Murdock and Marvel: 1971

Comics Over Time

Episode 8 - Murdock and Marvel: 1971

We have a fun show this week, with Marvel being a critical part of a couple big changes that happen in 1971. We also see a new character swinging into Daredevil this year, who is going be a big part of Matt Murdock’s life for the next few years!

Preshow

• Note from Amanda

The Year in Comics

1971 was a year of transition and upheaval for the comics industry, as fundamental changes to content and pricing occurred that would impact what stories comics could tell going forward, and who they would be telling them for.

The Big Stories

Other Tidbits

Shazam Winners

The Year in Marvel

New Titles (and lots of reprints)

New Characters

Big Moments

Who's in the Bullpen

• ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: John Costanza

The Year in Daredevil

Appearances: Daredevil #72-82, Iron Man #35-36

• Gerry Conway wrote most of these issues with Gene Colan on art and Stan Lee editing.
• More logo changes starting with issue 72. More blocky (but now on one line) Daredevil.
• The year starts with Daredevil teaming up with Tagak the Leopard Lord to capture a burglar from another dimension. Both came to earth through a mirror.
• Matt Murdock then butts heads with Tony Stark as the pair, along with Nick Fury, keep the Zodiac key away from Spymaster, Capricorn and others in a story that crossed over from Iron Man’s comic (and then back).
• Daredevil teams up with a group of Blind people to thwart the committee after they blind New York City.
• While on a fact-finding mission in Delvadia, Daredevil has to save the new US ambassador Jerome Villiers and pursue El Condor who sent the men after Villiers.
• Namor is drawn to a park as an alien spacecraft lands while Daredevil and Spider-Man attempt to figure out what has people’s attention.
• Daredevil saves the lives of a couple visiting New York and ends up dealing with a professor and his super strengthen Man-Bull. Meanwhile, Foggy is getting blackmailed by a mysterious Mr. Klein.
• The Owl returns to after being hired by Mr. Klein to take down Daredevil. Daredevil fights Owl on his owl-copter and the ship crashes and explodes – causing Karen to believe Matt has died… again.
• Black Widow saves a knocked-out Daredevil from drowning. The Owl and Mr. Klein (who is now code-named Assassin) cut ties and Karen get “comforted” by her agent Phil.
• The year ends with Daredevil and Black Widow taking on the Scorpion who’s been brought in by Mr. Klein. During a battle on top of the World Trade Center, Widow accidentally knocks Scorpion off the edge of the building and an eyewitness accuses her of murder.

New Powers, Toys or Places

New Supporting Characters

New Villains

This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #80 Sept 1971 "In the Eyes... of the Owl!" and Daredevil #81 Nov 1971 "And Death Is a Woman Called Widow"

Recap

Why We Picked This Story

The Takeaway

Changes with the Comics Code means Changes at Marvel (and comics in general)

Questions or comments

We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [e-mail] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.

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THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES

Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.

The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.

Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.

Man Without Fear: Kuljit Mithra’s Daredevil site contains a staggering collection of resources about our hero, including news, interviews and comic details.

The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.