Daredevil: Born Again Season Two Creator Credits

Below is my list of comic book creators whose work I saw represented in the 2nd season of Daredevil: Born Again. If you see anything that I missed, please let me know in the comments. My full directory of Marvel Cinematic Universe Creator Credits is found here.

David Aja (artist): co-creator of Vanessa Fisk arranging Foggy Nelson's death to get at Matt Murdock (Daredevil #88, 2006)

Ross Andru (artist): co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974)

Brian Michael Bendis (writer): co-creator of Jessica Jones, a cynical, alcoholic, superhumanly strong private detective who runs Alias Investigations; of Jessica's relationship with Luke Cage (Alias #1, 2001); of Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones as allies (Alias #3, 2002); of Soledad Ayala, Hector Ayala's wife; of the White Tiger being wrongly arrested for murder; of Matt Murdock becoming Hector's defense lawyer (Daredevil #38, 2002); of the White Tiger being shot dead by the police after his trial (Daredevil #40, 2003); of Angela Del Toro, a young woman who is an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Angela Del Toro revealed to be Hector Ayala's niece (Daredevil #69, 2005); of Angela Del Toro as the White Tiger; variant White Tiger costume with black stripes (Daredevil #70, 2005); of Matt Murdock's identity as Daredevil becoming public (Daredevil #76, 2005); of Matt Murdock arrested and sent to Ryker's Island (Daredevil #81, 2006); of Danielle Cage, daughter of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage (The Pulse #13, 2006)

Jenny Blake (writer): co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Bob Brown (artist): co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975); of Heather Glenn, Matt Murdock's girlfriend (Daredevil #126, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976)

Ed Brubaker (writer): co-creator of Foggy Nelson being killed (Daredevil #82, 2006); of Vanessa Fisk arranging Foggy Nelson's death to get at Matt Murdock (Daredevil #88, 2006); of Wilson Fisk stripped of his U.S. citizenship due to his illegal activities (Daredevil #93, 2007)

Marco Checchetto (artist): co-creator of Cole North, a principled New York policeman who opposes Daredevil (Daredevil #1, 2019); of Mayor Wilson Fisk mobilizing an anti-vigilante task force to use extreme methods against New York's vigilantes, ordering all vigilante activity illegal (Devil's Reign #1, 2022); of Wilson Fisk removed as mayor of New York (Devil's Reign #6, 2022)

D. G. Chichester (writer): co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Jeff Christiansen (writer): creator of Buck Cashman's name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12, 2010)

Gene Colan (artist): co-creator of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969); of Ben Urich, a reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Heather Glenn learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #154, 1978)

Gerry Conway (writer): co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of the mystical golden tiger amulets that grant superhuman abilities to the athletes who wield them (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1, 1974); of the Punisher's alias Frank Castle (Marvel Preview #2, 1975)

Mike Deodato (artist): co-creator of Bullseye working as a secret U.S. government operative (Thunderbolts #110, 2007)

Tony DeZuniga (artist): co-creator of the Punisher's alias Frank Castle (Marvel Preview #2, 1975)

Terry Dodson (artist): co-creator of the White Tiger being shot dead by the police after his trial (Daredevil #40, 2003)

Warren Ellis (writer): co-creator of Bullseye working as a secret U.S. government operative (Thunderbolts #110, 2007)

Bill Everett (artist): co-creator of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Daredevil costume with horns on head and red eye lenses; the billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson and Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock and Nelson's secretary and object of affection to Matt; Daredevil as a "man without fear" (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Ron Garney (artist): co-creator of Ben Hochberg, a district attorney who clashes with Matt Murdock (Daredevil #2, 2016); of Muse, a silent serial killer dressed in white with streaked paint on his mask who kills and tortures people from a twisted sense of creating art, using their blood in his paintings (Daredevil #11, 2016); of Wilson Fisk running for mayor of New York as an independent candidate, campaigning to outlaw vigilante heroes in New York such as Daredevil and the Punisher (Daredevil #28, 2017); of Muse's activities being used by Mayor Wilson Fisk as a justification for targeting vigilantes (Daredevil #598, 2018)

Michael Gaydos (artist): co-creator of Jessica Jones, a cynical, alcoholic, superhumanly strong private detective who runs Alias Investigations; of Jessica's relationship with Luke Cage (Alias #1, 2001); of Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones as allies (Alias #3, 2002); of Danielle Cage, daughter of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage (The Pulse #13, 2006)

Dick Giordano (artist): co-creator of the mystical golden tiger amulets that grant superhuman abilities to the athletes who wield them (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1, 1974)

Archie Goodwin (writer): co-creator of Luke Cage, superhumanly strong and durable hero for hire in Harlem (Hero for Hire #1, 1972)

Billy Graham (artist): co-creator of Luke Cage, superhumanly strong and durable hero for hire in Harlem (Hero for Hire #1, 1972)

Marc Guggenheim (writer): co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Manuel Gutierrez (artist): co-creator of Soledad Ayala, Hector Ayala's wife; of the White Tiger being wrongly arrested for murder; of Matt Murdock becoming Hector's defense lawyer (Daredevil #38, 2002)

Don Heck (artist): co-creator of the Swordsman, a mustachioed swashbuckler who wields a sword (Avengers #19, 1965); of Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman's real name (Avengers Spotlight #22, 1989)

Gil Kane (artist): co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Jack Kirby (artist): co-creator of the Swordsman, a mustachioed swashbuckler who wields a sword (Avengers #19, 1965)

Szymon Kudranski (artist): co-creator of police officers working for Wilson Fisk appropriating the Punisher's imagery in imitation of him (Punisher #13, 2019)

Stefano Landini (artist): co-creator of Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York; Daredevil vowing to bring down Fisk (Daredevil #595, 2018)

Michael Lark (artist): co-creator of Foggy Nelson being killed (Daredevil #82, 2006); of Wilson Fisk stripped of his U.S. citizenship due to his illegal activities (Daredevil #93, 2007)

Stan Lee (writer/editor): co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of the Swordsman, a mustachioed swashbuckler who wields a sword (Avengers #19, 1965); of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Daredevil costume with horns on head and red eye lenses; the billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson and Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock and Nelson's secretary and object of affection to Matt; Daredevil as a "man without fear"; Matt Murdock orphaned at a young age when his father was killed (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964); of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965)

Alex Maleev (artist): co-creator of Angela Del Toro, a young woman who is an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Angela Del Toro revealed to be Hector Ayala's niece (Daredevil #69, 2005); of Angela Del Toro as the White Tiger; of variant White Tiger costume with black stripes (Daredevil #70, 2005); of Matt Murdock's identity as Daredevil becoming public (Daredevil #76, 2005); of Matt Murdock arrested and sent to Ryker's Island (Daredevil #81, 2006)

Bill Mantlo (writer): co-creator of the White Tiger, alias Hector Ayala, a Puerto Rican man who obtains the tiger amulet and dons a white costume to battle crime (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, 1975)

David Mazzuchelli (artist): co-creator of Wilson Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies; of James Wesley, one of the Kingpin's lieutenants (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986)

Scott McDaniel (artist): co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Roger McKenzie (writer): co-creator of Ben Urich, a reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Heather Glenn learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #154, 1978); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough (Daredevil #164, 1980)

Frank Miller (artist/writer): creator of Wilson Fisk's name; of Wilson Fisk as Daredevil's primary enemy (Daredevil #170, 1981); of Vanessa Fisk's death causing the Kingpin go become even more criminally insane (Daredevil #171, 1981); of the reporter Urich working against Fisk (Daredevil #177, 1981); of Bullseye using the name 'Benjamin Poindexter'; of Daredevil badly injuring Bullseye in retribution (Daredevil #181, 1982); of Heather Glenn growing mentally unstable (Daredevil #188, 1982); co-creator of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough (Daredevil #164, 1980); of Wilson Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies; of James Wesley, one of the Kingpin's lieutenants (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986)

Lou Mougin (writer): co-creator of Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman's real name; of Armand Duquesne, the father of the Swordsman (Avengers Spotlight #22, 1989)

Ann Nocenti (writer): co-creator of Buck Cashman, an employee of Wilson Fisk and an enemy of Daredevil (Daredevil #250, 1988)

