Ann Nocenti's run on Daredevil is quite possibly the reading order I receive the most requests for and one I think many fans would like to see collected in an omnibus or two. Nocenti wrote Daredevil #236, 238-245, 247-257 and 259-291. Since then, she's written back-up stories for Daredevil #500 and Daredevil: Black and White #1 and a number of Typhoid Mary stories that I'll pick up in a future TYPHOID MARY READING ORDER. Nocenti introduced Typhoid Mary in this very run and is the standout character from her time on Daredevil, having gone on to become one of the key characters in his rogue's gallery.
Ann Nocenti really starts to establish her notable run when Rick Leonardi jumps on board for a Wolverine story that introduces the hitman Bushwacker. Then John Romita becomes regular penciller on the series, marking himself as one of the most influential DD artists on the tale that introduces Typhoid Mary and sees the Kingpin destroy Matt Murdock's life in a very different way. Romita stays on for Daredevil's self-imposed exile, the introduction of Mephisto's son Blackheart and the bizarre trip to hell with the Inhumans tagging along for the ride. Finally, Nocenti wraps up her time steering Murdock world with an offbeat Bullseye story that re-establishes him in his beloved Hell's Kitchen.
This was the time when I started reading Daredevil regularly and I'd love to see it collected in an omnibus format some time soon, myself.
MCG Notes:
- Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Daredevil stories from this time period, along with any often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
- issue listings in grey: Part of Daredevil's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
- Chronology: Every Matt Murdock appearance from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
- Spoilers: The are some spoilers in the story overviews, though I've tried to keep them to a minimum - just be warned!
Daredevil #236 (1986)
The Black Widow is sent to kill the government super-assassin, Jake Hazzard, who was a part of the same program as Nuke; Daredevil assists Black Widow when Hazzard goes on a rampage.
Daredevil #237 (1986)
Klaw is revealed to have been returned to Earth by the Beyonder when he clashes with an outmatched Daredevil; Black Widow hints at jealousy over Matt Murdock's renewed relationship with Karen Page, driving a rift between them.
Daredevil #238 (1987)
Sabretooth takes a brief detour from killing Morlocks in the sewers when he ends up running into Daredevil; Daredevil meets the Fatboys - a group of adventurous kids - for the first time during MUTANT MASSACRE.
Daredevil #239-241 (1987)
Daredevil hunts the serial killer Rotgut; Daredevil uses his battle with street performer the Trixter to teach the Fatboys a valuable lesson.
Daredevil: Black & White #1[2/3] (2010)
The Kingpin uses Daredevil's pursuit of justice against him.
Marvel Comics Presents #81[4/4] (1991)
Daredevil disrupts a scam to coerce Hell's Kitchen tenants into abandoning their apartments.
Marvel Graphic Novel #24: Daredevil - Love and War (1986)
Daredevil steps in when the Kingpin has the wife of a highly revered psychiatrist kidnapped to coerce him into helping Vanessa Fisk., leaving her at the mercy of a psychotic henchman.
Amazing Spider-Man #286 (1987)
Daredevil cameo (voice only); Matt Murdock calls Peter Parker to meet to discuss the current gang war during GANG WAR.
Amazing Spider-Man #287-288 (1987)
Daredevil finds himself between the Kingpin and an enraged Spider-Man and has to convince the web-slinger not to make a decision he'll regret to put an end to the war on New York's streets during GANG WAR.
Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993)
Two art-themed serial killers attract the attention of Daredevil and the Black Widow.
Daredevil #242-244 (1987)
A modern day Robin Hood dubbed the Caviar Killer becomes Daredevil's next target; Daredevil faces a voodoo spirit called the Nameless One.
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #128 (1987)
Daredevil cameo; Spider-Man rejects Daredevil's help when he's pursued across New York by the Wild Pack; Spider-Man still isn't over their recent fallout during the gang war.
