Marvel 1976.09 - Daredevil #137

Daredevil #137

Title: The Murder Maze strikes twice!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: John Buscema

Villain: Jester

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather Glenn

John Buscema continues as artist this month. A note on the letters page tells us that he's filling in for Bob Brown because Bob is sick. There's no clue what the sickness is, but anything that lasts more than two months must be serious.

The crowd has become a lynch mob and is about to hang Daredevil. What's his crime? Does it matter? He manages to escape and goes to the district attorney's office to discuss his next steps. Not that the decision is difficult: find the Jester! Before he does that he goes back to his apartment to let Heather know he's still doing well.

There's another television broadcast from President Ford, telling the populace that (unnamed) super-heroes and the police have teamed up to attack the banks on Wall Street.

Daredevil follows some crooks to the Jester's lair. After a short fight, Daredevil is knocked out by gas. The crooks are sensible; they say that Daredevil should be shot. The Jester prefers to have fun; he throws the unconscious Daredevil into his Murder Maze.

The title says that the Murder Maze strikes twice. That's because the crook called Jefferson died in the maze in the previous issue.

Daredevil wakes up and makes his way through the maze. It leads from one trap to another, each deadlier than the previous one. Daredevil gets out by cheating. Instead of going forwards, he heads back the way he came and breaks through the entry door. The Jester flees, but Daredevil catches him in the street.

Daredevil appears on television to tell everyone that the Jester was responsible for manipulating the news. He says that people shouldn't blindly accept everything they're told, they should compare different news sources and decide for themselves. That's good advice. After the broadcast there's a news flash that the Hollywood actress Karen Page, Matt's former girlfriend, has been kidnapped.

Marvel 1976.08 - Daredevil #136

Daredevil #136

Title: A Hanging for a Hero!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: John Buscema

Villain: Jester

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather Glenn

We've jumped a bit since last issue. At the end of Daredevil #135 we saw the Jester capturing Daredevil as he was escaping prison. Now we're told that Daredevil has killed the Jester. There's no flashback to how it happened. He's just dead. I'm sorry, Marv, but this is bad storytelling.

The Jester's body is shown in the morgue. He's already been pronounced dead, but the district attorney has requested a second examination. His body bursts into flames.

Daredevil is back in prison. Or rather, he never left prison. We're told that what we saw happening in the last three pages of Daredevil #135 was a television news broadcast. Maybe there was a slight clue. In the final panel Foggy and Heather were watching everything on television, although it seemed real in the previous three pages. Again, this is poor storytelling.

Blake Tower now knows that everything is a fake. The events shown on television didn't happen, and the Jester isn't dead. He orders Daredevil's release from prison.

The Jester creates a new television broadcast: President Gerald Ford announces that the New York police have gone insane and are killing civilians. He says he's sending in troops to deal with the situation, but until they arrive he calls on New York's citizens to take up arms against the police. Super-heroes, especially Daredevil, are also classified as criminals. 

The Jester has assembled an army of crooks and is encouraging them to carry out mass robberies while the chaos ensues. They should give him 50% of their loot, of course.

Daredevil tries to stop a robbery, but the crowds turn against him. He's knocked out. The Jester arrives to arrange a hanging.

The best thing about this issue is John Buscema's artwork. I've been enjoying Bob Brown over the last few months, but John Buscema is special. It's difficult to describe my feelings about him. His artwork isn't spectacular, but he never makes a mistake. Whatever he draws perfectly expresses the intentions of the writer. A lot of artists like to show off their skills. Not John Buscema. He works for the writer, not for himself, and his artwork emphasises the story. I'm not sure if I've expressed myself clearly. I like to compare him with Steven Spielberg. If you look at my top films list, you'll see that he didn't direct any of my top 10 films, but what I can say about him is that he never makes a bad film. If I go to see a new Spielberg film in the cinema, I shan't be disappointed. John Buscema never disappoints me.

Marvel 1976.07 - Daredevil #135

Daredevil #135

Title: What is happening?

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Jester

Guests: Peter Parker

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather Glenn, Bert Rose

This issue begins with three pages from the Daily Bugle. That's a nice gimmick. Note the text at the bottom right: "See exclusive reports inside by Bugle staff reporters Marv Wolfman, Bob Brown, Jim Mooney, Michele Wolfman, Joe Rosen". That's what I call crazy credits.

Here are the next two pages:

Note J. Jonah Jameson's bias in his editorial column. He writes that the recent television reports are fake, with the exception of the report that Daredevil is a murderer. He always believes the worst about superheroes.

Doesn't that beautiful Australian model look like Gwen Stacy?

Daredevil's been distracted by other villains in recent issues, but now he can concentrate on finding who's responsible for the fake news broadcasts. He suspects the Jester, but he has to be sure. He uses his radar sense to track a signal back from the Empire State Building. It leads him to a warehouse where the Jester is lying dead. Bert Rose is already present. He accuses Daredevil of killing him, and he tries to arrest him. He shoots Daredevil in the arm, and he's taken to prison.

Isn't it weird that Daredevil isn't unmasked before being taken to prison? That's not usual police protocol.

District Attorney Blake Tower is waiting for Daredevil in prison. It was all a plan. It was intended that Daredevil should be arrested. Bert Rose wasn't in on the plan.

