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A Beginner’s Guide To ‘Bullseye’
The Reveal This Week
This week we had another winner! The shout-out goes to @doom_gamer666 from TikTok, who had the correct answer first this week with their guess of Bullseye from Marvel Comics!
For The Previous Article In This Serie, CLICK HERE
Character Bio
Bullseye was created by Marv Wolfman and John Romita Sr. He made his first comic book appearance in Daredevil #131 back in 1976.
Very little of his early life is known, including his real name. He was once captured and questioned by US officials, where he gave up many supposed details about his early years. Very soon after, however, he escaped the facility and taunted officials by saying he made up much of the information he gave.
One such detail was that he had a brother, who once burned down their family home in an attempt to murder their father. He later said it was he himself who set the blaze, and there was no brother. Due to this, much of the information he gave is assumed to be false.
What Is Known “For Sure”
One story that officials have heard from multiple sources is that Bullseye originally wanted to utilize his throwing skills by playing professional baseball. He turned out to be far too selfish and mean spirited to function in a friendly team environment. One account says that he was finally kicked out of the game, after getting bored during a no hitter game. In his boredom he decided to throw the ball at the batter’s head, striking and killing the player mid game.
After his playing days were officially over, the only confirmed intel on Bullseye is the fact that he quickly put his skills to work as a mercenary for hire. Beginning as an operative for the United States National Security Agency, and later as a freelance assassin. In those days he worked with the likes of Deadpool while going up against other characters like The Punisher.
We are first introduced to Bullseye as the assassin hired to kill New York lawyer, Matt Murdock (aka. Daredevil). He is ultimately unsuccessful in this endeavor.
A Royal Murder Mystery
Reading Recommendations
Bullseye is a character that we know very little about with any certainty. Even with this lack of established background or childhood, Bullseye is a fixture of Daredevil’s rogue gallery. Gaining a reputation for being willing to switch sides depending on the highest bidder at the time. Along with being one of the more determined and focused mercenaries in the Marvel Universe, Bullseye is not to be underestimated by his enemies.
With so many great stories involving Bullseye, it was difficult to narrow it down to just 3 recommendations. These are the top 3 runs that I would recommend for first time readers looking to learn about Bullseye for the first time. (Shout-out to by good friend @hillbillycomics who helped me out putting this list together)
Number 1
Daredevil #131-132
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artwork: Bob Brown & John Romita Sr.
As always, I like to start these lists off with the first appearance of the character. What better place to begin learning about Bullseye than his very first appearance in Daredevil #131-132 from 1976?
We are first shown Bullseye when a businessman at Glen Industries is in the middle of berating and mistreating one of his employees. At that moment, a paper airplane bursts through the window (yes you read that correctly, a paper airplane breaking a window). After assuming that this is some kind of joke being played by someone, he unfolds the airplane to reveal a note. The note states to pay up or be killed by Bullseye.
A moment later, Bullseye appears, asking for his payment. When that payment is denied, Bullseye kills the businessman by throwing a pen and piercing his throat. The story surrounds the investigation into this homicide, and Daredevil taking on this costumed assassin that “never misses”. It’s a great place to start as this is the very first time we see Bullseye in the comics, and is a must read for any new readers.
Number 2
Daredevil #169
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Frank Miller
The next story on our list is contained within just one single issue. In Daredevil #169 from 1981, Bullseye completely snaps, but it’s not entirely his fault this time.
In this issue, Bullseye is diagnosed with a brain tumor. This would be unsettling for anyone, let alone a homicidal killer-for-hire like Bullseye. The other problem is the effect that the tumor is having on his mind. Everywhere he turns, he sees Daredevil. So everywhere he turns, he kills Daredevil. Only it is not Daredevil at all. He is, in fact, killing random citizens on the street one after the other. You can see the problem with an insane assassin seeing his worst enemy everywhere around him and believing it to be real.
Daredevil must track down Bullseye and bring him in, before he kills anyone else. The only problem is that his next victim could literally be the next person he sees. Be sure not to skip out on this issue if you’re looking for great Bullseye content!
Number 3
Daredevil #181
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Frank Miller
This is considered by many fans to be the point where Bullseye makes his definitive mark on Daredevil’s story in general. Where he ceased to be one of many, and became the primary threat to our masked hero and his allies.
This is where the inspiration for the 2003 film, Daredevil came from. In this issue, Bullseye manages to escape, yet again, from Rikers Island. Soon after he is on a mission to take out Elektra. He finds his target as she is about to kill Foggy Nelson, whom she was hired to kill herself. They have a brutal fight, but in the end, Bullseye manages to inflict a mortal wound on Elektra who later dies on Matt Murdock’s front steps.
Later at the medical examiner’s office, something else happens that shakes up the Daredevil mythos. Bullseye, posing as the doctor tending to Elektra’s body, manages to figure out that Matt Murdock the blind lawyer, is actually Daredevil the masked vigilante hero of Hell’s Kitchen.
This issue changes everything for Daredevil fans, and showcases Bullseye as one of the most dangerous enemies that Daredevil has ever had to face. Do not skip reading this issue.
Can You Guess The Next Character?
This is ‘Who’s That Comic Character?’, the series where I give you a silhouette of a comic book character, and you try to figure out who it is! The video posts to all major social media platforms, so no matter your preferred app, you can find this series!
Rules Of The Game
- You only get one guess per person
- Check comment sections to ensure your guess has not already been taken by another player. Only the FIRST person with the right answer on each platform will get the shoutout
- Be specific with your guess! For example: If you guess “Green Lantern” you need to specify WHICH Green Lantern you mean. Hal Jordan? Alan Scott? John Stewart? Be Specific
Check Out The Latest Episode Of The Comic Press Podcast
So always take a good long look at the silhouette provided, because they can get very tricky. The first person on any given platform to guess the character correctly, gets a shout out in the reveal video and the article that goes with it!
Good luck everyone, and as always Be Safe, Be Kind, and Take It Easy!
