Comics Over Time

Each week Dan, Duane and Siena bring you a look at comics new and old! Since 2021 we have been discussing comics, TV and film. For 2024 Duane and Dan are focusing on Marvel history that centers on Daredevil, and Siena and Dan are keeping up with current happenings in the Marvel Comics Universe. Our previous seasons are also available here: Phases of the Moon Knight covered the Moon Knight character in comics and TV, and our MCU Review saw us comparing the Phase 1 thru Phase 4 Marvel Cinematic Universe films with the comics that inspired them. Tuesdays - What’s New in Marvel Unlimited: Digital debuts in the MU App Thursdays - Murdock and Marvel: A history of Marvel Comic
Episodes
Episodes



6 days ago
Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 2
6 days ago
6 days ago
Episode 69 - Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 2
It was a great year in comics, and maybe a turning point. Movies, events and accolades abounded. But somehow it all worries me a bit, in retrospect.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2005.
The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #67-78, Daredevil: Redemption #1-6, Daredevil: Father #1-4, Exiles #54, 56 and 62, Marvel Age Spider-Man #15, New Avengers #1-3 and 11, Powerless #6, Ultimate Elektra #4-5, Bullseye: Greatest Hits #4, Marvel Knight 4 #13, What if…Karen Page Had Lived? #1, Wolverine #23-24, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #11, Ultimates 2 #3, Hercules #1, Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects #2-6, Marvel Team-Up #9-10, Daredevil vs Punisher #1-5, House of M #5-7, Ultimate Fantastic Four #22, Black Widow 2 #1-2, Defenders #4, Secret War #5, Weapon X: Days of Future Now #4 along with the Elektra: On the Rise, New Avengers: Pot of Gold, Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee graphic novels
Writing: Brian Michael Bendis (#67-78)
Pencils: Alex Maleev (#67-78)
Inks: Alex Maleev (#67-78)
The year begins with the continuation of the Golden Age storyline that starts in December. In it, we learn immediately about Alexander Bont (the Kingpin before Wilson Fisk). He was released from prison and plans to get revenge on Daredevil and Matt Murdock for helping him go to prison. Across the 5 issues, we see just how powerful Bont was and how Daredevil got him arrested as well as how Murdock made sure he went to prison for most of his life. Bont enlists the reformed Gladiator to kidnap and beat Murdock before attempting to reveal his now widely known secret on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.
Meanwhile, Agent Del Toro of the FBI approaches Matt Murdock asking for help understanding why he and others are superheroes and how to come to terms with her inheriting the White Tiger Amulet from her now deceased uncle Hector Ayala. Murdock as Daredevil does help, helping her to learn to use the Amulet and her new powers – which comes in handy as Del Toro is the one who comes to Murdock’s rescue from Gladiator and Bont.
After that, we get one of my favorite Bendis stories to date – Decalogue. In it, we see a support group, the Devil Among Us, trying to come to grips of their re-ins with our horned hero. Things start with a junkie telling how she started going straight after seeing her boyfriend and his enlisted help Bullet get taken down when they had designs for taking over for Kingpin after Daredevil’s proclamation, he was the new Kingpin. We get a story from another group member about failing to honor his father’s wish from prison to have Foggy Nelson killed.
From there, the stories and the group take a turn. The DD support group continues and the wife of a super-powered serial killer tells how DD tracked down her husband but refused to let him fall to his death; The killer's last intended victim whom DD saved turns out to be a member of the group and doesn't take kindly to the story of a troubled man plagued by demons.
The DD support group continues with the tale of one of Milla Donovan's friends who went to her wedding with Matt Murdock and whose daughter later killed herself after surviving a bank robbery by the Jester. A goading and mysterious member of the group pipes up and promises there are deep dark secrets in all these tales and points out that Matt Murdock is there in the group with them; And he is.
The story ends with Murdock confronting the Demon that had possessed the Jester (and is currently inhabiting the mysterious member of the group) and interfered with so many lives after which he tries to explain to the group why he does the things he does; For the first time, Matt Murdock publicly admits to outsiders that he is DD.
