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Daredevil (1964 series) #179

on-sale: Oct 27, 1981
Frank Miller

Daredevil (1964 series) #179 cover

Story Name:

Spiked!


Synopsis

Daredevil (1964 series) #179 synopsis by Anthony Silvestro
Rating: 5 stars

Ben Urich meets with an informant at a small movie theater, there to give him information on Randolph Cherryh and the Kingpin. Before Urich can learn anything though, his informant is stealthily killed by Elektra, who is now working for the Kingpin. She tells Urich not to investigate any further or else she’ll be back for him, leaving him paralyzed in the theater. Later, Urich has Daredevil meet him at his Daily Bugle office, and Daredevil comments that he should quit smoking. He describes his ordeal, causing Daredevil to find out that his former love is now working for his greatest enemy. The next morning, Urich gets a call from Randolph Cherryh, before meeting him at a midtown gym. Cherryh also comments on Urich’s smoking habit, telling him he should get into shape. He “helps out” by having his guys place a 400-pound barbell on Urich’s neck.

Urich is saved by the timely arrival of Daredevil, who afterwards overhears Cherryh arranging a meeting with the Kingpin at a café for the next day. Daredevil tells Urich not to do anything stupid until he’s free to assist him. Naturally, Urich waits outside the café the next day anyway, hoping to get photos of the meeting. He gets ample photos of Kingpin and Cherryh before a homeless woman catches his intrigue. He follows her down to the subway, snapping a photo of her before deciding that she’s just nothing more than a derelict homeless woman (though we know she’s really Vanessa Fisk). Back at their apartment, Urich’s wife bemoans the fact that she never sees him anymore. He promises to spend time with her, before a sudden phone call drags him out again, to her utter frustration.

Urich meets with another informant (who also comments on Urich’s smoking), who tells Urich that Cherryh is apparently meeting a lady friend at the hotel across the street. Daredevil suddenly appears, commenting how every small-time crook has been talking about Cherryh’s secret lady friend recently, leading him to surmise that it’s a trap, as the Kingpin is not that sloppy. Daredevil heads into the hotel and we see Urich’s anxious expression as he hears the obvious sounds of a scuffle inside. Suddenly, Daredevil comes crashing out of a window, he and Elektra obviously engaged in a fight. Urich makes his way up to an adjacent rooftop, finally bemoaning his own smoking habit, while Daredevil and Elektra continue their fight. The fight is brutal and intense until Elektra tricks Daredevil into stepping on a bear trap! She kicks a partially destroyed wall over on him, causing Daredevil to fall through the ground to the floor below! Elektra then hears Urich cough and, though he tries to run, ends up impaled by Elektra’s thrown sai! He always knew the cigarettes would get him…


Characters
Good (or All)
BENURICH
DAREDEVIL
Plus: Doris Urich, Vanessa Fisk.

Enemies
ELEKTRA
KINGPIN
Plus: Randolph Cherryh.

> Daredevil (1964 series) comic book info and issue index



Excelsioring your collection:
statue
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Frank Miller
Klaus Janson
Klaus Janson
Frank Miller (Cover Penciler)
Klaus Janson (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Joe Rosen.



Review / Commentaries


Daredevil (1964 series) #179 Review by (April 9, 2025)

Review: Another all-time great issue, told from Ben Urich’s perspective for an interesting change of pace. It makes for a great framing device, as everything about this issue is practically perfect, the pacing, the art, the action, and especially Urich’s narration. It perfectly sets the tone and connects you to Urich more as a character. Most of the issue involves Urich investigating the ongoing plot of the connection between Kingpin and Cherryh, earning threats from Elektra and Cherryh in the process, while Daredevil does his best to keep him alive. Daredevil has a particularly impressive strength feat this issue, casually throwing around a 400 pound barbell when Cherryh, pretty brazenly, attempts to kill Urich with it! It’s an awesome moment that’s always stuck in my mind.

Speaking of awesome moments, Daredevil and Elektra have their first real fight against each other this issue, and it’s just as cool as you’d expect. The choreography is beautiful, as per usual with Miller’s fight scenes, and suitably brutal! There’s a running gag in the issue about different characters all commenting on Urich’s smoking habit, which comes full circle, when his coughing causes Elektra to hear him and impale him with her sai, making for quite the memorable ending! It’s drawn in Miller’s signature slowly progressing panels, to perfect effect. Moral of the story: don’t smoke. Given that Urich is still kicking today, he obviously survives this ordeal, but it still makes for quite the effective cliffhanger, even when you know he survives! Overall, another all-time classic, in which every aspect fits together perfectly to make a truly phenomenal issue!

Comments: First time Daredevil and Elektra actively fight against each other. Vanessa Fisk returns, last seen in Daredevil #172, where her current state as a wandering homeless lady was teased. Klaus Janson takes over main coloring duties with this issue, in addition to inking.





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