Daredevil #103
Published and © by Marvel, September 1973
Title: “… Then Came Ramrod!”
Synopsis: Peter Parker arrives in San Francisco to interview Daredevil – right as the Ramrod attacks to retrieve a box of papers.
Writer: Steve Gerber
Penciler: Don Heck
Inker: Sal Trapani
Review: Despite a promising mix of heroes, this team-up tale from Steve Gerber is long on meh. The shortcomings start with the introduction of Ramrod, a C-list Juggernaut knockoff with little intrinsic motivation. The stakes for this story – a box of papers for a Rolling Stone exposé – are less than compelling. And the banter between the various characters is forced at best. On the art side, Don Heck is a serviceable journeyman, with both his drawing and storytelling on this outing landing middle of the pack. This isn’t a horrible comic, but nothing in it rises above the mediocrity of average.
Grade: C
Cool factor: That’s a pretty cool triple-team-up cover …
Not-so-cool factor: … but it’s pretty much downhill from there.
Notable: First appearance of Ramrod.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 6p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “You stay here – and we go after him like good little superheroes.” – Daredevil, dismissing Peter Parker in favor of Black Widow
Editor’s note: This review was written March 2, 2024.
