Comics Over Time

By Duane Eckholm and Dan Newland

Each week Dan, Duane and Siena bring you a look at comics new and old! Since 2021 we have been discussing comics, TV and film. For 2024 Duane and Dan are focusing on Marvel history that centers on D... more

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The podcast currently has 115 episodes available.

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August 06, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2008 Part 1
Episode 74 - Murdock and Marvel: 2008 Part 1
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.
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
Marvel plunged headlong into the deep end of the event pool, as the summer event Secret Invasion was essentially a reboot of major parts of the universe.
TOTAL SERIES: 541
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 387
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 361
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): Secret Invasion (Skrulls, 126) | Dark Reign (Norman Osborn and Dark Avengers, 290) | X-Men: Divided We Stand (disbanding, 40) | X-Men: Manifest Destiny (West coast move, 35)
BEST SELLING COMICS: Secret Invasion #1
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Joe Sabino
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 2008 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil

Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 19min
July 31, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2007 Part 2
Episode 73 - Murdock and Marvel: 2007 Part 2
America continues to deal with the consequences of 9/11, and we are not mid-way through the 8 year Iraq War. Something seems to be changing on the comics landscape, as dark themes, destruction and war get more prevalent, and stories retreat to more conventional and traditional themes.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2007.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #91-#101, Daredevil: Father #6, Daredevil Annual #1, Incredible Hulk #100. Thunderbolts #108 and 110, What If? Avengers Disassembled #1, What If? Wolverine Enemy of the State #1, Avengers Next #4, Marvel Select Flip Magazine #19 and 22, X-23: Target X #1-6, Amazing Spider-Man #538, Spider-Man and Power Pack #3-4, Black Panther #25, Bullet Points #4-5, Civil War: Front Line #11, Fantastic Four: Then End #5-6, Punisher War Journal #4, Civil War: The Confession #1, Ultimate Spider-Man #106-107 and 109-110, Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #1, Ms Marvel #14, Wonder Man #5, Hulk and Power Pack #3-4, Marvel Zombies: Dead Days #1, X-Men #200, World War Hulk: Front Line #2 and 6, Civil War Chronicles #1-2, Last Fantastic Four Story #1, New Avengers #34
Writing: Ed Brubaker (#91-101)
Pencils: Michael Lark (#91-93, 95-99, and 101), Lee Weeks (#94), Lark, Marko Djurdjevic, John Romita Sr, Gene Colan, Bill Sienkiewicz, Alex Maleev and Lee Bermejo (#100)
Inks: Stefano Gaudiano (#91-99 and 101), Gaudiano and Al Milgrom (#100)
2007 begins with the final three parts of the “Devil Takes a Ride storyline we talked about in 2006 That involved Murdock going to Europe and confronting Vanessa Fisk for all the trouble she’s been causing him as well as then freeing Fisk from prison.
In April, we get a one-shot story called Our Love Story (with a cool cover from John Romita Sr) that talks about the relationship Milla Donovan has with Matt Murdock and Daredevil.
Next, we get long story arch titled “To the Devil, His Due”. Murdock and company are brought in to defend Melvin Potter, the Gladiator, who has been accused of killing inmates in Ryker's Island prison; Melvin claims that he didn't do it, even though all evidence points to the fact that he did. As the story progresses, Potter escapes prison and goes on a killing spree, Milla starts going to a psychiatrist and Lily Luca – the woman who double crossed Murdock in Europe during the Devil Takes a Ride story comes to New York looking for Murdock’s help.
When Potter shows up to ruin a dinner date between Milla and Matt, Murdock figures out that someone is behind the Gladiator’s recent behavior and must stop Potter from killing Milla. The story ends with Potter getting arrested and Daredevil turning his sights on the person behind Potter’s behavior change… Mr. Fear. Meanwhile, in a moment of jealous anger directed toward Lily (induced in no small part by Mr Fear’s gas), Milla accidentally kills a man in the subway.
That leads directly into a “Triple sized” issue 100 featuring 7 artists and a huge six-part story titled Without Fear that finishes the year and bleeds into 2008. Issue 100 will be the spotlight story this week. For this recap, Daredevil confronts Larry Cranston aka Mr Fear but Fear is able to escape and when he returns home Murdock learns Milla has been arrested for murder.
