"BATTLING JACK" MURDOCK

Real Name: Jonathan "Jack" Murdock

Identity/Class: Human 
    pre-modern and early modern era

Occupation: Boxer;
    (according to some sources) former criminal racketeer enforcer

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Gus, Josie, K.O., Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, Sal
    formerly Fixer (Roscoe Sweeney)

Enemies: Mr. Farrell, Fixer (Roscoe Sweeney) and his gang (Angelo, Gillian, Marcelo, McHale, Porky, Sam, Slade, Stymie), guys at the Ale House; Jack's trainer (Fixer employee)
    boxed against Carl "Crusher" Creel, Dynamite/Rocky Davis (comments), Harold "Happy" Hogan, Gal-something, Pedro Gar-something (I'd guess Garcia), "Sweet Pea" Henderson, "Cyclone" Larry, Manny Liazi, Moore, Sims;
    (according to some sources) Turk Barrett, Morales, Paulie, Mr. Walsh

Known Relatives: Matthew Murdock (Daredevil, son), Margaret Grace "Sister Maggie" Murdock (ex-wife)

Aliases: "Battling Jack" Murdock, "Battlin' Jack Murdock, "Battling" Murdock, "Kid" Murdock, "Southpaw" Murdock, the "Middle Age Sensation," Red Devil;
    "Jackie Boy" (nickname from the Fixer)

Base of Operations: Clinton ("Hell's Kitchen"), New York;
    he had an apartment there, but spent much of his time at Fogwell's gym and apparently a period of time at what would become Josie's bar

First Appearance: Daredevil I#1 (April, 1964)

Powers/Abilities: Battling Jack was a skilled boxer and experienced boxer. 

    Though his speed and strength faded over time, his determination and skill remained sufficient to make a match for a heavyweight champion contender even into his late 40s.

    By at least some accounts, Jack was left-handed, often referred to as a southpaw.

    Jack realized the importance of education and wanted to be sure his son could live a better life than a boxer. Obsessing over this, Jack prohibited his son from violence or play  and constantly urged him to study.

    By some accounts, Jack sometimes suffered from depression and alcoholism.

Height: Unrevealed (perhaps 6'2")
Weight: Unrevealed (perhaps 210 - 230 lbs.)
Eyes: Dark brown (varies between stories; also seen as blue)
Hair: Usually brown (but sometimes shown as shades of red); graying at temples in his 40s

History:
(note: Entries in italics are somewhat contradictory and of questionable continuity - see comments for a detailed discussion of Jack's continuity/contradictions and likely resolutions)

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb) - BTS) - Battling Jack was the best in his day.

(Iron Man III#11 (fb) - BTS) - At some point Murdock beat Harold "Happy" Hogan in 15 rounds.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb) - BTS) -  Battling Jack fought Manny Liazi in a heavyweight boxing match.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) <10 years before the time Matt Murdock was blinded by radioactive chemicals> - The criminal Fixer (Roscoe Sweeney) offered Battling Jack a deal, but Jack kicked him out of his dressing room.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#1 (fb)) <According to the Fixer> - Jack drank himself out of the ring.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#3: Daredevil entry - BTS) - Jack and Grace (see comments) Murdock were married.

(Daredevil IV#7 (fb)) - Jack and Grace doted on their baby, Matthew.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack promised Grace he wouldn't let Matt end up an uneducated pug like him. 

(Daredevil IV#7 (fb) - BTS) - Jack had to spend a lot of time traveling, and Grace felt alone and scared. 

    Over time, her post-partum depression led to irrational fears and thoughts.

    Jack tried to understand Grace, but the more he tried to reassure her, the more frightened Grace became. 

    Grace began to suspect that Jack was working against her, that he was neglecting her for Matt, that Matt was sent there to tear the two of them apart, and that they were both laughing at her torment.

(Daredevil IV#7 (fb)) - Distraught, Grace dropped the plates of spaghetti she had made and scratched at Jack's face as he held Matt. 

    Jack pulled Matt away from Grace, who slipped on the spaghetti, fell down, and hit her lip. Jacks' anger quickly turned to worry, and he rushed after Grace, who ran away. 

(Daredevil IV#7 (fb) - BTS) - Though Jack looked for Grace, she was determined not to be found; eventually, she came to a church, which took her in. 

(Daredevil: Father#1 (fb)) - Jack consistently wore Old Spice aftershave.

(Daredevil I#200 (fb) - BTS) <Matt was 4-5 years old> - With bills left over from Grace and with Matt having been sick, and with his manager not able to get him any fights, Jack accepted a job working as the costumed professional wrestler "Red Devil," who wore a face mask and a devil tail on his shorts.

(Daredevil I#200 (fb)) - At the St. James Arena, "Red Devil" wrestled an opponent as Matt (possibly sneaked in) and watched him. 

    Afterwards, ashamed of himself for having both disgraced fighting and himself, Jack cried in the locker room. When Matt came in, Jack explained why he had done this, but vowed never to do it again. 

    He told Matt that while fighting wasn't much of a profession -- and that he would beat Matt black and blue if he ever thought about it for himself -- it was what he did and tried to do it as best he could. honorably. Explaining that there was no money that could pay back shame, he further advised Matt that there was never a reason for not being what you were.

