Daredevil/Spider-Man #1
Unusual Suspects Part One
A drug deal at the waterfront goes bad and twelve mobsters are found dead. The next night, someone attacks an illegal gambling joint, killing everyone inside. The night after that a warehouse is blown up, but it seems like an accident. All three incidents get the attention of both Spider-Man and Daredevil. The web-slinger tracks down a stool pigeon named Kenny Fitzgerald. The stoolie tries to make a run for it but, as usual, Spider-Man manages to wrap him up in webbing and gets him to talk. Later that evening, when Daredevil returns to his home, Spider-Man is waiting for him there. He shares the information that he learned from Kenny, that the attack on the waterfront netted the killer a large sum of cocaine as well as the money to buy it. The mobsters were part of the Kingpin’s gang, and the warehouse that was destroyed was a business owned by the infamous crime boss. IT seems as though someone is trying to make a play on the Kingpin’s turf. Unfortunately, Kenny refused to reveal who the new player is but told Spider-Man that the person who tried to recruit him was named Jack Abbott, a man that Matt Murdock is representing on a parole violation. The purpose of Spider-Man’s visit is to ask Matt to find out who is bankrolling Abbott. Saying he’ll check back later in the week, Spider-Man swings off before Daredevil can get anything in edgewise.[1]
Meanwhile, the criminals that are working against the Kingpin have gathered at their hideout. One, Stilt-Man, complains about doing penny-ante jobs when he is confident that he can take the crime boss himself. The Gladiator, however, reminds him that the Kingpin is in charge of organized crime in the city and is no easy foe. The pair almost come to blows when Gladiator suggests that Stilt-Man is short. Their leader — a sickly individual — tells them not to fight among themselves.[2] He thanks them for siding with him, particularly Copperhead who has been silently observing this squabble because he has been out of the game for a while.[3] He reminds them that if they keep this up they can take over the entire criminal underworld and oust the Kingpin once and for all.
The following day, Matt Murdock meets with Jack Abbott, whom he has represented for years as he went in and out of prison for various crimes. Meeting with him, Matt asks Abbott to come clean with him about any parole violations and he promises that he’ll work with the District Attorney’s office. He then directly asks Jack to level with him about the recruiting he’s doing for the new gang in town. Jack is visibly afraid, telling Murdock that this new gang works for keeps and if he talks, they’ll kill him. Focusing his senses and paying close attention to Jack’s continued denials, Matt is able to discern that Jack is actually giving him a message in code. Through these, Matt writes down the number seven and the letters M.O. Once he has de-coded this, Jack tells Murdock that is all he is going to say about the matter. Reading between the lines, Matt thanks Jack for his help and leaves, promising that whatever happens next, he’ll say Jack Abbott didn’t say a thing.
That evening, the Kingpin is holding a meeting with his captains and demanding vengeance on those who are working against his organization, unaware that this same group is now infiltrating his office tower.[4] While Copperhead deals with security, Stilt-Man and Gladiator infiltrate the building. As they slaughter the guards and set up a bomb, word quickly gets to the Kingpin. As his men quickly try to usher their leader to safety, a military attack helicopter arrives outside of the office building and fires missiles, blowing up the top of the building while the Kingpin is still inside.
Recurring Characters
Daredevil, Spider-Man, Kingpin, Gang of Four (Owl, Stilt-Man, Gladiator, Copperhead)
Continuity Notes
Spider-Man and Daredevil are both unmasked during this exchange and refer to each other by their real names. The pair have known each other true identities since Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110.
The identity of the Gang of Four’s leader is obscured in this issue. He is revealed to be the Owl in issue 3 of this series.
Copperhead was last active in Daredevil #124-125 and, unknown to the crooks gathered here, was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning. He is actually manipulating the Gang of Four so he can steal Spider-Man’s soul as we’ll learn in issue #4 of this series.
Mention is made to how the Kingpin is blind in this story. At the time of this story, Wilson Fisk was recently blinded in Daredevil (vol. 2) #15. His eyesight will later be restored in Daredevil (vol. 2) #46.
Topical References
The original Twin Towers of the World Trade Center are seen as part of the New York City skyline in this story. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale as the original towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and have since been replaced with the Freedom Tower.