As the Without Fear story continues, we see Turk is now in the employ of the Hood who has designs of his own on New York and Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil learns of a chemist who assisted Mr Fear in his latest version of the fear gas who is now dead, and Milla fails her psych evaluation and is sent to Bellevue hospital under protective custody. Milla is eventually allowed to return home with a home health nurse to monitor her actions. But then she attacks the nurse after being visited by Lily Lucca which gets her sent back to Bellevue. Hood and Fear team up for a time but disagree on “the big picture”.
Ultimately the story ends with Daredevil confronting Mr Fear and demanding a cure to Milla’s condition – to which fear reveals there is no antidote. Turning him over to Detective Krutz, Cranston confesses that he is responsible for Melvin and Milla's recent action and claims he did it to Matt Murdock because he does not like him. Lilly Lucca, who went to Murdock’s home because of Mr Fear, has disappeared and Murdock tells Foggy he’s responsible for ruining Milla’s life.
Meanwhile, in the Daredevil Annual that was released in December, Carlos Muerto aka Black Tarantula is released on parole, and he looks up his old prison buddy, Matt Murdock, for a job and help in getting his life back in order. And though it works for a time, ultimately, they end up going their separate ways. This is a story by Ed Brubaker with Andre Parks as writer. Leo Fernandez and Scott Koblish on art.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #100 October 2007 “Without Fear: Part One”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
The retrenchment that is going to divide comics fandom over the next two decades may have its roots here in 2007.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 14min
July 16, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2007 Part 1
Episode 72 - Murdock and Marvel: 2007 Part 1
America continues to deal with the consequences of 9/11, and we are not mid-way through the 8 year Iraq War. Something seems to be changing on the comics landscape, as dark themes, destruction and war get more prevalent, and stories retreat to more conventional and traditional themes.
Preshow
Where did the podcast go?
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
Marvel had a huge year, with stories and events that would resonate into the company’s future, both in the comics and on screen. As usual they won no awards, but they sold a lot of comics…
TOTAL SERIES: 470
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 326
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 306
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): One More Day (4), Silent War, The Initiative (80), World War Hulk (52), X-Men: Endangered Species (17), X-Men: Messiah Complex (13)
BEST SELLING COMICS: Civil War #7
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jonathan Hickman
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 2007 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil

Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 22min
July 09, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2006 Part 2
Episode 71 - Murdock and Marvel: 2006 Part 2
Last week in the takeaway we talked about how 2005 had elements that pointed to a new golden age for comics, and there were elements that pointed to dangerous days ahead. Well, if 2006 is any indication, Golden Age it is...
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2006.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #79-90, Daredevil vs Punisher #6, Daredevil: Father #5, Fantastic Four: The Wedding Special #1, Spider-Man Unlimited #12, Black Widow 2 #4-6, Playmates Toys #1, Spider-Man /Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do #4-6, Marvel Zombies #2-3, Pulse #13, Thing #3 X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl #1, I Heart Marvel: Marvel Ai #1, Marvel Team-Up #17 and 20, New Mangaverse #2, Amazing Spider-Man #530 and 534, Thunderbolts #100/105/107, Doc Samson #4, Wolverine #42, Exiles #83, Cable & Deadpool #31, Fantastic Four #539, New Avengers #22 and 24, Marvel Select Flip Magazine #16-17, Civil War #1-6, Civil War: Choosing Sides #1, Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #1, Civil War: Frontline #10
Writing: Brian Michael Bendis (#79-81), Ed Brubaker (#82-90)
Pencils: Alex Maleev (#79-81), Michael Lark (#82-87 and #89-90), David Aja (#88)
Inks: Alex Maleev (#79-81), Michael Lark (#82), Stefano Gaudiano (#83-87 and #89-90), David Aja (#88)
The year begins with the final three issues of The Murdock Papers from Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.
In April, We get a new creative team and a new story arch with three parts centered around Matt Murdock in prison. The first is entitled The Devil in Cell-Block D and in it, Brubaker and Lark do the unthinkable – while visiting Matt in prison, Foggy and their assistant Dakota are assaulted – with Foggy being stabbed while Murdock is unable to help while bring locked up in solitary confinement. The story ends with Matt Murdock frantically screaming, "His heart is still beating," over and over.
