Daredevil #8 (June 1965)

The Plot: A Study in Criminal Elevators

Most people facing a career slump consider going back to night school or taking up carpentry. Wilbur Day, a scientist with severe boundary issues, decided the logical path forward was to steal a pair of hydraulically powered telescoping legs and go on a crime spree.

In this issue, Wilbur dons a tin suit that extends hundreds of feet into the sky—because nothing says "stealthy heist" quite like being visible from three zip codes away. Enter Matt Murdock, a blind attorney who spends his free time dressed in skin-tight red flannel, attempting to defeat a man whose primary tactical advantage is that he is tall. It is a thrilling, deeply nonsensical battle of wits and gravity that leaves one questioning the urban planning standards of 1960s Manhattan.

Historical Significance (Or: Why This Piece of Paper Costs Money)

• First Appearance & Origin of Stilt-Man: Love him or pity him, Wilbur Day makes his grand debut right here. He went on to become one of Marvel’s most persistent, oddly confident C-list villains.

• The Wally Wood Era: Featuring glorious cover and interior art by the legendary Wally Wood, who gave Daredevil his iconic red suit in the preceding issue and brought a slick, noir-ish elegance to Stan Lee’s caffeinated dialogue.

• Silver Age Marvel Essential: A key 12-cent early issue from Marvel’s golden run in 1965, back when superheroes solved problems primarily by jumping off water towers.

Condition Report: The Honest Inspection

I have stared at this comic with the relentless, judging gaze usually reserved for an unexpected dinner guest. It resides comfortably in the 5.0 (Very Good/Fine) to 5.5 (Fine Minus) range. It is not flawless, but then, neither are any of us.

• Front Cover & Spine: Colors remain remarkably vivid, though the spine shows light-to-moderate stress lines and minor friction wear at the top and bottom folds. Corners show gentle blunting—a life well-lived, but not abused.

• Back Cover: Features a soft, erased pencil price notation (150) in the upper corner, likely written by a comic shop clerk in 1978 who had no idea we’d be discussing it decades later. Moderate halo tanning along the outer margins.

• Interior Pages: Pages are Off-White to Cream, completely supple, intact, and firmly attached at both staples. No cutouts, no coupons missing, and no mystery stains.

About Grumpy Comics & Shipping Policy

About Us

Grumpy Comics is a tiny, meticulously run operation run by a man who prefers the company of 60-year-old comic books to most living human beings. Every book is graded conservatively, stored with neurotic care, and packaged as though it is traveling through a war zone.

Free (Snail’s Pace) Shipping Policy

Shipping is 100% Free to you.

However, please lower your expectations regarding speed. Your comic will not be delivered by a supersonic drone or a man running at Mach 3. It will be carefully sandwiched between heavy corrugated cardboard, wrapped securely, and handed over to the United States Postal Service. From there, it will travel at a serene, contemplative, almost monastic pace. It will arrive when it arrives. If you require instant gratification, I suggest buying a digital file; if you want a physical piece of 1965 pop-culture history, your patience will be rewarded.