Comics Over Time

By Duane Eckholm and Dan NewlandArts Leisure History Visual Arts Animation & Manga

Comics Over Time episodes

February 05, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 1999 Part 2
Episode 50 - Murdock and Marvel: 1999 Part 2
Last week we closed the curtain on the first volume of Daredevil, and now we are reaching the end of the millennium itself, as comics continue to barrel towards their own version of Y2K. Sales keep dropping and more publishers leave the field, but signs of life start to show if you look in the right places. It's 1999, and comics still are not dead.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 1999.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #3-9, Earth X #0-2 and 5-7, Mutant X #6, Avengers #15-16, Avengers Forever #8, Black Widow #1-3, Spider-Man: Chapter One #9 and 12, Fantastic Four #21 and 23, Uncanny X-Men #370, Wolverine/Punisher: Revelations #3, Deathlok #1, along with Marvel Masterworks: Daredevil #1 and the Avengers 1999 and Contest of Champions graphic novels
Writing: Kevin Smith (#1-8), David Mack (#9)
Pencils: Joe Quesada (#1-9)
Inks: Jimmy Palmiotti (#1-9)
The year for Daredevil actually began in November 1998 when the first book of the Guardian Devil storyline hit comic book stores. We briefly touched on what happened during the first two books a couple weeks ago, but with this storyline taking up half the year – we’ll be looking at the story in-depth as our spotlight story this week.
After the guardian Devil storyline ended in June 1999, we didn’t get another book in the main Daredevil title until December. When we get the start of another multi-book storyline called Parts of a Hole with a new writer in David Mack. We won’t go into much detail on this until we look at Daredevil in 2000, but it starts with The Kingpin sends a hitman after a stoolie being questioned by Nelson and Murdock.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil volume 2 #1-8 November 1998 – June 1999 “Guardian Devil”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Setting up the foundation to the future.
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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 9 min
January 29, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 1999 Part 1
Episode 49 - Murdock and Marvel: 1999 Part 1
Last week we closed the curtain on the first volume of Daredevil, and now we are reaching the end of the millennium itself, as comics continue to barrel towards their own version of Y2K. Sales keep dropping and more publishers leave the field, but signs of life start to show if you look in the right places. It's 1999, and comics still are not dead.
Preshow
The Year in Comics
Notable and Newsworthy
Sales & Industry Information
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
Marvel continued to contract and retrench, as it reduced the number of books it published, and concentrated more and more on proven creators and characters, especially the X-Men. The company also sold off their remaining trading card companies at a catastrophic loss and tried to undo some of the damage that had been inflicted on fans and characters in the last few years.
TOTAL SERIES: 142
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 101
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 89
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S): Earth X
BEST SELLING COMICS: X-Men
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: David Mack
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 1999 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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 5 min
January 22, 2025 Murdock and Marvel: 1998 Part 3
Episode 48 - Murdock and Marvel: 1998 Part 3
Things continued to be grim in the comic world, but it seemed as though the freefall might be over. Marvel had escaped bankruptcy without missing even a single month of publishing, most of the other companies still in business made it through the year (but not all) and some very interesting new players entered the scene.
This is part 3 of the podcast. that will feature the Takeaway for 1998 - which is a look back at volume 1 of Daredevil.
The Takeaway
Daredevil Vol 1 is an interesting journey.
Age
Issues
Writers
Artists
Silver
1-50
Stan Lee
Ditko, Wood Colon
Bronze
51-157
Thomas, Conway, Gerber
Colan, Brown
(Black Widow)
(92-107)
(Gerber)
(Colan)
Miller
158-234
Frank Miller
Miller, Mazzuccelli
Nocenti
237-291
Ann Nocenti
John Romita, Jr, Lee Weeks
Chichester Era
292-342
DG Chichester
Scott McDaniel, Weeks
The Long Goodbye
343-380
Various
Various

