Tuesday, September 17, 2024

I can't use "Shock to the System" again, I did that a couple of Daredevil posts ago.

Really! Maybe I should've saved it for this one: from 1993, Daredevil #315, "Shock Therapy" Written by D. G. Chichester, pencils by Scott McDaniel, inks by Bud LaRosa.
This was the conclusion of a two-parter with the debut of another new villain for DD, albeit one tied to an old one that had multiple incarnations already: Ariel Tremmore was the illegitimate daughter of Alan Fagan, the fourth Mister Fear. (I know causing fear seems like a great gimmick, but if you're the fourth to pick up the gear, maybe it's not working so great? Well, maybe it'll work for you.) To get revenge for her mom, and to bankroll health care for her; Ariel has her dad attacked in prison and part of his face removed, so she could reverse-engineer the fear juice-powers for herself. As Shock, she was able to cause "fear and hatred" all around her, just like a typical right-wing podcaster.
Daredevil was coming up on another shakeup--"Fall From Grace" was only a couple months out--but while he's not thrilled to see Mr. Fear's gimmick again, or get doused by it; he's still remarkably compassionate towards Ariel, and her victims. DD hits her with the chemicals again, to return her to "normal" (normal-looking, anyway) and asks Ben Urich to keep this one under his hat, to give the family a chance to heal. Fagan would return as Mr. Fear, and Ariel would later become Fearmaster, only to be killed by the new Punisher. I'm sure Matt will have words for that guy...(He's facing Elektra in the current Woman Without Fear series!)
Oh, good: even though I don't need any right now, I hadda check if FTD was still a thing, and it is! I was worried some venture capitalist "disruptor" would've gouged the industry until it bled to death.

1 comment:

  1. Mr. Morbid11:08 AM

    Matt’s down with FTD if you know me! Sorry couldn’t resist. Yes they still exist, but like you I’m just as surprised.

    I remember her trading card as well and honestly forgot she was a Fearmaster’s daughter. No big loss there if she’s dead.

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