Joe Orlando (artist): co-creator of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964)

George Perez (artist): co-creator of the White Tiger, alias Hector Ayala, a Puerto Rican man who obtains the tiger amulet and dons a white costume to battle crime (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, 1975); of Angela Del Toro as the White Tiger; of variant White Tiger costume with black stripes (Daredevil #70, 2005)

Yvette Perez (writer): co-creator of the White Tiger, alias Hector Ayala, a Puerto Rican man who obtains the tiger amulet and dons a white costume to battle crime (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, 1975)

Joe Quesada (artist): co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Paolo Rivera (artist): co-creator of Kirsten McDuffie, a New York assistant district attorney who crosses paths with Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson (Daredevil #1, 2011)

John Romita (artist): co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974)

John Romita Jr. (artist): co-creator of Buck Cashman, an employee of Wilson Fisk and an enemy of Daredevil (Daredevil #250, 1988)

Matthew Rosenberg (writer): co-creator of police officers working for Wilson Fisk appropriating the Punisher's imagery in imitation of him (Punisher #13, 2019)

Chris Samnee (artist): co-creator of Matt and Kirsten opening a law firm together (Daredevil #1, 2014)

Jim Shooter (writer): co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Kevin Smith (writer): co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Charles Soule (writer): co-creator of Ben Hochberg, a district attorney who clashes with Matt Murdock (Daredevil #2, 2016); of Muse, a silent serial killer dressed in white with streaked paint on his mask who kills and tortures people from a twisted sense of creating art, using their blood in his paintings (Daredevil #11, 2016); of Wilson Fisk running for mayor of New York as an independent candidate, campaigning to outlaw vigilante heroes in New York such as Daredevil and the Punisher (Daredevil #28, 2017); of Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York; Daredevil vowing to bring down Fisk (Daredevil #595, 2018); of Muse's activities being used by Mayor Wilson Fisk as a justification for targeting vigilantes (Daredevil #598, 2018)

Richard Starkings (letterer): creator of Daredevil logo (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Roy Thomas (writer): co-creator of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969)

Mark Waid (writer): co-creator of Kirsten McDuffie, a New York assistant district attorney who crosses paths with Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson (Daredevil #1, 2011); of Matt and Kirsten opening a law firm together (Daredevil #1, 2014)

Dave Wilkins (artist): co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Marv Wolfman (writer): co-creator of Heather Glenn, Matt Murdock's girlfriend (Daredevil #126, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976); of Karen Page living in San Francisco (Daredevil #138, 1976)

Wally Wood (artist): co-creator of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965)

Chip Zdarsky (writer): co-creator of Cole North, a principled New York policeman who opposes Daredevil (Daredevil #1, 2019); of Mayor Wilson Fisk mobilizing an anti-vigilante task force to use extreme methods against New York's vigilantes, ordering all vigilante activity illegal (Devil's Reign #1, 2022); of Wilson Fisk removed as mayor of New York (Devil's Reign #6, 2022)

Creator Credits for Daredevil: Born Again (season 1)

In short: a welcome return to form for the television versions of these characters.

Below is my list of comic book creators whose work I saw represented in the 1st season of Daredevil: Born Again. If you see anything that I missed, please let me know in the comments. My full directory of Marvel Cinematic Universe Creator Credits is found here.

David Aja (artist): co-creator of Vanessa Fisk arranging Foggy Nelson's death to get at Matt Murdock (Daredevil #88, 2006); of the Tracksuit Mafia, Russian gangsters (Hawkeye #1, 2012)

Adrian Alphona (artist): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City, wearing a costume consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle; of Yusuf Khan, Ms. Marvel's father (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014); of Yusuf as a banker (Ms. Marvel #1, 2014)

Sana Amanat (editor): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City, wearing a costume consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014)

Ross Andru (artist): co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974)

Brian Michael Bendis (writer): co-creator of Soledad Ayala, Hector Ayala's wife; of the White Tiger being wrongly arrested for murder; of Matt Murdock becoming Hector's defense lawyer, creating a conflict of interests because of his own super hero identity (Daredevil #38, 2002); of the White Tiger being shot dead by the police after his trial (Daredevil #40, 2003); of Angela Del Toro, a young woman who is an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Angela Del Toro revealed to be Hector Ayala's niece (Daredevil #69, 2005); of variant White Tiger costume with black stripes (Daredevil #70, 2005)

Jenny Blake (writer): co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Bob Brown (artist): co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975); of Heather Glenn, Matt Murdock's girlfriend (Daredevil #126, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976)

Ed Brubaker (writer): co-creator of Foggy Nelson being killed while Matt Murdock hears his heart stop, upsetting him (Daredevil #82, 2006); of Vanessa Fisk arranging Foggy Nelson's death to get at Matt Murdock (Daredevil #88, 2006); of Vanessa Fisk running her husband's criminal empire during his absence (Daredevil #92, 2007)

John Buscema (artist): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, costumed woman with mask, red and blue costume (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)

John Byrne (artist): co-creator of Karen Page living in San Francisco (Daredevil #138, 1976)

Marco Checchetto (artist): co-creator of the Punisher rescuing Daredevil from Mayor Wilson Fisk's police (Daredevil #3, 2019); of Mayor Wilson Fisk mobilizing an anti-vigilante task force to use extreme methods against New York's vigilantes, ordering all vigilante activity illegal (Devil's Reign #1, 2022)

D. G. Chichester (writer): co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Jeff Christiansen (writer): creator of Buck Cashman's name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12, 2010)

Gene Colan (artist): co-creator of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969); of Ben Urich, a reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978)

Carla Conway (writer): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, costumed woman with mask, red and blue costume (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)

Gerry Conway (writer): co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of the mystical golden tiger amulets that grant superhuman abilities to the athletes who wield them (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1, 1974); of the Punisher's alias Frank Castle (Marvel Preview #2, 1975); of Ms. Marvel, costumed woman with mask, red and blue costume (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)

Tony DeZuniga (artist): co-creator of the Punisher's alias Frank Castle (Marvel Preview #2, 1975)

Steve Ditko (artist): co-creator of Spider-Man, a young red and blue-garbed super hero in the New York area (Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962)

Terry Dodson (artist): co-creator of the White Tiger being shot dead by the police after his trial (Daredevil #40, 2003)

Bill Everett (artist): co-creator of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Daredevil costume with horns on head and red eye lenses, red and yellow colors; the billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson and Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock and Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men; Daredevil as a "man without fear"; Matt Murdock orphaned at a young age when his father was killed (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Matt Fraction (writer): co-creator of the Tracksuit Mafia, Russian gangsters (Hawkeye #1, 2012)

Ron Garney (artist): co-creator of Ben Hochberg, a district attorney who clashes with Matt Murdock (Daredevil #2, 2016); of Muse, a silent serial killer dressed in white with streaked paint on his mask who kills and tortures people from a twisted sense of creating art, using their blood in his paintings (Daredevil #11, 2016); of Muse confining his victims in the sewers while he created his art (Daredevil #13, 2016); of Wilson Fisk running for mayor of New York as an independent candidate, campaigning to outlaw vigilante heroes in New York such as Daredevil and the Punisher (Daredevil #28, 2017); of Muse's activities being used by Mayor Wilson Fisk as a justification for targeting vigilantes (Daredevil #598, 2018)

Dick Giordano (artist): co-creator of the mystical golden tiger amulets that grant superhuman abilities to the athletes who wield them (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1, 1974)

Mark Gruenwald (writer): co-creator of Bullseye escaping prison by spitting one of his broken teeth into a guard's eye (Captain America #372, 1990)

Manuel Gutierrez (artist): co-creator of Soledad Ayala, Hector Ayala's wife; of the White Tiger being wrongly arrested for murder; of Matt Murdock becoming Hector's defense lawyer, creating a conflict of interests because of his own super hero identity (Daredevil #38, 2002)

Don Heck (artist): co-creator of the Swordsman, a mustachioed swashbuckler who wields a sword (Avengers #19, 1965); of Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman's real name (Avengers Spotlight #22, 1989)

