Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
Last week in DAREDEVIL #500—on sale now—Matt Murdock's life took yet another unexpected turn, setting him up in a dangerous new direction even a Man Without Fear should be wary of.
However, before DD faces the threats before him, he'd do well to glance over his shoulder as well. From crimelords to ninjas and everything in between, Daredevil possesses one of the most eclectic and intimidating assortment of villains in the Marvel Universe. This week, the Secret Cabal narrows this rogues gallery to the 10 most terrifying.
For each team you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. MISTER HYDE
First Appearance: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #99 (1963)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Though he hardly restricts himself to Daredevil when it comes to heroic opposition, Calvin Zabo—aka Mister Hyde—has a particular enmity for DD, and he has ensured through his callous nature and disregard for the law that the feeling is mutual. On multiple occasions, Hyde has attempted to pound Daredevil into the pavement, but in an ironic twist, Matt Murdock has gotten the brutish mastermind off the hook for murder in the courtroom!
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #31 (1967)-Mister Hyde discovers a way to neutralize Daredevil's super senses!
9. THE OWL
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #3 (1964)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Leland Owlsley has spent much of his criminal career in the shadow of bigger players like the Kingpin, both in the underworld and as an adversary of Daredevil. However, it is the massive chip on his shoulder and overwhelming desire to prove himself that makes the Owl a dangerous foe that the Man Without Fear must be careful not to overlook or underestimate. More than once the talons and schemes of the Owl have come close to catching Matt Murdock unawares.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL: YELLOW #5-The Man Without Fear battles to save his lady love, Karen Page, from the Owl!
8. THE ENFORCERS
First Appearance: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #10 (1964)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Alone they may be considered lightweights, but working in tandem, the powerful Ox, martial arts expert Fancy Dan and lasso-wielding Montana make a formidable alliance as the Enforcers. As their name suggests, the Enforcers act as hired muscle for whomever can pay top dollar, and as their past employers have included the Kingpin and Mister Fear, they've made Daredevil's life difficult on many an occasion.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #102 (2007)-The Enforcers join Mister Fear's war against Daredevil!
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7. MISTER FEAR
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #91 (1972)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Once an also-ran in a fright mask who nobody took seriously as a super villain, Matt Murdock's old law school classmate, Larry Cranston, has made Mister Fear a name to take seriously in recent times. Refining his fear gas as well as his mastery of the psychology behind controlling others through intimidation, Mister Fear tormented his former peer by poisoning those closest to him, even driving Murdock's wife, Milla, utterly insane in a final twist of the knife.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #101 (2007)-Mister Fear returns, deadlier than ever!
6. GLADIATOR
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #18 (1966)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: One of the more tragic members of Daredevil's rogues gallery, Melvin Potter is a simple man at heart who has been pushed towards the dark side more than once by his own mental instability and the whims of powerful men. Though Gladiator did pose a legitimate threat to Daredevil of his own volition once upon a time, Potter has since retired to a life of making costumes, even reconciling with his old foe. But Alexander Bont, Mister Fear and others have preyed on Melvin's weaknesses to bring the Gladiator out time and again against his will.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #226-An out-of-control Gladiator unleashed against Daredevil!
5. THE HAND
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #174 (1981)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Relentless and undying, the Hand have been Daredevil's most implacable foes for years. No matter how many of their crimson ninjas he dispatches, a horde will always rise to take their place, utterly committed to evil and the elimination of their enemies. The Hand have struck at Daredevil physically, attacked him by mystic means and turned his own friends against him, and worst of all they will simply never stop coming.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #175-The Hand closes on Daredevil and Elektra!
4. TYPHOID MARY
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #254 (1988)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Matt Murdock has never been lucky in love, and Typhoid Mary may be the most extreme example of his romantic misfortune. Intimately tied to the Man Without Fear for reasons even she doesn't fully understand, Mary gleefully undertook the Kingpin's burden to make Murdock love her even as she prepared to deal Daredevil a death blow. While DD knows this murderous mutant to be one of his most dangerous enemies, he'll never truly be able to quit his desire to save her from herself.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #256-Typhoid Mary steals Daredevil's heart!
3. ELEKTRA
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #168 (1981)
Learn More About Her...here
Why She Makes the List: You always hurt the ones you love; never has that axiom been more true than in the case of the Marvel Universe's most tragic lovers, Daredevil and Elektra. Matt Murdock's college sweetheart abruptly exited his life after tragedy struck her family and returned years later as a hired assassin in the employ of his greatest foe. Though they have allies more than enemies in recent years, Matt can never forget the harsh blows struck against him physically and emotionally by the lost love he can never regain.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #179-Elektra turns up the pressure in her pursuit of her former lover, Daredevil!
2. BULLSEYE
First Appearance: DAREDEVIL #131 (1976)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: Killing Daredevil began as a job for Bullseye—it became an obsession. For the man who never misses, the frustration of never being able to best his greatest rival has fueled the madness and violence that rule his life; as much as Bullseye hates his inability to destroy the man in red, deep down part of him also loves it. For Daredevil, he can't look at Bullseye and just see another maniac in a costume; every time he locks eyes with perhaps his deadliest foe, the Man Without Fear is catching the gaze of the killer who murdered two of his greatest loves, and who has cost him more than he can ever repay.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #169-Bullseye battles Daredevil as well as his own madness!
1. THE KINGPIN
First Appearance: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #50 (1967)
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: The Kingpin of crime represents everything Matt Murdock has lived his live battling against, both in and out of his Daredevil costume. While Matt believes in justice and earning what you achieve, Wilson Fisk has twisted every rule in the book to put himself ahead of his rivals, resorting to whatever it takes to amass power. The Kingpin is a living representation of the corruption that has robbed Matt of so many good things in his life while Daredevil stands in Fisk's way as the obstacle that just won't go away. As long as both men live, they'll never stop trying to destroy one another—they can't.
Spotlight Comic: DAREDEVIL #227-The Kingpin begins a campaign to systematically destroy the life of Matt Murdock!
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