49 min
January 15, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 1998 Part 2
Episode 47 - Murdock and Marvel: 1998 Part 2
Things continued to be grim in the comic world, but it seemed as though the freefall might be over. Marvel had escaped bankruptcy without missing even a single month of publishing, most of the other companies still in business made it through the year (but not all) and some very interesting new players entered the scene.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story. The Takeaway for 1998 - which is a look back at volume 1 of Daredevil - will be released next week as it's own episode.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #371-380, Marvel Knights: Daredevil #1-2, Uncanny X-Men #351, Thunderbolts #10, Unlimited Access #2, Shadow & Light #1, Cable #55, Ka-Zar #15, Spider-Man Made Men #1, Nighthawk #1-3, Avengers #10-11, and Bring Back the Bad Guys graphic novel.
Writing: Joe Kelly (#371-373) Kelly and Jonathan Barron (#374), Kelly and Chris Claremont (#375), Scott Lobdell (#376-379), Dan G. Chichester (#380)
Pencils: Ariel Olivetti (#371-372, #374), Richie Acosta (#373), Cary Nord, Olivetti, John Paul Leon, Tom Lyle, Brian Denham and Rick Leonardi (#375), Cully Hamner (#376-379), Lee Weeks (#380)
Inks: Pier Brito (#371-372, #374), Bud LaRosa (#373), Mark Lipka, Brito, John Paul Leon, Robert Jones, Chis Carlson and Scott Hanna (#375), Jason Martin (#376-379), Robert Campanella (#380)
The year begins with Black Widow and Daredevil discussing their recent run-ins both professionally and personally. Meanwhile Karen goes shopping with Rosalind. Matt and Karen do make up despite Daredevil leaving for a bit
Next Mr. Fear pops back up after we learn something weird happened during the prison riot he planned last year. DD tries to talk to the warden, but Ghost Rider beats him to it. Fear and DD play cat and mouse for a couple issues before things come to a head. Meanwhile, we are introduced to Charlie, a likely cop whose working for Fear, who first tries to kill Fogy’s sister Candice before going after Karen.
In a double sized issue #375, We learn Charlie has been killed and Karen is awaiting trial for his murder. Mr. Fear is trying to manipulate things so that she will go to jail and DD will suffer a breakdown as a result. Matt is Karen’s lawyer and while the case slowly slips away from him, he continues to search for Fear as Daredevil hoping it will save his case. We won’t spoil the ending, as this is the spotlight story for the week.
And just like that, the story quickly shifts to France...
In the final named story arc of volume 1, Flying Blind, we meet Laurent Levasseur whom very much seems like our man without fear – though he thinks his just an artist. Turns out Murdock is working deep undercover for SHIELD and had his memory reprogrammed. Murdock is there to stop the sale of agent information to international buyers of the Kingpin. After spending most of the story trying to remember who he is and save the doctor who initially treated him at the start of this tale, Murdock gets his memories back from a mutant named Synapse just as SHIELD locates him and busts in as the cavalry.
One side effect of the reprogramming was Murdock was able to actually see. He loses it after getting his memories back but he’s able to see his friend Foggy for the first and only time.
In November, Volume 1 ends with one last issue – issue #380 – and the return on Dan G Chichester and Lee Weeks for “a tale from Daredevil's past” dedicated to Archie Goodwin. A pretty straight-forward story though told non-sequentially in which the Kingpin tries to frame a Middle Eastern man for terrorism so he can get his hands on a shipment of weapons; Matt defends the patsy and wins in court; Meanwhile DD takes on several of his deadliest foes to foil the Kingpin's scheme. (The Hand/Bushwacker/Bullseye)
The final page sees Murdock and his mom Maggie walking and having ice cream with narration “You want to know the truth? The good guys don’t always win. But because of who they are, they never stop fighting. There’s always a Daredevil willing to take a risk on our behalf. And in a city that never sleeps, we can all rest easy knowing we have that to protect us.”