Gil Kane (artist): co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Jack Kirby (artist): co-creator of the Swordsman, a mustachioed swashbuckler who wields a sword (Avengers #19, 1965)

Szymon Kudranski (artist): co-creator of police officers working for Wilson Fisk appropriating the Punisher's imagery in imitation of him, much to the Punisher's disgust (Punisher #13, 2019)

Stefano Landini (artist): co-creator of Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York; Daredevil vowing to bring down Fisk (Daredevil #595, 2018)

Michael Lark (artist): co-creator of Foggy Nelson being killed while Matt Murdock hears his heart stop, upsetting him (Daredevil #82, 2006); of Vanessa Fisk running her husband's criminal empire during his absence (Daredevil #92, 2007)

Stan Lee (writer/editor): co-creator of Spider-Man, a young red and blue-garbed super hero in the New York area (Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962); of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss and enemy of Spider-Man dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of the Swordsman, a mustachioed swashbuckler who wields a sword (Avengers #19, 1965); of Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Daredevil costume with horns on head and red eye lenses, red and yellow colors; the billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson and Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock and Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men; Daredevil as a "man without fear"; Matt Murdock orphaned at a young age when his father was killed (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964); of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965)

Ron Lim (artist): co-creator of Bullseye escaping prison by spitting one of his broken teeth into a guard's eye (Captain America #372, 1990)

David Mack (writer): co-creator of Maya Lopez, a deaf First Nations woman who was like a daughter to Wilson Fisk (Daredevil #9, 1999)

Alex Maleev (artist): co-creator of Angela Del Toro, a young woman who is an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Angela Del Toro revealed to be Hector Ayala's niece (Daredevil #69, 2005); of variant White Tiger costume with black stripes (Daredevil #70, 2005)

Bill Mantlo (writer): co-creator of the White Tiger, alias Hector Ayala, a Puerto Rican man who obtains the tiger amulet and dons a white costume to battle crime (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, 1975)

David Mazzuchelli (artist): co-creator of Wilson Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986)

Scott McDaniel (artist): co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Jamie McKelvie (artist): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City, wearing a costume consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014)

Roger McKenzie (writer): co-creator of Ben Urich, a reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough (Daredevil #164, 1980); of Daredevil and Punisher being fellow vigilantes but disagreeing sharply on how extreme their crimefighting methods should go (Daredevil #183, 1982)

Frank Miller (artist/writer): creator of Wilson Fisk's name; of Wilson Fisk as Daredevil's primary enemy (Daredevil #170, 1981); of the reporter Urich working against Fisk (Daredevil #177, 1981); of Bullseye using the name 'Benjamin Poindexter'; of Daredevil badly injuring Bullseye in retribution (Daredevil #181, 1982); co-creator of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough (Daredevil #164, 1980); of Daredevil and Punisher being fellow vigilantes but disagreeing sharply on how extreme their crimefighting methods should go (Daredevil #183, 1982); of Wilson Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986)

Lou Mougin (writer): co-creator of Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman's real name; of Armand Duquesne, the father of the Swordsman (Avengers Spotlight #22, 1989)

Ann Nocenti (writer): co-creator of Buck Cashman, an employee of Wilson Fisk and an enemy of Daredevil (Daredevil #250, 1988)

Joe Orlando (artist): co-creator of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964)

George Perez (artist): co-creator of the White Tiger, alias Hector Ayala, a Puerto Rican man who obtains the tiger amulet and dons a white costume to battle crime (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, 1975); of variant White Tiger costume with black stripes (Daredevil #70, 2005)

Yvette Perez (writer): co-creator of the White Tiger, alias Hector Ayala, a Puerto Rican man who obtains the tiger amulet and dons a white costume to battle crime (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19, 1975)

Joe Quesada (artist): co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998); of Maya Lopez, a deaf First Nations woman who was like a daughter to Wilson Fisk (Daredevil #9, 1999)

Paolo Rivera (artist): co-creator of Kirsten McDuffie, a New York assistant district attorney who crosses paths with Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson (Daredevil #1, 2011)

John Romita (artist): co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss and enemy of Spider-Man dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of Ms. Marvel, costumed woman with mask, red and blue costume (Ms. Marvel #1, 1977)

John Romita Jr. (artist): co-creator of Buck Cashman, an employee of Wilson Fisk and an enemy of Daredevil (Daredevil #250, 1988)

Matthew Rosenberg (writer): co-creator of police officers working for Wilson Fisk appropriating the Punisher's imagery in imitation of him, much to the Punisher's disgust (Punisher #13, 2019)

Chris Samnee (artist): co-creator of Matt and Kirsten opening a law firm together (Daredevil #1, 2014)

Jim Shooter (writer): co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Kevin Smith (writer): co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Charles Soule (writer): co-creator of Ben Hochberg, a district attorney who clashes with Matt Murdock (Daredevil #2, 2016); of Muse, a silent serial killer dressed in white with streaked paint on his mask who kills and tortures people from a twisted sense of creating art, using their blood in his paintings (Daredevil #11, 2016); of Muse confining his victims in the sewers while he created his art (Daredevil #13, 2016); of Wilson Fisk running for mayor of New York as an independent candidate, campaigning to outlaw vigilante heroes in New York such as Daredevil and the Punisher (Daredevil #28, 2017); of Wilson Fisk becoming mayor of New York; Daredevil vowing to bring down Fisk (Daredevil #595, 2018); of Muse's activities being used by Mayor Wilson Fisk as a justification for targeting vigilantes (Daredevil #598, 2018)

Richard Starkings (letterer): creator of Daredevil logo (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Roy Thomas (writer): co-creator of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969)

Stephen Wacker (editor): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City, wearing a costume consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014)

Mark Waid (writer): co-creator of Kirsten McDuffie, a New York assistant district attorney who crosses paths with Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson (Daredevil #1, 2011); of Matt and Kirsten opening a law firm together (Daredevil #1, 2014)

G. Willow Wilson (writer): co-creator of Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager who lives in Jersey City, wearing a costume consisting of a mask, blue smock with yellow 'M', red burkini and golden bangle; of Yusuf Khan, Ms. Marvel's father (All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1, 2014); of Yusuf as a banker (Ms. Marvel #1, 2014)

Marv Wolfman (writer): co-creator of Heather Glenn, Matt Murdock's girlfriend (Daredevil #126, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976); of Karen Page living in San Francisco (Daredevil #138, 1976)

Wally Wood (artist): co-creator of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965)

Chip Zdarsky (writer): co-creator of the Punisher rescuing Daredevil from Mayor Wilson Fisk's police (Daredevil #3, 2019); of Mayor Wilson Fisk mobilizing an anti-vigilante task force to use extreme methods against New York's vigilantes, ordering all vigilante activity illegal (Devil's Reign #1, 2022)

Marvel Super Villains and the Status Quo

I was recently going over some 1980s Marvel Comics and it got me thinking about villains and their status quo. Usually in fiction, the protagonists achieve some sort of status quo -- a basic structure that you can depend on being upheld from one installment to the next. It's more rare for the antagonists to have a status quo, because they're less likely to appear on a regular basis - they tend to turn up when there's a story to be told with them, then disappear until the next one.

And yet, when I was coming of age as a comic book reader, there were various Marvel Comics villains who had a status quo, one which would be reflected across the entire line of Marvel titles. It's basically gone away since then; villains may effect a temporary status quo -- as when Norman Osborn became the head of the Initiative in the company-wide Dark Reign -- but when the story wraps up, the villains are packed up until the next time they appear.

There are three villains whose 1980s status quo is, I think, interesting to reflect upon: the Kingpin; the Hellfire Club; and Freedom Force.

Although the Kingpin had been a New York crime boss in the pages of the Amazing Spider-Man since 1967, it wasn't until 1981 that Frank Miller reinvented him in the pages of Daredevil and the villain became a real mainstay of the Marvel Universe, one with a very identifiable status quo. The Kingpin became an untouchable criminal mastermind, maintaining the public facade of Wilson Fisk, philanthropist, while in actuality spearheading all organized crime in New York. Heroes such as Daredevil and Spider-Man would confront the Kingpin, but ultimately acknowledge they were powerless to stop him; the Kingpin had worked the system, had allies in law enforcement and the government. The heroes could fight back against him, but he could never be fully overcome.

