Featuring: Daredevil
Release: February 4, 1965
Cover: April 1965
12 cents
Written by the master of the spoken word: Stan Lee
Drawn by the master of the printed picture: Wally Wood
Lettered by the monster of the blurb balloon: Artie Simek
20 pages
| Previous | #339 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Journey Into Mystery #115, Story B | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #116 |
| Daredevil #6 | Daredevil | Daredevil #8 |
Interviewed in London about 7 years back, Stan Lee was asked what his favorite story he ever wrote was. At first he claimed they were all his favorites. But after a moment’s reflection, he began to describe a comic he wrote where Daredevil and Sub-Mariner fought. His description contained some inaccuracies; he was 92 at the time and never renowned for his memory. Yet his description of the ending was pretty much spot on.
And in the end the Sub-Mariner went… back to the ocean and he left Daredevil kind of lying exhausted on the sand, and he said something like, “You were a noble competitor…” I enjoyed the way I think I made them both seem heroic, even though they were fighting each other.
Stan Lee, London Film and Comic Con, 2014
Stan Lee wrote hundreds of superhero comics and in many interviews could barely keep any two characters straight. Yet somehow he spoke with a nostalgic fondness about a single moment at the end of this particular story 50 years later, a single page that he did seem to remember rather clearly.
This is Wally Wood’s third issue of Daredevil. Wood is an artist and storyteller on par with Kirby and Ditko, but won’t be at Marvel long enough to leave the same mark on the characters they did. His greatest contribution to the nascent Marvel Universe will be this issue.
Let’s start with the obvious. Right from the cover, we see Daredevil has a new costume. It’s not really that different from a penciler’s perspective than the one he wore last issue. It’s mostly the color scheme that’s changed. The costume is all red now. Fitting for a devil.
And somehow it makes all the difference in the world. From the worst Marvel costume to an iconic look that will be forever associated with the character. This is the look of Daredevil that endures.
Wood puts more detail into the world than either Kirby or Ditko. We’ve never seen Atlantis quite like this in Kirby’s rendering. Kirby drew beautiful and bold and bizarre shapes in Atlantis, but Wood makes it feel full, like there’s a real city there fading into the background. His cityscapes of New York will be equally impressive.
In next month’s Avengers, which we have already read, Namor turns down a request to join the Avengers because he has vowed to conquer the surface world. This story must take place shortly after that encounter, despite being published earlier.
In the past, Namor’s focus has tended to be on the wrongs committed against his people by the surface world. Humanity’s environmental malfeasance and weapons testing had taken its toll on Namor’s people, and he sought war against the surface to protect or avenge his people from real harm that had been done them.
Now, we get something new. Krang, always manipulative, convinces Namor that the surface world is the birthright of the Sub-Mariners. Namor seems to take this for granted. Even though they cannot survive on the surface, the Sub-Mariners all seem to agree they are its ancient and rightful rulers.
Namor does not seek war, so seeks to appear in a surface court to present his legal claim to the surface.
He hires attorneys, Nelson & Murdock.
When they convince him he has no standing and no appropriate defendant to sue, Namor decides to cause some property damage to get his day in court.
When he learns that Krang has used this opportunity to incite a rebellion and claim his crown, he breaks out of prison to return home.
The army seeks to stop him, but they stand no chance. Namor will destroy them. Daredevil thinks he can prevent a massacre.
Daredevil has a new trick for his billy club. It now works as a cable he can hook to buildings to swing around the city. Bears some resemblance to Spider-Man. Another enduring change to Daredevil courtesy of Wally Wood.
Wood has a rare ability to depict things realistically without sacrificing fluidity. His characters look to be both real and in motion.
We’ve spoken before about these battles where the hero is greatly outmatched, but doesn’t give up. I tend to like them. This is renowned as one of the best examples.
Namor is very powerful, a match for the strength of Thor or the Thing. Daredevil can hear really well.
