Daredevil Message Board

[blacktyphoid]

In the "News" section of Kuljit's DD website, he recently highlighted an interview conducted with Marvel Editor, Ralph Macchio.

I wanted to take a moment to tip my hat to Mr. Macchio. He was the editor of Daredevil for well over a decade, making him the most prolific creator/editor in the history of the comic book. He oversaw Miller & Mazzucchelli's Born Again saga, followed it with Nocenti & Romita Jr.'s Typhoid Mary and American Gothic periods, and then with Chichester & Weekes' Last Rites storyline. These eras were interesting, unique and often controverial in their own right. What's more, though, when read consecutively, you notice a narrative sub-text in which DD plummets to excruciating depths of depression and despair before he finally exacts his revenge against Kingpin and Typhoid and reestablishes his law firm and relationship with Karen Page in Last Rites. Together, these storylines and episodes read as if they're one giant, seven year graphic novel.

Despite the array of writers and artists, Macchio maintained a steady hand on the book, ensuring that an interesting, entertaining and, as already mentioned, often controversial narrative was not only achieved but also coherently fit together over a lengthly period of time. That is an extraodinarily rare accomplishment in comics.

Towards the end of his prolific run, Macchio was the editor who tried to mark DD's 30th Anniversary in a special way: by approving the return of Elektra and the creation of a new costume. You can argue the relative merits (and demerits) of these changes, but it is evident they were done with great appreciation and respect for a character he personally guided for so many years. At a time when Marvel cared only about mutants and spiders, Macchio was determined that DD would get his due for his special anniversary.

Macchio never wrote a Daredevil comic. The closest he ever came was an excellent Black Widow story he co-created with artist Paul Gulacy in the early 80s in a black and white magazine called Bizarre Adventures. Nonetheless, I think any list of essential Daredevil contributors/creators (Colan, Miller, Lee, Wood, Janson, etc) must include Ralph Macchio.

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blacktyphoid

[Ian]

Don't forget the way he defeated Johnny at the tournament with nothing but his honour and a busted leg.
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"Show me a superhero without a first aid kit, an I'll show you a NUT!" (Daredevil #9)

[PlanBFromOuterSpace]

He's the best around. Nothing's gonna ever keep him down...

[Jim B.]

I agree he was editor during IMO the best run of the Daredevil comic ever and I think he deserves some credit for that. Even if he isn't the Karate Kid he still is pretty great.
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"This isn't hell, but you can see it from here." -The Crow

[Dash]

I didn't know the Karate Kid was involved in Daredevil. hm learn something new everyday.

[Kuljit Mithra]

Same name, different people.

One Ralph Macchio was an editor of Daredevil.

The other Ralph Macchio was an actor in the Karate Kid.
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Kuljit Mithra
www.manwithoutfear.com

[Dash]

Oh. Wasn't he also on Scrubs?