Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #141

At Police headquarters, Detective Rollins is questioning gang member Howard “Cool Breeze” McNeal about the murder of the pawnbroker (last issue); McNeal claims innocence: the gang was looting the man’s store, they had no reason to kill him. Matt Murdock, with his sensitive hearing, knows McNeal is telling the truth. Outside, Matt meets up with Ben Urich, who helpfully summarizes the last issue for newcomers. Matt takes off and switches to Daredevil to escape Ben Urich who makes DD feel uncomfortable by knowing what he is thinking. DD is also concerned about Spider-Man’s absence, possibly tied in with the reports of other superheroes going missing….

Black Widow, in her classy fur coat, stops by the pawnbroker, Zelnick’s, shop to find the local gang stocking the shelves. She meets the new owner, Frank Arnold, who bought the shop from Zelnick’s widow. He is employing the local youth to give them a chance to turn their lives around; Natasha responds that he is likely sheltering a murderer. She leaves, certain that Arnold knows who the killer is….

Meanwhile, Daredevil is fighting his way through the gang, demanding that someone tell him who killed the pawnbroker….

At his penthouse, the Kingpin goes through his daily workout, fighting a group of men while his assistant, the Arranger, reads his reports. He informs the Kingpin of the disappearance of several super heroes and Daredevil’s interference in one of the operations. At the mention of the name of his nemesis, Kingpin injures one of the combatants, which has never before happened. He sees to it that the man is paid for the time he will need to recuperate….

Matt Murdock meets with Juan Santiago and makes him admit he was part of the gang, set up for the murder change because he was cheating the others. He also reveals that Zelnick the pawnbroker was the fence for the gang’s thefts. Later, DD meets with Natasha and repeats his desire to see justice done in Juan’s case because, despite his being a thief and mugger, he is not a murderer. Natasha finds his ideals taken to a ridiculous extreme. She also reveals that Frank Arnold knows who the killer is….

In Central Park, news reporter Sheena Rogers is interviewing Ainsley Wilkins who witnessed the disappearance of the super heroes…when the portal opens and they come back, including Spider-Man dressed in a black costume and carrying Dr. Curt Connors. Spidey looks where he hid his street clothes but they are no longer there but his wallet and keys are. After he takes Connors home, he stops by the Daily Bugle in a happy mood. He meets Ben Urich who tells him that the gun Spidey recovered was not the murder weapon so Juan Santiago is still in danger. Pete takes off and dons his new black suit then goes to the offices of Nelson and Murdock where he meets Foggy Nelson and Becky Blake. After finally convincing them that he is Spider-Man, he asks for Matt and is told he isn’t there. So Spidey takes off and discovers the gang loading stuff from Zelnick’s pawnshop into a van and driving off. They go to Arnold’s store and quit because they don’t want any more hassles with Daredevil. Then one of Kingpin’s men approaches Frank Arnold to inform him that Zelnick worked for the Kingpin as his fence in that part of town—and Arnold killed him. The broker falls to his knees and pleads with the thugs, explaining that he wanted to buy into Zelnick’s business and Zelnick refused so Arnold killed him. Spidey leaps out to stop the imminent murder but Daredevil also appears to tell Spidey that the Kingpin’s men are under his protection. Frank Arnold runs away but is nabbed by Black Widow, giving him the choice of staying with the Kingpin’s men or coming with her to jail. He chooses jail. Meanwhile, DD explains to Spidey that he made a deal with the Kingpin to get Arnold. Spidey finds that incredible, reminding DD “we’re supposed to be the good guys, remember?”

In the morning, the judge dismisses the charges against Juan Santiago but Matt reminds him his old gang still has a grudge against him and Matt can’t do anything about that. Matt meets with Natasha, admitting that he made some unpleasant compromises to see imperfect justice done but is still upset because of what Spider-Man said. Spidey, across the street, is satisfied with the outcome but wonders why Daredevil never said anything about the new costume….