Daredevil’s goal is mainly to distract Namor, to get him to return to sea without fighting through the army. It comes to a head over a few famous final pages.
Daredevil is down, and should probably stay down. Namor is convinced it’s over and turns away in disdain. But Daredevil stands back up.
His next attack is as futile as his first.
But Namor was impressed by his outmatched foe.
“I have fought the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and other super-powered humans, but none have been more courageous than he, the most vulnerable of all!”
And so Namor returned to the sea in peace.
One of the best battles and best endings we’ve yet come across.
I love how Daredevil can barely move, but still tries to grab Namor’s ankle.
A pin-up in the issue captures its best moment.
Wood must have known he’d made a great scene even then.
It’s great because Daredevil has the smallest of victories. He had no chance. Sub-Mariner is extremely powerful. The victory is this: at the beginning of the fight, Daredevil seemed beaten, and Namor was dismissive and disdainful of him; at the end of the fight, Daredevil was beaten, but Namor’s attitude had changed. Twice in the story, Namor turns away from a fallen Daredevil. The second time, he turns away with respect.
Rating: ★★★★½, 81/100
Significance: ★★★★★
I read this story in Daredevil Epic Collection vol. 1: The Man Without Fear. You can also find it in Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil vol. 1. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Namor the First, Prince of Atlantis, Emperor of the Deep, Lord of the Seven Seas, and Supreme Commander of the Undersea Legions/Prince Namor/Sub-Mariner
- Lady Dorma
- Krang
- Karen Page
- Matt Murdock/Daredevil
- Foggy Nelson
Story notes:
- Krang asks Namor when they can take their rightful place on the surface; he seeks to goad Namor into war.
- Namor first recognized as Lord of the Seven Seas in Fantastic Four Annual 1.
- Namor recognizes the surface world as the heritage of his people, and thinks it is theirs by right.
- Krang desires Namor’s crown and Dorma’s hand.
- Namor referred to as “Avenging Son”, a name we learned in Fantastic Four Annual 1.
- Murdock tries to explain why suing the entire human race is impossible.
- Murdock sensed Namor’s honor, pride, and nobility.
- Daredevil spent months redesigning his costume to be more comfortable and distinctive.
- Namor saves Daredevil from drowning, respecting his valor.
- Dorma warns Namor Krang has started a rebellion in his absence.
- Namor agrees to wait a single day in prison; when he learns the trial is delayed a week, he leaves his cell to return to Atlantis.
- Daredevil’s billy club used as a cable he can hook to buildings to swing around the city.
- Billy club now unleashes cloud of smoke.
- Headline from New York Daily Press: Daredevil Battles Sub-Mariner
| Previous | #339 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Journey Into Mystery #115, Story B | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #116 |
| Daredevil #6 | Daredevil | Daredevil #8 |
This story was reprinted in a Marvel “Holiday Grab-Bag” tabloid-sized edition that my mom’s boyfriend gave to me when was seven. I read that thing over and over again, and even painted a copy of DD swinging across town when I was 9 or 10.
One thing that always fascinated me about the story was the trial scene (not shown here). It was set op as a very orderly, structured, formal thing in a top-of-the-page, page-wide cinemascope panel showing the courtroom, the judge, Namor, Murdock, and everyone else in all ready to begin a dignified official proceeding.
That orderliness started to fall apart in the very next panel, as the prosecuting attorney levied his charges, to which Namor took exception and stood up out of his chair. They fell apart further when Namor’s queen showed up, blue skin, fish-tank helmet, and all, announcing Krang’s rebellion.
That’s what led to Namor wanting to break free and return, the cops trying to restrain him, and the explosion at the top of the next page (shown here on page 11, according to the tiny number in the corner of the page).
That depiction of order-to-chaos was very effective on me, and I really felt the way such things can irretrievably break down, thanks to Wood’s layouts and use of figure.
A great perspective on the story. Well said.