That same month, Volume 2 begins under the Marvel Knight branding begins with a new creative team – Kevin Smith, Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti. In the first 2 books of the Guardian Devil storyline, we learn Karen left Matt and NYC for LA 6 months ago and Matt has been trying to move on with his life. A teenage girl brings a baby to Matt that she claims is the new Messiah and leaves the kid in his care but then Murdock is approached by a mysterious old man claims the same child is the Anti-Christ and a curse to those around it.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #375 May 1998 “With a Little Help From My Friends”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway - Next week
The Takeaway was a recap and discussion of volume 1 of Daredevil. It ended up running long so we will be releasing that separately.
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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
50 min
January 08, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 1998 Part 1
Episode 46 - Murdock and Marvel: 1998 Part 1
Things continued to be grim in the comic world, but it seemed as though the freefall might be over. Marvel had escaped bankruptcy without missing even a single month of publishing, most of the other companies still in business made it through the year (but not all) and some very interesting new players entered the scene.
Preshow
The Year in Comics
Notable and Newsworthy
Sales & Industry Information
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
TOTAL SERIES: 188
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 139
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 141
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S):
Identity Crisis (Spider-Man)
The Gathering of Five (also Spidey)
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
Passings: Archie Goodwin
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Joe Casey
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 1998 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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 9 min
January 01, 2025Murdock and Marvel: 1997 Part 2
Episode 45 - Murdock and Marvel: 1997 Part 2
We’ve got a pretty quiet week in comic terms, partly because everything has gone completely to the dogs, and there is a lot less happening than there was a few years ago. Still, I was surprised to find that 1997 had some pretty great things going on under the surface!
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 1997.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #360-370, Daredevil #-1, Adventures of Spider-Man #10, Bug #1, Code of Honor #2-4, Punisher #17-18, Venom: On Trial #1-3, Marvel Valentine Special #1, Silver Surfer #128, Essential Spider-Man #2, Electra #-1, Ka-Zar #5 and 8, Uncanny Origins #13, Elektra #10-11 and 13, Marvel Heroes & Legends 1997 #1, Spider-Man El Hombre Arana #30, Spider-Man Unlimited #18, Thunderbolts #8 along with Daredevil/Batman, Untold Tales of Spider-Man ’97, Kingpin, Origin of Marvel Comics Revised Edition and Son of Origins of the Marvel Comics Revised Edition graphic novels
Writing: Karl Kesel (#360-364), Joe Kelly (#365-370 and #-1)
Pencils: Cary Nord (#360-362, 364-365), Gene Colan (#363, -1, 366-368, 370), Ariel Olivetti (#369)
Inks: Matt Ryan (#360-362, 364-365, -1), Cam Smith and Paul Neary (#363), Al Williamson (#366), Bud LaRosa (#367-368, 370), Pier Brito (#369)
The year begins with Daredevil taking on the Absorbing Man as he tries to take down NYC with no Avengers to stop him. While that’s going on, we learn why Foggy was so keen on partnering with Rosalind Sharpe – she’s his biological mother.
And it’s Sharpe who thinks Foggy and the firm need to play up Foggy’s “best bud” status with Daredevil – which leads to work for the firm as Molten Man (Mark Raxton) seeks help with break-ins at Osborne Chemicals. Daredevil is reunited with the Black Widow as the pair take down the Grey Gargoyle.
We learn a bit about Rosalind’s Sharpe’s past after Daredevil saves her from an armed man in the firm’s lobby then follow’s her to visit the gangster responsible.
Next we get a multi-book story involving a new villainous, Insomnia – he’s try to keep Daredevil and the rest of New York up at night. We eventually learn she’s working for Mr Fear – who himself is causing trouble by enlisting a friend of Molten Man to release a gas during a Osborn Chemicals boardroom meeting which causes Raxton to freak out and start tearing the place apart.
