Daredevil #144
Published and © by Marvel, April 1977
Title: “Man-Bull Means Mayhem”
Synopsis: Looking for a bodyguard, the Owl springs Man-Bull from prison. Unfortunately for them, the Man Without Fear has other ideas.
Writer (plot): Gerry Conway
Writer (script): Jim Shooter
Penciler: Lee Elias|
Inker: Dan Green
Review: This issue of Daredevil is competent, but lacks any real spark. Jim Shooter’s script hits all the required DD notes – Average guy! Radar sense! “Shh, I’m blind!” – but doesn’t offer much new for this done-in-one adventure. The pre-Frank-Miller characterization of Daredevil as wisecracker seems odd in retrospect; he’s pretty much interchangeable with Spider-Man here. And Shooter’s treatment of the Owl and Man-Bull does nothing to improve their B-list status. The art, by Lee Elias (of Golden Age Black Cat fame), is also competent but unspectacular. Still, it’s nice seeing old-time artists still getting work in the Bronze Age.
Grade: B-
Cool factor: Well … ummm … hmm …
Not-so-cool factor: Gonna have to go with Man-Bull here. No, really.
Notable: The “Let’s Level With Daredevil” letters page includes an LoC from comic historian Peter Sanderson.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 12p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “And I beg your pardon, but I’ve never been known as ‘that corn!’ ” – Daredevil, Wisecracker Without Fear
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on March 31, 2022.
