NINO CORTESE

Real Name: Nino Cortese

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Drug dealer

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Die Hards (Julie, others), Ginny, Jess, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Pete London

Enemies: Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Owl (Leland Owlsley)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York

First Appearance: Daredevil I#301 (February, 1992)

Powers/Abilities: Nino is an experienced criminal.

History:

(Daredevil I#301 (fb) - BTS) - A smalltime drug dealer working for the Kingpin, Nino Cortese associated with several criminals at the Hawk Hill Social Club. Cortese decided to sell on his own after Daredevil (Matt Murdock) took the Kingpin down. Cortese was approached by the psychotic Owl, who ordered Miller to pay cuts to the Owl or face the consequences.

(Daredevil I#301) - Cortese approached two young girls at a Manhattan night club. Flirting, he learned their names were Ginny and Jess and he offered them a hit outside. Laying a line on his Corvette for each of them, Nino was shocked when Daredevil scared them off, hitting his car with a billy club. Cortese went running, but Daredevil caught him and told him about all the murders the Owl had committed. The Owl then arrived and Daredevil yelled for Cortese to run for it.

(Daredevil I#302) - While trying to run, Cortese dropped his keys and Daredevil narrowly saved him from being impaled. Soon, despite the Owl being stuck to his car via his claws, Cortese drove the Corvette away at full speed. The Owl climbed up the car and nearly killed Cortese, but Daredevil narrowly saved him again. Cortese’s car spiraled out of control and crashed through a window before falling a few stories and landing in a mall fountain. Daredevil barely managed to get Cortese out of the car before it exploded and Cortese was soon arrested.

(Daredevil I#303 (fb) - BTS) - Mobster Peter London got a hold of Nino and convinced him, by binding him in chains and hanging him from the ceiling, to act as bait for the Owl.

(Daredevil I#303) - Nino went to sell guns to the Die Hards gang (including Julie) while Daredevil watched form the side. When the Owl approached, Daredevil tossed Nino into a passing garbage truck to keep him safe.

Comments: Created by D.G. Chichester, M.C. Wyman, and Chris Ivy.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Nino Cortese has no known connections to

• Maria Pilar Cortes @ X-Treme X-Men#1
• Carlos Cortez, of Renegades @ Western Gunfighters II#1
• Cruella Cortese, of the Mob Princesses @ Terror INC I#6
• Frank Cortese, Spider-Man foe @ Spider-Man I#45
• Anne-Marie Cortez, of Acolytes @ X-Men II#1
• Fabian Cortez, of Acolytes @ X-Men II#1
• Mrs. Cortez, Lionfang's wife @ Hero for Hire#13
• or any other "Nino" or "Cortez" characters

Ginny and Jess

(Daredevil I#301) - Cortese approached two young girls at a Manhattan night club. Flirting, he learned their names were Ginny and Jess and he offered them a hit outside. Laying a line on his Corvette for each of them, Nino was shocked when Daredevil scared them off, hitting his car with a billy club.

--Daredevil I#301

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Daredevil I#301, p21, pan2 (main)