Before we can get a resolution to Mr Fear, we get a Flashback issue of Daredevil (Daredevil #-1) in which Jack Murdock is taking his son Matt to college. This story, from writer Joe Kelly and art by Gene Colan and Matt Ryan is a lot of fun and will be our spotlight story of the week.
Returning back to present time, Daredevil must, once again, deal with Mr Fear’s plotting – this time on Ryker’s Island when Fear releases a gas to start a prison riot. Daredevil must then take on new and improved Gladiator. (what happened to fear???)
The year ends with a multi-book storyline called “widow’s Kiss” that starts with Daredevil helping a firm client who’s facing a hostile takeover by the Russians – only to have to tangle Omega Red. Black Widow comes to the aid of Daredevil only to then shoot him herself. She tries then save DD by bring him to Karen for help, before returning to meet with a Russian general we eventually learn she’s trying to take down. Despite just being shot, Daredevil goes after Widow and gets the pair captured. The story ends Daredevil escapes and convinces Ursa Major and Vanguard that they are being used by the General – and that he’s being running experiments on Vanguards sister – Darkstar.
One other secondary story that ran through much of the year involves Foggy and Liz Osborne. Rosalind Sharpe isn’t pleased with their relationship and continually tries to undermine it – with other women. In the final book of the year Foggy and Liz's attempt to have a romantic evening together is derailed when he receives a constant stream of phone calls from other women.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #-1 July 1997 “A Time to Say Farewell”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Marvel messed up more than their own fortunes with their unwise expansions.
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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 15 min
December 18, 2024Murdock and Marvel: 1997 Part 1
Episode 44 - Murdock and Marvel: 1997 Part 1
We’ve got a pretty quiet week in comic terms, partly because everything has gone completely to the dogs, and there is a lot less happening than there was a few years ago. Still, I was surprised to find that 1997 had some pretty great things going on under the surface!
Preshow
The Year in Comics
As harsh as 1996 had been, 1997 was in most senses even worse. Sales continued to plummet, Marvel had to dig out from a messy financial mess, and other publishers felt the pain as well. Once again, as they had before in the 50s and in the 70s, people were asking if this was the end for American comic books.
Notable and Newsworthy
Sales & Industry Information
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
It was a rough year to be Marvel. The line continued to shrink, sales plummeted, and fewer and fewer series seemed to last more than a few issues. Plus, both the sticker company and the distribution company had to go.
TOTAL SERIES: 179
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 120
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 126
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S):
Operation: Zero Tolerance
Unlimited Access (with DC)
Heroes Reborn: The Return
Flashback
BEST SELLING COMICS: Uncanny X-Men 345, Heroes Reborn #1
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Leinil Francis Yu
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 1997 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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 16 min
December 11, 2024Murdock and Marvel: 1996 Part 2
Episode 43 - Murdock and Marvel: 1996 Part 2
Well, here we are, Duane. At the End of Days. I have been promising you that everything was going to explode eventually. And finally we have arrived. Welcome to the fateful year 1996, when Marvel came crashing down.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 1996.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #348-359, Punisher #4, What if…? #83, Marvel versus DC / DC versus Marvel #2-3, Green Goblin #6 and 12, Doom 2099 #40-42, Over the Edge #6 and 10, Wolverine #103-104, New Warriors #73, Spider-Man Unlimited #13, Essential Wolverine #1, Essential X-Men #1, Spider-Man #74, Elektra Megazine #1-2, Essential Spider-Man #1 and Age of Innocence: The Rebirth of Iron Man, Spider-Man’s Greatest Team-Ups and Elektra Lives Again graphic novels