(Uncanny Origins#13 (fb)) - Matt watched Jack spar with a younger opponent at the gym. Matt cheered his dad on, and afterward told his dad he liked how he was playing with the other guy, letting him hit him. 

    Jack explained to Matt that he was past his prime and that he had given his best, but it just wasn't good enough. Jack then explained to Matt about his promise to Matt's mother before she died (as detailed below; see comments)

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) <14(?) years before the main story; see comments> - Jack told Matt to study hard every chance he got, as he had promised Matt's mother before she died that Matt would not grow up an uneducated pug like him. When he told Matt he was going to amount to something, Matt told his father he was proud of him and wanted to be just like him. Jack replied that he was past his prime and that there was nothing he could become nothing but a punching bag for younger men. Not wishing this for Matt, Jack told him he was going to study and become a lawyer or a doctor, something Jack could never be. Though Matt wanted to go out and play ball with the other kids, Jack sent him to his room to hit the books again.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - Jack called Matt in from the fire escape and put him to bed for the night.

(Daredevil: Father#2 (fb) - BTS) - Caught up in a bad situation, Jack became lonely, which drove him to drink...this led him to do bad things, which brought him right back to the bottle. 

(Daredevil: Father#2 (fb)) - While Matt worked on his homework, Jack drank himself into a stupor, lamenting Grace.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - Like many nights, Jack spent the night lamenting over a picture of Grace. Hearing his dad, Matt helped him to bed, and Jack told him he was a good boy and apologized for being such a slob.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb) - BTS) - At Fogwell's gym, the Fixer told Jack he would collect unpaid protection money. When Jack refused, the Fixer's bruiser, Slade, began beating him.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - Despite the beating, Jack told the Fixer to kill him, as he would not work for the mob; however, when the Fixer threatened to kill Matt as well, Jack relented.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - In between boxing matches, Jack spent his days threatening and/or beating up those who owed the Fixer money.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#1 (fb)) - Jack accompanied the Fixer to Walsh's Liquors, where he reminded Walsh that he owed him money, and that, despite the laws, there was a large man in his store with a club. However, when Walsh asked Jack how he could come to this, and told him that he knew she was too good for him, Jack lashed out, shattering Walsh's products until the Fixer stopped him. 
    After they left, Jack apologized for his unprofessional behavior but asked if he could get his money now. Though the Fixer reminded him he never paid Jack directly and told him he would send the kid by later, Jack asked for just enough for a little drink. This led the Fixer to shove him against the wall, telling him he should have him put in the river for busting up the shop while he was present; as he left, the Fixer asked if Jack was going to drink his way out of this job the way he had drank himself out of the ring.

    Jack soon after went to his regular bar, where bartender Josie gave him a shot on his tab even though he didn't have the money to pay for it. When she told him that people were talking about him, saying that he was throwing his life away and that the girl might have broken him, Jack angrily told her she didn't have the right to talk to him like that; almost immediately, he apologized and promised to pay her soon. 

    Outside the bar, the Fixer's kid agent Turk met up with him and gave him the Fixer's pay, then asked if he could come along on his next job. When Jack refused, telling Turk he could find his way to juvenile delinquency on his own, Turk angrily called him a burnout (and added that that was what everybody said) before running off, telling Jack he would be working for Turk before he knew it.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack took the money and bought a bottle of liquor.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#1 (fb)) (See comments: The placement of this chronology is really problematic; it could be that Maggie came back and visited Jack after she had joined the convent, but she had already had Matt with him before he left) - As Jack returned to his apartment, he assured an irate landlord that he would give him his five-day-late-rent just as soon as he got paid. Outside his apartment, he was met by Sister Maggie who showed him his son and asked for his help. Though Jack was initially pleased, Maggie feared what would happen if her father found out about the baby. After telling him that the sisters had named the baby and that they had sinned aganst God, Jack realized she might have joined the convent. Though he told her she was the only thing he had gotten right and telling her it wasn't a sin, Maggie left, telling him it was the Lord's way. 

    Jack lashed out in a rage, but calmed down, picked up, and hugged his baby boy. Note: Jack could have raged thusly after Grace first left, or after/if she came back to say her final goodbye.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb) - BTS) - Despite Jack's threats, Morales could only pay half of what he owed.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - When Jack told this to the Fixer, the Fixer told him to talk to Morales harder.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#2 (fb)) - As Jack drank a beer and his apartment and reread the letter from Maggie explaining why she could not share the life he had chosen and asking him to consider her dead, the young Matt came in with a bloody nose, explaining that Mickey Johnson had punched him because Jack had beaten up his dad and said he was a bad man. Jack admitted he was a bad man, telling Matt he had let Matt's mother down, but that he was raising Matt to be a good man, unlike him; nonetheless, Matt told his dad he knew he was a not a bad man and that he'd never hurt anyone. 

(Daredevil: Father#1 (fb) / Daredevil: Father#5 (fb) - BTS) - Jack roughed up the butcher Mr. Farrell, during which Jack crushed Farrell's orbit, which  cost Farrell his eye and broke his spirit.