After that, we get one last story from Brian Michael Bendis that spills over into 2006 – The Murdock papers. In it, we see the Kingpin attempt to use the knowledge of Murdock’s secret identity to leverage a pardon for all his crimes from the FBI all with Ben Urich unwilling assistance. Claiming he has physical evidence proving Murdock is Daredevil, he gets Urich to write a story saying Kingpin is willing to tell all – forcing the FBI to decide to pursue a case against Murdock rather than their very weak case against Fisk.
At the same time, Milla Donovan has a change of heart and wants to be with Murdock again – which he happily wants as well.
This leads to Elektra and Black Widow (along with the recently fired Agent Del Toro) trying to help Daredevil get the papers before the FBI does from Fisk’s lawyer’s office. There’s a big confrontation that includes Bullseye and in which Daredevil gets shot and is briefly presumed dead. Fisk reveals that the papers were a lie and meant to flush Daredevil out so the FBI could arrest him.
The conclusion of this epic storyline (and the Bendis run on Daredevil) will be our spotlight for this year…
This Week's Spotlight: #80 February 2006 “The Murdock Papers Part 5” and Daredevil #81 March 2006 “The Murdock Papers Part 6”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
The beginning of an Golden Age? Or the harbinger of future problems?
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 1
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Episode 68 - Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 1
It was a great year in comics, and maybe a turning point. Movies, events and accolades abounded. But somehow it all worries me a bit, in retrospect.
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
Marvel steamed ahead in 2005, with Joe Quesado taking on additional responsibilities, and Brian Bendis in charge of Marvel’s first big event in years. New stories with new characters by some of the best young talents in the industry made for a spectacular year!
TOTAL SERIES: 449TOTAL NEW SERIES: 331 TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 304THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): House of MBEST SELLING COMICS: New Avengers, House of M
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
Bendis is credited 77 times this year. The equivalent of over 6 books a month!
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ed Brubaker
Dan's Favorite
Next week: 2004 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 2
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Episode 67 - Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 2
2004 was a relatively quiet year in comics, but there were some critical developments that made waves into the future. Big movies, heroes back from the dead, and some important new faces!
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2004.
The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #54-66, Daredevil: Father #1, Daredevil 2099 #1, Punisher #35-37, Exiles #39 and #43, Spider-Man Unlimited #1, Elektra #35, Marvel 1602 #8, Secret War #2-3, Powerless #1-5, Ultimate Elektra #1-3
Writing: David Mack (#54-55), Brian Michael Bendis (#56-66)
Pencils: David Mack (#54-55), Alex Maleev (#56-64 and 66), Maleev, Michael Golden, Greg Horn, P. Craig Russell, Phil Hester, Chris Bachalo, Jae Lee, David Finch and Frank Quitely (#65)
Inks: David Mack (#54-55), Alex Maleev (#56-64 and 66), Maleev, Michael Golden, Greg Horn, P. Craig Russell, Phil Hester, Chris Bachalo, Jae Lee, David Finch and Frank Quitely (#65)
The year begins late in 2003, as we noted two weeks ago with our 2003 discussion, with the return of David Mack to writing and art and Maya Lopez in the book itself. She’s returned to New York and is looking to reconnect with Daredevil. After he shares he’s now with someone else, she instead visits with a chief her father knew and goes on a vision quest. There, with the help of a man shaped in the form of a wolverine, helps her understand a story her father used to tell her and helps her realize who she is. She goes back to Daredevil and bids him goodbye with a kiss.
From there, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev return with a story called The King of Hell’s Kitchen. We learn it’s been a year since the confrontation between Kingpin and Daredevil and according to Ben Urich – Daredevil has been very busy cleaning up the kitchen while also taking some flack about his methods from other superheroes.
