Wally Wood’s influence on Daredevil extends to 21st century

Excerpt from Wally Wood’s definitive 1965 Daredevil story, In Mortal Combat With Sub-Mariner

One of the most acclaimed comic book adaptations on television has been the Netflix series Daredevil.

The show, which has run 26 episodes over two seasons, is violent. If it were a movie, some episodes would definitely receive an R rating.

But one person who doesn’t get mentioned much in connection with the series is comic book artist Wally Wood (1927-1981).

Wood worked as an artist on seven issues of the original comic book and did uncredited story work. He did not work on the first issue, which was done by Stan Lee and Bill Everett. However, Wood designed Daredevil’s distinctive red costume (which debuted in issue 7), which has mostly continued on to this day.

But Wood’s primary contribution goes beyond that. In a 1965 story, Wood’s Daredevil tackles a much more powerful foe, Namor, the Sub-Mariner (created in 1939 by none other than Bill Everett), the half-human ruler of Atlantis. Namor had super strength and wings on his ankles.

Marvel (via The Fantastic Four title by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) revived the Namor character in the early 1960s and established that he wanted to conquer the surface world.

Wood’s take on Daredevil was how the hero (who was blind, but had whose other senses were heightened following an accident) never, ever gave up. In Mortal Combat With Sub-Mariner was issue 7, the first issue with Wood’s red costume.

Wally Wood’s cover to Daredevil No. 7 in 1965

Over the course of the 1965 comic book story, Daredevil absorbed a beating at the hands of Namor. But DD always kept coming back for more until he finally fell exhaustion. But DD was more heroic in defeat than Namor was in victory.

The Netflix Daredevil series relies on those who followed Wood, especially artist-writer Frank Miller, who worked on the title in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Oddly, Wood is not included among the writers and artists who receive a “special thanks” credit in the end titles of the Netfilx series

Those who do receive recognition (among them Miller, artists Gene Colan, John Romita Sr. and John Romita Jr.) do deserve the credit they receive. But it’s strange that Marvel’s television arm doesn’t note Wood’s contribution. The Facebook page Wally Wood’s Daredevil has called for Marvel to recognize Wood.

Regardless, aging comic book fans who remember Wood’s short, but influential, run on the title are aware of his contributions to Daredevil that have extended into the 21st century.

Iron Man Three: Tony Stark’s 007 moment

Cover to Iron Man No. 125

In Iron Man Three, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark can’t use his Iron Man armor for an extended sequence. As he searches for the Mandarin, Downey/Stark seems downright 007-like infiltrating an estate in search of the villain and using gadgets and a firearm.

The movie’s sequence is partially based on a 1979 comic book story by writer David Michelinie and artists John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton, which was co-plotted by Michelinie and Layton.

Michelinie and Layton are included in a “special thanks” credit along with other writers and artists of comic book stories used in the movie. This is separate from a “based on the comic book by” credit for Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby for creating the character.

The context of the Michelinie-Layton plotted story is different than the 2013 film, but the writer and artist also separated Stark from his armor. One major difference in the original comic book story is that Stark knows he needs additional physical training before he attempts 007-like deeds. He receives such training from none other than Captain America.

As in the new movie, Stark eventually regains access to the armor. But for a time he has to use his own wits and abilities. The cover to issue 125, drawn by Layton, evokes James Bond films.

To read more about the original comic book story, you can CLICK HERE FOR A SYNOPSIS OF IRON MAN 124 (which sets up the situation where Stark is separated from his armor) HERE FOR A SYNOPSIS OF IRON MAN 125, HERE FOR ISSUE 126 and HERE FOR ISSUE 127, which concluded the story arc.