Until, of course, he was. In 1992, Dan G. Chichester's storyline 'Last Rites' brought down the Kingpin, with Daredevil and S.H.I.E.L.D. employing evidence going back to the Miller run to bring about his downfall. This was not the end of the Kingpin as a comic book villain, but it was the end of that 11 year stretch when he was an undefeatable crime boss. Writers since then have frequently brought him back, but just as frequently brought him down again. The Kingpin has no staying power as an antagonist anymore. He'll always be around the fringes of Daredevil, but ever since we readers saw him taken down once, we've known he can't win.

The Hellfire Club had been a concept Chris Claremont had been toying with in many of his comic books until they made their proper debut in he and John Byrne's Uncanny X-Men in 1980, right in the middle of what would become known as "The Dark Phoenix Saga". Most (but not all) of the Hellfire Club's membership were mutants, but they saw themselves as elites, above the rest of their kind. They represented an interesting "third option" to the X-Men's "peaceful co-existence" with humans or Magneto's "no peace" with humans. The Hellfire Club didn't care about co-existence or waging war, just to feather their own nest. It was something of a libertarian approach to the mutant-human conflict -- the Hellfire Club had money, influence and power; they didn't care about the rest of mutantkind except as to how they might profit from them. For instance, they made a deal with the US government to manufacture Sentinels, doing so in part because it meant they could prevent themselves from being targeted by the Sentinels. Like the Kingpin, the Hellfire Club had power -- they were a resource the X-Men themselves had to occasionally make peace with to fight another foe. No matter who made up the club's ranks, their purpose remained the same.

Until Chris Claremont was unceremoniously booted from the X-Men franchise in 1991. The new writers spent a lot of time dismantling the status quo they had inherited, and for some reason took aim at the Hellfire Club. In a series of brief subplots mostly scattered in different X-Men titles (but principally in those by Whilce Portacio), the Hellfire Club's leadership were killed off by a new group called the Upstarts who had a sinister purpose of their own, and that was... erm...

The Upstarts were a pretty lousy replacement for the Hellfire Club. Their goals were only hazily defined and mostly were playing a "game" that involved attacking different X-Men characters. It was typically bad 1990s super villain plotting. With the failure of the Upstarts there were various attempts to bring back the Hellfire Club, but none of them stuck. Virtually every time the Club appears now, it's with a brand-new membership and the promise of many stories to come... until the next time they appear and have been completely revamped again.

Finally, take Freedom Force. This team debuted in 1981 in Claremont & Byrne's X-Men as a new incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants led by Mystique, but in 1986 Mystique cut a deal with the US government, obtaining status for her team as an official government group. Renamed "Freedom Force", Mystique and her allies were now on the right side of the law -- emphasizing the X-Men as an outlaw group. Freedom Force would sometimes respond appropriately to criminal threats, but at their core they remained the X-Men's enemies and took a ghoulish delight in going after the X-Men with the blessings of the government!

This lasted up 'til 1991 when, again, Claremont was let go. Several members of Freedom Force were killed and the rest absorbed into a new version of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (which didn't last very long). The US government replaced Freedom Force with a new team called X-Factor, made up of various heroes adjacent to the X-Men. Unlike Freedom Force, the characters in X-Factor were genuine heroes; they would still be forced to play the part of government stooges from time to time, but it certainly eased the tensions between the X-Men and the government.

Change is good and no status quo should last forever. Creators should also try to make their mark on a series, not simply mimick what came before. Bringing down the Kingpin isn't a bad idea (in fact, "Last Rites" is a very good story); dismantling the Hellfire Club could have led to an interesting new threat (if the Upstarts hadn't been so lame); perhaps the time had come for Freedom Force to be retired, as with the end of the Cold War events such as the Iran-Contra affair seemed mere history (and Peter David's X-Factor was fun).

And yet, something was lost for each of these groups and to the Marvel Universe. The Marvel Universe became a gentler place to live; it seemed to say organized crime could be dismantled; profiteers would be engulfed by fellow consumers; government corruption would cease.

In the 1980s, most of Marvel's super heroes were vigilantes and outlaws; not just Daredevil, Spider-Man and the X-Men -- the Hulk barely counted as a hero; and while the Avengers had security clearance with the US government, it was as much as a curse as a blessing as the government constantly interfered with their activities, dictated who could be on their team, withdrew equipment and funding at a moment's notice, etc. Nick Fury was one of the only reasonable government figures in the Marvel Universe yet even he would be kept at arm's length from the Marvel heroes because of his allegiance to S.H.I.E.L.D.

There was a sense that the Marvel Universe was being run by forces beyond the heroes' ability to counter. Like the greatest villain of the Silver Age, Doctor Doom, many Marvel villains were untouchable. Their schemes could be beaten, but they were part of the system, as the Kingpin, Hellfire Club and Freedom Force were. In the 1980s, the Kingpin's status as crime boss of New York was not a problem the heroes had to solve -- it was a status quo they had to endure.

Today, of course, everything is different. Marvel's villains hatch schemes which have vaster implications, playing on bigger scales, but defeating the plot is basically the same as defeating the villain. It's now understood that whatever new modus operandi the villains may have, they will be defeated eventually, then come back again with a different scheme. And the heroes? Far from being persecuted by the government, these days to be an Avenger is essentially to be a government agent (certainly it seems to be paired with membership in S.H.I.E.L.D. now).

Is it any wonder that so many of the big 'events' from Marvel in the last two decades have been about the heroes fighting each other? (Civil War, Civil War II, Shadowland, World War Hulk, Secret Empire, Time Runs Out, Avengers vs. X-Men, Inhumans vs. X-Men) It feels as though the heroes' great existential battle against the system (the status quo) has been won -- so what's left except to fight each other?

All images from the Grand Comics Database

Creator credits for Daredevil season 3

Hey, do you like Frank Miller & David Mazzuchelli's 'Born Again'? Great. Interested in a filmed adaptation of the story? Fine, fine. How about stretching it into 13 episodes, adding Bullseye in a manner mostly reminiscent of other half-baked villains like Typhoid Mary in the most recent Iron Fist season and mostly fumbling every single moment which made 'Born Again' so great?

The Marvel Netflix shows are dying, and I can't say I'll miss them very much.

Frank Miller: creator of Elektra, Matt's lover, an assassin dressed in red (Daredevil #168, 1981); of Bullseye going insane (Daredevil #169, 1981); of Wilson Fisk's name; of Wilson Fisk as Daredevil's primary enemy (Daredevil #170, 1981); of Stick, Matt's mentor (Daredevil #176, 1981); of Bullseye using the name 'Benjamin Poindexter'; of Elektra dying; of Daredevil breaking Bullseye's back (Daredevil #181, 1982); of Matt distraught over Elektra's death (Daredevil #182, 1982); co-creator of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Jack Murdock's name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough; of Urich becoming an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #164); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980); of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies; of Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Karen Page having a drug problem; of Karen inadvertently giving away Murdock's secrets to the Kingpin (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities; of Murdock being isolated from his friends and suffering from hallucinations when he tries to fight the Kingpin; of Fisk trying to kill Murdock by sealing him inside a yellow taxi cab driven into the river; of Fisk stunned when Murdock's body isn't found in the taxi; of Felix Manning, one of the Kingpin's top operatives (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Sister Maggie, a nun who cares for Daredevil in a church shelter; of Matt Murdock being believed dead (Daredevil #229, 1986); of Sister Maggie tending to Matt after he was first blinded; of Matt Murdock's mother being Sister Maggie; of the Kingpin threatening Betsy in order to get Melvin Potter to make a duplicate Daredevil costume (Daredevil #230, 1986); of the Kingpin sending a psychotic man out in a Daredevil costume to discredit Matt Murdock; of Murdock fighting the impostor (Daredevil #231, 1986); of Murdock wearing black costume while operating as anonymous vigilante (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #2, 1993);

Stan Lee: co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Murdock blinded as a child while saving a man from a truck carrying radioactive waste; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of the boxer Battling Murdock, who rasied him alone and wanted him to gain a superior education; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964); of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965); of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume and fights Daredevil with a saw weapon, wear's a yellow shirt with a 'V' (Daredevil #18, 1966); of Foggy Nelson running for district attorney (Daredevil #36, 1968)

