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Daredevil (1964 series) #173

on-sale: Apr 28, 1981
Frank Miller

Daredevil (1964 series) #173 cover

Story Name:

Lady Killer


Synopsis

Daredevil (1964 series) #173 synopsis by Anthony Silvestro
Rating: 4.5 stars

Matt Murdock walks down a dark back alley, where he’s accosted by three street punks. Matt tests out his new billy club and easily takes out the criminals, who had been terrorizing the neighborhood lately. Matt hopes this little demonstration will dissuade them, before changing to Daredevil to make his way back to his office. Meanwhile, nearby, two reporters also make their way to the law offices of Nelson and Murdock, following up on a tip. On their way there, they are attacked by a mysterious, leather clad masked man. He takes care of the male reporter before savagely beating the female reporter. Daredevil hears and makes his way there as quick as possible, getting there just as the mystery attacker is escaping, his victims barely clinging to life. The police arrest Melvin Potter near the scene, despite his parole officer Betsy Beatty pleading his innocence. Matt changes clothes once more and advises Melvin not to say anything, promising to straighten everything out.

The next day, Matt and his secretary Becky Blake go to visit Melvin at the Criminal Courts Building, with Matt particularly worried about Melvin’s mental state. He hopes that this little episode won’t undo all the progress he’s made. Matt introduces Melvin to Becky who suddenly faints at the very sight of him! Later, Matt asks Becky what happened and if she’s ever met Melvin before. Becky reluctantly admits that when she was in college, she was brutally attacked by a masked man, just like the one from the incident the previous night. His attack left her confined to a wheelchair for life and in trying to fight back, she saw his face, confirming that it was Melvin Potter. Matt can’t believe this and gets angry at Becky after she admits that she never reported the crime. She throws him out after he continues pestering her about it, not wanting to be judged for just wanting to forget it.

The next day, Matt is able to get an extension for the initial case for the incident involving Melvin at the museum months ago, arguing that this recent incident would negatively influence a jury. That night, Daredevil scours every back alley and seedy bar he can find for any possible information on who actually perpetrated the attack but comes up empty. In the morning, Matt swings by Foggy’s apartment, desperately needing his help. Debbie admits that things have been rough lately and Foggy’s been like a totally different person and she doesn’t know what to do. Just then, a very disheveled Foggy comes home and pointedly kicks Matt out of his house. As Matt bemoans that he’s lost all his help with this case, he overhears a news broadcast proclaiming that Melvin Potter broke out of jail! Meanwhile, the man actually responsible sees the news and gets a kick out of the fact that Melvin is taking the rap for his misdeeds, and plans to have some fun with Betsy…

Matt tracks down Melvin at the museum, finding him with his Gladiator helmet. Melvin feels frustrated and done with everything but Matt isn’t willing to give up on him. After several moments of tense contemplation, Melvin throws his helmet away and asks for Matt’s help. Some time later, the masked attacker forces his way into Betsy’s apartment, causing her to desperately fight back, fleeing once the neighbors start investigating the noise. Later, Betsy tells Daredevil that she’s encountered men like him before and Daredevil eventually tracks him down after hours of searching local shady hangouts. Daredevil gets swarmed by the guy’s buddies and they hold him down while he savagely attacks Matt. Realizing this is how Becky must have felt, Daredevil finds the strength to push them off of him and even more savagely lays into the masked man. Daredevil knocks him out, removing his mask and revealing that he’s a dead ringer for Melvin! The next day, Matt goes to see Becky. He apologizes for how he acted before and tells her that the man who attacked her has been arrested, but there’s not enough evidence to convict him without her testimony. Matt tells her that she can’t let the fear of that horrible memory keep her from saying anything. He already cost her the use of her legs, she can’t let him truly cripple her. After long moments of hesitation, Becky musters her resolve and calls the police.


Characters
Good (or All)
DAREDEVIL
FOGGYNELSON
GLADIATOR1
Plus: Becky Blake (Rebecca Blake), Betsy Beatty, Debbie Harris, Nick Manolis.


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



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

Main/1st Story Full Credits

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



Review / Commentaries


Daredevil (1964 series) #173 Review by (February 26, 2025)

Review: This isn’t generally one of the more talked about issues of Miller’s run, but I’ve always had a big soft spot for it. This one’s a doozy. Melvin Potter takes the blame for a series of attacks targeting women, compounded by the fact that Becky was attacked in the same manner years earlier, and apparently confirms that it was Melvin! This is the only issue, at least during Miller’s run, where Becky plays an important role in the plot, but it certainly makes for a very memorable day in the limelight. The scene where she tells Matt about the attack, which left her wheelchair-bound, is super harrowing, and likely to feel very familiar to anyone who’s gone through something similar. This issue can be a rough read, taking a very realistic look at all sides of a violent crime like this, especially how it impacts the victims even years after the fact. Matt even gets in on an unfortunate, but all too common aspect, with a bit of victim blaming after Becky admits she never reported the crime (don’t worry, he apologizes later).

Melvin gets a phenomenal sequence as well, as he contemplates becoming the Gladiator again. He notes how easy it would be to be the monster everyone thinks he is, but Matt won’t give up on him. Miller uses his signature excellent panel use to expertly convey Melvin’s turmoil, until he literally throws the helmet away and asks for Matt’s help. The best scene though, comes at the end. The real man responsible is arrested (and turns out to look just like Melvin, and while the chances are low, they’re not zero) but there’s not enough evidence to convict him without Becky’s testimony. She’s the only one who saw his face and can positively identify him, but she’s understandably scared. I’ve always found Matt’s final words to her, which finally give her the courage to say something, to be beautifully poignant: “He robbed you of the use of your legs. Nothing can change that. But don’t let him cripple you.” Powerful stuff. This is exactly why I love this character. The ability to eloquently encourage others to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult, and to persevere no matter what, just as he does.

Comments: Though never actually said, the masked attacker’s name is confirmed to be Michael Reese, evidenced by the newspaper at the end.





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