Daredevil is taken to his cell, but he isn't imprisoned for more than a few minutes. A helicopter arrives to free him from jail. The Jester intervenes to prevent his escape. The text in the final panel says it all:

"Confused, pilgrim? You ought to be! But don't worry, next issue will really shock you".

Yes, the prison break is really strange. I'll give Marv Wolfman the benefit of the doubt. I'm hoping the next issue (which I've never read) will give an answer. My blog readers will have to wait though. A film festival starts in Stuttgart tomorrow, so I shan't be continuing my Marvel posts until next week.

Marvel 1976.06 - Daredevil #134

Daredevil #134

Title: There's trouble in New York City!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Jester, Chameleon

Guests: Torpedo

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather Glenn, Bert Rose

There's a television broadcast about Daredevil shooting three policemen with a machine gun. The news is getting more and more unreliable. This is all the result of the Jester manipulating the news. We only see him briefly in this issue. We know he's up to no good, but what are his aims?

Has Marv Wolfman forgotten something? In Daredevil #132 Matt Murdock left his girlfriend Heather alone in a restaurant so he could fight Bullseye. We didn't see her last issue, so I was expecting the matter to be resolved this month. Nothing. He's a good writer, but sometimes he gets careless with his storylines.

Matt takes Heather for a romantic horse and carriage ride in Central Park. At the same time, the Chameleon is carrying out a robbery on the corner of 57th Street and 5th Avenue. It's uncommon for a Marvel writer to specify an address so precisely, but Marv Wolfman wants to let us know that it's happening close to Central Park. We've seen the Chameleon fight other heroes, especially Spider-Man, but this is the first time he's appeared in a Daredevil comic.

The Chameleon attacks the limousine of Mr. Smythe, a rich man who's going out to buy diamonds. Under the cover of a smoke screen he knocks out Mr. Smythe and takes his place. He buys some very expensive items from a jewellery store and asks for them to be charged to Mr. Smythe's account. As they leave the store, the driver notices the real Mr. Smythe tied up in the limousine, so the Chameleon makes a run for it.

Brock Jones aka the Torpedo sees the commotion from his window. He changes into his costume to chase the Chameleon. Matt recognises the sound of the Torpedo's jets, so he has to run out on Heather again. This time he gives her a nerve pinch to knock her out. He carries her home, lays her on the couch and leaves as Daredevil. That must have taken a while. I'm surprised the Torpedo wasn't finished already.

To Daredevil it looks like the Torpedo is attacking an innocent bystander. He begins to fight the Torpedo while the Chameleon slips away. Daredevil listens to the Torpedo long enough to realise what's happening. The Chameleon disguises himself as a policeman, but Daredevil recognises him by his heartbeat. Daredevil attacks him, and the crowd thinks he's gone bad after seeing him shoot policemen on television. He changes his disguise several times, but Daredevil always recognises him. Eventually he disguises himself as the Torpedo. Daredevil pretends to be fooled so he can get close. Then he knocks him out and hands him over to the police. Or at least, he wants to. The police want to arrest him, so he leaves the unconscious Chameleon with the Torpedo.

The Chameleon should have learnt his lesson by now. His disguises can't fool Daredevil.

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.

Marvel 1976.04 - Daredevil #132

Daredevil #132

Title: Bullseye rules supreme!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Bullseye

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather Glenn, Bert Rose

In last month's issue Bullseye lured Daredevil into a circus attempt, while the performance is running. He wants a big audience when he defeats Daredevil. It's a contest between Bullseye's infallible aim and Daredevil's uncanny acrobatics.

Daredevil isn't in top form, because he's still stunned after the grenade explosion last issue. He barely manages to defend himself against Bullseye's attacks and can't muster a counteroffensive. Bullseye considers Daredevil an unworthy opponent and loses interest in the fight. He fires at a water tank and escapes in a cloud of steam. Bert Rose arrives and claims that costumed super-heroes are less efficient than the police.

Matt goes home and finds Heather waiting for him. They go out to eat at a restaurant on 56th Street. I assume it's a good area, or it wouldn't have been named. At the same time, Bullseye is threatening a rich couple in their apartment, demanding $100,000 from them. Henry Foster says he'll give him the money the next day. Bullseye agrees, but he says he'll kill them if they call the police. As soon as Bullseye leaves, Henry picks up the phone to call the police, but Bullseye is waiting outside and overhears the call. He goes back in to kill Henry and his wife.

The restaurant is close enough for Matt Murdock's hyper-sensitive senses to hear what's happening. He rushes out of the restaurant, leaving Heather behind, and changes into Daredevil. In a confined space Daredevil has the advantage. He's able to engage Bullseye in a fist fight, and he quickly knocks him out. Before leaving, he tells Henry to call Bert Rose. Now he'll see who's efficient.

Marvel 1976.03 - Daredevil #131

Daredevil #131

Title: Watch out for Bullseye!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Bullseye

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather Glenn, Bert Rose

That's a strange splash page. A costumed villain called Wescott says that he's already shot Daredevil. As you can see, he must have missed, but when did he shoot him? We've never seen Wescott or his gang before. The text in the pink box in the upper left may be intended as an explanation, but I can't be sure.

Daredevil has no trouble defeating this strange gang. They're dressed like super-villains, but they don't have any super powers to justify their appearance. They're just a filler for the first three pages. The new district attorney, Blake Tower, accompanies the police who come to arrest them. Daredevil and the new DA have mutual respect for one another.