His latest dealings have been against the Yakuza and after a large battle Daredevil’s gone missing. Milla Donovan reached out to Urich to find him and during their discussion we learned that 4 months ago she and Murdock got married. Urich finds Murdock and reunited the married couple – but not before suggesting the events of the last year are all his way coping with the death of Karen Page. With a little help from some super powered friends, Daredevil puts a stop to the Yakuza plot to take over Hell's Kitchen. Milla confronts Matt about his problems over the death of Karen Page and before leaving her husband.
Next we get storyline featuring another of Matt’s love interests, the Black Widow, in a story called “The Widow”. Black Widow gets “called in” be SHIELD and realizing it’s a trap – instead goes to visit Matt Murdock in New York hoping she can hide in plain sight. The pair take down Jigsaw and upon making bail – he goes back to Murdock asking permission to run crime through Hell’s kitchen (since he’s the new Kingpin). Matt isn’t amused.
Turns out the hiding in plain sight didn’t work as the two get shot at by a hired assassin while having lunch. The pair go after the assassin and after that Natasha finally shares the reason for her visit. Though the conversation is cut short as Jigsaw and his men have entered Murdock’s home and Matt can’t fight them as daredevil and revealing his lie. In the end, we learn a Bulgarian minister and Natasha’s ex-husband were behind the ordeal and Matt begrudgingly gives Milla the annulment to their marriage.
In November, we get a HUGE 40th Anniversary Special issue. This story backtracks over the 1 year time period that Matt Murdock was outed as Daredevil that Ben Urich told us about during the King of Hell’s Kitchen story earlier this year. To do so, the Bendis and Maleev called on a host of other artists to tell the story. This seems like the perfect book for this week’s spotlight.
There is one more book this year, But it starts another storyline – so we’ll save that for our 2005 discussion.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #65 November 2004 “The Universe”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Reading Marvel is great, but when you see Jean Grey die for the second time, Marvel has told you its story, and its time to start looking into other publishers.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 1
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Episode 66 - Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 1
2004 was a relatively quiet year in comics, but there were some critical developments that made waves into the future. Big movies, heroes back from the dead, and some important new faces!
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
TOTAL SERIES: 292TOTAL NEW SERIES: 197 TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 173THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): Avengers Disassembled (34 issues) and Secret War (starts)BEST SELLING COMICS: New Avengers #1
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Greg Pak
Dan's Favorite
Next week: 2004 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Friday May 30, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2003 Part 2
Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
Episode 65 - Murdock and Marvel: 2003 Part 2
It was a crazy year in America, with the Gulf War and the Patriot Act in the news, and over a billion dollars spent on comic-based movies. But in the actual world of American comics, 2003 was that most beautiful to things – a stable, productive year filled with fantastic and influential stories.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2003.
The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #39-53, Daredevil: The Target #1, Ultimate Daredevil and Electra #1-4, Daredevil: The Movie #1, Paradise X #7-11 and X, Exiles #20 and #25, Alias #18 and #24, Marvel Universe: The End #1-6, Ultimate X-Men #36, Captain America #19 and Punisher #33-34
Writing: Brian Michael Bendis (#39-50), David Mack (#51-53)
Pencils: Manuel Gutierrez (#39), Terry Dodson (#40), Alex Maleev (#41-50), David Mack (#51-53)
Inks: Manuel Gutierrez (#39), Rachel Dodson (#40), Alex Maleev (#41-50), David Mack (#51-53)
The year begins with the named story that started at the end of 2002 “The Trial of the Century” but this isn’t the trial we’ve had story leaning up to. Instead, Luke Cage urges and eventually convinces Matt Murdock to defend Hector Ayala aka the White Tiger who recently get back into the costume and in a failed attempt to stop a robbery get arrested for a police officer who was shot and killed.
The trial doesn’t go particularly well despite the fact Ayala is innocent. Murdock’s defense included calling superheroes like Reed Richards, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones before Ayala himself takes the stand. During cross examination, Ayala loses his cool and lashes out in anger and frustration about how no one understands (superheroes).
This story tragically comes to an end with Hector Ayala convicted of murder. Dismayed over the conviction and assurances by Murdock he will go free, Hector attempts to flee the courthouse rather than being taken into custody and is gunned down by police on the stairs of the courthouse.