(Daredevil: Father#1 (fb)) - Matt saw Jack roughing up Mr. Farrell; and Jack saw that Matt saw what he was doing, and realized how he looked in Matt's eyes.

(Daredevil: Father#6 (fb)) - Matt ran away, but Jack caught up to him and hugged him. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#2 (fb)) - As Jack prepared to break the arm of a local business owner named Paulie who couldn't pay what he owed the Fixer, Paulie's daughter walked in. When Paulie begged Jack not to hurt his daughter, Matt yelled that he wouldn't ever and then walked out and went to the bar. Josie poured him a drink, but Jack saw the girl's face in his mind again, and he ran out without drinking the drink. 

    Jack then went to see the Fixer, forcing his way past his men and then telling the Fixer, who held him at gunpoint, that he was quitting.  Telling Jack he knew too much, the Fixer assured Jack he would have him killed if he did not continue to work for him. When Slade offered to shoot Jack, the Fixer instead decided -- since Jack had just wiped the floor with Slade and his cousin, who were supposed to be the toughest guys he had -- to give him an out: If he stayed sober, he could box again. Though the Fixer noted that he would be Jack's promoter and that he stilled owned Jack, Jack was excited by the prospect.

    Soon, Jack was training at Fogwell's gym, and Matt complimented him on his speed. Matt was also pleased when Jack told him he wouldn't be beating up people's dads anymore, but Jack walked away when Matt noticed how his hands were shaking from alcohol withdrawal. 

    Soon after, Jack headed to the bar to see Josie, but refused to take a drink (which she offered because he looked so bad), explaining that he was training to box again and that he was never going back to his enforcer job. His announcement was interrupted by a siren, and Jack rushed out to find that his replacement had slain Paulie; he was disturbed to see Paulie's daughter screaming hysterically.

    That night, Jack was drinking alone in his apartment when Matt came home, bragging that Mickey Johnson had hit him again but that he had hit him back. 

    Angered that Matt had resorted to violence, Jack told him there was always going to be someone tougher; when Matt told him to let go, Jack told Matt not to tell him what to do, and he hit Matt, knocking him to the ground. Jack told Matt to go to his room, and Matt refused, instead getting to his fight and putting up his fists; when Matt refused repeated orders, Jack punched him away more forcefully and told him to get out (in this account, Matt ran away for a few days and was blinded without ever getting a chance to see Jack again).

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - Frustrated at being called a sissy at school, Matt asked Jack why he couldn't punch the kids like his dad would have. Noting where his fists had gotten him, Jack made Matt promise not to fight.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - A few weeks later, when Matt came home bragging that he had punched back a boy named Barkley, Jack angrily struck Matt in the face.

(Daredevil: Father#1 (fb)) - Jack wasn't big on words, but he did have a way of getting Matt to open his eyes (referencing Jack hitting Matt).

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 - BTS) - Though Jack was tearfully regretful, Matt ran off; realizing that rules were needed to keep people from doing bad things, Matt resolved to study law.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Respecting his father's wishes and sacrifices, Matt refrained from playing sports over the years and became top student in his class. Due to refusal to participate in any athletic activities, Matt was mocked by other student and was given the nickname Daredevil. 

(Daredevil III#28 (fb)) - When Matt complained that the other kids made fun of him because he wouldn't play with them, and asked if he could play now and study later, Jack insisted he would study now. Jack reminded Matt how he had promised his mother he wouldn't let Matt grow up to be an uneducated pug like Jack. He further tried to soothe Matt's frustration by telling Matt someday he would be a bigshot doctor or lawyer, while the kids giving him grief would be flipping burgers. 

(Daredevil III#28 (fb)) - Matt read textbooks at the dinner table with Jack.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - After proving his natural strength when he -- in frustration over being teased and being unable to prove himself -- broke his father's punching bag with a single punch, Matt took to rigorously exercising in private during the months Jack was out of town on the boxing circuit.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack found himself unable to get any fights, as he was getting so old that no manager would take him.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Upon his return, Jack was pleased to hear Matt had earned straight A's. He acknowledged how tough it was for Matt not to play with the other kids, but also told Matt he would eventually thank him for this.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Unwilling to let down Matt since his son had worked so hard over the years, Jack resolved that he had to keep fighting until Matt got through college. When one of his associates told him that the only guy who would manage a has-been like him was the Fixer, Jack decided that he no longer had the choice of not working for him.

(Daredevil I#161 (fb) - BTS / Daredevil I#164 (fb)) - Jack's boxing friend K.O. told Jack it was a big mistake dealing with underworld scum like the Fixer and reminded him that he knew the Fixer's rep. Jack said he was too old and too slow, and that no legit manager was willing to take a chance on him anymore. He felt he owed it to Matt to keep fighting until Matt finished college. 

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Soon after, the Fixer met up with Jack, telling Jack he knew he would come around soon or later. The Fixer agreed to get Murdock some fights and assured him he wouldn't have to take a dive; claiming to be a soft-hearted fool, the Fixer convinced Jack to sign a contact. 