As the story continues, we see a funeral for Foggy (which Murdock is able to attend) and we see someone is running around the city in the Daredevil costume on – which does seem to help Murdock’s case for not being our horned hero. In August, we see Fisk and Murdock working together to survive a prison riot and after Murdock escapes from prison with the help of the recently incarcerated Punisher.
In the finale of The Devil in Cell Block D, Murdock hunts down the other Daredevil – who turns out to be Iron Fist – who was trying to help keep Murdock’s secret identity hidden. Matt decides to leave the country for Monaco to find the man responsible for having Foggy killed. But Foggy is alive and well and hiding under the witness protection program. The warden believes Matt was truly a helpless victim of Punishers and goes public with this on TV.
Next we catch up with the recently revealed to be alive Foggy Nelson in a single-issue story called “The Secret Life of Foggy Nelson. In it we see him try to reach out to Ben Urich and others but he is stopped by the FBI who are “protecting” him.
Finally, to finish off the 2006 – which bleeds into 2007 – we travel to Europe (specifically Monaco to start with) for Murdock’s hunt for a lawyer, Alton Lennox, who helped “kill” Foggy Nelson entitled The Devil Takes a Ride. In it, he teams up with a mob bosses daughter who turns out to double cross him. He confronts her (and Tombstone) in Paris and tells her he’s not so easily fooled. Daredevil finally finds out who has been behind everything and it turns out to be the wife of his most hated enemy, Vanessa Fisk. When Murdock confronts her in Zurich, we learn she is dying and he manipulated Murdock to get him to help free Wilson Fisk as her dying wish. Murdock initially refuses, but she knows he’ll eventually agree and sets her plan in motion – killing Leland Drummond, the FBI director going after Murodck.
The Devil takes a Ride concludes with Matt finding out Foggy is still alive and also helping release the Kingpin from prison to honor Vanessa's memory. Though he has the Kingpin agree to have his U.S. Citizenship revoked and that Fisk will have to leave the country. Foggy agrees with Matt's idea to move their law firm to a new location as well as changing their business method of accepting clients from referrals only to avoid drawing attention from DD's enemies. It was also decided that Becky Blake will join their firm as a law partner (Nelson, Blake, and Murdock). Matt also moves him and Milla to a new apartment as well since too many of his enemies already knew the address of his previous apartment.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #82 April 2006 “The Devil in Cell-Block D Part One”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
It doesn’t get any better than this. Comics in 2006 are at the top of their form both in terms of their content and their cultural impact.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 7min
July 02, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2006 Part 1
Episode 70 - Murdock and Marvel: 2006 Part 1
Last week in the takeaway we talked about how 2005 had elements that pointed to a new golden age for comics, and there were elements that pointed to dangerous days ahead. Well, if 2006 is any indication, Golden Age it is...
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
Marvel decided to return to the “event” with a bang, as the universe-spanning Civil War wrecked friendships, unmasked heroes, and generally created chaos all across the Marvel line. This was another dominant year for Marvel, with increased sales and fan acclaim.
TOTAL SERIES: 499
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 369
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 349
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): Civil War (132), Planet Hulk (23), Annihilation
BEST SELLING COMICS: Civil War #1-5 (2 was highest)
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Charlie Huston
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 2006 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil

Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 18min
June 27, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 2
Episode 69 - Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 2
It was a great year in comics, and maybe a turning point. Movies, events and accolades abounded. But somehow it all worries me a bit, in retrospect.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2005.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #67-78, Daredevil: Redemption #1-6, Daredevil: Father #1-4, Exiles #54, 56 and 62, Marvel Age Spider-Man #15, New Avengers #1-3 and 11, Powerless #6, Ultimate Elektra #4-5, Bullseye: Greatest Hits #4, Marvel Knight 4 #13, What if…Karen Page Had Lived? #1, Wolverine #23-24, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #11, Ultimates 2 #3, Hercules #1, Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects #2-6, Marvel Team-Up #9-10, Daredevil vs Punisher #1-5, House of M #5-7, Ultimate Fantastic Four #22, Black Widow 2 #1-2, Defenders #4, Secret War #5, Weapon X: Days of Future Now #4 along with the Elektra: On the Rise, New Avengers: Pot of Gold, Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee graphic novels
Writing: Brian Michael Bendis (#67-78)
Pencils: Alex Maleev (#67-78)
Inks: Alex Maleev (#67-78)
The year begins with the continuation of the Golden Age storyline that starts in December. In it, we learn immediately about Alexander Bont (the Kingpin before Wilson Fisk). He was released from prison and plans to get revenge on Daredevil and Matt Murdock for helping him go to prison. Across the 5 issues, we see just how powerful Bont was and how Daredevil got him arrested as well as how Murdock made sure he went to prison for most of his life. Bont enlists the reformed Gladiator to kidnap and beat Murdock before attempting to reveal his now widely known secret on the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.
