Featuring: Daredevil
Release: September 1, 1966
Cover: November 1966
12 cents
Written with rapture by: Stan Lee
Drawn with drama by: Gene Colan
Delineated with delight by: Giacoia & Ayers
Lettered with the ball game on by: Sam Rosen
20 pages
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|---|---|---|
| Avengers #35 | Reading order | Daredevil #23 |
| Daredevil #21 | Daredevil | Daredevil #23 |
I know it’s utterly insane, but I can’t help thinking of Daredevil every time I look at Matt! I know a blind attorney can’t possibly be a costumed super-hero… and yet…!
We checked in with Daredevil at the start of the Secret Empire mess because his story was entangled with Spider-Man’s battle against the Rhino. We paused, but now need to look back and remind ourselves where we were some.
Matt Murdock was wanted for Rhino’s defense council, but he couldn’t be found, because he was a prisoner of the Owl. When the Rhino broke out of prison, we saw that Matt had returned safely from the Owl’s island, and considered going after the Rhino, but decided to let Spider-Man handle it.
We now go back in time a bit as this issue opens with Daredevil just escaping from Owl’s island.
But by page 3, we are back in the present, in a scene set after his appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #43. So, the first two pages took place a few days back. But it’s been quite the few days in the lives of the Marvel heroes. And starting on page 3, a longer saga begins.
I hope this is the last time I refer to the continuity of the Secret Empire saga.
Foggy is working with Mr. Farnum, the building manager on new leases. Except the last time we met the building manager, his name was Mr. Dunn. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Farnum look very much alike and both seem very suspicious. If he’s changed his name for some reason in the last 4 issues, that’s even more suspicious.
Foggy appreciates that Mr. Farnum nee Dunn isn’t a dangerous super-villain.
Count Nefaria was defeated in X-Men #23, leaving a leadership opening for the Maggia. An opening the Masked Marauder thinks he can fill, along with his partner, the Gladiator.
We are introduced to three minor criminals with semi-colorful names. Together they will power the artificial Tri-Man: the Mangler, the Dancer, and the Brain.
The Tri-Man (also called the Tri-Android) attacks a boxing match at the Garden to lure Daredevil out. Matt was with Karen and needs to do something clever to protect his secret identity while also taking on the Tri-Man. His plan is to put on Foggy’s fake Daredevil costume in front of Karen and have Karen drive him to the Garden. He’s pretending to be Daredevil in order to pretend to Karen that he’s not Daredevil.
It’s like he’s playing 3-dimensional chess. And then the real Daredevil shows up to battle the Tri-Man, and Matt/Daredevil disappears on Karen. A perfect plan. Maybe 4-dimensional chess.
The Masked Marauder recognizes Karen Page. I wonder how.
It is September 1966 and Marvel has reached the television sets with a series called Marvel Super-Heroes. The series draws very directly from the comics pages, lightly animating the existing artwork to turn the comics into television shows.
I rented several episodes of this series when I was a child and it was my introduction to Marvel superheroes. It’s how I met Namor, Thor, Captain America… Captain America’s theme song has been stuck in my head to this day.
At the same time, a new science fiction show debuted. Interesting stories but crude special effects. I assume it didn’t last long.
After Quality Comics went out of business, DC ended up acquiring the rights to their classic superhero Plastic Man, creation of the great Jack Cole. They debut a new Plastic Man series, featuring a new hero named Plastic Man, later revealed as the son of the original Plastic Man. He has the same powers as his father, and they look identical.
What else does the newsstand have to offer this month?
- Jughead #138, Archie
- Fightin’ Marines #72, Charlton
- Teen Confessions #42, Charlton
- Aquaman #30, DC
- Metamorpho #9, DC
- Neutro #1, Dell
- Marge’s Little Lulu #182, Gold Key
- Walt Disney Presents Zorro #4, Gold Key
- The Friendly Ghost Casper #100, Harvey
- The Phantom #19, King
- Captain Marvel #4, MF
- NoMan #1, Tower
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 51/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Daredevil Epic Collection vol. 2: Mike Murdock Must Die!
Who is Mike Murdock?
Characters:
- Daredevil/Matt Murdock
- Judge Lewis
- Owl
- Foggy Nelson
- Karen Page
- Mr. Farnum (or is it Mr. Dunn?)
- Masked Marauder
- Gladiator
- Mangler
- Dancer
- Brain
- Tri-Man/Tri-Android
Story notes:
- Picks up where last issue left off with Daredevil and Judge Lewis escaping Owl’s island, but has a bit of a time jump on page 3.
- Owl detonates the mechanical bird, but DD hears the bomb and escapes with Judge Lewis.
- Foggy upset Rhino broke out of jail and notes Spider-Man is on his trail.
- Mr. Farnum is moving the building from rentals to a cooperative plan, and Foggy is handling the new leases.
- Daredevil unable to find Owl. Also notes Gladiator and Masked Marauder remain at large but have been lying low.
- Matt has decided to tell Karen he loves her.
- Masked Marauder thinks he can impress the Maggia by defeating Daredevil, and become the leader.
- Masked Marauder’s Tri-Android (also called Tri-Man) will need three humans to bring him to life and power him.
- Mangler a down-and-out wrestler captured by the Masked Marauder.
- Dancer a fast-moving safe-cracker captured by the Masked Marauder.
- Brain an underworld figure with plans captured by the Masked Marauder.
- Tri-Sndroid will possess their strength, speed, and cunning.
- Maggia open to making the Marauder the leader if his plan succeeds.
- Foggy invites Karen to a fight at the Garden, but she turns him down.
- Tri-Android interrupts boxing match to issue ultimatum to Daredevil.
- Matt puts on Foggy’s Daredevil costume and has Karen drive him to the Garden.
- Daredevil fights Tri-Android in ring and is winning.
- Masked Marauder threatens to kill Foggy and Karen if he doesn’t surrender.
| Previous | #629 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers #35 | Reading order | Daredevil #23 |
| Daredevil #21 | Daredevil | Daredevil #23 |