Daredevil #245-247 (1987)
Daredevil butts heads with the Black Panther over a rogue member of the nation of Wakanda who relocates to New York and soon finds himself out of his depth; Daredevil saves a New York cabbie who gets caught in Chance's crosshairs and government corruption; Daredevil and the Black Widow track down, Agent Crock, another broken candidate from a modern super-soldier program.
Daredevil #248-251 (1987-1988)
First appearance of Bullet (Buck Cashman), Bushwacker (Carl Burbank) and Lance Cashman; Daredevil and Wolverine disagree on how to apprehend the mutant hitman Bushwacker; Daredevil protects an eco warriors who come under attack from hired mercenary Bullet.
Daredevil #252 (1988)
First appearance of Ammo; the blackout in New York caused by Apocalypse and his Horsemen leads to riots on the streets, with Daredevil caught between two street gangs during THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS.
Black Widow: The Coldest War (1990)
Daredevil cameo; Black Widow briefly turns to Daredevil for help.
Daredevil Annual #5[2/5] (1989)
Daredevil cameo; the Wildboys continue to run riot through New York.
Daredevil Annual #5[3/5] (1989)
Daredevil comes to the Fatboys aid when one of them is kidnapped.
Daredevil Annual #5[4/5] (1989)
Matt Murdock cameo; Ben Urich investigates a story that lands him in Bushwacker's crosshairs.
Marvel Super-Heroes Winter Special #4[2/6] (1990)
Daredevil's attempt to topple the Kingpin backfires.
Marvel Comics Presents #19[4/4] (1989)
Daredevil pursues Turk into Josie's Bar during DAMAGE CONTROL.
Wolverine #17 (1989)
Flashback: Hammer Cody dies while fighting Daredevil during DISSOLUTION & REBIRTH.
Daredevil #253 (1988)
First appearance of the Wildboys (Spit & Jet) and Eightball & Ralf (of the Fatboys); Daredevil apprehends the Wildboys.
Thor #392-395 (1988)
First appearance of Susan Austin, Jackie Lukas, Kevin Masterson, Quicksand (Nguyet) and Earth Force (Earth Lord, Skyhawk & Wind Warrior); Daredevil clashes with Hogun the Grim when he finds himself on Earth.
First appearance of Typhoid Mary (Mary Walker); the Kingpin agrees to pay Typhoid to break Daredevils heart to ruin his life and distract him from the case against Kelco; Matt Murdock falls for Mary Walker and fights it out with Typhoid when he's Daredevil, unaware it's the same women due to her split personality.
Daredevil #257(pp.1-5)(1988)
Punisher #10(pp.8) (1988)
Daredevil #257(pp.6-11) (1988)
Daredevil #257(pp.12-18) / Punisher #10(pp.16-20) (1988)
Punisher #10(p.21) (1988)
Daredevil #257(pp.19-22) (1988)
The Punisher and Daredevil both hunt down the same man who's putting cyanide in aspirin, but have a clash of ideologies; Matt Murdock's affair with Mary Walker continues during THE CREEP & THE BULLY.
Daredevil #258 (1988)
First appearance of Bengal (Duc No Tranh); a Vietnamese war vet is hunted by the vigilante Bengal who soon comes to blows with Daredevil.
Daredevil #259 (1988)
While Daredevil fights one of the most heinous bunch of criminals he's ever faced, Typhoid Mary gathers a band of bad guys to beat him senseless.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22[1/3] (1988)
First appearance of Speedball (Robbie Baldwin) and Madeline Naylor; the High Evolutionary's Purifiers impact the Kingpin's drug trafficking; Spider-Man, Daredevil and a new hero called Speedball rise up to stop a war on the streets during THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Marvel Comics Presents #4[4/4]-5[4/4] (1988)
The demon Fear Eater tries and fails to feed on Daredevil; Daredevil searches for a stalker.
Marvel Super-Heroes Special #2[3/7] (1990)
A boy turns to Matt Murdock when he thinks his mother is on drugs.