Meanwhile, Agent Del Toro of the FBI approaches Matt Murdock asking for help understanding why he and others are superheroes and how to come to terms with her inheriting the White Tiger Amulet from her now deceased uncle Hector Ayala. Murdock as Daredevil does help, helping her to learn to use the Amulet and her new powers – which comes in handy as Del Toro is the one who comes to Murdock’s rescue from Gladiator and Bont.
After that, we get one of my favorite Bendis stories to date – Decalogue. In it, we see a support group, the Devil Among Us, trying to come to grips of their re-ins with our horned hero. Things start with a junkie telling how she started going straight after seeing her boyfriend and his enlisted help Bullet get taken down when they had designs for taking over for Kingpin after Daredevil’s proclamation, he was the new Kingpin. We get a story from another group member about failing to honor his father’s wish from prison to have Foggy Nelson killed.
From there, the stories and the group take a turn. The DD support group continues and the wife of a super-powered serial killer tells how DD tracked down her husband but refused to let him fall to his death; The killer's last intended victim whom DD saved turns out to be a member of the group and doesn't take kindly to the story of a troubled man plagued by demons.
The DD support group continues with the tale of one of Milla Donovan's friends who went to her wedding with Matt Murdock and whose daughter later killed herself after surviving a bank robbery by the Jester. A goading and mysterious member of the group pipes up and promises there are deep dark secrets in all these tales and points out that Matt Murdock is there in the group with them; And he is.
The story ends with Murdock confronting the Demon that had possessed the Jester (and is currently inhabiting the mysterious member of the group) and interfered with so many lives after which he tries to explain to the group why he does the things he does; For the first time, Matt Murdock publicly admits to outsiders that he is DD.
After that, we get one last story from Brian Michael Bendis that spills over into 2006 – The Murdock papers. In it, we see the Kingpin attempt to use the knowledge of Murdock’s secret identity to leverage a pardon for all his crimes from the FBI all with Ben Urich unwilling assistance. Claiming he has physical evidence proving Murdock is Daredevil, he gets Urich to write a story saying Kingpin is willing to tell all – forcing the FBI to decide to pursue a case against Murdock rather than their very weak case against Fisk.
At the same time, Milla Donovan has a change of heart and wants to be with Murdock again – which he happily wants as well.
This leads to Elektra and Black Widow (along with the recently fired Agent Del Toro) trying to help Daredevil get the papers before the FBI does from Fisk’s lawyer’s office. There’s a big confrontation that includes Bullseye and in which Daredevil gets shot and is briefly presumed dead. Fisk reveals that the papers were a lie and meant to flush Daredevil out so the FBI could arrest him.
The conclusion of this epic storyline (and the Bendis run on Daredevil) will be our spotlight for this year…
This Week's Spotlight: #80 February 2006 “The Murdock Papers Part 5” and Daredevil #81 March 2006 “The Murdock Papers Part 6”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
The beginning of an Golden Age? Or the harbinger of future problems?
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 10min
June 18, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 1
Episode 68 - Murdock and Marvel: 2005 Part 1
It was a great year in comics, and maybe a turning point. Movies, events and accolades abounded. But somehow it all worries me a bit, in retrospect.
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
Marvel steamed ahead in 2005, with Joe Quesado taking on additional responsibilities, and Brian Bendis in charge of Marvel’s first big event in years. New stories with new characters by some of the best young talents in the industry made for a spectacular year!
TOTAL SERIES: 449
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 331
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 304
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): House of M
BEST SELLING COMICS: New Avengers, House of M
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
Bendis is credited 77 times this year. The equivalent of over 6 books a month!
