Episode Details

This week the industry tries to pick itself back up after the disastrous DC implosion, the Direct Market starts to take on its modern look, and sales and hope are dwindling with retailers, publishers and creators.  Its time to see if the 70s go out with a whimper or a bang (hint: it’s a whimper).  Lets look at 1979.

The Year in Comics 

Notable and Newsworthy

Industry Trends

Eagle Awards

The Year in Marvel

The year of licensed I.P.s

Events & Happenings

New Titles

New Characters

Series Ending

Who's in the Bullpen

• ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Steven Grant

The Year in Daredevil 

Appearances: Daredevil #156-161, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #26-28, Captain America #234-236, and Avengers #190 

Writing credits: Roger McKenzie (156-161) Mary Jo Duffy (157) 

Pencilers:  Gene Colan (156-157), Frank Miller (158-161)

• The year begins with Daredevil at Avengers mansion picking a fight with Beast, Hercules, Captain America and threatening Black Widow. After again issuing the warning to Widow, Daredevil collapses and is rushed to the hospital – where we learn he’s gone into a coma. 
• During his hospital stay we see a dream sequence where Daredevil fights himself (which explains the cover of the issue (Daredevil fighting Daredevil) and Death-Stalker tries to make a move to kill him once and for all. He’s first delayed by the Avengers and then confronted by an awakened Daredevil himself before escaping. 
• Next we see the Ani-Men trash the Legal Storefront and hurt Foggy as Heather Glenn, Becky Blake look on and Black Widow tries to create a diversion so Murdock can become Daredevil. Ultimately Murdock is kidnapped by the Unholy Three. Though Widow is able to take down Bird-Man as they make their escape. 
• This leads to a final confrontation with the Death-Stalker in a cemetery – next to a grave site with Matt Murdock’s name on it. Death-Stalker kills Ape-Man and Cat-Man rather than giving them their reward for bringing him Murdock. We also learn that the Death-Stalker was once another villain Daredevil took on – The Exterminator (whom he fought way back in issue 40). Daredevil and Death-Stalker fight but the fight ends when Death-Stalker re-materializes while passing through a tombstone. This is our spotlight this week. 
• The year ends on a three-book story arc involving Eric Slaughter who is hired by a mysterious Mr Poindexter to capture and/or kill Daredevil for half a million dollars. This leads to Daredevil fighting them at a pier at midnight and when they are unsuccessful in taking him down, we learn that Poindexter aka Bullseye has kidnapped Black Widow as a way to get to Daredevil. 
• Meanwhile we see Ben Urich looking into Daredevil and Matt Murdock at Fogwell’s Gym (and it seems like he’s made the connection). 
• Back in the action, Daredevil goes to confront Bullseye and Slaughter at Coney Island. Bullseye stages a death of Black Widow on a roller coaster but Daredevil “sees” right through it. The scene shifts to the arcade where a final battle takes place between Daredevil, a freed Black Widow and Bullseye, Slaughter and his men.  
• Bullseye briefly gets the upper hand before Daredevil is able to knock him to the ground. Bullseye tells Slaughter and his men to attack, but they refuse saying they respect Daredevil and don’t believe he’ll honor their contract – which allows Daredevil and Widow to tie him up and take him to the authorities.

New Powers, Toys or Places

New Supporting Characters

New Villains

This Week's Spotlight: Daredevil #158 from May 1979 “A Grave Mistake!” 

Recap

Why We Picked This Story

The Takeaway

RO