Matt Murdock returns to his day job in the Storefront Legal Services. An old woman is complaining about the poor condition of the building where she lives. "No heat, no hot water, the plaster is peeling, and the cockroaches are almost as big as rats". Matt visits the building and finds out that it's just as bad as the woman said. The landlord is a company called Glenn Industries. Heather is shocked. The company is owned by her father, Maxwell Glenn.

There's a news report that the Vietnam War never happened. The US Army was hypnotised and forced to participate in CIA wars in South America and Africa. Can you believe anything the news says?

A company owner is killed by a man who calls himself Bullseye. He's killed with a pen that Bullseye picks up from his desk. Lieutenant Bert Rose of the NYPD is investigating the case when Daredevil swings in through the window. Daredevil offers his help, but Lieutenant Rose prefers the police to work without the interference of costumed clowns.

The reporter Jake Conover from the Daily Bugle invites Daredevil to his office to give him some information. He knows who Bullseye is. He was a soldier in Vietnam who discovered that he had an exceptional skill at throwing objects. In fact, he can use anything as a weapon. Jake was given this information by Bullseye himself, because he's seeking publicity.

Bullseye attacks Daredevil, stunning him by throwing trash cans at him, but he doesn't follow up on his advantage. He walks away, slowly enough for Daredevil to follow him. They arrive in a circus tent.

This is a very well written story, with many subtle nuances. Bullseye is an over-the-top villain, just like the villains invented by Stan Lee in the early Daredevil comics. Did I already say that Marv Wolfman is a brilliant writer?

Marvel 1976.02 - Daredevil #130

Daredevil #130

Title: Look out, DD, here comes the Death-Man!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Brother Zed

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather, Candace Nelson

This splash page is unusual for two reasons. First of all, it isn't really a splash page, by the usual definition of the expression. Instead of being a single panel page to introduce the issue, it's a story page with four panels. It would be more accurate to call it the title page.

The second unusual feature is that an exact date for this story is given, November 3rd 1975. Later in the comic a new day dawns, and it's stated that it's November 4th. This isn't unique in Marvel's comics, but it's a rare occurrence. As for the date itself, it's the day before the comic went on the newsstands, i.e. yesterday for most readers. Marvel comics had a cover date that was approximately three months ahead of the real date. The issue is dated on the cover as "FEB", i.e. February 1976, but it was released on November 4th 1975. I've never understood this dating convention. It's something that someone did in the 1930's, and everyone has been copying him ever since.

The second page is more of a splash page than the first. The Man Without Fear becomes the Man Without Clothes. Now we know his secret: he wears matching underpants!

In this panel we also hear that Heather and Matt are working together. They've become a couple in record time. Most of the action has been between the issues, or should I say beneath the sheets? And yet she still doesn't know about his secret identity.

The work that he mentions is the opening of a new shop, "The Storefront Legal Services". Matt is offering legal aid to poor customers. Pro bono? He needs at least a few paying customers so he can pay his bills.

We aren't given the exact address of Matt's new shop, except that it's in Lower East Side, an area in southern Manhattan. In later years Daredevil became associated with Hell's Kitchen, an area in central Manhattan. The map above, courtesy of Google Maps, should show how far apart they are. Hell's Kitchen is in the top of the picture, Lower East Side is in the bottom right corner.

Candace Nelson, Foggy's younger sister, arrives for the opening of the shop. She flirts furiously with Matt, which makes Heather glow with jealousy. Heather calls Candace a child. Candace's age has never been stated, but judging by the way she's been drawn I've always assumed she was in her mid-20's. So how old is Heather? 30-ish?

Now to the villain of the story. A man who looks like a skeleton has summoned a woman called Jezabel Bakah into his presence. He calls himself Brother Zed. He's the leader of a voodoo cult, and he expects his followers to pay him money. If Jezabel doesn't pay what she owes he'll demand a blood sacrifice from her. By this he means her son will have to be sacrificed.

Foggy Nelson is watching the news. There's a report that John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert had both been kidnapped and replaced with body doubles, so the men who were murdered were fakes. To put this into perspective: President Kennedy was killed in 1963 and his brother in 1968, and this comic was published in 1975. That means their deaths were twelve and seven years ago, which would mean that if it were true that they're alive they'd still be relatively young and fit.

The following news report is a press conference live from Foggy's campaign headquarters. Franklin Nelson appears on television and tells the electorate that he doesn't feel worthy of being elected. How can that be happening when Foggy is sitting at home? Foggy rings up his campaign manager and tells him to stop the press conference, but it's too late; the damage has been done.

Meanwhile, Jezabel tries to leave the city, but she's stopped by other members of the voodoo cult. They carry her son to a park to be buried alive. Luckily, Daredevil is close enough to hear the child's screams. He easily fights off the cult members.

This is the first time I've heard anyone imitate the Thing's battle cry. I hope it's the last time.

Brother Zed dangles a voodoo doll of Daredevil, and Daredevil appears to choke. He falls to the ground. But he's only faking. Brother Zed doesn't have any genuine voodoo powers, he's just a skilled hypnotist. Hypnosis doesn't work on people who're blind. Daredevil knocks him out and rips off his skeleton costume. His followers recognise that he's a fake and abandon him.

