Greetings from the Odinson,
The Rogues Gallery is the group of villains who repeatedly plague our hero, the city and citizens of the city under his protection, and in some cases the world. Over the next few weeks I will talk about some of my favorite Rogues Galleries. This week I will take a look at the gangsters, assassins, and street thugs that prowl the streets of Hell’s Kitchen.
The Hand – The Hand is an ancient cult of deadly assassins. Some say the Hand has been working from the shadows since the dawn of mankind. It is known for sure though that their lineage goes all the way back to feudal Japan. The Hand are trained in the ways of the ninja, the shadow warrior, and practice the dark arts of black magic. They can raise the dead, and enslave souls. Each member of the Hand is the equal of ten men. They serve with unwavering loyalty an entity called the Beast. Though it is not exactly clear who or what the Beast is it is clear that its all encompassing goal is to bring about the end of the world. The Hand has come into conflict with several Marvel Heroes including Wolverine, Captain America, Elektra, and, of course, Daredevil. They have been known to ally themselves with other criminal organizations like Hydra and Clan Yoshida. Their numbers are countless and their resolve is unwavering. The world at large is mostly unaware of their existence and that is their greatest weapon of all. Must Read: Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #174, 175, 176, and 189; Daredevil: Ninja TPB; Wolverine HC; Uncanny X-Men #268; Wolverine: Enemy of the State Ultimate Collection TPB; and New Avengers HC Vol. 6 "Revolution!"
The Punisher – Frank Castle and Matt Murdock are two sides of the same coin. In a world of great injustice they both seek justice. However, where Daredevil bends the law to achieve a greater good, the Punisher is the self appointed judge, jury , and executioner of the criminal element. In many ways he has become just as big a menace as the criminals he puts down. Castle has the toughest jaw, hardest head, most tenacious attitude, skill, and willingness to use it all to bring down those who would visit evil on others. He’s gone toe-to-toe with just about everyone, good or bad, in the Marvel U and has gotten the upper hand on them all. The Punisher is by far one of the toughest, and most complex, adversaries that Daredevil has ever faced. Must Read: Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #182, 183, 184, 257, 292, and 293; Punisher (1987-1995 2nd Series) #10; Punisher War Journal (1988-1995 1st Series) #2 and 57; Punisher (2000 5th Series) #3; Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe; Dead Man’s Hand; and Daredevil and the Punisher: Child's Play TPB.
Elektra – To say that Elektra Natchios is one of the deadliest women alive is an understatement. This super-ninja has worked both sides of the law. She was the Kingpin’s head enforcer, until Bullseye killed her and took the position away. She’s been romantically linked to Matt Murdock. Currently she is the head of the ninja clan known as the Hand, the same secret organization that brought her back from the dead and seeks to eliminate Daredevil and Wolverine. Her weapon of choice is the sai, and she wields two of them with unequaled expertise. She’s a ferocious fighter, fast, and has held her own against the likes of Daredevil, Ronin, and Wolverine. Must Read: Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #168, 179, and 181; Elektra: Assassin TPB; Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller TPB Vol. 2; Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra TPB; and Elektra TPB (2002-2004) Vol. 1-4.
The Owl – The Owl is small time gagster with machiavellian aspirations for much more. He possesses the ability to glide short distances. In close quarters combat he utilizes steel claws (that are not unlike Wolverine’s) that retract from harnesses worn on his forearms. He also has a cadre of thugs under his command. These henchmen are known as the Owl Gang and they help him perpetrate his criminal schemes. The Owl’s plans have brought him into conflict with other criminals like Doctor Octopus and Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, but it’s always Spider-Man and Daredevil that get caught in the middle. Must Read: Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #3, 20, 21, 80, 116, 117, 145, 264, 301, 302, and 303; Alpha Flight (1983-1994 1st Series) #80; Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998 1st Series) #396; Daredevil (1998- 2nd Series) #45; Daredevil/Spider-Man TPB; and Spidey Super Stories (1974-1982) #12.
Mister Fear – Mister Fear is not that unlike Batman’s foe the Scarecrow. He uses gases and chemicals to induce great fear in his adversaries. Though there have been several men to wear the costume of Mister Fear, Alan Fagan is by far the most notorious. His plans to create a nuclear device were foiled only by the combined efforts of Spider-Man and the Avenger marksman Hawkeye. In recent months Mister Fear has returned to plague the Man without Fear, Daredevil. Mister Fear and his group of Enforcers started a gang war with the Hood and his small army of super-powered criminals for the rights to Hell’s Kitchen. Plus, Fear holds the only means by which to save Murdock’s ailing wife. In this classic tale Daredevil is forced to make a decision that may haunt him for the rest of his days. Must Read: Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #6, 54, 55, 90, 91, 366, 367, 373, and 375; Marvel Team-Up (1972-1985 1st Series) #92; Web of Spider-Man (1985-1995) #63; and Daredevil (1998- 2nd Series) #100-105.
Bullseye – With the uncanny ability to turn any object into a deadly weapon (he’s murdered with everything from a paperclip to a playing card), Bullseye is without a doubt one of the deadliest men alive. He’s plagued the Protector of Hell’s Kitchen for years and even murdered two women Daredevil loved (Elektra and Karen Page). He has faced down the Punisher, held his own against the deadly Crossbones, and crippled Captain America’s erstwhile partner Jack Flag. The scariest thing about Bullseye isn’t his deadly ability as a death-dealer. It isn’t even his physical prowess and almost inhuman fighting skills. NO, the scariest thing about Bullseye is that he enjoys killing. He needs to kill. The fact that he has absolutely no remorse or conscience about the things he does makes Bullseye one the scariest foes on this list. Must Read: Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #131, 132, 141, 146, 160, 161, 169, 197, 200, 290, and 352; Daredevil: Guardian Devil HC (2008 10th Anniversary Edition); Bullseye Greatest Hits TPB; Punisher vs. Bullseye TPB; Thunderbolts HC Vol. 1-2; and Amazing Spider-Man #572.
The Kingpin – Wilson Fisk is the undisputed Kingpin of Crime. He is a criminal mastermind that rose through the ranks of New York City’s mob and assumed the mantle of Kingpin by betraying and murdering the man who was his friend. Fisk is a physically imposing man. He’s almost seven feet tall and weighs over four-hundred pounds. His robust girth belies the fact that he is enormously strong and fast. He possesses fighting skills that make him more than a match for even super-human adversaries. Originally the Kingpin was a Spider-Man foe, but over the years his clashes with the Protector of Hell’s Kitchen, Daredevil, and his alter ego, the lawyer Matt Murdock, have become the stuff of legend. It is not enough for Fisk to kill Murdock. No, he must destroy him, and on several occasion very nearly has. Must Read: Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998 1st Series) #50, 51, 52, 60, 69, 84, 85, 163, 164, and 197; Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) #170, 171, 172, 180, 212, and 253; Daredevil: Born Again TPB; Daredevil The Devil, Inside and Out TPB Vol. 1-2; and Spider-Man: Back in Black HC.
Honorable Mentions: Stilt Man, the Purple Man, Typhoid Mary, Gladiator, the Jester, Death-Stalker, Scarecrow, Paladin, the Ani-Men, Mr. Hyde, Cobra, Blackwing, Dark Wind, Tombstone, Crossbow, the Bullet, the Bengal, Ox, Turk, and romantic relationships that always seem to end in tragedy.
It sure is a good thing that Matt Murdock is a “Man without Fear,” because having to face down the names on this list would make a normal man quake in his boots. Next week, as per a request, I’ll take a look at the technological terrors and arch fiends who challenge the Golden Avenger.
This is Odinson bidding thee farewell