Daredevil #260-261 (1988)
Typhoid leads Ammo, Bullet, Bushwacker and the Wildboys in a relentless assault on Daredevil; the Human Torch searches for the missing hero.
Daredevil #262-263, 265 (1989) / Code of Honor #3 (1997)
Demons run riot through New York, thanks to N'Astirh; Typhoid takes the battered Daredevil to hospital and reveals her affair with Matt Murdock to Karen Page; Mephisto takes an interest in Daredevil; Matt drags himself out of hospital to defend New Yorkers from the demon invasion during INFERNO.
Daredevil #267 (1989)
Mephisto has a few drinks with Daredevil until he tries to stake his claim on the Man Without Fear.
Punisher War Journal #1-3 (1988-1989)
First appearance of Yuriko Ezaki, Philip Richards and Rikichi; Daredevil goes after the Punisher again, but ends up helping him stop one of Frank Castle's old Vietnam buddies gone rogue.
Daredevil #264 (1989)
The Owl tries to get in on the drug rackets with New York gangs while Daredevil tries to save the innocents that get caught up in the inevitable conflict.
Daredevil #267 (1989)
First appearance of Skip Ash; Daredevil realises the extent of the damage done to his life; with his relationship and law firm in tatters, he burns his belongings and leaves New York.
Daredevil #277 (1990)
In upstate New York, Daredevil stays at the home of a psychologist whose with struggles with demons of her own.
Daredevil #268-270 (1990)
First appearance of Blackheart; as he wanders out of New York, Matt Murdock continues to help those in need as Daredevil; he comes to the aid of a young mutant girl when the Blob and Pyro of Freedom Force try to claim her for the government; Daredevil teams up with Spider-Man when the demonic Blackheart is born on Earth, unaware of his true origins.
Daredevil Annual #5[1/5] (1989)
Tyrannus betrays Ghaur and opens a portal to summon the demon Set; Daredevil, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange all reluctantly join forces to shut down the demonic portal and save the citizens who have been kidnapped by the Serpent-Men during ATLANTIS ATTACKS.
MCG Note: This Annual was mis-numbered 4 and is often referred to as issue 5 or 4B.
Daredevil Annual #6[1/4] (pp.1-15) (1990)
Daredevil Annual #6[3/4] (1990)
Daredevil Annual #6[2/4] (1990)
Daredevil Annual #6[1/4] (pp.16-25) (1990)
Daredevil is briefly drawn back to Hell's Kitchen when the rampaging Lifeform threatens his friends during LIFEFORM.
Daredevil #271-274 (1989)
First appearance of Brandy Ash, Number Nine and Shotgun (JR Walker); wandering through upstate New York, Daredevil helps a young eco warrior sabotage her father's experiments on animals and discover he's also been genetically manipulating female humans, freeing one called Number Nine; Skip Ash hires Shotgun to retrieve Number Nine; Brandy Ash's confrontation with her father is interrupted by the arrival of Gorgon and Karnak of the Inhumans who are searching for Black Bolt and Medusa's missing son, Ahura.
Daredevil #275-276 (1989-1990)
Doctor Doom builds Ultron and sends him to kill Daredevil, only for him to become obsessed with Number Nine during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.
Mephisto challenges his son, Blackheart, to bring out the evil in Daredevil and his allies; after locating Ahura (calling himself Pope), Daredevil and the others are dragged into hell where Mephisto taunts them in individual ways; the Silver Surfer arrives and helps Daredevil, the Inhumans and their friends get back to Earth.
Daredevil #283 (1990)
Captain America #374[1/2]-376[1/2] (1990)
After accidentally inhaling fumes from an exploding drug den and reacting with his Super Soldier Serum, Captain America is on a violent rampage; Daredevil helps him save a patriot in need of help; the Kingpin clashes with the Red Skull; Typhoid and Bullseye aggressively bid for the role of the Kingpin's primary assassin; Daredevil finds himself the subject of Cap's rage during STREETS OF POISON.