David Mazzucchelli: co-creator of Wilson Fisk controlling the police and using the authorities to wreck Matt Murdock's life and target his allies; of Fisk learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil; of Karen Page having a drug problem; of Karen inadvertently giving away Murdock's secrets to the Kingpin (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities; of Murdock being isolated from his friends and suffering from hallucinations when he tries to fight the Kingpin; of Fisk trying to kill Murdock by sealing him inside a yellow taxi cab driven into the river; of Fisk stunned when Murdock's body isn't found in the taxi; of Felix Manning, one of the Kingpin's top operatives (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Sister Maggie, a nun who cares for Daredevil in a church shelter; of Matt Murdock being believed dead (Daredevil #229, 1986); of Sister Maggie tending to Matt after he was first blinded; of Matt Murdock's mother being Sister Maggie; of the Kingpin threatening Betsy in order to get Melvin Potter to make a duplicate Daredevil costume (Daredevil #230, 1986); of the Kingpin sending a psychotic man out in a Daredevil costume to discredit Matt Murdock; of Murdock fighting the impostor (Daredevil #231, 1986)

Bill Everett: co-creator of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Murdock blinded as a child while saving a man from a truck carrying radioactive waste; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of the boxer Battling Murdock, who rasied him alone and wanted him to gain a superior education; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume and fights Daredevil with a saw weapon, wear's a yellow shirt with a 'V' (Daredevil #18, 1966); of Foggy Nelson running for district attorney (Daredevil #36, 1968); of Paxton Page, Karen Page's father (Daredevil #56, 1969); of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969); of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975); of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978)

Roger McKenzie: co-creator of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Jack Murdock's name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough; of Urich becoming an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #164); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980)

Marv Wolfman: co-creator of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; Bullseye as former baseball player; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976)

John Romita, Jr.: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989); of Murdock wearing black costume while operating as anonymous vigilante (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #2, 1993); of Rosalie Carbone, an Italian mob princess (Punisher: War Zone #2, 1992)

John Romita: co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss dressed in white who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa Fisk (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969)

Bob Brown: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975); of Bullseye, an expert assassin who can turn any object into a lethal weapon, battles Daredevil; Bullseye as former baseball player; of Bullseye with a target on his forehead (Daredevil #131, 1976)

Dennis O'Neil: co-creator of Dr. Oyama, a physician who tends to Bullseye's broken back (Daredevil #196, 1983); of Bullseye's back being reinforced with metal by Dr. Oyama (Daredevil #198, 1983)

Kevin Smith: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998); of Bullseye fighting Daredevil in a church, trying to kill Karen Page with a billy club (Daredevil #5, 1999)

Joe Quesada: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998); of Bullseye fighting Daredevil in a church, trying to kill Karen Page with a billy club (Daredevil #5, 1999)

Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Jessica Jones, a superhuman private investigator (Alias #1, 2001); of the FBI investigating Matt Murdock and Daredevil's connection (Daredevil #31, 2002)

Lee Weeks: co-creator of Bullseye disguising himself as Daredevil (Daredevil #288, 1991); of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Paxton Page, Karen Page's father (Daredevil #56, 1969); of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969)

Ann Nocenti: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989); of Bullseye disguising himself as Daredevil (Daredevil #288, 1991)

D.G. Chichester: co-creator of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992); of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Len Wein: co-creator of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of Ben Donovan, an African-American lawyer who works for criminals (Hero for Hire #14, 1973)

Billy Graham: co-creator of Ben Donovan, an African-American lawyer who works for criminals (Hero for Hire #14, 1973)

Larry Hama: co-creator of Dr. Oyama, a physician who tends to Bullseye's broken back (Daredevil #196, 1983)

William Johnson: co-creator of Bullseye's back being reinforced with metal by Dr. Oyama (Daredevil #198, 1983)

Tom DeFalco: co-creator of the Kingpin continuing his criminal activities from his cell (Spider-Girl #1, 1998)

Alex Maleev: co-creator of the FBI investigating Matt Murdock and Daredevil's connection (Daredevil #31, 2002)

Jeff Christiansen: creator of Penelope Page's name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3, 2006)

Ron Frenz: co-creator of the Kingpin continuing his criminal activities from his cell (Spider-Girl #1, 1998)

Michael Lark: co-creator of Matt Murdock being caught inside a prison during a riot (Daredevil #86, 2006)

Wally Wood: co-creator of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965)

Marc Guggenheim: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Chuck Dixon: co-creator of Rosalie Carbone, an Italian mob princess (Punisher: War Zone #2, 1992)

Ed Brubaker: co-creator of Matt Murdock being caught inside a prison during a riot (Daredevil #86, 2006)

Dave Wilkins: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Michael Gaydos: co-creator of Jessica Jones, a superhuman private investigator (Alias #1, 2001)

Jim Shooter: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

J.M. DeMatteis: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Gil Kane: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Ron Wagner: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Joe Orlando: co-creator of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964)

Scott McDaniel: co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Tony Isabella: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Richard Starkings: creator of Daredevil logo (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Creator credits for Daredevil (season 2)

The usual caveats apply; I base who created a character or story element primarily on the writer/artist credit boxes from the first appearance, but the character or element could have easily originated with someone else. Any corrections? Let me know!

Frank Miller: creator of Elektra, Matt's college girlfriend, an ambassador's daughter who learned of his abilities; Elektra becoming an assassin who wields two sai in battle while wearing a red costume; of Columbia Law as Nelson & Murdock's college; of Grotto, a minor criminal (Daredevil #168, 1981); of Stick, Matt and Elektra's mentor; of the Hand surviving being lit on fire (Daredevil #176, 1981); of the Hand's ability to mystically resurrect fallen warriors (Daredevil #187, 1982); of Stick's order and their war against the Hand ninja clan (Daredevil #188, 1982); of the Hand, a clan of evil ninjas who battle Daredevil and Elektra (Daredevil #174, 1981); of Wilson Fisk's name; of Wilson Fisk as Daredevil's primary enemy (Daredevil #170, 1981); of Stick training Matt how to use his powers (Daredevil #177, 1981); of the Hand seeking to make Elektra their chief warrior and resurrect her (Daredevil #190, 1982); of Elektra being killed with one of her own sai (Daredevil #181, 1982); co-creator of Daredevil and Punisher being fellow vigilantes but disagreeing sharply on how extreme their crimefighting methods should go (Daredevil #183, 1982); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Turk as a recurring foe of Daredevil (Daredevil #159, 1979); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Roscoe Sweeney's last name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough (Daredevil #164, 1980); of Wilson Fisk controlling the police (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980); of the Hand worshipping a demon (Elektra: Assassin #1, 1986); of Sister Maggie, a nun who cares for Daredevil (Daredevil #229, 1986); of Sister Maggie tending to Matt after he was first blinded (Daredevil #230, 1986); of the Punisher being sent to prison (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15, 1981)

Stan Lee: co-creator of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Daredevil costume with horns on head and red lenses; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of a boxer; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his slightly overweight college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club which includes a cable line (Daredevil #7, 1965); of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964); of the Kingpin of Crime, a New York mob boss (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume; Gladiator wearing body armor and wielding a saw (Daredevil #18, 1966); of the Stilt-Man; of Matt becoming involved with Karen (Daredevil #8, 1965)

Roger McKenzie: co-creator of Daredevil and Punisher being fellow vigilantes but disagreeing sharply on how extreme their crimefighting methods should go (Daredevil #183, 1982); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Turk as a recurring foe of Daredevil (Daredevil #159, 1979); of Roscoe Sweeney's last name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough (Daredevil #164, 1980); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980); of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978)

Bill Everett: co-creator of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Daredevil costume with horns on head and red lenses; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of a boxer; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his slightly overweight college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Turk Barrett, a gangster who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #69, 1970); of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume; Gladiator wearing body armor and wielding a saw (Daredevil #18, 1966); of the prison Ryker's Island (Daredevil #63, 1970); of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975); of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969)