Meanwhile, Foggy loses the election by a landslide. He goes to Matt and asks him for a job. Matt has already had business cards printed with Foggy's name.

Marvel 1976.01 - Daredevil #129

Daredevil #129

Title: Man-Bull in a China Town!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Man-Bull, Matador, Sky-Walker (Flashback)

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather

This comic opens with a courtroom drama. Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson may be friends, but as lawyers they sometimes have to forget their friendship and stand against one another.

The Man-Bull is on trial. He's a villain who's fought against Daredevil a few times, most recently in Daredevil #96, but he's on trial after being captured in Iron Man #80. I confess that I hadn't read this comic, or the ones leading up to them, so I quickly read them before starting this review. That's one of the disadvantages of not doing complete reviews of Marvel comics, as I used to.

The district attorney, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, claims that the Man-Bull deliberately killed the storekeeper Phillip Diamond. The defence attorney, Matthew Murdock, claims that the killing of Phillip Diamond was unintended, so Man-Bull is only guilty of second degree manslaughter, not first degree murder. The facts of the case are: Man-Bull broke into Mr. Diamond's store and demanded that he should open the safe. The shock was too much for Mr. Diamond, and he fainted. Six months later he died of a heart attack. His doctor said that his death was a delayed reaction to meeting the Man-Bull. 

That sounds like a clear cut case to me. Man-Bull never intended Phillip Diamond's death. But the jury thinks otherwise. In their eyes Man-Bull is guilty of pre-meditated murder, and juries are never wrong. Are they?

Man-Bull is furious at Matt Murdock for persuading him to appear in court. He easily smashes his chains and breaks out of the courthouse.

Later in the day, Foggy Nelson has his first face-to-face meeting with Blake Tower, his rival in the upcoming election for district attorney. He's not as bad as Foggy always thought he was.

Matt is relaxing at home with Heather. Has she moved in with him already? On the television there are news reports that John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy are still alive. And as we know, television always tells the truth.

At the docks the Man-Bull meets a man who calls himself the Matador. It's the same Matador who fought Daredevil in some of his early adventures, Daredevil #5 (1964) and Daredevil Annual #1 (1967). On this issue's letter page Marv Wolfman says that to prepare himself for writing Daredevil he read all of Daredevil's previous issues more than once. Thank you, Marv. That's true dedication. A result is that seemingly forgotten villains can be brought back.

The Matador says he'll give Man-Bull a million dollars and help him leave the country if he does a job for him. He has to steal a golden bull from a Chinese temple. Daredevil tries to stop him. In the fight the Man-Bull throws the statue at Daredevil, and it's smashed to pieces. Man-Bull decides he doesn't need the Matador's help after all. He knocks Daredevil out and heads back to the docks. Man-Bull throws Matador into the water, and he dies. Seemingly.

So Marv Wolfman wrote two brilliant comics followed by an awful comic, and this comic is average. Let's see how he continues. I have faith in him as a good writer.

Marvel 1975.12 - Daredevil #128

Daredevil #128

Title: Death stalks the Stairway to the Stars

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Death Stalker, Starron the Sky-Walker

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather

The comic starts with Matt Murdock swearing never to be Daredevil again. We've heard Spider-Man speak similar words before. Matt is disgusted with himself because of the way he wrecked a family's home last issue. How long will Matt keep to his promise? We'll see.

There's a welcome distraction. Foggy Nelson rings him to tell him he's meeting his rival Blake Tower, and he wants Matt to accompany him. There's also an unwelcome distraction. As Matt is heading out to meet Foggy, Heather arrives. Her banter gets on his nerves, so he snaps at her. She realises he has problems, so she reigns herself in and accompanies him in the taxi to see Foggy.

There are two characters in action at the same time. Someone in a space suit breaks into the space exhibition in Flushing Meadow Park and climbs up a space rocket with suction shoes. The other is Death-Stalker, a villain we last saw in Daredevil #115. He's in a museum collecting mirrors. 

This comic has a series of weaknesses, and this is the first. On arriving at Foggy's house Matt mentions two things that Heather said in the taxi. The trouble is, we're never told what these two things are. There were no panels drawn of the taxi ride, and we're not clued in later in the comic. That's bad story-telling.

Foggy tells Matt that Blake Tower has cancelled the meeting without giving a reason. He says Death-Stalker has been reported stealing from museums. He also mentions an intrusion at the Flushing Meadows science park, which he assumes is also Death-Stalker. Matt heads off and changes into his Daredevil costume at the first chance. He probably had it in his case when he went to meet Foggy. There's no hesitation, nothing at all. He's forgotten that he wanted to give up being Daredevil a few pages ago. This sudden turnaround is poorly written. The closest he gets is when he says that he has to do things the police can't.

Meanwhile, the silent figure in Flushing Meadows, who identifies himself in his thoughts as Starron, begins his journey home. He's been trapped on Earth for 600 years. He was born on Earth, but he doesn't consider it his home. He creates star-steps which he intends to use to walk to his own planet.

Death Stalker is also in the Flushing Meadows space centre, using the equipment in the centre to build a ray gun with the stolen mirrors. Daredevil arrives, and they begin to fight. They jump onto Starron's star-steps, taking them for granted as they fight one another. Daredevil smashes Death Stalker's gun and pushes him into Starron, who repels him with an electric blast. Death Stalker teleports away to save himself. Daredevil turns to face Starron, but he's already walked too high.

