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Jester, Mind-Wave

Guests: Uri Geller

Regulars: Bert Rose

This issue has an unusual guest star: the one and only Uri Geller! The idea originated with Stan Lee. He approached Marv Wolfman, Marvel's new editor-in-chief, and asked him to include Uri Geller in a comic. Any comic. Marv thought it would be best for the comic to be something he wrote himself, so he picked Daredevil. Yes, that was a better choice than "Tomb of Dracula".

Uri visited the bullpen to discuss the story. Marv was a sceptic, so Uri performed a couple of tricks, bending keys and reading Marv's mind. Uri left, and Marv wrote the story.

First there's a prologue. We see the man who's been putting false news broadcasts on the air, such as John F. Kennedy being alive. He's been doing it on the orders of the Jester, a villain invented by Stan Lee that we haven't seen since Daredevil #61, six years ago. He's an excellent villain, and he shouldn't have been forgotten for so long. I congratulate Marv for bringing him back.

The Jester has achieved his goals, so he no longer needs the unnamed man. He kills him, reducing his body to ashes with his fancy ray gun.

A large armoured vehicle is driving along Wall Street. The driver is a brand new villain called Mind-Wave, and he calls the vehicle a Think Tank. Corny. The tank is a distraction while Mind-Wave's henchmen rob banks in the street. Mind-Wave can read Daredevil's mind, which gives him an advantage when Daredevil attacks. The tank smashes surrounding buildings, so Daredevil has to concentrate on saving innocent bystanders while Mind-Wave rolls away. Bert Rose arrives, late as always, and blames the destruction on Daredevil's poor work.

District attorney Blake Tower invites Daredevil to his office to meet Uri Geller. Uri says that he's already fought Mind-Wave a few times. Those are comics waiting to be written. Uri's also a mind-reader, which puts him on an equal footing with Mind-Wave.

They hear a new attack in the distance. Daredevil swings into action, leaving Uri behind. Poor Uri  has to call a cab.  Daredevil is defeated by Mind-Wave, and is held immobile by a ray from his tank. When Uri finally arrives he uses his powers to bend the ray gun, turning it away from Daredevil. Daredevil leaves Mind-Wave to Uri and rounds up the bank robbers. Uri defeats Mind-Wave by bending window bars to hold him prisoner.

Bert Rose arrives and blames Daredevil for the destruction. Typical!

This is a nice little story, but I can't take Uri Geller seriously as a super-hero. In real life he has subtle powers. His abilities have been ramped up in the comic. It's okay as a one-off story. I'm glad that he never returned.