Gerry Conway: co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of Frank Castle becoming the Punisher after happening upon criminals in a park who set off a gunfight which killed his wife Maria, daughter Lisa and son Frank Jr. (Marvel Preview #2, 1975); of the Punisher maintaining safehouses (Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, 1975)

John Romita: co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of the Kingpin of Crime, a New York mob boss (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969)

Ross Andru: co-creator of the Punisher, a war veteran who becomes a vigilante, wearing a black costume with white skull design on his chest and wielding vast arsenal of firearms and explosives in a one-man war on crime (Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974); of the Punisher maintaining safehouses (Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, 1975)

David Mazzuchelli: co-creator of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Wilson Fisk controlling the police (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Sister Maggie, a nun who cares for Daredevil (Daredevil #229, 1986); of Sister Maggie tending to Matt after he was first blinded (Daredevil #230, 1986)

Garth Ennis: co-creator of the Punisher going up against an Irish mob, including its leader Finn (Punisher #17, 2004); of the Punisher pursuing people who killed his family from behind prison bars (Punisher: The Cell #1, 2005); of Punisher tying up Daredevil and taping a gun into his hand (Punisher #3, 2000)

Mike Baron: co-creator of the Punisher wearing a trenchcoat overtop his costume (Punisher #1, 1987); of Micro, a tech-savvy ally of the Punisher (Punisher #4, 1987); of the Punisher's Catholicism (Punisher #30, 1990); of the Punisher keeping a dog at his safehouse (Punisher #54, 1991)

Dan G. Chichester: co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993); of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992); of the Chaste, the name of Stick's order; of Star, one of the Chaste (Daredevil #296, 1991)

Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Daredevil battling the Yakuza (Daredevil #56, 2004); of Night Nurse, a medic who treats wounded super heroes such as Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Jessica Jones, a civilian superhuman (Alias #1, 2001)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Turk Barrett, a gangster who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #69, 1970); of the prison Ryker's Island (Daredevil #63, 1970); of Karen Page learning Matt Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #57, 1969)

Wally Wood: co-creator of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club which includes a cable line (Daredevil #7, 1965); of the Stilt-Man; of Matt becoming involved with Karen (Daredevil #8, 1965)

Tony DeZuniga: co-creator of Frank Castle becoming the Punisher after happening upon criminals in a park who set off a gunfight which killed his wife Maria, daughter Lisa and son Frank Jr. (Marvel Preview #2, 1975)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of Roxxon Energy, a ruthless criminal corporation (Captain America #180, 1974); of Ben Donovan, an African-American lawyer who works for criminals (Hero for Hire #14, 1973)

John Wellington: co-creator of Colonel Ray Schoonover, Frank Castle's superior officer during his military service; Schoonover becoming a drug dealer, killed by the Punisher (Punisher War Journal #4, 1989)

Jim Lee: co-creator of Colonel Ray Schoonover, Frank Castle's superior officer during his military service; Schoonover becoming a drug dealer, killed by the Punisher (Punisher War Journal #4, 1989)

Carl Potts: co-creator of Colonel Ray Schoonover, Frank Castle's superior officer during his military service; Schoonover becoming a drug dealer, killed by the Punisher (Punisher War Journal #4, 1989)

Alex Maleev: co-creator of Daredevil battling the Yakuza (Daredevil #56, 2004); of Night Nurse, a medic who treats wounded super heroes such as Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004)

Klaus Janson: co-creator of the Punisher wearing a trenchcoat overtop his costume (Punisher #1, 1987); of Micro, a tech-savvy ally of the Punisher (Punisher #4, 1987)

Len Wein: co-creator of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975)

Marv Wolfman: co-creator of Blake Tower, New York district attorney frequently embroiled in Nelson & Murdock's affairs (Daredevil #124, 1975)

Lew LaRosa: o-creator of the Punisher pursuing people who killed his family from behind prison bars (Punisher: The Cell #1, 2005)

Ron Garney: co-creator of the Chaste, the name of Stick's order; of Star, one of the Chaste (Daredevil #296, 1991)

Leandro Fernandez: co-creator of the Punisher going up against an Irish mob, including its leader Finn (Punisher #17, 2004)

Mark Gruenwald: creator of Roscoe Sweeney's first name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #3, 1986)

Billy Graham: co-creator of Ben Donovan, an African-American lawyer who works for criminals (Hero for Hire #14, 1973)

Tom DeFalco: co-creator of the Kingpin continuing his criminal activities from his cell (Spider-Girl #1, 1998)

Ron Frenz: co-creator of the Kingpin continuing his criminal activities from his cell (Spider-Girl #1, 1998)

Sal Buscema: co-creator of Roxxon Energy, a ruthless criminal corporation (Captain America #180, 1974)

Steve Dillon: co-creator of Punisher tying up Daredevil and taping a gun into his hand (Punisher #3, 2000)

Marc Guggenheim: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Marco Checchetto: co-creator of Frank Castle as a veteran of Middle Eastern conflicts (Punisher #4, 2011)

Jim Shooter: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Dave Wilkins: co-creator of Brett Mahoney, a police detective (Marvel Comics Presents #1, 2007)

Gil Kane: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Dennis O'Neil: co-creator of the Punisher being sent to prison (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15, 1981)

Greg Rucka: co-creator of Frank Castle as a veteran of Middle Eastern conflicts (Punisher #4, 2011)

J.M. DeMatteis: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

John Romita, Jr.: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989)

Bill Mantlo: co-creator of the Punisher battling the Kingpin (Spectacular Spider-Man #81, 1983)

Al Milgrom: co-creator of the Punisher battling the Kingpin (Spectacular Spider-Man #81, 1983)

Lee Weeks: co-creator of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992)

Ron Wagner: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Hugh Haynes: co-creator of the Punisher keeping a dog at his safehouse (Punisher #54, 1991)

Michael Gaydos: co-creator of Jessica Jones, a civilian superhuman (Alias #1, 2001)

Kevin Smith: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Joe Quesada: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Ann Nocenti: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989)

Bill Sienkiewicz: co-creator of the Hand worshipping a demon (Elektra: Assassin #1, 1986)

Chris Claremont: co-creator of Jeryn Hogarth, a lawyer (Marvel Premiere #24, 1975)

Pat Broderick: co-creator of Jeryn Hogarth, a lawyer (Marvel Premiere #24, 1975)

Joe Orlando: co-creator of Daredevil's ability to detect lies (Daredevil #3, 1964)

Scott McDaniel: co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Tony Isabella: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Bill Reinhold: co-creator of the Punisher's Catholicism (Punisher #30, 1990)

Archie Goodwin: co-creator of Claire Temple (Hero for Hire #2, 1972)

Bob Brown: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

George Tuska: co-creator of Claire Temple (Hero for Hire #2, 1972)

Win Mortimer: co-creator of Night Nurse (Night Nurse #1, 1972)

Jean Thomas: co-creator of Night Nurse (Night Nurse #1, 1972)

Richard Starkings: creator of Daredevil logo (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Creator credits for Daredevil (season 1)

Having just seen all of Daredevil season 1, it must be time for me to compile another list of which comic book creators were responsible for which elements seen on the program. However, I'm not as confident about my research this time as Daredevil is one corner of the Marvel Universe which I've always been a little lacking in. And yet, I'm one of the credited authors of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Daredevil 2004! Therefore, your corrections are more welcome this time than any previous list.

