By Gerry Conway, Steve Gerber, Gene Colan, & various (Marvel)
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2762-3
Matt Murdock is a blind lawyer whose remaining senses hyper-compensate, making him an astonishing acrobat, formidable fighter and a living lie-detector. Very much a second-string hero for most of his early years, Daredevil was nonetheless a striking and popular one, due in large part to the captivatingly humanistic art of Gene Colan. He fought gangsters, a variety of super-villains and even the occasional monster or alien invasion. He quipped and wise-cracked his way through life and life-threatening combat, utterly unlike the grim, moody, quasi-religious metaphor he’s been seen as in latter years.
In these tales from the pivotal era of relevancy, social awareness and increasing political polarisation the Man Without Fear was also growing into the judicial conscience of a generation…
Marvel Comics built its fan-base through audacious, contemporary stories with spectacular art and by creating a shared continuity that closely followed the characters through not just their own titles but also through the many guest appearances in other comics. Such an interweaving meant that even today completists and fans seek out extraneous stories simply to get a fuller picture of their favourites’ adventures.
This fourth Essential monochrome collection re-presents Daredevil #75-101, covering April 1971 to July 1973 and also includes Avengers #111, wherein twin storylines converged and concluded.
The Marvel Magic opens with a drama of political intrigue and kidnapping as Murdock travelled to the banana republic of Delvadia where ‘Now Rides the Ghost of El Condor!’ by scripter Gerry Conway and the incomparable art team of Gene Colan & Syd Shores: a canny yarn of revolutionary fervour and self-serving greed concluded in ‘The Deathmarch of El Condor!’ in Daredevil #76, with inker Tom Palmer beginning his long association with Colan as perhaps his most effective inker.
Guest stars abounded in ‘…And So Enters the Amazing Spider-Man!’ as an uncanny artefact appeared in Central Park inviting DD, Spidey and the Sub-Mariner to join a fantastic battle in a far-flung lost world. The adventure concluded in the Atlantean’s own comic (#40) but as Daredevil didn’t join the quest that sequel isn’t included in this tome.
As an aside to interested 1980’s post-punk/neo-psychedelic saddoes everywhere, I might mention that this story is where Julian Cope found the phrase “The Teardrop Explodes’…
Issue #78 returned to more traditional territory as ‘The Horns of the Bull!’ followed the downfall of petty thug Bull Taurus after enigmatic mastermind Mr. Kline transformed him into a savage beast and set him upon the Man Without Fear…
Gary Friedrich wrote the cataclysmic conclusion ‘Murder Cries the Man-Bull!’ but Conway was back to spectacularly reintroduce a vintage villain ‘In the Eyes… of the Owl!’ which presaged a major format change for the series from Daredevil #81’s ‘And Death is a Woman Called Widow’ (inked by Jack Abel) wherein former Soviet super-spy Natasha Romanoff burst onto the scene as the ubiquitous Kline was finally unmasked and revealed to be once again behind all DD’s woes…
After a stunning pin-up of the bodacious Black Widow by the incredible Bill Everett the conspiracy drama continued with ‘Now Send… the Scorpion’ as Kline – AKA the Assassin – set the manic artificial arachnid against DD and the Widow whilst his master attempted to suborn Murdock’s greatest friend Foggy Nelson.
At the end of that issue the Scorpion was apparently dead and ‘The Widow Accused!’ by Nelson. A sham trial intended to railroad and pillory the Russian émigré ensued in #83, (art by Alan Weiss, Barry Smith & Bill Everett) with the Assassin dispatching brutish Mr. Hyde to ensure his victory. Against all odds Murdock cleared Natasha of the charges, prompting the hidden mastermind to take direct action in ‘Night of the Assassin!’ (Colan & Shores). Attacking DD and the Widow in Switzerland – whence she had fled to nurse her wounded pride – Kline met final defeat in a shocking climax to the extended saga.
Daredevil #85 found the couple romantically involved and returning to America on a ‘Night Flight!’ hijacked by the bloodthirsty Gladiator, after which another long forgotten foe resurfaced for the last time in ‘Once Upon a Time… the Ox!’ (Palmer inks) before Matt and Natasha relocated to San Francisco and stumbled into one more ancient enemy in #87’s ‘From Stage Left, Enter: Electro!’
The memory lane menaces continued in ‘Call Him Killgrave!’ as the mind-bending Purple Man resurfaced, erroneously convinced DD had tracked him down to queer his nefarious schemes. As the origin of the Black Widow was revealed the sinister spellbinder attacked and was temporarily repulsed: regrouping with Electro and attacking again in ‘Crisis!’ just as a mysterious man from Natasha’s sordid past resurfaced with portentous news of a long-forgotten mission…
Daredevil #90 explored ‘The Sinister Secret of Project Four!‘ as Hornhead began suffering inexplicable, incapacitating panic attacks, explained a month later in ‘Fear is the Key!’ when Mister Fear struck again… only to be revealed as more than he first seemed…
Issue #92 finally bowed to the inevitable and became Daredevil and the Black Widow just as a new menace struck ‘On the Eve of the Talon!’ and the Project Four saga roared to a conclusion as industrialist Damon Dran won ‘A Power Corrupt!’ and was transformed into a monolithic Indestructible Man rampaging through San Francisco; arrogantly aware that ‘He Can Crush the World!’ Only superhuman heroism and an ultimate sacrifice saved that day…
‘Bullfight on the Bay!’ saw the Man-Bull break jail and rampage across America to revenge himself upon Daredevil, forcing Natasha to do her very worst in the concluding chapter ‘The Widow Will Make You Pay!’ (inked by Ernie Chua nee Chan).
Steve Gerber took over scripting with #97 (from Conway’s plots) for ‘He Who Saves’ as a street acrobat suffered a calamitous accident and was subsequently mutated by sinister hidden forces into proto-godling the Dark Messiah. The already unstoppable Agent of Change was joined by three equally awesome Disciples of Doom in #98’s ‘Let There be… Death!’ but even though physically overmatched, DD and the Widow’s psychological warfare proved fatally effective.
‘The Mark of Hawkeye!’ by the now autonomous Gerber, Sam Kweskin & Shores, found Natasha’s old boyfriend turn up determined to reclaim her, leading to the Archer’s sound and well-deserved thrashing and a quick jump into Avengers #111. ‘With Two Beside Them!’ (by Steve Englehart, Don Heck & Mike Esposito) had the West Coast vigilantes join a ragtag team of heroes to rescue a number of X-Men and Avengers enslaved by the malevolent Magneto.
Back in the City by the Bay and dumped by Natasha for his anniversary issue, Daredevil agonisingly relived his origins and danger-drenched life in ‘Mind Storm!’ (Gerber, Colan & John Tartaglione) whilst a savage and embittered psionic terrorist launched a series of mind-mangling assaults on the populace, culminating in a shattering showdown between the blind hero and Angar the Screamer as well as a shaky reconciliation with the Widow in ‘Vengeance in the Sky with Diamonds!’, illustrated by Rich Buckler & Frank Giacoia.
This supremely enticing volume also has one last treat in store: two unused Gil Kane covers for issues #90 and 91, to supplement his superb stint as the features premier cover artist.
As the social upheaval of this period receded the impressively earnest material was replaced by fabulous fantasy tales which strongly suggested the true potential of Daredevil was in reach. These beautifully illustrated yarns may still occasionally jar with their heartfelt stridency and sometimes dated attitudes but the narrative energy and sheer exuberant excitement of these classic adventures are delights no action fan will care to miss. And the next volume heads even further into uncharted territory…
© 1971, 1972, 1973, 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.