First appearance of Nyla Skin; Daredevil's trip to hell scrambles his memories and he assumes the identity of Jack Murdock; Bullseye becomes Daredevil in order to slander his foe by killing cops; 'Jack Murdock' befriends Nyla Skin who trains him as a thief and supports him when he enters boxing matches; the Kingpin tries to sabotage Matt Murdock's new life, only for him to regain his memories; Matt becomes Bullseye to psyche out the real Bullseye and reclaim his costumed identity.
Marvel Comics Presents #49[3/4] (1990)
Daredevil battles a criminal enforcer with similar powers.
Marvel Comics Presents #69[3/4]-72[3/4] (1991)
Daredevil discovers a plot to manipulate the minds of Manhattan's citizens.
Daredevil #291 (1991)
Daredevil faces Bullet again and is finally reunited with Foggy Nelson.
Daredevil Annual #7[1/4] (1991)
First appearance of Crippler (Carlton Stricklan), Dakini, Guillotine (Nicos Pelletier), Sathan and Ron Takimoto; Daredevil and Nick Fury find themselves faced with a new wave of Hydra super-agents during THE VON STRUCKER GAMBIT.
Daredevil Annual #7[3/4] (1991)
Daredevil is reunited with the Fatboys.
More reading orders covering the history of Daredevil:
- 1991-1995: Last Rites
- 1995-1998: Over The Edge
- 1998-2001: Marvel Knights
- 2001-2003: Out
- 2004-2006: Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen
X-Men: Mutant Massacre
X-Men: Mutant Massacre Omnibus
Includes Daredevil #238.
Wolverine vs the Marvel Universe
Includes Daredevil #249.
X-Men: Fall of the Mutants
Includes Daredevil #252.
Daredevil Epic Collection vol.13: A Touch of Typhoid
Collects Daredevil #253-270 and Punisher #10.
Daredevil Epic Collection vol.14: Heart of Darkness
Collects Daredevil #271-282, Daredevil Annual #5-6, Incredible Hulk Annual #16, Punisher Annual #3 and Silver Surfer Annual #3.
Daredevil Epic Collection vol.15: Last Rites
Collects Daredevil #283-300 and Daredevil Annual #7.
Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson vol.3
Daredevil by Frank Miller Companion Omnibus
Daredevil/Elektra: Love and War
Include Marvel Graphic Novel #24: Daredevil - Love and War.
Black Widow Epic Collection vol.2: The Coldest War
Black Widow Omnibus
Include Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir.
Spider-Man by David Michelinie & Erik Larsen Omnibus
Includes Amazing Spider-Man #287.
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection vol.18: Venom
Evolutionary War Omnibus
Include Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22.
Punisher: Eye for an Eye
Punisher: Shadowmasters
Punisher War Journal Classic
Punisher War Journal by Carl Potts & Jim Lee
Include Punisher War Journal #1-3.
Captain America Epic Collection vol.16: Streets fo Poison
Captain America: Streets of Poison
Include Captain America #374-376.
Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Jr
Includes Daredevil #253.
Daredevil Legends: Typhoid Mary
Collects Daredevil #245-257, 259-263.
Punisher Epic Collection vol.2: Circle of Blood
Includes Daredevil #257 and Punisher #10.
X-Men: Inferno Crossovers
X-Men: Inferno Omnibus
Include Daredevil #262-263, 265.
Daredevil: Lone Stranger
Collects Daredevil #265-273.
Mephisto: Speak of the Devil
Includes Daredevil #266.
Acts of Vengeance Crossovers Omnibus
Acts of vengeance: Marvel Universe
Include Daredevil #275-276.
Taskmaster: Anything You Can Do
Includes Daredevil #292-293.
No comments:
Post a Comment
See a mistake or have a question or suggestion?
Feel free to leave a comment!