Climbing into space, Starron says he knows that Daredevil is blind. He also says that he may return to fight Daredevil to the death.

So who is Starron? We don't find out. In the next issue he's gone. Marv Wolfman simply forgets him. He's introduced a new, enigmatic character, and then he abandons him without explanation. What's Marv thinking? This is just awful. And the idea of walking on star-steps? How long would it take to walk (not fly) to another planet? Even if he's a fast walker, he'd need at least four billion years to reach a planet 50 light years away. Marv didn't think it through.

Also, the way Daredevil and Death Stalker unquestioningly use the star-steps as platforms for their fight is totally unrealistic.

After writing two brilliant comics in a row, Marv Wolfman has produced a piece of trash. Everything about this comic is bad.

Marvel 1975.11 - Daredevil #127

Daredevil #127

Title: You killed that man, Torpedo!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Torpedo

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather

The comic begins with Daredevil accusing the man in the Torpedo costume of murdering the man lying on the ground, although the dead man is actually the Torpedo and the man in the costume is the insurance agent Brock Jones. It's an easy mistake to make. But let's call Brock Jones the Torpedo, because that's who he is now.

Daredevil refuses to listen to the Torpedo's claims of innocence, so he knocks Daredevil to the ground and flies away. The police are already present, and they're joined by District Attorney Foggy Nelson. Foggy tells Daredevil that he should remain to answer a few questions, but Daredevil refuses and runs away, swinging on his billy club.

When Matt Murdock returns to his apartment the television is on. It's Heather, the girl Matt met yesterday. Is it his red hair or the dimple in his chin or does she have a thing for blind men? She can't keep her hands off him. She pulls him into her arms and kisses him. It's a welcome distraction when the phone rings. Foggy wants to offload his problems onto Matt. He also wants Matt to work as the DA's assistant, at least temporarily.

A good artist can add details with a few subtle lines in a small panel which might not be immediately apparent. Look at the creases in the front of Matt's brown trousers. There's something hard in his trousers, and I don't think it's his billy club.

Meanwhile, the (new) Torpedo is in his office at Delmar Insurance wondering what to do next. Speaking to himself, he says that it's his responsibility to save the world. So what did the (old) Torpedo whisper to him last issue? He flies out of the window until he arrives in Westchester and breaks into a large mansion. For those who don't know about American geography, it's about 20 miles away from lower Manhattan.

Matt Murdock is meeting with Foggy Nelson and the police. They tell him that the dead man is a Russian scientist living in the USA. The safe deposit box opened in the bank belonged to the scientist's brother. The plot thickens. Then the news comes in about the break-in in Westchester. This gives Matt an opportunity to slip away and change into his Daredevil costume. He swings through the skyscrapers to Westchester. Or lack of skyscrapers, because Westchester doesn't have as many large buildings as Manhattan. Daredevil still arrives in 15 minutes, which is amazingly fast. Maybe he hitched a ride on the back of an Amtrak.

Daredevil and the Torpedo battle in the large mansion, which is deserted. The Torpedo explains what's happening while they're fighting, but Daredevil doesn't believe him. The original Torpedo was a  Russian scientist. That should have been enough to make Daredevil stop and talk, because it agrees with what the police told him. But Daredevil is having too much fun fighting. It helps him get his mind off Natasha and the touchy-feely girl in his apartment.

The scientist wanted to emigrate to the USA, but it was only allowed if he first designed a super-suit to rival Iron Man's armour. When he arrived in America, he met his family, and he realised that they were insane. That's the word the Torpedo uses, but what he means is that they're loyal Communists. He knew that his brother had a second set of plans for the suit in his bank safe deposit box, so he broke in to steal them. He suspects that his family, who live in the large Westchester mansion, might have a third set of plans, so he asked Brock to search the mansion. That's what he was doing when Daredevil so rudely interrupted him.

Daredevil leaves the mansion, making some cryptic comments. I hope they'll be explained next issue.

"You had me going there for a while. I almost bought your story. But not now, because I just remembered who owns that place you wrecked. And there's no way on Earth he can be tied up with something as screwy as your world conquest scheme".

Interesting. So who exactly owns the mansion? Daredevil knows, but we don't.

The Torpedo speeds away to find the family who live in the mansion. Daredevil stops him. They fall through the door of a small suburban house. They continue their fight in the living room and the kitchen, smashing everything around them while continuing their carefree banter. They don't even notice the husband and wife and their small son Kenny cowering in the corner.

They don't stop until the woman screams at them. I sure hope their home insurance covers damage by super-heroes.

Torpedo flies away. Daredevil walks away. They're both in a daze, realising what they've done.

This is another brilliant story by Marv Wolfman. I remember when I first read it 48 years ago. It's another comic that makes me say Wow.

Marvel 1975.10 - Daredevil #126

Daredevil #126

Title: Flight of the Torpedo!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Torpedo

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Heather

Sometimes you read a comic, and you think it's a normal action comic like any other. I'm not saying that as a criticism. I like comics with a lot of action. But then, at the end of the comic something happens that makes you say Wow. That's what Marv Wolfman has achieved in this issue. He's one of my favourite Marvel writers, definitely in my top 10, but maybe he should be in my top five. Let me think it over.

