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The relationship of Spider-man and Daredevil has just undergone a character changing moment (The Death of Jean DeWolff). It was immediately followed by a character defining arc for Daredevil (Born Again). Before, he was the older brother, the one who knew better. He started his career out of vengeance, but continues it for love. He was the preachy one who thought heroes ought to be serious. He believed in JUSTICE--and he knew that sometimes you had to take the long view and make the hard choices to get it.

Now, "crazy" has been added to Daredevil's character attributes. Along with a deeper connection to religion and a specific territory that he considered his. With the highwater mark for the title being essentially "Daredevil's crappy life", Matt Murdock's life would get bad enough that occasionally even Spider-man was impressed at it's depths.



Although Frank Miller's 'Born Again' can be read without the Spider-man tie-in, it's highly interesting to see.

Amazing Spider-man 277, vol 1. (3 pages out of a 10 page story) Writer: Tom DeFalco. Artists: Ron Frenz, Bob Layton. This takes place after Daredevil 230 and before 231.

Matt Murdock has been framed and disbarred, his assets frozen, his bills mysteriously unpaid, the IRS is auditing him, his girlfriend has left him for his partner, his practice is ended, and his house blown up. During the year prior to that, his first girlfriend Elektra was murdered, dying in his arms. His partner, Foggy Nelson, under duress by his wife, disgraced their firm. Business died off over the year. And Heather Glenn, Matt's ex-girlfriend who dumped him cold (actually part of a plot by Foggy and Natasha because they thought Matt's relationship with Heather was mentally abusive), committed suicide because Matt wouldn't answer her calls anymore.

After a complete mental breakdown involving paranoia and auditory hallucinations, Kingpin beat him nearly to death and dumped him in a river. After clawing his way out, Matt was taken in by a nun. He's been there a few weeks.







Peter may have meant what he said when he said he'd stay out of it, but he swiftly changed his mind and decided to go have a little talk with the Kingpin. The talk did not go well. Peter was full of righteous rage and the Kingpin talked him in rings while refusing to fight. Peter left knowing there was nothing he could do to help Matt.

The Spiderfan.org review is here.

The following meetings were full of crazy, on both sides, their personal issues used as reasons to set them against each other.

Amazing Spider-man 286. (22 pages) Writer: Jim Owlsley. Artists: Alan Kupperberg, Jim Fern, Art Nichols.

Occurs after Daredevil 241, during the Ann Nocenti era. Matt is pretending to be a sighted guy, living with Karen Page, and working with street cops a lot. The cop he works with in these issues is Lt. Tork, who never shows up in the Daredevil title.

This is the Gang War story, when Hobgoblin was a brainwashed Ned Leeds framing Flash Thompson, working with Richard Fisk, who was masquerading as the Rose.



Mary Jane just got a tip from fellow photographer and rival Lance Bannon about a gangland meet at midnight. Lance Bannon's insistence that he couldn't photograph the meet because he was doing something else REALLY important was just another feint in the "Who is the Hobgoblin?" subplot.

Believing he has nothing important to do but meet Matt, Pete visits May.





In the meantime, the gangland meet turns fiery when Lt. Tork taunts some hitmen into firing a bazooka (it was probably meant to be used on the costumes who were in attendance). Spider-man arrives on the scene and saves many lives, only to find that one police officer was killed by the Rose in his escape. It is Richard Fisk's first personal kill, and the first innocent blood he's shed.

Amazing Spider-man 287 (about 5 pages from 22 pages) Writer: Owsley. Artists: Erik Larsen, Art Nichols.



Spider-man is roving Hell's Kitchen, looking for a fight with Daredevil. It annoys him that Matt has his phone number, but since losing his home, there's no place Peter can find him.









This may be among the most childish scenes Peter has ever had. Worth noting that Matt never came over to Peter's home again.

The government has decided that the Kingpin is a stabilizing influence and will end the gangwar. (One wonders if Fisk's contacts helped make that decision.) The NYPD is sneaking him into town. Tork is working with a maskless Matt and Falcon (no explanation for his sudden presence) to make sure Spider-man doesn't get in the way.

The plan and language are very hostile. Some unnamed bearded guy provides Matt a new toy.



Spider-man does interfere. Apparently determined to punch Kingpin until the man decides to leave town. Kingpin shoots him, Spidey dodges while mocking how easily he did so. Unfortunately, it wasn't a bullet but a gas pellet. The gas knocks out Spider-man's spidersense. Then Kingpin smacks Spider-man around. Spider-man realizes something is off and rips off 'Kingpins' mask--it's Daredevil!



This is what happens when you go Evil, Matt.

Daredevil smacks him around some more. Peter is flummoxed by the loss of his spidersense and off-balance.



Spider-man webs Daredevil's eyes to blind him--realizing too late how pointless that is. He webs DD's arm to his side, officially making this the time a blind man with one hand tied beat up Spider-man.

A police sniper gets antsy watching the fight.





They part off-panel.

Amazing Spider-man 288 (22 pages) Writer: Jim Owsley. Artists: Alan Kupperberg, Jim Fern.

This issue takes place right after the art graphic novel Daredevil: Love and War, the plot which may be summed up as "Vanessa Fisk leaves Wilson Fisk." We learn in this issue that Vanessa was attacked by enemies of Fisk in Europe, so Kingpin had her kidnapped and drugged into oblivion before releasing her in this tangle of chess moves, all designed to keep her safe. The cops are aware of the deal Fisk has made to get her out of New York, though probably only Daredevil is fully informed about everything going on behind the scenes in Fisk's marriage.



Peter is also dealing with women troubles. Mary Jane keeps inviting herself over--though she's refused his offers of marriage twice before--and is going head to head with the Black Cat, who's sleeping with Peter as part of a double-double-cross she's planning. Cat is also wearing a hideous new outfit.















A postscript is added to the DD/Spidey subplot in Spectacular Spider-man 128. Sadly, it's by He Who Must Not Be Scanned. Spiderfan.org review is here.

Summary:
Spider-man has been framed for murder.

Running across Daredevil, Spider-man is grouchy about recent events; Daredevil jokes that Spider-man would never hit a man wearing glasses, right? It calms Peter down. DD is concerned about Peter being framed for murder and asks if he really did it, not that Matt believed he did. Peter grumpily notes that Matt's lie-detecter power makes trust hollow, but no, he didn't. Matt recommends getting a lawyer and regrets that he is no longer one who can help (this takes place a few issues before DD 248 when Matt embraces legalism again). He does offer any help he can, but Peter turns him down. He can't trust Matt, but he's got a good woman he can. Even as Matt leaves, Peter wonders if he's doing the right thing, raising his hand as if to call him back.

This very issue, of course, he discovers that the Black Cat is one of those who's framed him (though she double-crosses her partner and exonerates Peter eventually).

Peter married his true love shortly after.

Or maybe he didn't.

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