Starting in March, we get the storyline Lowlife in which The Owl has taken over part of the Kingpin’s old territory and is selling a drug MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone). He’s also trying to get incriminating evidence on Matt Murdock/Daredevil. Also, in this story we meet Milla Donovan, a blind woman Daredevil saves from get hit by a truck – who falls for the hero and befriends Matt Murdock (since he’s Daredevil)
Uri Rosenthal, the Globe newspaper owner whom Matt Murdock is suing is found dead at home and Murdock is taken into custody for questions during his date with Milla. Matt tries to apologize to Milla for their interrupted date, takes down the Owl as Daredevil and learns that the Kingpin is back in town.
This then leads directly into the story “Hardcore” and the return of Typhoid Mary. Kingpin is amassing power again and needs a distraction for Matt Murdock / Daredevil so he pulls Mary for her “normal” life as a soap opera star. Her distraction, it turns out, is showing up during Milla and Matt’s walk for lunch and setting Matt on fire. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage help Matt subdue Mary while keeping Milla safe. With Mary in jail, Bullseye talks Kingpin into giving him another shot at Daredevil which turns out to be a shot at Milla. Daredevil saves her (and carves a crosshair tattoo into Bullseye’s forehead) and angrily turns his sights on Kingpin.
This culminates in another epic showdown between Kingpin and Daredevil in issue 50 of Daredevil worthy of our spotlight this week.
The year ends with writer/artist David Mack along with character Maya Lopez’s Echo returning in the first three parts of the Echo storyline that we’ll be saving for next year.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil volume 2 #50 October 2003 “Hardcore Part 5”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Even as we leave behind the grimdark of the ‘90s, Marvel’s Supreme Power, DC’s Red Son and Image’s Invincible lead us from an age of sex and violence into an age of cynicism and moral ambiguity.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Thursday May 22, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2003 Part 1
Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Episode 64 - Murdock and Marvel: 2003 Part 1
It was a crazy year in America, with the Gulf War and the Patriot Act in the news, and over a billion dollars spent on comic-based movies. But in the actual world of American comics, 2003 was that most beautiful to things – a stable, productive year filled with fantastic and influential stories.
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
TOTAL SERIES: 219TOTAL NEW SERIES: 147 TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 119THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): None!BEST SELLING COMICS: Ultimate Fantastic Four #1, Avengers/JLA #1 and #2, Wolverine #1, ASM 500, Marvel 1602 #1-5. Wolvie #1 was 9th and #2 was 66th
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Olivier Coipel
Dan's Favorite
Next week: 2003 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Wednesday May 14, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2002 Part 2
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Episode 63 - Murdock and Marvel: 2002 Part 2
The world was a dangerous and frightening place, and America was trying to come to terms with how to move forward, both internally and on the world stage. And comics showed a lot of that anxiety. But even so, 2002 was a big year for all involved in the comics world, as sales of actual honest to goodness comic books actually rose 10% this year to 230 Million dollars, the first time that the industry had seen that occur since 1993, when comic sales had peaked at around 850 Million. And even as traffic in stores was increasing, Hollywood was starting to understand how to make comic properties work on the screen, both small and large.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2002.
The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #27-38, Daredevil: Yellow #6, Paradise X: Heralds #1-2, Elektra #6, Giant Size Mini-Marvels: Starring Spidey #1, Marvel Knight: Millennial Visions #1, Peter Parker: Spider-Man #39 and 41, Essential Marvel Team-Up #1, Paradise X #0-5, Marvel Knight #2-6, Marvel Knights Double Shot #1 and 4, Amazing Spider-Man #2, Ultimate Spider-Man Special #1, Order #5-6, Spider-Man/Daredevil #1, Marville #2 along with Marvel Masterworks: The Submariner #1 and Daredevil: Yellow, Fantastic First, Life and Death of Captain Marvel graphic novels
Writing: Brian Michael Bendis (#27-38)
Pencils: Alex Maleev (#27-37), Manuel Gutierrez (#38)
Inks: Alex Maleev (#27-37), Manuel Gutierrez (#38)
The year for Matt Murdock and Daredevil begins with a 6-part story called Underboss that began in December 2001. In that story we see a bombing attempt on Matt Murdock’s life just outside of the courthouse and we see Sammy Silke and several of the Kingpin’s other bosses repeatedly stab the kingpin leave him dying on the floor.
