From: Green Lantern #85 (vol. 2) by Denny ONeil (script), Neal Adams (pencils) and Dick Giordano Just a handful of issues after tackling racial inequality within the pages of Green Lantern, Denny ONeil and Neal Adams dealt with another social problem in drug use with the renowned story, Snowbirds Dont Fly. The path to address drug use in comics was forged a few months earlier when the Amazing Spider-Man ignored the Comic Book Authoritys no drug use rule and published a story about a character (Harry Osborn) being addicted to psychedelic drugs. But the Green Lantern arc involving the Green Arrows ward, Roy Speedy Harper is considerably more thought provoking. For one, framing an unquestioned good guy in Speedy as a junkie was a daring, high stakes choice by ONeil and Adams. The look of shock on the Green Arrows face when he discovers Speedy shooting up likely reflects the readers reaction upon seeing this image for the first time. On a broader level, the story gave credence to the idea that drug use wasnt just limited to characters with questionable/poor socioeconomic backgrounds. The Spider-Man no comic code issues referenced this concept somewhat, but ONeil and Adams tackled this very important topic head on with no fear of any potential political repercussions or fan backlash.
11. Daredevil Emerges From The Fire
From: Daredevil #232 by Frank Miller (script) and David Mazzucchelli (art) The Born Again storyline is considered the high point of Frank Millers work on Daredevil and is one of the greatest Marvel stories ever published. While the arc is jam packed with dramatic moments Matt Murdock kneeling among the rubble of his home, Kingpin staring out his penthouse window wondering where Murdocks corpse could be, and reporter Ben Urich nursing a broken hand and saying the name Matt Murdock out loud despite their being threats on his life the last page of Daredevil #232 may be the most emotionally powerful of the bunch. After hitting rock bottom earlier in Born Again when Matts former love, Karen Page, sells out his secret identity for a shot of heroin, Murdock systematically rebuilds his life, leading to this exact moment of the story. A crazed super soldier, Nuke, has gone on a killing spree in Hells Kitchen, so Matt dons the Daredevil costume for the first time in what feels like ages, emerges from the fire and demonstrates how he truly has been born again. Daredevil standing there amid the blazes symbolizes how the hero has been to hell and back and is now ready to face whatever challenges may be thrown his way.
Mark is a professional writer living in Brooklyn and is the founder of the Chasing Amazing Blog, which documents his quest to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and the Superior Spider-Talk podcast. He also pens the "Gimmick or Good?" column at Comics Should Be Good blog.