Daredevil is swinging through New York City, showing off as usual. He stops to listen to Foggy Nelson giving a campaign speech. He's shouted down by a heckler who says that his fiancée Deborah Harris was a convicted criminal. Evidently it's someone who doesn't understand that criminals can reform, but the heckling is enough to disrupt Foggy's speech.

Brock Jones is a former star quarterback who's now the vice-president of an insurance company. He's sad that everyone has forgotten him, and he wishes he could be a hero. On the way home he sees a child walking into the path of a car. He instinctively rushes to save the child, but Daredevil swings down and saves the child first, telling the man to leave heroics to the professionals. Those are words that Stan Lee would never have put into Daredevil's mouth.

A flying man in a blue costume breaks into the Washington Reserve Bank. He steals something from safe deposit box 136 and leaves. The news report says that the police are puzzled. There were valuable jewels in the box that the thief left behind.

Matt Murdock is trying to sleep, but he's woken by loud noises outside. While he's getting dressed, a pretty girl called Heather enters his apartment. She says that her ex-boyfriend Franky used to live in the apartment, and she came to visit him using the spare key he'd given her. She leaves, but she forgets to give back the spare key.

The noise in the street is the police trying to catch the flying man in blue. Daredevil catches up with him and the two fight. He says his name is the Torpedo, but Daredevil reminds him that there's already a villain with that name. Or maybe Daredevil forgot that he died in Daredevil #59, six years ago. Besides, the (new) Torpedo says that he isn't a criminal. Daredevil isn't convinced.

The fight is taking place outside Brock Jones' apartment. Brock still wants to be a good citizen and help, so he rushes downstairs. The Torpedo hits a wall, and the building collapses on both of them. Daredevil is knocked unconscious, while the Torpedo is still awake but close to death. Brock arrives and pulls the Torpedo out of the rubble. The Torpedo whispers something to Brock about an important mission. The Torpedo dies, and Brock vows to complete the mission. He puts on the Torpedo's costume.

Daredevil wakes up as the police arrive. He points at the man wearing the Torpedo's costume and says that he's a murderer, not realising that it's the Torpedo who's dead.

Wow!

Marvel 1975.09 - Daredevil #125

Daredevil #125

Title: Vengeance is the Copperhead!

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Copperhead

Regulars: Foggy Nelson

Daredevil is dead, killed by Copperhead's dart gun? That's what Copperhead thinks when he places coins on Daredevil's eyes and walks away. But he's wrong, fortunately. Daredevil is only playing dead. Unseen by Copperhead, he blocked the darts with his billy club at the last moment.

Foggy Nelson's campaign for re-election as district attorney isn't going well. His rival Blake Tower has paid for television spots that ridicule Foggy. Blake doesn't just look good, he plays dirty.

Copperhead isn't just killing random hoodlums in the street. He's stalking everyone connected with the 1930's Copperhead pulp novels. That includes the publisher of the books and the man responsible for the modern reprints.

It turns out that Copperhead is the son of the man who wrote the Copperhead novels in the 1930's. He's taking revenge for his father remaining poor all his life. Daredevil finds him standing at his father's grave. Copperhead is about to shoot Daredevil, when his metal suit is struck by lightning. He collapses dead into an open grave.

I like this story, apart from the hissing when Copperhead speaks. It looks silly when every letter S is tripled. I found it amusing for the first two pages, but after that I found it stupid. Or should I say ssstupid?

Marvel 1975.08 - Daredevil #124

Daredevil #124

Title: In the Coils of the Copperhead!

Writer: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Copperhead

Regulars: Black Widow, Ivan, Foggy Nelson

This comic is the end of an era. The Black Widow has been appearing in Daredevil's comics since Daredevil #81, and they've been in a romantic relationship since Daredevil #84. I've always been critical of Gerry Conway's run in Daredevil (Daredevil #72 to #99), but the romance between Daredevil and Black Widow was a great achievement. The comic was even renamed "Daredevil and the Black Widow" from issues #92 to #107. Starting in issue #92 the Black Widow's picture appeared on the cover, in the top right, and this continued even after the series reverted to its original name in Daredevil #108. An exception was Daredevil #111, in which Shanna the She-Devil was shown on the cover, but this was a glitch, probably a joke by Steve Gerber. Their relationship has been on-off ever since Daredevil #100 – the issue Gerry Conway left – but Daredevil #124 is the issue in which they finally break up. It's the last issue in which her picture appears on the cover.

It's a strange break-up. Natasha claims to love Matt, but she leaves him anyway. Her reasons are simple. She's an independent woman, and she doesn't want to be dependent on a man. When they first met, she was wealthy. Now she's poor, probably due to bad budgeting, and she doesn't want Matt to support her. She'd rather sleep in the back of her car than in his New York apartment. She also feels out-classed by him when she's in action. He's a better fighter than she is, and she doesn't want to be his sidekick. Her career as a crime fighter is more important than her romance.

But I can say one thing from my own experiences with women: If a woman ever says, "When I've found whatever I'm looking for, I'll be back, I promise I'll be back", one thing is certain: she won't be back. That was my prediction when I read this comic, and today, 48 years later, she still hasn't come back. I'm not saying she was just making excuses when she left him. She really meant it. What I'm saying is that a woman who says she loves her career more than she loves a man doesn't really love him at all.