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ed Brubaker
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 2004 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil

Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 11min
June 10, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 2
Episode 67 - Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 2
2004 was a relatively quiet year in comics, but there were some critical developments that made waves into the future. Big movies, heroes back from the dead, and some important new faces!
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2004.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #54-66, Daredevil: Father #1, Daredevil 2099 #1, Punisher #35-37, Exiles #39 and #43, Spider-Man Unlimited #1, Elektra #35, Marvel 1602 #8, Secret War #2-3, Powerless #1-5, Ultimate Elektra #1-3
Writing: David Mack (#54-55), Brian Michael Bendis (#56-66)
Pencils: David Mack (#54-55), Alex Maleev (#56-64 and 66), Maleev, Michael Golden, Greg Horn, P. Craig Russell, Phil Hester, Chris Bachalo, Jae Lee, David Finch and Frank Quitely (#65)
Inks: David Mack (#54-55), Alex Maleev (#56-64 and 66), Maleev, Michael Golden, Greg Horn, P. Craig Russell, Phil Hester, Chris Bachalo, Jae Lee, David Finch and Frank Quitely (#65)
The year begins late in 2003, as we noted two weeks ago with our 2003 discussion, with the return of David Mack to writing and art and Maya Lopez in the book itself. She’s returned to New York and is looking to reconnect with Daredevil. After he shares he’s now with someone else, she instead visits with a chief her father knew and goes on a vision quest. There, with the help of a man shaped in the form of a wolverine, helps her understand a story her father used to tell her and helps her realize who she is. She goes back to Daredevil and bids him goodbye with a kiss.
From there, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev return with a story called The King of Hell’s Kitchen. We learn it’s been a year since the confrontation between Kingpin and Daredevil and according to Ben Urich – Daredevil has been very busy cleaning up the kitchen while also taking some flack about his methods from other superheroes.
His latest dealings have been against the Yakuza and after a large battle Daredevil’s gone missing. Milla Donovan reached out to Urich to find him and during their discussion we learned that 4 months ago she and Murdock got married. Urich finds Murdock and reunited the married couple – but not before suggesting the events of the last year are all his way coping with the death of Karen Page. With a little help from some super powered friends, Daredevil puts a stop to the Yakuza plot to take over Hell's Kitchen. Milla confronts Matt about his problems over the death of Karen Page and before leaving her husband.
Next we get storyline featuring another of Matt’s love interests, the Black Widow, in a story called “The Widow”. Black Widow gets “called in” be SHIELD and realizing it’s a trap – instead goes to visit Matt Murdock in New York hoping she can hide in plain sight. The pair take down Jigsaw and upon making bail – he goes back to Murdock asking permission to run crime through Hell’s kitchen (since he’s the new Kingpin). Matt isn’t amused.
Turns out the hiding in plain sight didn’t work as the two get shot at by a hired assassin while having lunch. The pair go after the assassin and after that Natasha finally shares the reason for her visit. Though the conversation is cut short as Jigsaw and his men have entered Murdock’s home and Matt can’t fight them as daredevil and revealing his lie. In the end, we learn a Bulgarian minister and Natasha’s ex-husband were behind the ordeal and Matt begrudgingly gives Milla the annulment to their marriage.
In November, we get a HUGE 40th Anniversary Special issue. This story backtracks over the 1 year time period that Matt Murdock was outed as Daredevil that Ben Urich told us about during the King of Hell’s Kitchen story earlier this year. To do so, the Bendis and Maleev called on a host of other artists to tell the story. This seems like the perfect book for this week’s spotlight.
There is one more book this year, But it starts another storyline – so we’ll save that for our 2005 discussion.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #65 November 2004 “The Universe”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Reading Marvel is great, but when you see Jean Grey die for the second time, Marvel has told you its story, and its time to start looking into other publishers.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 7min
June 04, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 1
Episode 66 - Murdock and Marvel: 2004 Part 1
2004 was a relatively quiet year in comics, but there were some critical developments that made waves into the future. Big movies, heroes back from the dead, and some important new faces!
