judge lewis – Coke ⊕ Comics

Daredevil #22

The Tri-Man Lives!

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.

Daredevil #21

The Trap is Sprung

The Trap is Sprung
Featuring: Daredevil
Release: August 2, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
Spellbinding script: Stan Lee
Phenominal pencilling; Gene Colan
Dynamic delineation: Fearless Frank * Darlin’ Dick * Wild Bill
Laudatory lettering: Artie Simek
Bombastic bird-watching: Irving Forbush
20 pages

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Daredevil #20	Reading order	Amazing Spider-Man #41
Daredevil #20	Daredevil	Daredevil #22

“Daredevil!! B-but how–??”
“Would you believe– blind luck??”

The credited inkers are Frank, Dick, and Bill. I presume that means… Frank Giacoia, Dick Ayers, and Bill Everett.

Is Colan the regular artist now? It suggested last issue was a fill-in. But he’s now drawn 2 issues in a row and is set to draw the next 80 or so.

On a personal note, this is the earliest issue of Daredevil that I own.

Daredevil #20

The Verdict is Death!

Featuring: Daredevil
Release: June 30, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Pencilling: Gentleman Gene Colan
Inking: Fearless Frank Giacoia/Melancholy Mickey Demeo
Lettering: Adorable Artie Simek
Bad-Guy Booer: Honest Irving Forbush
20 pages

Previous	#553	Next
Thor Annual 2	Reading order	Daredevil #21
Daredevil #19	Daredevil	Daredevil #21

In this court– presided over by the Owl– I make my own laws!

I’m a little confused about who the inker is. GCD claims Esposito, who we see credited in the reprint below by his standard pen name, Mickey Demeo. The GCD also claims the original comic has this credit. UHBMCC claims that the original comic credits Giacoia. Earth’s Mightiest Blog has a scan of what looks like the original credits, and it’s Giacoia.

Looking at various collections on my shelves, the Epic Collection and Marvel Masterworks volumes credit Frank Giacoia; but the Essential Daredevil credits Esposito.

Here’s the original art for the issue, which has Giacoia, though you can see it appears to be a last minute change over a whited-out name.

Note about pencilling that John Romita is too busy polishing off the Amazing Spider-Man Annual. Though he only does the layouts for that comic.

In fact, Colan turns out to not just be filling in. As of this issue, he’ll be the regular penciler on Daredevil for the next several years, freeing Romita to focus on Spider-Man.