I wonder what would have happened if Gerry Conway had remained as the writer. Would he have kept them together? And I also wonder at what level in Marvel the decision was made to separate the couple. Steve Gerber's issues with an on-off romance were bittersweet, and it could have continued like that for years. The break-up story was written by Len Wein, who was Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time. So it was an editorial decision? I don't know. It would be interesting to hear an interview with one of the writers about the relationship.

According to the credits, the first half of this issue was written by Len Wein, the second half by Marv Wolfman. It says pages 1 to 14 and 15 to 31 respectively, but we have to remember that Marvel always numbered their pages including the advertisements. It's an 18-page story, and Len Wein wrote the first nine pages, which is exactly half. In the last issue Len announced that he'd be taking over as the new writer for Daredevil, but he gave up after only half an issue. My guess is that he was over-worked. I'm no expert in the comics business, but I believe that being an editor is a lot of hard work. Roy Thomas was one of Marvel's most prolific writers, but when he became the editor in 1972 his output slowed down. In the 1970's the editors were frequently changed. Six different editors from 1972 to 1978. Despite reading about it, I've never been able to understand why. Len Wein was editor from 1974 to 1975. At the time he was the writer for "The Incredible Hulk". He was probably overworked and unable to find time for another monthly title like "Daredevil".

As is well known, Marvel separated the writer's job into two halves. The writer wrote the story's plot, then the artist drew the comic, after which the writer wrote the dialogue itself. My assumption is that Len Wein plotted the whole issue, and only the dialogue was split between the two. There's a noticeable difference between the two halves, maybe because of the different subject matter, but it could be because of the different writers. In the second half Daredevil is back to his joking self, which was strongest in the first 71 issues.

Now to the story itself. After the Black Widow leaves town, Matt Murdock visits his good friend, District Attorney Foggy Nelson. Maybe he shouldn't have turned down the job at SHIELD last issue, because now he's panicking about being re-elected. There's a rival candidate who has no political experience but much better looks. As I've often said, it's a weakness of democracy that votes are cast based on feelings, not on the skills of the candidates. I'm not going to name any examples, but think back to all the politicians who were unjustly elected in your lifetime.

There's a new vigilante in town called Copperhead. If he sees someone committing a crime he sentences him to death, however trivial the crime might be. For instance, stealing a woman's purse is wrong, but does the thief deserve to die?

Matt hears about Copperhead and remembers that he was the hero in pulp fiction novels from the 1930's. He visits the author's home address as Daredevil, and he's told that he was murdered a week previously. A short time later Daredevil sees two gangs fighting. Not knowing what's going on, Daredevil sides with the underdogs. Copperhead arrives and starts killing. Daredevil fights Copperhead to protect them, but he's knocked out. Copperhead prepares to shoot Daredevil.

Marvel 1975.07 - Daredevil #123

Daredevil #123

Title: Holocaust in the Halls of Hydra!

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Hydra, Silvermane, Blackwing, El Jaguar, Man-Killer, Dreadnought, Mentallo, Jackhammer

Regulars: Black Widow, Ivan, Foggy Nelson

Guests: Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Countess Valentina

Flashbacks: Circus of Crime (Ringmaster, Princess Python, Great Gambonnos)

This is a very different Hydra to the group that was invented by Stan Lee in the 1960's. The original group was made up of normal villains, made terrifying merely by their large numbers. Tony Isabella's Hydra is led by powerful super-villains.

The story begins with Black Widow sneaking up on Blackwing while he's talking to his father Silvermane on a computer screen. Man-Killer hits her from behind and knocks her out.

Nick Fury is tired of waiting for a large SHIELD task force to arrive. He heads to Shea Stadium accompanied only by Dum Dum Dugan and Countess Valentina.

Daredevil and Black Widow wake up in a room with Silvermane, Blackwing, El Jaguar, Man-Killer, Dreadnought and Mentallo. It looks like a super-villains convention. Silvermane explains how he returned from his seeming death in Amazing Spider-Man #75. His serum of eternal youth made him regress into nothingness, but he snapped back to the prime of his life like a rubber band.

Blackwing also explains why he was a member of the Circus of Crime in Daredevil #118. The Circus was too close to Hydra's headquarters below Shea Stadium, so Blackwing joined them to distract them from accidentally discovering the Hydra headquarters. That makes sense.

Silvermane says that Hydra has no interest in Foggy Nelson himself. He's just bait to lure Nick Fury into a trap. He sees Nick and his top agents on his security cameras, and he destroys them with explosives. Or so he thinks. They were actually LMD's (Life Model Decoys).

Foggy Nelson bursts into action, freeing Daredevil and Black Widow. At that moment the real Nick Fury, Dum Dum and Countess Valentina arrive. Hydra is backed up by the arrival of yet another super-villain, Jackhammer. Come on, Tony, enough's enough! A fight breaks out, which Hydra loses. It lasts four pages, but I'm not going to describe it panel for panel! Silvermane and Blackwing flee. SHIELD takes the others prisoners.

Nick Fury repeats his offer of membership in SHIELD to Foggy Nelson. Foggy declines.