The Year in Comics
Comics in Other Media
DC Comics
Other Publishers
Sales & Industry Information
Beginnings & Endings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
TOTAL SERIES: 292
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 197
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 173
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): Avengers Disassembled (34 issues) and Secret War (starts)
BEST SELLING COMICS: New Avengers #1
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Greg Pak
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 2004 Part 2 - The year in Daredevil

Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 26min
May 30, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 2003 Part 2
Episode 65 - Murdock and Marvel: 2003 Part 2
It was a crazy year in America, with the Gulf War and the Patriot Act in the news, and over a billion dollars spent on comic-based movies. But in the actual world of American comics, 2003 was that most beautiful to things – a stable, productive year filled with fantastic and influential stories.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 2003.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #39-53, Daredevil: The Target #1, Ultimate Daredevil and Electra #1-4, Daredevil: The Movie #1, Paradise X #7-11 and X, Exiles #20 and #25, Alias #18 and #24, Marvel Universe: The End #1-6, Ultimate X-Men #36, Captain America #19 and Punisher #33-34
Writing: Brian Michael Bendis (#39-50), David Mack (#51-53)
Pencils: Manuel Gutierrez (#39), Terry Dodson (#40), Alex Maleev (#41-50), David Mack (#51-53)
Inks: Manuel Gutierrez (#39), Rachel Dodson (#40), Alex Maleev (#41-50), David Mack (#51-53)
The year begins with the named story that started at the end of 2002 “The Trial of the Century” but this isn’t the trial we’ve had story leaning up to. Instead, Luke Cage urges and eventually convinces Matt Murdock to defend Hector Ayala aka the White Tiger who recently get back into the costume and in a failed attempt to stop a robbery get arrested for a police officer who was shot and killed.
The trial doesn’t go particularly well despite the fact Ayala is innocent. Murdock’s defense included calling superheroes like Reed Richards, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones before Ayala himself takes the stand. During cross examination, Ayala loses his cool and lashes out in anger and frustration about how no one understands (superheroes).
This story tragically comes to an end with Hector Ayala convicted of murder. Dismayed over the conviction and assurances by Murdock he will go free, Hector attempts to flee the courthouse rather than being taken into custody and is gunned down by police on the stairs of the courthouse.
Starting in March, we get the storyline Lowlife in which The Owl has taken over part of the Kingpin’s old territory and is selling a drug MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone). He’s also trying to get incriminating evidence on Matt Murdock/Daredevil. Also, in this story we meet Milla Donovan, a blind woman Daredevil saves from get hit by a truck – who falls for the hero and befriends Matt Murdock (since he’s Daredevil)
Uri Rosenthal, the Globe newspaper owner whom Matt Murdock is suing is found dead at home and Murdock is taken into custody for questions during his date with Milla. Matt tries to apologize to Milla for their interrupted date, takes down the Owl as Daredevil and learns that the Kingpin is back in town.
This then leads directly into the story “Hardcore” and the return of Typhoid Mary. Kingpin is amassing power again and needs a distraction for Matt Murdock / Daredevil so he pulls Mary for her “normal” life as a soap opera star. Her distraction, it turns out, is showing up during Milla and Matt’s walk for lunch and setting Matt on fire. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage help Matt subdue Mary while keeping Milla safe. With Mary in jail, Bullseye talks Kingpin into giving him another shot at Daredevil which turns out to be a shot at Milla. Daredevil saves her (and carves a crosshair tattoo into Bullseye’s forehead) and angrily turns his sights on Kingpin.
This culminates in another epic showdown between Kingpin and Daredevil in issue 50 of Daredevil worthy of our spotlight this week.
The year ends with writer/artist David Mack along with character Maya Lopez’s Echo returning in the first three parts of the Echo storyline that we’ll be saving for next year.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil volume 2 #50 October 2003 “Hardcore Part 5”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Even as we leave behind the grimdark of the ‘90s, Marvel’s Supreme Power, DC’s Red Son and Image’s Invincible lead us from an age of sex and violence into an age of cynicism and moral ambiguity.
Questions or comments
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Twitter @comicsoftime.
------------------
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CREATORS AND RESOURCES
Music: Our theme music is by the very talented Lesfm. You can find more about them and their music at https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/.
The Grand Comics Database: Dan uses custom queries against a downloadable copy of the GCD to construct his publisher, title and creator charts.
Comichron: Our source for comic book sales data.
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_English-language_comics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Marvel_Comics_superhero_debuts
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/event-timeline/
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/past-recipients/past-recipients-1990s/
...more
1h 12min

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