Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”

Chapter Four:

October, 1981, Daredevil No. 179 by Miller, Janson, Glynis, Rosen + Denny

Mixtape track: Earwax by Bauhaus

Previously on “to me my ❌-Men:” A holiday horror comic turns into a zany going to the mall vibe goof. All with a pirate Watchmen like subplot.

Here enters the hardboiled crafted tragedy. Logan had mentioned Japan and Ninjas. Here we have a slow reveal of Elektra through an experienced Matt Murdock and a centered Ben Urich.

This comic ups the game five issues into our reading of things. The seriousness and technical skills are refined in a raw way that builds tension until it brakes.

But why Ben? Why?! Well, I’ll tell you:

1: My intro to the X-Men is through The Hand.

2: My intro to “collecting” comics is through Daredevil and the X-Men in the same moment.

3: At the time IRL, in my neighborhood, we were emerging as obsessed with Ninjas…and you need that cultural appropriation to appear in both books to make either work for us at the time.

4: My X-Men reading has a grounded element…and this issues just cemented us to a tether that is sturdy and will continue to be relevant.

Read these issues and you will feel what I mean.

Next: Daredevil 184