(Daredevil I#164 (fb)) - Wishing to make Jack pay for having refused him earlier, the Fixer dropped the contract on the floor and made Jack getting down on the ground and sign it.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Pleased to now be certain he could send Matt to college, Jack rushed home to share the good news, but Matt had been at the library, and on the way home, Matt was struck in the eyes by radioactive waste while saving a blind man from being hit by the truck carrying that waste.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb)) - Furious over Matt's fate, Jack angrily punched the hospital wall.

(Daredevil#500 (fb) - BTS) <18 years before the main story> - A doctor told Jack that it was a miracle Matt had not broken any bones as hard as he had hit the pavement. Jack was furious the doctor was talking about miracles when Matt was blind, and the doctor admitted he was just trying to find the bright side; meanwhile Master Izo visited Matt in the hospital and was pleased that Matt could sense him. Almost immediately thereafter, however, Matt was overwhelmed by the noises around him, and Jack rushed in to hug and comfort the screaming Matt.

(Daredevil III#16 (fb)) - The earliest development of Matt's radar sense allowed him to sense his father's outline by his bedside, and he drew comfort from this.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) / Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack sat at Matt's bedside in Municipal Hospital, stating how he wished this had happened to him instead of Matt; Matt bravely dealt with being blinded, telling his dad that at least he was still alive.

(Daredevil I#164 (fb)) - Jack told Matt it was a brave thing he had done, and that he hoped he could someday make Matt as proud of him as he was of Matt.

(Uncanny Origins#13 (fb)) - When Matt worried that he wouldn't be able to attend law school as he had planned, Jack assured Matt he was stronger than that, using the anology of getting back up after someone knocks you down in a boxing match. Jack assured Matt he would go to law school and that he would do great.

(Daredevil: Man Without Fear#1 (fb)) - Jack was frustrated when the company whose truck had been carrying the radioactive waste denied their responsibility; however, their representatives warned Jack that if he went to the press or filed a complaint, they would reveal his involvement with the Fixer.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) <A few days later> - Jack told Matt that the doctor's report stated that in a few years, after the tissues had healed, an operation might restore his sight. Matt told his dad that meanwhile he would keep studying using Braille books and would get his diploma eventually.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - In the following days, Matt discovered he was even more athletic and that his remaining senses were enhanced. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#3) - Jack went to a church, where Sister Maggie met him, telling him she had seen Matt, and he was so strong, just like Jack. When Jack lamented Matt being blinded as being crippled, Maggie told him that the Lord would guide both Jack and Matt, and she gave Jack her cross. She told Jack he could be a good man; if she didn't believe that, she wouldn't have left Matt in his care; she further asked him that the cross remind him of the man he could be. When Jack countered that he was a fighter and a drunk, Maggie acknowledged that he lived in a different world than she did, and asked that when he must indulge his flesh and/or fight that he take the cross off and remember that he was made for better things. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#3 (fb) - BTS) - From that moment one, Jack never even smelled a drink or thought about a fight while wearing Maggie's cross; however, he sometimes took the cross off.
    After each fight, he put the cross back on.

(Daredevil: Father#1 (fb) / Daredevil: Father#2 (fb)) - Jack posed for a picture with Matt.

(Uncanny Origins#13 (fb)) - Jack offered to help Matt with his Braille lessons, and Matt told him he had helped him enough; Matt further kidded his father that he could read more quickly with his fingers than Jack could with his eyes. 

(Daredevil IV#15 (fb)) - Jack watched over Matt as he studied his schoolwork in Braille. 

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt was eagerly accepted by the Director of Admissions of State College (see comments).

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt graduated from high school.

(Daredevil -1) - Jack accompanied Matt via bus ride (as it was less expensive than a train ride) to State College, excitedly reviewing the courses and meal plan pamphlets en route. He also cautioned Matt against partaking in alcohol ("the Devil's Drink"). Jack was generally over-protective of Matt, including berating dean Arthur DuFour when he suggested Matt should be in the orientation for special students. Despite his best intentions, his overcompensations repeatedly frustrated Matt. They met Matt's roommate, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson.

    Atdinner at the local Ale House, Matt reassured Jack that he had done a good job, reminding him that there was always food on the table, a present under the Christmas tree, laughter in the house, and the secure feeling of safety. Soon after, a group of locals began harassing Matt, assuming he was the stereotypical rich student they hated, and Matt had to stop Jack from getting into a fight with them, especially when one of them pulled a knife. 

    Jack was furious when they left, although he kept telling himself he had done the right thing and set a good example for Matt by walking away; however, he couldn't sleep and went back to the Ale House to teach the punks a lesson, only to find Matt there, pretending to be clueless as he "accidentally" beat up the whole group while pretended to stumble around helplessly. A tear in his eye, Jack told Matt he was lucky to have him, and Matt returned the compliment.

    Confident that Matt could handle himself, Jack headed home the next day.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt started college. 

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt discovered his radar sense.

(Daredevil III#26 (fb) - BTS) - Despite taking several tough hits in a fight, Jack rallied to keep going and win the fight.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Fixer began fixing fights so Jack would go on a winning streak. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#3) - Josie watched all of Jack's fights, and she believed in him. 

(Daredevil#500 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Jack fought and beat a guy named Cyclone Larry.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack seemingly knocked out Sims in the 9th round.