Stan Lee: co-creator of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Murdock blinded as a child while saving a man from a truck carrying radioactive waste; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of the boxer Battling Murdock, who rasied him alone and wanted him to gain a superior education; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men; Daredevil as a "man without fear" (Daredevil #1, 1964); of Daredevil's ability to detect lies; of the Owl, a criminal financeer who wears a green suit and battles Daredevil (Daredevil #3, 1964); of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965); of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of "Crusher" Creel (Journey into Mystery #114, 1965); of Murdock using the alias "Mike" (Daredevil #25, 1967); of the silver-haired mobster Silvio (Amazing Spider-Man #73, 1969); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969); of the super hero Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the super hero Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume and fights Daredevil with a saw weapon (Daredevil #18, 1966); of the Stilt-Man (Daredevil #8, 1965)

Frank Miller: creator of Wilson Fisk's name; of Wilson Fisk as Daredevil's primary enemy; of Fisk spending time in Asia (Daredevil #170, 1981); of Columbia Law as Nelson & Murdock's college; of Matt dating a Greek woman in college (Daredevil #168, 1981); of Stick, Matt's mentor (Daredevil #176, 1981); of Stick training Matt how to use his powers; of Urich working against Fisk; of Randolph Cherryh, a politician who works with Fisk (Daredevil #177, 1981); of Stone, a member of Stick's order and their war against the Hand ninja clan (Daredevil #188, 1982); of the Hand, a clan of evil ninjas who battle Daredevil (Daredevil #174, 1981); co-creator of Murdock wearing black costume while operating as anonymous vigilante (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #2, 1993); of Rigoletto, mob boss who preceded Wilson Fisk (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #3, 1993); of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Turk as a recurring foe of Daredevil (Daredevil #159, 1979); of Ben Urich's wife Doris (Daredevil #163, 1980); of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Jack Murdock's name; of Roscoe Sweeney's last name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough; of Urich becoming an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #164); of Wilson Fisk controlling the police (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Matt Murdock's mother still being alive (Daredevil #230, 1986); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980)

Bill Everett: co-creator of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also fights crime as Daredevil by using his superhuman sensory powers; Murdock blinded as a child while saving a man from a truck carrying radioactive waste; billy club as Daredevil's primary weapon; Murdock as son of the boxer Battling Murdock, who rasied him alone and wanted him to gain a superior education; the elder Murdock dying after crossing a crooked boxing promoter and refusing to lose a fixed fight; Fogwell's Gym as Murdock's training place; Murdock partnered with his college friend Franklin "Foggy" Nelson at Nelson & Murdock law firm; Karen Page as Murdock & Nelson's secretary and object of affection to both men; Daredevil as a "man without fear" (Daredevil #1, 1964)

Roger McKenzie: co-creator of Josie's Bar, a dive bar in Hell's Kitchen tended by the titular Josie (Daredevil #160, 1979); of Turk as a recurring foe of Daredevil (Daredevil #159, 1979); of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Ben Urich's wife Doris (Daredevil #163, 1980); of Jack Murdock's name; of Roscoe Sweeney's last name; of Hell's Kitchen as Matt Murdock's childhood borough; of Urich becoming an ally of Daredevil (Daredevil #164); of Melvin Potter's name; of Melvin's lady friend Betsy; of Melvin's mental problems (Daredevil #166, 1980)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Turk Barrett, a gangster who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #69, 1970); of Murdock using the alias "Mike" (Daredevil #25, 1967); of Ben Urich, an aging reporter with a relentless dedication to the truth (Daredevil #153, 1978); of Gladiator, a costume designer who makes a Daredevil costume and fights Daredevil with a saw weapon (Daredevil #18, 1966)

John Romita: co-creator of the Kingpin of Crime, a mob boss who organizes the disparate underworld elements under his leadership from the heart of Manhattan (Amazing Spider-Man #50, 1967); of the silver-haired mobster Silvio (Amazing Spider-Man #73, 1969); of the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa (Amazing Spider-Man #69, 1969)

John Romita, Jr.: co-creator of Murdock wearing black costume while operating as anonymous vigilante (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #2, 1993); of Rigoletto, mob boss who preceded Wilson Fisk (Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #3, 1993); of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989)

Alex Maleev: creator of image of Daredevil on newspaper (Daredevil #60, 2004); co-creator of Night Nurse, a medic who treats wounded super heroes such as Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Silke, a gangster (Daredevil #26, 2001); of Daredevil battling the Yakuza (Daredevil #56, 2004)

Jack Kirby: co-creator of "Crusher" Creel (Journey into Mystery #114, 1965); of the super hero Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the super hero Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); of the super hero Captain America (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of Turk Barrett, a gangster who fights Daredevil (Daredevil #69, 1970); of Cornelius Van Lunt (Avengers #77, 1970); of Cornelius Van Lunt's astrology (Avengers #72, 1970); of Van Lunt as real estate mogul (Avengers #80, 1970)

David Mazzucchelli: co-creator of Murdock wearing stubble in both of his identities (Daredevil #228, 1986); of Wilson Fisk controlling the police (Daredevil #227, 1986); of Matt Murdock's mother still being alive (Daredevil #230, 1986)

Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Night Nurse, a medic who treats wounded super heroes such as Daredevil (Daredevil #58, 2004); of Silke, a gangster (Daredevil #26, 2001); of Daredevil battling the Yakuza (Daredevil #56, 2004)

D.G. Chichester: co-creator of Fisk committing murder during his childhood; of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992); of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Mark Gruenwald: creator of Leland Owsley's name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8, 1983); of Roscoe Sweeney's first name (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #3, 1986)

Joe Orlando: co-creator of Daredevil's ability to detect lies; of the Owl, a criminal financeer who wears a green suit and battles Daredevil (Daredevil #3, 1964)

Lee Weeks: co-creator of Fisk committing murder during his childhood; of Daredevil bringing down Fisk's criminal empire (Daredevil #300, 1992)

Wally Wood: co-creator of Daredevil's red costume; of Daredevil's gimmick billy club (Daredevil #7, 1965); of the Stilt-Man (Daredevil #8, 1965)

Larry Lieber: co-creator of the super hero Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of the super hero Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962)

Sal Buscema: co-creator of Roxxon Energy (Captain America #180, 1974); of Cornelius Van Lunt's astrology (Avengers #72, 1970)

John Buscema: co-creator of Cornelius Van Lunt (Avengers #77, 1970); of Van Lunt as real estate mogul (Avengers #80, 1970)

Jeph Loeb: co-creator of "Crusher" Creel as a boxer who fought Battling Murdock (Daredevil: Yellow #1, 2001)

Tim Sale: co-creator of "Crusher" Creel as a boxer who fought Battling Murdock (Daredevil: Yellow #1, 2001)

Jim Shooter: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

J.M. DeMatteis: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Gil Kane: co-creator of Hell's Kitchen as locale patroled by Daredevil (Daredevil #148, 1977)

Ron Wagner: co-creator of Foggy Nelson learning Murdock is Daredevil (Daredevil #347, 1995)

Kevin Smith: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Joe Quesada: co-creator of Matt Murdock wearing red-tinted sunglasses (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Ann Nocenti: co-creator of Matt Murdock going to regular confession (Daredevil #267, 1989)

Joe Simon: co-creator of the super hero Captain America (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Scott McDaniel: co-creator of Daredevil wearing body armor (Daredevil #322, 1993)

Tony Isabella: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Don Heck: co-creator of the super hero Iron Man (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Chris Claremont: co-creator of the Steel Serpent brand (Iron Fist #14, 1977)

Bob Brown: co-creator of Matt Murdock's Catholicism (Daredevil #119, 1975)

Steve Englehart: co-creator of Roxxon Energy (Captain America #180, 1974)

John Byrne: co-creator of the Steel Serpent brand (Iron Fist #14, 1977)

Archie Goodwin: co-creator of Claire Temple (Hero for Hire #2, 1972

George Tuska: co-creator of Claire Temple (Hero for Hire #2, 1972)

Richard Starkings: creator of Daredevil logo (Daredevil #1, 1998)

Win Mortimer: co-creator of Night Nurse (Night Nurse #1, 1972)

Jean Thomas: co-creator of Night Nurse (Night Nurse #1, 1972)

"With Greta Garbo's feet I never would have made it!" A.C.E. Comics Presents#1 review

Over the last year, the fanzine Ditkomania has seen a number of articles and letters from Ron Frantz, who published A.C.E. Comics in the 1980s. I had never heard of A.C.E. before, but Frantz's recollections of working with Steve Ditko back then drew my curiosity, so I've picked up some A.C.E. books from the back issue market.

A.C.E. Comics Presents#1 only features Ditko on the cover - but it's quite a cool cover, no? There we have the Golden Age Daredevil in combat against the Claw, displaying such frantic energy I wish it had been Ditko on the interiors!

