Murdock and Marvel: 2008 Part 2

Episode 75 - Murdock and Marvel: 2008 Part 2

2008 in the United States was a year of war and recession, leading to a bleak short-term outlook for Americans.  Comics and comic book movies reflected that, but also gave fans a lot to enjoy, hopefully taking people’s minds off social and economic issues they were facing. 

This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2008.

 

The Year in Daredevil 

Appearances: Daredevil #102-#112, Daredevil: Blood of the Tarantula #1, Avengers #36-37 and 39, World War Hulk: Aftersmash #1, Civil War Chronicles #5-6 and 8-12, What if? Civil War #1, Exiles #1, World War Hulk Aftersmash: Damage Control #1-3, Black Panther Annual #1, New Exiles #0, Ultimate Fantastic Four #52-53, Might Avengers #12 and 16, King Size Hulk #1, Eternals #1, New Avengers #42, Ultimate Origins #3, Wolverine #68, Age of Sentry #2, Secret Invasion #7, Secret Invasion: The Amazing Spider-Man #3, and Thunderbolts #125  

Writing: Ed Brubaker (#102-106, 111-112) Brubaker and Greg Rucka (#107-110) 

Pencils: Michael Lark (#102-103, 107-112), Lark and Azaceta (#104-105), Paul Azaceta (#106), Clay Mann (#111) 

Inks: Stefano Gaudiano (#102, #105, #107-112) Gaudiano and Paul Azaceta (#103), Gaudiano and Tom Palmer (#104), Paul Azaceta (#106) 

• The year begins with the parts 3 through 6 of the Without Fear storyline we talked about in 2007. Daredevil takes down Mr Fear but not before Matt Murdock and Milla Donvan’s life is turned upside down. 
• In May, we get a single story “Sympathy for the Devil” that bridges us to the next big story arch. In it we see Matt Murdock struggling to deal with everything that’s happened to him and Milla. This interesting story will be our spotlight story for the year. 
• Next, we get the 4-part “Cruel and Unusual” story arch in which Matt Murdock tries to help a death row inmate “Big Ben” Donovan who’s unwilling to get help to stay his execution. Murdock can tell there’s more going on here and Dakota North being assaulted, warned away from investigating Big Ben case by her father Samuel North and finally shot all seem to confirm that suspicion. 
• After Dakota is shot, Matt decides to investigate the shooter and, after following the clues, realizes that there had been men watching his law office from the beginning. These men turn out to be federal agents, who explain why Donovan was framed. Apparently, the special units needed crime boss Eric Slaughter to watch over the docks, which is why they protected him. In the end, Matt speaks with Samuel J. North. North tells him how the special units crossed the line, that he didn’t want his daughter caught in the crossfire, that they needed someone to blame, and Donovan fit the profile. Interestingly, this story was billed as a 5-part story that ended after 4. 
• To finish out 2008, we get the return of Bullseye, well kind of. In a story titled “Lady Bullseye”, we see the Hand and their newest assassin – a woman who goes by the alias Lady Bullseye and was inspired by the original Bullseye who tore through the Yakuzi years before. Lady Bullseye frames Murdock for murder to keep him occupied (though he’s arrested the morning after cheating on his wife Milla with Dakota North) while they go after Iron Fist (Danny Rand) and Black Tarantula (Carlos LaMuerto). 
• North provides an alibi for Murdock so he gets released and upon returning home and upon returning home they find Black Tarantula hogtied and an old man rummaging through Matt’s kitchen, who introduces himself as Master Izo and says Matt is going to help him destroy the Hand. Apparently now is an opportune time as the Hand is in chaos as factions are fighting for control after Elektra is revealed to be a Skrull. 
• As the story progressed, we see that the Hand has a series of targets and eventually possesses Tarantula and White Tiger before a finally confrontation with Daredevil. It’s then that Lady Bullseye reveals to Matt her true plan—she wants him to lead the Hand, and her efforts so far have not been to attack his friends and family, but rather to remove them as obstacles. Stunned, Matt strikes her. They fight again and she knocks him out, saying the Hand does not take no for an answer. Master Izo helps Matt up, and assumes he refused the Hand’s offer; Matt says nothing. The story ends with Lord Hirochi, Lady Bullseye, Black Tarantula, and White Tiger board a plane to Spain, where Lady Bullseye says they will pursue Plan B. 
• One side story in the Lady Bullseye story arch, is Milla Donovan’s parents have checked her out of the hospital Matt’s been visiting and are trying to keep him away from their daughter.  
• In the Daredevil: Blood of the Tarantula one-shot, Daredevil helps Carlos LaMuerto face down his cousin, Luis, who is being backed up by his former gang from Argentina as they have arrived in