(Daredevil I#164 (fb) - BTS) - Jack knocked out "Gal"-something (perhaps Gallagher?) in seven rounds.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack seemingly knocked out another opponent in the 12th round.

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb)) - "Kid Murdock" (mockingly nicknamed for his age) seemingly knocked out Moore in the ninth round.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#3) - Jack roundly defeated Sweet Pea Henderson in a major upset. Afterward, the Fixer complimented Jack, telling him he was making him a lot of money, and told him he was going to see about getting Jack onto the next card in Madison Square Garden. Josie then congratulated Jack, and she was ecstatic to hear he might be fighting in Madison Square Garden. As he bade her goodnight, she invited him up to her room. Not feeling right about that, he told her he couldn't, but she told him she heard of him going with other girls, and asked if he didn't like her. Jack tried to explain that she wasn't like those other girls, that she was nice, and that he should go. Josie told Jack she wasn't a saint, that she was just another person, but he forced himself to leave, telling her "...no, you're not...not to me." He walked away holding his cross.

    When he got home, Matt was waiting for him; Matt teased Jack, asking how bad the fight he missed was, and Jack proudly told Matt he had won; he further told Matt he looked like he was ready to be a first rate lawyer and that his walking stick made him look distinguished. Matt reminded Jack how he had told him that in life the guy with the stick got to say what was right and wrong, and Jack noted that was a long time ago, and hoped that Matt didn't take too much of what he had said to heart.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) -  Newspapers reported his success including at least few knockouts, and noted him to be a favorite. They also advertised his upcoming Madison Square Garden bout against Pedro Gar-something.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - The Fixer paid Jack with a big wad of cash, telling him if he kept it up he might be "champ" someday. Extremely pleased, Jack felt like this was all some kind of miracle. 

(Daredevil I#164 (fb) - BTS) - By this point, Jack had won 10 straight fights. 

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - After Jack left, one of the Fixer's cronies commented on how surprised Jack will be when he finds out that all of these fights were set-ups. The Fixer added that Jack would learn the facts of life in his next fight, where Jack would have to take the count.

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb)) - Using the money he had made from the Fixer, Jack took Matt and Foggy out for dinner. After accidentally spilling ketchup on a woman, Jack offered to buy dinner for her and her friends; they seemed to recognize him, and he confirmed he was Battling Jack Murdock.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt read the headline "Kid Murdock to face Davis, No. 2 contender!" (with further information that the fight would be at the Garden (Madison Square Garden) and he bought tickets for himself and his roommate, "Foggy" Nelson. Soon after, Foggy rushed up to tell Matt about the headline.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 (fb) - BTS) - Pleased to have won his last six fights via knockout and to have not heard from the Fixer in months, Jack took a jog in Central Park.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS / Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - The Fixer's car pulled up next to Murdock as he jogged, and the Fixer told Jack to take it easy; revealing he had set up Jack's recent wins, the Fixer instructed Jack to take a dive (see comments) in the fight tomorrow. He reminded Jack of the usual threats against Matt (see comments).

(Daredevil I#164 (fb)) - The Fixer and Slade met Jack at Fogwell's Gym, where the Fixer told him he was working too hard and should take it easy. "Real easy. So easy you lose your next fight, know what I mean?" Jack was outraged, noting that he had never thrown a fight in his life. He took a swing at the Fixer, but Slade caught his fist and squeezed it, causing Jack to wince in pain. The Fixer warned him to take a dive or he was a dead man.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#3) - Jack later visited the Fixer, who showed him the cover of the Daily Mirror, announcing how Jack was getting a shot at the championship. Excited, Matt thanked him and prepared to get back to the gym, but the Fixer, with Slade backing him up, revealed how he had been fixing his fights -- enough that you don't want to know how many -- and that this time Jack was going to take a dive. The Fixer told Jack he was a has-been he had been propping up, and then Slade continued to threaten his "retard son."  (see comments)

    On his way home, Josie congratulated Jack on getting the fight and showed him how she was going to bet a year's worth of tips on him. Dejected, Jack explained to her that he wasn't going to win the fight. Jack then made his way to Fogwell's gym, where Gus let him in and encouraged him to worry about beating Crusher at the Garden. Jack then walked in to see the black mask-wearing Matt pounding at the punching bag. Slade and the Fixer's men then confronted Jack, telling him the Fixer told him to stay away from the gym; thinking Jack needed some more convincing, Slade held Jack at gunpoint while the two other guys started punching him, after which Slade joined in. Wishing to avoid leaving a mark on Jack, they instead focused on working his stomach; however, the costumed Matt then attacked, battering the three attackers; Slade got in one lucky punch before being dropped. Jack thanked his unknown ally, noting he could tell from the sound of the hit that he would get a black eye, but Matt rushed away without revealing who he was. 