The interior is a black & white reprint of "Daredevil Battles the Claw" by Jack Cole from 1941. In this, the somewhat-Oriental and quite-freakish being the Claw launches an assault on the city where Daredevil lives; armed with a mere boomerang, Daredevil leaps into action against the Claw, wise-cracking all the way.

I wasn't aware Daredevil was a wise-cracking super hero - and now I suddenly realize why some 1960s comic book fans were quite miffed at Stan Lee, as his original personality for Marvel's Daredevil is definitely similar. Of course, Jack Cole was uniquely madcap and this - this is very, rather extremely Cole. Not only in Daredevil's wisecracks, but in the sheer unreality of the situation - the Claw's height is wickedly inconsistent from panel to panel and you're never quite sure how large the rooms in his headquarters are supposed to be. At one point, Daredevil runs out of a pit through momentum by running up the circular walls which... I don't think even Donald O'Connor could pull it off. But it makes perfect sense coming from the man who created Midnight and Plastic Man.

Following this is "The Finger of Death Points at Silver Streak" also by Jack Cole from 1940. This one features the super-fast super hero Silver Streak but it's not wacky at all - this earlier story takes the material seriously, and is thus not much better than any other 1940s super hero comic; only Cole's energetic art keeps it interesting. The Silver Streak battles a gang of mad bombers in this one and Cole finds a few neat way to use his powers, as when he hurls bricks with "machine gun" velocity.

Obviously, reprinted content only tells you about a publisher's interests; tomorrow, I'll delve into an actual A.C.E. original story!

Comic books of 2011: the good

In the 1990s, I was an avid fan of Siskel & Ebert's television program, watching every broadcast. I'd hoped to open this post with a particular clip, but sadly, I can't locate it on Youtube.

This moment has always stuck with me: the duo were reviewing the film Gamera: Guardian of the Universe; Ebert liked it, Siskel did not. Siskel covered the film first and closed off his review by saying he couldn't recommend the movie and instead suggested viewers seek out the original Godzilla, King of the Monsters from 1956. Ebert was almost livid in his reaction, asking Siskel (words to this effect) "If we're just going to recommend old movies, why don't you and I stay home all year rewatching Citizen Kane?"

In several of my discussions about the current state of comic books over at Colin Smith's blog, he and I have bandied words to the effect of "Kirby knew how to do this," "Toth would have done it right," "Wood forgot more than most artists have ever known," etc. I think all we mean to do is point to ready examples of clean, inventive comic book storytelling. The danger of such statements is you begin to imply comic books of the past are inherantly superior to what's being produced today.

It would be very easy to stop reading new comic books. If I spent the rest of my life just reading old stories by Kirby, Toth, Wood, Colan, Williamson, Krigstein, Maneely, Kurtzmann, Cole, Eisner, Barks, Kelly, Frazetta and Everett, I think I would be reasonably happy (and would have plenty to enjoy, even at the pace I take in comics). However, I'd be allowing my tastes to stagnate, denying myself the pleasures found in contemporary works which communicate how people living today feel about the world around them.

Thus, I've remained with contemporary comic books. I've taken some risks on new material and untested talent which haven't paid off, but I've also happened across new works which are really meaningful to me, entertaining me, bolstering my imagination, encouraging me to open my mind.

Therefore, here are the contemporary comic books of 2011 which I'm pleased to recommend:

Given how I complained about storytelling in comics yesterday, I feel I should begin with a series which wears brilliant storytelling like a glove: Usagi Yojimbo. The advantage Usagi has, of course, is that Stan Sakai is responsible for everything on the page - plot, script, art and letters. I'm very nearly completely caught up with Usagi now and it's a rewarding book, telling stories today which are as solid as those 20 years ago. It's particularly great to see how the cast of characters develop over time, revealing new layers and altering their connections to each other.

On a very similar wavelength is Sergio Aragones Funnies, which is likewise the brainchild of one man, Sergio Aragones. As I've said before, while I enjoy Sergio's gag cartoons and humorous stories (even the occasional dramatic tale), what I most enjoy are his biographical pieces. The most recent issue (#6) recalled an episode from his childhood and even though it's not life-altering or momentous (he and a friend once accidentally boarded a moving freight train), it's easy to see why it's remained etched in his memory; now it's etched on paper. I suppose what I really enjoy in Sergio is his openess and honesty.

Comic Book Comics completed its 6-issue run in 2011, but it could have easily kept going another 6 issues. Or 12. Or 18. It amazes me whenever I find a piece of information on comic book history I was previously unaware of. I wish Comic Book Comics had found the space to cover other turning points like the foundation of Image Comics, the Marvel bankruptcy or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saga, but I'll treasure all of what they did deliver. Learning about comics history with Comic Book Comics is like having the stories told to you by a close friend.

Although I'm an all-around Marvel Comics guru, I don't care much for Daredevil. It's a serious blindspot in my mastery of Marvel - there are huge chunks of Daredevil I've never read (not even all of Miller), even though there are five Daredevil comics I'd place on my all-time favourite list. I've never really warmed up to protagonist Matt Murdock and the deeply depressing life he leads, but Mark Waid may yet change my way of thinking. Thanks to his collaborators, Marcos Martin and Paolo Rivera, he's turned in one of the most beautiful super hero comics I've seen in years; the amount of love and craft on every page is invigorating, especially in how Murdock's radar senses are brought to life by sound effects. In most super hero comics, sound effects seem to be workmanlike at best; Daredevil uses sound effects in ways I normally only find in indie comics, such as Matt Murdock dodging bullets represented by sound effects (above). Daredevil is the super hero book I most anticipate - quite a reversal!

Speaking of Daredevil, someone had the bright idea to have the Black Panther take over Daredevil's job as defender of Hell's Kitchen in Black Panther: the Man Without Fear/Most Dangerous Man Alive. I haven't put any real stock into Black Panther since Christopher Priest left the franchise and this series was saddled with depriving the hero of his supporting cast, setting and special weapons while putting him into Daredevil's setting. To top it off, writer David Liss is a newcomer to comic books, being an import from the world of prose. You wouldn't expect Black Panther to work, and yet... it's both true and liberating to the character. Removing the Black Panther's special weapons, army of loyal allies and political power scales him back down to a point where he can actually lose; what's great then is that he gets to display new strengths, relying on his initiative and reflexes to get past problems. To top it off, it's hopeful.

In Black Panther's Fear Itself tie-in, the Hate-Monger uses his emotion-altering powers to inflame locals, fanning racism to turn them against the Black Panther. However, the Hate-Monger's most ardently racist supporter - Chambliss - isn't even under the man's power. When the crisis is averted, Chambliss goes to the Panther asking to make amends; he's then made a janitor in the Panther's diner. So yes, we all get a good laugh at the racist, but at the same time, the Panther is extending a second chance to him; very cool and all too rare. Finally, most of the series has boasted the art of Francesco Francavilla, who's just been exploding on the scene at various titles (Detective Comics, Captain America & Bucky); he's one to watch, for sure.

It probably also helps David Liss that his mini-series Mystery Men was illustrated by Patrick Zircher. It flew under most people's radar, but as a 1930s super hero tale it was well-crafted and told at a breakneck pace. Virtually every character in Mystery Men was created by Liss for the series, but in just five issues he makes his characters come to life, including some of the background characters met along the way. Somehow Liss and Zircher managed to tell an alternate history epic where Ayn Rand helped conspire in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping; that's chutzpah, there.

Xombi lasted a mere six issues; six issues of glorious insanity. Big, bold imaginative ideas by John Rozum with art to match by Frazer Irving. Everyone reading Xombi realized it couldn't last, but I for one was glad they made the effort. Even with no experience of the original 1990s version of the comic and despite the dense text, I accepted Xombi on its terms and its bizarre ideas were as much charming as usettling. More about Xombi here.

Finally, who would have thought Journey into Mystery would work its way into our hearts? It became a darling of comic book fans almost immediately, with its adventures of a child-sized Loki trying to save Asgard and his brother Thor by playing tricks on everyone. Every issue has held so much deft plotting and characterization by Kieron Gillen, it's a joy to behold. Young Loki's desire to good by committing little evils creates an interesting balance in the book, where we readers don't want Loki to fail, but fear his solutions will only increase the misery of others.