This story begins with Natasha saying goodbye to Matt. And then…
These issues introduce Death Stalker, who is also featured in the first Frank Miller issue (#158).
But more importantly: Man-Thing meets the Man Without Fear. Or at least it should have been more important. It should have been awesome as Hell, especially since Gladiator is also in the mix.
But it’s not. It’s okay. It’s just not awesome.
But here’s an interesting thing: Man-Thing predated DC’s Swamp Thing by a few months, but in this comic artist Bob Brown makes Man Thing look almost exactly like Swamp Thing.
In the final showdown, Daredevil and Death-Stalker fight on a cat walk above a large chemical pool.
You know what that means, right?
Daredevil drops another one.
These three issues of “Daredevil” ( 113-115 ) are my all-time favorite DD story, for a couple of reasons: 1) First appearance of the Death-Stalker, who would be around for the next five years, making Daredevil’s life very stressful. The Death Stalker is one of those type of supervillains who are the stuff of nightmares, like Count Dracula and Sinestro. If I were DD, I would not be able to sleep, knowing that the Death Stalker is out there, obsessed with only one thought: My death! When Frank Miller took over the series in 1979, with the series at the edge of cancellation, he knew he had nothing to lose by taking the series in a bold, daring, even dangerous new direction, first step being: Completely jettison the entire DD rogues gallery in favor of relentless ninja attacks, Bullseye, Martial Arts/chop-suey bullshit, in a last-ditch effort to save the series by transforming it into something besides a weak knockoff of ‘Batman’, beginning with the final resolution of the four-year old ‘Death Stalker’ storyline. It’s difficult to argue with success, but Miller’s direction succeeded on all levels, infusing new life and interest in the series. I personally would have preferred to retain the character’s and series’ “swashbuckler” aspect, instead of the new “Scourge of Evil Ninjas” approach, but I know I am in the minority here. In 1979, I was simultaneously disappointed and yet relieved, to see the end of the Death Stalker, since I tend to put myself into the role of the hero of the piece, and, as noted, if I were Daredevil, the Death Stalker would have kept me up at night, so it’s just as well that he’s dead. ( how DOES DD spend eight-to-ten hours a day, five-to-six days a week fighting for the downtrodden in the courtroom, AND spend all NIGHT fighting crime in the streets??! When DOES he have time for sleep?!! ) The revelation of the Death Stalker’s origin totally caught me by surprise- I suppose the fiend had to come from somewhere, but that was some revelation, and whichever Marvel writer came up with it was really up on his ‘Daredevil’ history. If any further evidence is required of the late ( PLEASE, Marvel, TRY a little originality for once, and let THIS guy, at least, STAY DEAD!!!! ) Death Stalker’s fearlessness, look no further than his Super-Gay for the Day boots, with their three-inch heels!! Not much doubt how THIS guy swung! ( ahem! ) Anyway- reason Number Two for this being my all-time favorite DD storyline is the involvement of the Man-Thing, who is a big favorite of mine. I was stunned at the above columnist’s revelation that the Man-Thing actually predated his analog at DC, Swamp Thing, by a few months! It was always my understanding that these two swamp-rats hit the scene at the exact same point in time, in 1971! I am glad to discover that the Man-Thing came first, because he’s a better take on the concept. Unlike the Swamp Thing, you never know what the Man-Thing is thinking, which makes him the more interesting of the two. The Man-Thing is a purely reactionary creature, and he only shows up when he’s needed. Daredevil certainly needed him on this occasion, as Manny showed up just in time to save DD from a really close shave! The final pages of #113 took on a truly horrific feel- I could actually FEEL the cold, damp, clamminess of the “God-forsaken swamp”, as DD put it, during his hopeless battle with Death Stalker and the Gladiator. I figure night fell over the battlefield quickly, just as the conflict got underway. Daredevil’s sense of being totally alone during that skirmish must have been overwhelming, but fortunately, the clammy calvary arrived in the form of our swampy savior. I realized what a serious bitch the Death Stalker was going to be for old Horn-Head when the Death Stalker was able to put the Man-Thing into total retreat with just a touch of his death-dealing hand! I do believe that is the ONLY time I have EVER seen the Man-Thing so totally, completely, thoroughly routed! And THIS guy routinely whoops up on types like the Thing and the Incredible Hulk!! I further agree with our columnist that this initial, historic first meeting between the Man Without Fear and the Guardian of the Nexus was not accorded the proper hype it deserved! Usually, Marvel makes a huge deal over such historic first meetings, but they certainly dropped the ball this time. Nevertheless, the horror element of the climax was beautifully embellished by the crisp, clean, yet atmospheric pencils of Bob Brown, easily at the top of his game with these issues. It’s too bad he could not maintain this momentum a few years later with his work on Marvel’s “The Champions” series. Steve Gerber likewise turns in scripts here that are comparable to his equally-excellent work on “The Defenders” at the time. I was heartbroken to learn that Gerber died in a Las Vegas hospital all alone at the relatively young age of sixty-two, following several years of contentious litigation against Marvel Comics over his ( inane ) ‘Howard the Duck’ character. ( just never COULD get on board with Howard the Duck- sorry, but Marvel- don’t we want the public-at-large to take funnybooks SERIOUSLY-???? ) So- Daredevil and Man-Thing versus Death Stalker and Gladiator in a deadly swamp! Good stuff!! And where were YOU in the Fall of 1974??! Excelsior!!!
I really wanted to like Howard the Duck and couldn’t get on board either. I think a lot of people loved the IDEA of what Gerber was doing but the execution of that idea is very dated.
Not to mention stupid! Marvel needs to leave the talking ducks and what-not to Disney and “Looney Tunes”!