    When Jack got home and opened the refrigerator, perhaps thinking of having a drink, Matt greeted Jack in his pajamas. Jack explained things as having gotten into a tussle that didn't go his way. Realizing he had been too old to fight off Slade and his men, the only way to protect Matt -- who he figured was too weak to take care of himself -- was to be smart and to throw the fight.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4 (fb) - BTS) - Jack met with the Fixer, agreeing to cooperate on the condition he wouldn't be seeing Slade or the other enforcers again.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4 (fb) - BTS) - After one of the Fixer's bookies reported that Josie had made a very hefty bet on him to win, the Fixer became nervous that Jack had changed his mind. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4 (fb)) - While talking to his friend Sal at Fogwell's gym, Jack handled the billy club his rescuer had left him, inadvertantly activating the switch that transformed it into a cane. His examination of the cane was interrupted by the arrival of Slade and his associates who tried to intimidate him; realizing they couldn't touch them, Jack mocked them with the beating they'd received the last time they came by there. When they told Jack about Josie's bet, he rushed off to see her.

    Jack met with Josie, but she explained to him how she had intended to, but just couldn't bet against him. Despite his assertions to the contrary, Josie told Jack he was a good man, and the two soon began kissing. Remembering his promise to Maggie, Jack started to take off his cross, but Josie told him that they were not bad people...what they were doing was good, and that he was a good man. Their romance allowed Jack to believe he was a good and strong man.

    Nonetheless, Jack made Josie promise to stay away from the fight, as her Jack wasn't going to be fighting that fight.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jack had been a boxer for three decades at the time of this final fight. He had had his nose broken (and/or perhaps broken more of other peoples' noses) more times than he could count

(Uncanny Origins#13 (fb)) - Jack met with Matt and Foggy, telling them they didn't know how much it meant to him that they were there. 

(Uncanny Origins#13 (fb)) - Prior to the fight, Jack was sent to see the Fixer, who reminded him of his obligations. Jack noted his surprise that his son was there, but the Fixer noted only that life was full of surprises and warned him not to disappoint him.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#1) - In round one of the fight, Jack felt that he could win, but accepted that he had to be weak and lose the fight to protect Matt. Still, knowing he didn't have to throw the fight until the fourth round, he dodged a couple punches and then punched his opponent with a blow that knocked his opponent to his knee; the look on his opponent's face made Jack figure his opponent didn't realize Jack was to throw the fight. They traded blows the rest of the round, with Jack reminded of Maggie as he thought of how he was losing something that should be his.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#2) - Just before round 2 started, the Fixer's trainer reminded Jack to take the punches as planned so he could see a nice payday.

    Towards the end of the round, Jack remembered how angry he was over the accident that blinded Matt and how he had hit Matt the last time he'd seen him; his anger over this caused him to lay into his opponent, with the end of the round giving his opponent a respite.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#3) - Jack's trainer saw he had a cross (Maggie's) in his glove, and he cursed him as an idiot, risking getting disqualified if the referee saw it; he then reminded Jack that he had to go down in the fourth round to save his son. At the start of the round, Creel came in with his arms down, seemingly offering him his chin, and, despite knowing better, Jack took the shot to see if he had what it took to put Crusher down; he played into Crusher's trap, and Crusher dodged and then punched Jack hard in the face. 

    Considering his promise to Matt that everything was going to be OK, Jack allowed himself to take a pounding from his opponent, bottling the fury in his arms and willing it into his knees to stay standing througout the third round.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - Jack's trainer taunted him, telling him the Fixer had wasted his money buying him off, as he wouldn't have made it to round five anyway. Jack reviewed the plan in his head, considering that he'd never know if he could have won the fight, as he had to lose to prevent the Fixer from hurting or killing the seemingly helpless Matt.

    As the round started, Jack stumbled towards Creel, and the crowd cheered, smelling blood. Jack's exhausted arms tingled, begging for a chance to prove the crowd wrong...though he was most concerned about his son who thought he was going to win. He further considered how he always had a problem with people believing in him, as it was only a matter of time before he let them down. 

    Mid-round, Jack told Creel that he dropped his gloves like a punk after every right hook, exposing his ribs; he told Creel to never forget that Battling Jack had his number, after which Creel answered with a powerful punch that knocked Jack to the ground. Though Jack refused to go flat, he stayed on his knees, until he looked up and saw -- with the ensuing chaos in the crowd having knocked Matt's glasses off -- that Matt had a black eye. 

    Instantly, the pieces came together, and Jack realized the "billy club" was Matt's cane, and that Matt was the one who had taken down Slade's men that day. 

(Daredevil I#164 (fb) / Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb)) - The Fixer came up ringside and ordered Jack to stay down, reminding him he had fixed all of his other fights.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - Realizing that Matt was strong and could take care of himself, Jack decided he could be strong, too, and he got back to his feet at the nine-count. After assuring the referee he was OK, he dodged a pair of Creel's punches, delivering powerful blows to his ribs in response each time.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Ringside, the Fixer warned Jack not to double cross him and to take the dive.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) / Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 / Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4 / Daredevil I#164 (fb)) - Not wanting to disappoint Matt and realizing this was his last chance to make Matt proud of him, Jack knocked out Davis. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - As Jack returned to his corner, before the ten count finished, his trainer swore to him that "you and that crip kid are gonna..." and Jack punched him out, too.

