Simply the Best: Daredevil #53

I love "origin issues".  You know, the comic book equivalent of those flashback TV show episodes when a character says "Why, I remember it as if it were yesterday..." (as the screen blurs out or goes wavy).  Essentially intended to bring new readers up to speed on who the character is and how he (or she) started out, origin stories were often presented within an imaginative framing device, such as providing a subtle clue to a present day mystery or as an occasion to re-affirm the hero's purpose and mission.

Daredevil #53 (1969) was one such origin story, as Matt Murdock took a look back at the tragedies and triumphs that lead to his life as Daredevil.  Creatively symbolizing Murdock's deliberation is this wonderful cover by Gene Colon, a master of evocative, moody illustration:

The looming Daredevil holding a weighing scale brings to mind the famous image of Lady Justice, the mythic personification of our Western legal system.  The comparison is especially apt considering Matt Murdock is not only a lawyer by trade, but is also blind (as a result of the accident that hyper-enhanced his remaining senses).

As I alluded to in a previous Simply the Best post, I'm a sucker for covers showing the original version of a superhero's costume....even Daredevil's!  For as much scorn as the costume (perhaps deservedly) gets, I guess I can cut a blind guy a little slack for using so much yellow (and hey, it was gone by issue number seven anyway). So, I enjoy seeing the original fighting togs on that mini-Daredevil, straddling his measuring pan like a fighter straining at the ropes of a boxing ring (which was probably intentional considering his father was a boxer).

The bad guys?  Two 1960's thugs straight from Central Casting, one obviously hired muscle (t-shirt and blue jeans) while the other is higher up the food chain (indicated by the suit and tie), and probably the man known as "The Fixer" (a crooked boxing promoter responsible for putting a hit out on Murdock's father).

The cover loses some points with the poorly placed masthead logo, which would have looked better centered in the space between the corner box and the opposite corner.  With it touching the corner box, it creates a tangent and visual tension point that easily could have been avoided.

Despite that unfortunate design decision, I'm sure you'll agree that the rest of the cover is so powerful and attention-grabbing, it easily qualifies for Simply the Best status!

Comments

[Rich]

Nice one.

Here's a question. Is there a site where I can identify a variety of covers featuring the Scales of Justice? I know a handful off the top of my head:

Daredevil: Redemption #5
She-Hulk v2 #1
Brave and the Bold #170

I'd love to find more and work some into my decor at the office. Oh, and I really enjoy the accidential future Supreme Court nominee reference in Brave and the Bold #81. Batman and Flash nearly got to experience a whole different type of Borking.

[Mark Engblom]

Good question, Rich. You could do what I do when researching "Cover to Cover" posts, which is to comb the Grand Comic Database. Here's the link:

http://www.comics.org/index.lasso

It's a bit meticulous, but it's also kinda fun looking over so many great covers (I can never get enough).

That's a great sub-category of collecting. I know a number of comic fans who collect specific themed covers, and it's always a great deal of fun and an interesting challenge. Good luck on your quest! By the way, do you happen to be a lawyer?

Oh.....I just remembered: An upcoming issue of DC's "Final Crisis" may be featuring a character named "Libra" holding weighing scales as well. Keep an eye out for it!

[Rich]

Thanks, Mark! Not a lawyer, but I'm a political science professor. Specialty is law/courts.

[Michael Jones]

How about Justice League 111? I think there was an Avengers issue where they fought Scorpio as well.

[Pat Curley]

The cover is attractively done and as it happens I've been rereading the SA Daredevil lately, but....

It's pretty obviously a swipe of Batman #5:

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=1343&zoom=4

[Mark Engblom]

Wow! Thanks, Pat! Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty direct swipe. Hey, Rich...there's another cover for your wall (although I'm guessing it may be a little "pricey").

[Rich]

No kidding, Mark. I think I'd be afraid of that one disappearing!