Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #31 (Story 2)

Background

This seven page backup story continues from Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #31, but with a new artist.

Story 'Rooftop Gauntlet'

Daredevil is escorting Margaret Yokel across town so that she can be the star witness for the prosecution in the case against Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin of Crime. Thanks to an attack (as seen in the first part of the story) by the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes, they are running late. Supposedly, if she doesn't arrive on time, then the case will be declared a mistrial, and the accused will go free.

Is that really how it works? If a witness gets caught up in traffic, you get away with murder? I'm no expert in the justice system, but that seems like a very handy little loophole to me!

Anyhow, yes Daredevil does manage to get Margaret to the courtroom just in time, despite further attacks by The Ninjas of The Hand, by Klaw the Sonic Man, and by Stiltman. But let's be clear here. Nearly all of the reason for his success in this business is thanks to the timely arrival of Johnny Storm in a flying Fantasticar.

General Comments

Putting aside my misapprehensions regarding the interpretation of legal technicalities, I have one other major objection to this story.

Specifically, why did Daredevil decline the assistance of Jen and Thing? Jen could have just jumped across town, and would have laughed at the Kingpin's backup squads. And what was Daredevil's plan by contrast? How on earth did DD intend to drag a woman across the rooftops in twenty minutes? He doesn't have super-strength. His entire plan was stupid.

Without the timely arrival of the Human Torch, Daredevil would have completely screwed things up.

Overall Rating

After a funny and generally well-constructed first half, this conclusion falls utterly flat under the weight of its own incompetence.

It gets one and a half webs from me. No more.