    As Jack headed back to the lockers, Josie greeted him with a hug, telling him they were rich, and could invest in the bar, etc. Jack told her to take her money and leave town for a couple weeks, as he had a couple of things to take care of. He walked away, assuring her everything was going to be OK.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Matt greeted his dad, telling him he had proven that nothing was impossible if a man had the courage. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - When Matt asked Jack what was next, Jack said he was getting a little old for this game and might try something else...especially since Matt could take care of himself and was a man. Jack went on to apologize for the time he had hit Matt, acknowledging he was just a sad, old drunk then. He further admitted that he wasn't a saint or a hero, but that Matt should follow his own gut now, and that he was damn proud of him. 

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb)) - Matt wanted to go out and celebrate, but Jack told him he had to take care of some things first, and that he'd take a shower and meet them back at the apartment. Jack gave his robe to Matt, saying he was done fighting and that he planned to tell Sweeney they were done tonight.

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - After a hug, Matt left Jack to go find Foggy.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Furious at this "betrayal," the Fixer sent Slade to kill Jack.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb)) - Resolved to his fate, but satisifed that Matt would always be proud of him, Jack left the gym.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1 / Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - Knowing Slade and the others were there, Jack told them to get it over with (or, "I'm ready when you are).

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - Slade directed Jack into a nearby alley.

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - The Fixer's men brutally beat Jack; though he was left a pulpy mess, Jack didn't say a word of complaint. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4) - After this heavy working over, the Fixer approached, telling Jack he had cost him a lot of money, more than he could ever pay back, and before he wiped him off the face of the Earth, he wanted to hear Jack scream. 

    Jack pushed himself up on his hands and knees, but told the Fixer he was "done tap-dancing for you, you fat @#$%. So shoot me or shut the #@$% up."

    After a few more blows from the butt of Slade's gun, Jack still refused to scream and cursed Slade instead. Slade threatened to go after Matt when they were done with him; knowing what Matt could do, Jack began laughing and told them to go see his boy...and that he wished he could be there for that. 

(Daredevil: The Man without Fear#1) - At the end, the toothless Jack threw the Fixer a youg man's grin.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Slade fatally shot Jack.

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb) - BTS) - Having fallen asleep while waiting for his dad to return to the apartment, Matt heard the gunshot and rushed toward it. 

(Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock#4 - BTS) - The Fixer and his men fled the scene of the crime. 

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) / Daredevil I#131 (fb)) - The police -- including Lt. Bert Rose -- found Jack's dead body.

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb)) - Matt rushed to find his father's dead body, already outlined on the sidewalk by the police. He found pistachio nut shells -- on which the Fixer often snacked -- around the body. Matt knelt down by his side and told him how much he loved him. 

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Fixer and Slade were arrested, but on the day of the bail hearing, they had some Park Avenue attorney who convinced the judge (who may have been paid off or otherwise convinced to free the Fixer) the charges should be dropped, as the evidence was largely circumstantial; no murder weapon was found; both Sweeney and Slade had alibis for their whereabouts at the time of the murder; and that it would seem illogical for Sweeney to have murdered someone he had invested large sums of money to make him the heavyweight champion. 

    An outraged Matt asked if the judge had been paid off, but Foggy convinced Matt to stand down to avoid being held in contempt of court.

(Daredevil III#8 - BTS) - Jack's tombstone read, "HE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT /  JACK MURDOCK."

(Daredevil III#16 (fb) - BTS) - Matt had Jack buried with his boxing gloves. 

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Foggy tried to comfort Matt, telling him he had to pull out of his depression, as that's what his father would have wanted.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - After graduating as class valedictorian, Matt became law partners with Foggy, but knew he could never concentrate until he had brought his father's murderer to justice.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt resolved to stay true to his promise not to resort to force by taking another identity that could do that for him.

(Daredevil: Yellow#1 (fb) - BTS) - Opening Jack's old footlocker, which still smelled of Old Spice and talcum powder, Matt removed Jack's robe, boxing shoes, and his undergloves. 

    Sitting in Jack's old chair, Matt worked at least through the night sewing a costume he could wear in his new identity as Daredevil (partially inspired by the taunting nickname he received as a kid when he was not allowed to do anything risky).

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Matt adopted the costumed identity Daredevil and confronted and defeated Porky, Sam, and the rest of the Fixer's men at Fogwell's gym.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - When the Fixer arrived, Daredevil demanded to know about his arrangement with "Battling" Murdock. Curious why his antagonist cared, the Fixer told him it wasn't healthy to mention that name, and Slade offered to take care of Daredevil.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - During the struggle, Daredevil recognized that he could hear people's heart rate speed up when they were lying, when the Fixer claimed he had nothing to do with Battling Murdock's death.

(Daredevil I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Daredevil defeated Slade and the rest of the Fixer's men. The Fixer had a fatal heart attack while fleeing Daredevil. Daredevil tricked Slade into admitting his and the Fixer's involvement within earshot of the police.

(Daredevil III#16 (fb) - BTS) - Via the technology of Dr. Elliot Pasko, video images from Jack's final fight were transferred into Matt's mind, allowing him to see the fight for himself.

(Daredevil I#200 - BTS) - Confronting Bullseye at the St. James Arena, Matt recalled his long-forgotten memory of Jack as the "Red Devil."

(Daredevil I#325) - During a period of time when Matt Murdock had faked his death, he took the temporary identity "Jack Batlin," obviously inspired by his father's name.