Marvel 1975.06 - Daredevil #122

Daredevil #122

Title: Hydra-And-Seek

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Hydra, Silvermane, El Jaguar, Blackwing

Regulars: Black Widow, Ivan, Foggy Nelson, Candace Nelson

Guests: Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Countess Valentina

Just look at this. After Tony Isabella mocked Roy Thomas last month for giving the Hydra-Pillers a silly name, he's given this story the title Hydra-And-Seek. That's just as bad, probably worse.

According to news reports, Daredevil, the Black Widow and SHIELD have been attacking Hydra since last month's issue in their search for Foggy Nelson. He can't be found anywhere, but Nick Fury has intelligence that he's being held somewhere in New York City.

A Hydra agent captured and beat up by Black Widow has said that Foggy is being held in a warehouse in Queens. He gave her a card with a picture of a bat. Daredevil immediately suspects that Blackwing is waiting for them. This is a strange thing for him to suspect, and it's even stranger that he's right. When we last saw Blackwing in Daredevil #118 he was a member of the Circus of Crime. That's a much smaller group than Hydra, and what connection could they possibly have to one another? Nevertheless, his hunch is correct. He also suspects, correctly, that it's a trap, because it's unusual for Hydra agents to give away information under torture.

Nick Fury tells Black Widow to wait until a complete SHIELD task force is ready, but Black Widow hurries away, closely followed by Daredevil. At the warehouse they split up. Daredevil meets Blackwing, and Black Widow meets El Jaguar. Black Widow defeats El Jaguar, but before she can find Daredevil he's defeated by Blackwing.

The Supreme Hydra congratulates Blackwing and calls him his son. He removes his mask, revealing that he's Silvermane, the head of Maggia way back in Amazing Spider-Man #75. At the end of that issue he seemingly died, but as they say, "You can't keep a bad guy down". Maybe, just maybe, the father-son relationship explains the connection with the Circus of Crime. Silvermane sent Blackwing for training with a smaller gang before allowing him to work with Hydra. Maybe.

Marvel 1975.05 - Daredevil #121

Daredevil #121

Title: Foggy Nelson, Agent of SHIELD

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Hydra, El Jaguar, Dreadnought

Regulars: Black Widow, Ivan, Foggy Nelson

Guests: Nick Fury

Continuing from last month's story, Nick Fury has gate-crashed Foggy Nelson's New Year's Eve party to ask him to join SHIELD. It won't be as an active agent, of course. It's been decided that SHIELD is no longer under the control of the American president. It will be governed by a five-man board of directors, and Foggy is one of the nominees. Nick Fury considers him a top legal expert who's painstakingly honest.

After the party, Daredevil and Black Widow go to his home gym for a workout. When they collapse hot and sweaty on the floor, Matt has another type of workout on his mind, but Natasha says No.

The next day Matt and Foggy are leaving New York City Hall when Hydra attacks again. Tony Isabella says that Hydra-Pillers is a silly name. If you go through the 1960's Marvel comics you'll find lots more silly names, but you know what? They don't bother me in the slightest. But Tony got the issue wrong. Roy Thomas introduced the Hydra-Pillers in Strange Tales #153. Am I too late to ask for a No-Prize?

Hydra's intention is to kidnap Foggy Nelson. Matt Murdock slips away to change into his Daredevil costume. Black Widow also arrives. Hydra's attack is supported by a robot called Dreadnought. The robot defeats Daredevil, and is about to kill Black Widow, when Foggy Nelson intervenes. He offers himself if Black Widow is spared.

All comedy aside, Foggy Nelson might not look like an Agent of SHIELD, but he certainly has the heart of an Agent of SHIELD.

Nick Fury arrives too late to help. Black Widow swears to get revenge if Hydra has harmed Foggy.

---

Here's the second part of Tony Isabella's Hydra history, continued from Daredevil #120.

Marvel 1975.04 - Daredevil #120

Daredevil #120

Title: And a Hydra New Year!

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Bob Brown

Villain: Hydra, El Jaguar

Regulars: Black Widow, Ivan, Foggy Nelson

Guests: Nick Fury, Countess Valentina

The Black Widow arrives at La Guardia Airport, in full costume. Daredevil goes to pick her up, also in full costume. Wouldn't it have been more discreet to wear their civilian clothing? As it turns out, they made the right choice this time. A terrorist gang wants to hijack the flight, so they're already dressed for combat.

While jumping across rooftops towards Matt's apartment, the Black Widow tells him she doesn't want to be his sidekick. He distracts her by inviting her to a New Year's Eve party. What he doesn't tell Natasha is that the party is being thrown by Foggy Nelson. She still bares a grudge against him because he was the prosecutor when she was on trial for murder in Daredevil #83.

The party is interrupted by an attack by Hydra. They want to kidnap Foggy Nelson. They're being assisted by a costumed super villain called El Jaguar. Natasha is knocked out before she can change into her costume. Matt changes into his Daredevil and defeats the Hydra agents by himself. El Jaguar flees, and Daredevil wants to chase hi, but Nick Fury arries with SHIELD agents and tells Daredevil to let him go.

Nick says that he wants Foggy to join SHIELD.

---

In this issue, Tony Isabella writes a brief history of Hydra. This is the first part of a two-part essay that will continue in next month's issue. The first part is mostly new, invented by Tony Isabella. The second part is mostly a summary of Hydra's appearances in Marvel comics.

Here's his summary. I apologise in advance for the poor quality scan. You can click on the image to enlarge it.