So, who put a hit out on Matt Murdock and who is this Sammy Silke who rallied Kingpin’s underlings against him? We start to get answers about this over the next 5 books through flashbacks while the story continues forward. Silke is the son of a crime boss in Chicago who needed to get out of town. He came to New York and went to work for the Kingpin – but when the Kingpin wouldn’t let him put a hit on Matt Murdock – He caught wind of Murdock’s seemly open secret within the Kingpin network and set in motion a plan to take out Murdock and Kingpin with the help of Kingpin’s son – Richard.
Vanessa Fisk finds out her husband has been stabbed and in critical condition (and not killed as reports claim). She goes to New York and despite objections from his doctor, wants Kingpin taken to the airport and flown out of the country. She also orders those that betrayed Kingpin to be killed -including her son Richard whom she visits and kills herself.
Underboss ends with Silke, fearing for his life, turning himself into the FBI and asking for protection. When the FBI refuse, he tells them Murdock’s secret identity.
From there, things start to really go crazy for Matt Murdock. An FBI agent, needing some cash, sells Murdock’s secret to the Daily Globe (the Bugle’s rival paper) and it’s ran as a front-page story and a media circus descents on Murdock’s brownstone.
Ben Urich and Peter Parker tell J. Jonah Jameson the DD secret identity story is a hoax but both refuse to tell him who DD really is; Foggy tries to get Matt to give up his life as DD. Seeing the story, Mr. Hyde shows up and starts destroying Murdock’s house before Daredevil and Spider-Man can intervene.
After some time away, Matt Murdock holds a press conference denying he’s Daredevil. We’ll jump into more detail about that during this week’s spotlight.
After a rooftop chat with Elektra at the urging of Black Widow, it looks like things will be settle with the Daily Globe after Daredevil visits the FBI agent who gave up his secret, but then the Globe owner Rosenthal nixes the deal because Murdock was being so smug about the agreement.
The year ends with part 1 of the next named storyline, The Trail of the Century, which we’ll talk about in 2003.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil volume 2 #36 October 2002 “One Hundred Percent Untrue”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Big Box Office does not necessarily translate to big bucks at the comic shop.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/



Wednesday May 07, 2025
Murdock and Marvel: 2002 Part 1
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Episode 62 - Murdock and Marvel: 2002 Part 1
The world was a dangerous and frightening place, and America was trying to come to terms with how to move forward, both internally and on the world stage. And comics showed a lot of that anxiety. But even so, 2002 was a big year for all involved in the comics world, as sales of actual honest to goodness comic books actually rose 10% this year to 230 Million dollars, the first time that the industry had seen that occur since 1993, when comic sales had peaked at around 850 Million. And even as traffic in stores was increasing, Hollywood was starting to understand how to make comic properties work on the screen, both small and large.
Preshow
The Year in Comics
Notable and Newsworthy
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
TOTAL SERIES: 219TOTAL NEW SERIES: 167 TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 149THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): Infinity Abyss. BEST SELLING COMICS: Ultimates #1 was the best selling book of the year. X-Men and Spider-Man books also did well
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jason Aaron
Dan's Favorite
Next week: 2002 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@comicsovertime.com 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.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/

COMICS OVER TIME
Comics Over Time is a weekly podcast where our hosts Dan and Duane read important and interesting comic books that provided characters and story ideas for movies or TV. Then we'll watch how those stories were translated to the big (or small) screen.
We have a lot of great comics, movies and TV shows lined up to share with you. Whether you are a long-time fan of comic books and comic book movies, or are just getting started, we invite you to join us as we look back at the history of these characters and their stories, as well as attempt to connect the dots from comic panels to moving pictures.