(Wolverine II#154 - BTS) - Years later while imprisoned in the Cage Creel bragged, while beating up Hank McCoy, that he could've become heavyweight champion of the world in boxing if had not lost his chance losing to some guy named Battlin' Jack.

(Daredevil: Father#1) - On Father's Day, Daredevil visited Fogwell's gym and acknowledged his father in front of one of his old posters.

(Daredevil III#9 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking the corpse of the recently deceased Lorna (who had been nice to him in his earlier surface life), the Mole Man had his Moloids steal a mass quantity of coffins from Manhattan and bring them to Subterranea, where he broke open the coffins and dumped out the remains.

(Daredevil III#7 - BTS) - A tunnel opened up into Jack's grave, causing the coffin and the ground above it to fall into the tunnel.

(Daredevil III#8 - BTS) - Foggy investigated reports of shifting grounds at Suncourt cemetery, representing a group of clients claiming negligence in the care of their loved ones' remains. Jack's tombstone was seen above ground.

(Daredevil III#9 (fb) - BTS) - Foggy found a deep tunnel under Jack's grave, and Jack's remains were missing.

(Daredevil III#8 - BTS) - Foggy informed Matt about the disappearance of Jack's remains. 

(Daredevil III#9 (fb) - BTS) - Matt met Jack at Suncourt cemetery; while Foggy continued the investigations on the surface, Daredevil headed down the tunnels.

(Daredevil III#9 - BTS) - Daredevil investigated the disappearance of Jack Murdock and numerous other coffins/corpses in the Mole Man's Subterranea. 
    He found the Moloids bringing them to the Mole Man, who broke the coffins open and finally found the demised Lorna. 

(Daredevil III#10 - BTS) - Unable to identify his father's decayed remains (or any of the others) amongst the others, which had been dumped, mixed, etc., Daredevil took Lorna's corpse from the Mole Man, along with diamonds from the Valley of Diamonds. With these, he had the desecrated graves repaired, and each tombstone implanted with a glowing diamond (see comments).

(Daredevil III#14 (fb) - BTS) - Matt told Foggy there was nothing left of Jack Murdock to re-bury.

(Daredevil III#26 (fb) - BTS) - Bullseye employed Coyote to attack Daredevil/Matt Murdock personally.

(Daredevil III#21 (fb) - BTS) - Coyote (empowered similarly to the Spot and employed by parties unidentified) transported Jack's remains into Matt's desk drawer as part of a plot to make Matt appear to be insane (see comments).

(Daredevil III#16 (fb) - BTS) - Foggy found the apparent remains of Jack Murdock (including his boxing gloves) in Matt's desk drawer. Foggy had tests run that apparently confirmed the remains to be Jack's.

(Daredevil III#16 - BTS) - Foggy confronted Matt about the remains. Matt's senses told him the remains were real, but when he told Foggy this must be the work of one of his enemies, Foggy thought he was lying. Foggy put Matt on a temporary leave and told him to get some help.

(Daredevil III#26 (fb) - BTS) - Bullseye employed Ikari to attack Daredevil/Matt Murdock personally.

(Daredevil III#25 - BTS) - Ikari confronted Daredevil wrapped in Jack's former boxing robe. (see comments)

(Original Sin#3 - BTS / Daredevil IV#6 (fb) - BTS) - Using ones of the eyes of Uatu the Watcher, the Orb released secrets into the minds of those present, including Daredevil, who received a memory that seemed to show Jack having punched Maggie to the floor.

(Daredevil IV#6 - BTS) - Confused by a memory/image that seemed to show Jack having beaten Maggie, Matt smeared mud across the bottom of Jack's tombstone (which lacked a diamond), "A GOOD MAN," leaving only "JACK MURDOCK" showing at the top (see comments).

(Daredevil IV#7 - BTS) - Sister Maggie explained the truth to Matt about the memory/secret he had glimpsed.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett.

    Daredevil I#1 identified the flashback of Battling Jack talking to an eight year old Matthew Murdock as occurring in 1950. While that date is obviously topical, it would indicate that the story took place at a certain time in relation to the main story, which was published in 1964. That would make Matt 22 years old when he adopted the Daredevil role to avenge his father; IIRC, Matt was already a lawyer at this point, which would put him 4 years past getting his undergraduate degree, which would normally be when you were 21 years old or so. We know Matt started and finished his schooling alongside Foggy, so there's no reason to think Matt made it through college and law school at an accelerated rate, but he could have advanced through his earlier years in elementary, middle, or high school at an accelerated rate; however, I don't think there's any evidence to support this. Regardless, the scene with the eight year old Matt may have taken more like 17 years before the main story.

    According to Jack in Daredevil -1, Matt was the first Murdock ever to go to college.

    It was not spelled out in the story, but it is hard to imagine that once Matt regained Jack's remains that he would not have them reinterred by his tombstone. More on that craziness way down in the comments...

    In Shadowlands#5, the scene with Jack Murdock is just an addled delusion. Both Jack and Maggie appear and say mean things to Matt. I don't think it's really them. Anyway, he basically told Matt he was good for nothing after losing his sight, and that both of them dying at the hands of the Fixer's men was probably for the best.