Writing: J.M. DeMatteis (348-350), John Rozum (351), Ben Rabb (352), Karl Kesel (353-357), Joe Kelly (358-359)
Pencils: Cary Nord (348-349, 353-357), Ron Wagner (350), Shawn McManus (351-352), Pasqual Ferry (358), Nord and Larry Hama (359)
Inks: Bill Reinhold (348, 350), Al Williamson (349), Shawn McManus (351-352), Matt Ryan (353-357, 359), Pasqual Ferry (358)
The year begins with Matt trying to reconcile his recent identity crisis while Foggy is angry about the secret he’s finally learned. Matt tries visiting with his mother Maggie, but it’s his old Mentor Stick that helps him – though in the process he ends up taking on the Chaste.
Foggy and Matt begin practicing law together again. From there, things return to normal (or at least what’s normal for Daredevil or Matt Murdock), He takes out Agent Vice who’s extorting money from other criminals. Daredevil must take on Mastermind who is also Matt Murdock’s client.
In June we get a new creative team that was teased at the end of issue 352. Karl Kesel and Cary Nord. We also get a re-imagined Mr. Hyde from John Romita Jr. Hyde seems to be totally unhinged (with an equally terrifying look). Daredevil confronts Hyde in an old Osborn warehouse where a woman has been murdered. Hyde continues to act crazy and is ultimately arrested.
During this issue Foggy and Matt (mostly Matt) are asked to partner with hotshot lawyer Rosalind (Razor) Sharpe. Sharpe tells Matt privately that the two are a package deal. She doesn’t just want Foggy. Foggy seemed weirdly eager to join her so Matt accepts.
And as a first case under the new partnership, Sharpe was Murdock to represent Mr. Hyde. At first, Murdock doesn’t want to do it, but after meeting with Hyde – Matt doesn’t think he killed the girl. The leads to Daredevil taking on Pyro and looking for clues at the warehouse – with the help of Misty Knight – which leads to a secret tunnel and a group of criminals called the Enforcers and their newest member the Eel – who captures our hero. The story ends when Daredevil escapes and captures the Eel and presents the Eel to the courtroom waiting for the trial of Mr. Hyde to start.
The year ends with two standalone stories that have a much different look and feel from the rest of the year. In the first, Daredevil takes on Mysterio who’s working on a super-hero insurance scam. This fun story will be our spotlight story for the week. In the second, we see a night of Daredevil fighting crime while Karen Page talks to people of New York about their thoughts on Daredevil (now that the Fantastic Four and Avengers are gone) during her late-night radio call in show.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #358 November 1996 “Aftermath”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Stick to what you are good at.
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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
59 min
December 04, 2024Murdock and Marvel: 1996 Part 1
Episode 42 - Murdock and Marvel: 1996 Part 1
Well, here we are, Duane. At the End of Days. I have been promising you that everything was going to explode eventually. And finally we have arrived. Welcome to the fateful year 1996, when Marvel came crashing down.
Preshow
The Year in Comics
As usual, there was a lot of great stuff going on in comics this year. There was also a lot of junk, though, and 1996 is the year we start seeing that problem sort itself out.
Notable and Newsworthy
Sales & Industry Information
Passings
Eisner Awards
Dan's Favorite
The Year in Marvel
The year at Marvel started rough and just got worse, with fans, industry insiders and the stock market all seeming to be against them. Layoffs, failed storylines and an end of year bombshell made this a year to forget at Marvel comics.
TOTAL SERIES: 232
TOTAL NEW SERIES: 155
TOTAL ENDING SERIES: 169
THIS YEAR'S EVENT(S):
Onslaught Saga
Heroes Reborn
BEST SELLING COMICS:
Events & Happenings
New Titles (Ongoing and Limited)
New Characters
Series Ending
Who's in the Bullpen/Passings
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: David Finch
Dan's Favorite

