TITLE: Daredevil vol. 1, Issue #21
YEAR: October 1996
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
Penciller: Gene Colan
Dynamic Delineation: Fearless Frank, Darlin’ Dick, Wild Bill
Letterer: Artie Simek
Bombastic Bird-Watching: Irving Forbush
Aside from Daredevil and the Kingpin, there has been one enemy of Daredevil that has been on a thorn on his side for many issues and that is The Owl.
While probably not the coolest looking villain in Marvel Comics, he was a genius when it came to building devices and he can also fly.
For issue #21, it was another battle between Daredevil and The Owl but this time, Daredevil has been trapped and caged and The Owl just wants to tease Daredevil before he is lowered to bottomless volcano to his pending death.
Of course, Daredevil is not going to die in a comic book, so leave it to the Owl to be stupid by stalling and telling Daredevil how much he hates him and wants him dead. And as The Owl releases the floor, Daredevil is one step ahead and throws his whip which saves his life and able to have him leap to safety to derail The Owls plans.
That was the first strike, the second strike is letting a cave-in kill Daredevil and the third strike is having his huge robotic owl to kill Daredevil and despite The Owl being a genius when it comes to creating things, he’s just not smart when it comes to beating Daredevil.
Needless to say, Daredevil tells The Owl that is why people gave him the nickname of “Twinkle Toes” (which probably was a positive slang or nickname in the ’60s for a person that could never get caught).
Still, this is Stan Lee’s story featuring adventure and showing how great of a hero Daredevil truly is and why is absolutely fearless. But no doubt a different Matt Murdock than what he would evolve to in the ’80s during the Frank Miller years. Gene Colan’s artwork is fantastic and for the most part, it’s an early Daredevil storyline that both young and old can truly enjoy.