Next week: 1996 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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 15 min
November 27, 2024Murdock and Marvel: 1995 Part 2
Episode 41 - Murdock and Marvel: 1995 Part 2
It was a tough year in comics, especially for the big two. Comic shops were having trouble, readers seemed to be moving on to other things, and corporate overlords continued to demand ever higher profits. 1995 was a bit of an…apocalypse.
This is part 2 of the podcast. that will feature the year in Daredevil, the Spotlight story and the Takeaway for 1995.

The Year in Daredevil
Appearances: Daredevil #336-347, Elekrta: Root of Evil #1, Marvel Super-Heroes Megazine #4 and 6, Spider-Man: Power of Terror #2 - #4, Sabertooth Classic #11, Marvel: Portraits #2 - #4, What if…? #73, Ghost Rider #61, X-Universe #1 – #2, Ruins #1, Incredible Hulk #434, Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe #1, Over the Edge #1, and Double Edge: Omega graphic novel
Writing: Gregory Wright (336-337), Alan Smithee [actually Dan G Chichester] (338-342), Warren Ellis (343), J.M. DeMatteis (344-347)
Pencils: Tom Grindberg (336-337), Alexander Jubran (339-340), Keith Pollard (341-342), Pollard and Arvell Malcolm Jones (343), Ron Wagner (344-347)
Inks: Don Hudson (336-337), Andre Parks and Hudson (338), Parks, Hudson Bud LaRosa and Rodney Ramos (339), Parks, Hudson and Marie Severin (340), Art Nichols (341), Tom Palmer (342-343), Bill Reinhold (344-347)
The year begins with the final 2 chapters of the Fathoms of Humanity story arc that started last year. You’ll recall that story stared with Daredevil following a homeless man into the sewers and coming befriending him and a whole group of people who live there. He battled the King of the Sewers and defeated him again. And we also saw the kingpin attempting to slowly grow his power back. In these final two chapters we learn the homeless man Daredevil followed was once a superhero himself – peacekeeper – in order to help Daredevil and his community against the Sewer King’s attempts to take back control of the community and defeat Daredevil.
From there, we get the story of Victor “Kruel” Krueller and the Ghost of a Chance diner in flashbacks to explain why Kruel is going after those near and dear to Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Foogy, Glorianna, DA Malpher, Ben Urich). Seems he double crossed Wilson Fisk and at the diner, Fisk caught him and nearly killed him – then covered it up by drugging those same people to wipe their memory. Now Kruel is bent on revenge and is seeking out the witnesses to help him remember what happened. During the quest for information, Kruel kills Glorianna which causes Fisk and Daredevil to team up to locate and confront Kruel. When they do, Fisk ends up killing Kruel.
There’s a side story going on in this story as we see Karen Page trying to get information about some troubling images, she saw on a CD given to her by her former adult movie producers.
After a stand-alone book that was part of the Over the Edge event that didn’t really make a lot of sense involving the Punisher. We get the start of the Inferno story arc. In it, we see a second Daredevil in the original red and yellow costume and a bonding around the city and talking with Foggy and Karen (as well as leaving taunting messages with Matt). We also see a villain names Sir who’s attacking and killing women.
At one point, the two meet and Sir beats up Daredevil so badly, Sir is able to take his costume.
This leads to a very confusing confrontation in which Sir as Daredevil fights the red and yellow daredevil – who happens to be Murdock as an alternate personality. In the end, Batlin as Daredevil defeats Sir as Daredevil and Karen and Foggy come to realize that Batlin is actually Matt Murdock!
Elektra: Root of Evil
Daito of the Snakeroot kills himself with the Sakki sword and makes it impure. So the rest of the snakeroot need to kill three specific people to purify the blade again. (not sure how they know who). There’s a brief cameo by Daredevil is issue 1 where he stops Elektra from killing some random mercenaries who are after her.
Elektra wants to form her own Ryu (ninja group like the Chaste) and works with Nick Fury to get recruits. We briefly meet Target, Lynch, Impact, Masquerade, Niko and Salvo before most are killed in their very first battle against the snakeroot (like the X-force in Deadpool 2).
Via flashbacks, we learn Elektra has an older brother, Orestez who saved Elektra when she was a child and whom killed their mother for seemly cheating on their father. Though Elektra did turn out to be their father’s daughter
Other flashbacks show Elektra was a member of the Snakeroot and fell in love with Tekagi – whom she ends up killing at the end of this series with new sais covered in poison before they could kill all 3 purity people.
This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #347 December 1995 “Inferno Part 3”
Recap
Why We Picked This Story
Daredevil Rapid Fire Questions
The Takeaway
Sometimes the crossover is actually cool.
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.
The American Comic Book Chronicles: Published by TwoMorrows, these volumes provide an excellent analysis of American comics through the years. Because these volumes break down comic history by year and decade they are a great place to get a basic orientation on what is happening across the comic industry at a particular point in time.
1 hr 8 min

About Comics Over Time

From the publisher's feed

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 Daredevil, and Siena and Dan are keeping up with current happenings in the Marvel Comics Universe. Our previous seasons are also available here: Phases of the Moon Knight covered the Moon Knight character in comics and TV, and our MCU Review saw us comparing the Phase 1 thru Phase 4 Marvel Cinematic Universe films with the comics that inspired them.

Share Comics Over Time

Sign up to save your podcasts

Comics Over Time

Comics Over Time episodes

About Comics Over Time