Issue(s): Daredevil #203
Cover Date: Feb 84
Title: "Trumps!"
Credits:
Steven Grant - Writer
Geof Isherwood - Penciler
Dan Bulanadi - Inker

Review/plot:
I've said that the Micah Synn storyline had a nice slow build, but part of the reason i have that impression is that there are a few fill-in issues during Denny O'Neil's run that stretch out the plot. Otherwise the Synn story would have been somewhat more compressed.

This fill-in is by Steven Grant and it introduces a new villain named Trump, and it's competently told but a disappointment as an interruption to O'Neil's run.

The new villain is Trump, and he's pretty lame in terms of both powers and design.

His secret origin is that he was a stage magician.

And he's got a "magic wand"

In the shot above, he's using a "concussion pellet" with the wand. It also discharges an electrical blast.

Actually, his dumb little magic tricks, like shooting a deck of cards out of his sleeves (which confuses DD's radar sense), are a decent compliment to a guy who is basically a non-powered thug. If he wasn't wearing the cape and domino mask he'd be an ok low level villain, but the costume makes you expect a little more. In the end he tries to escape by blinding Daredevil with a flash, but of course that doesn't work.

Trump will have a few more appearances, mostly as a background or joke villain.

One of Trump's men is a guy named Stymie Schmidt who knew Matt Murdock as a kid. He was one of the kids who teased him with the "Daredevil" nickname and bullied him.

Matt takes the case for his defense, and it's pretty clear that instead of taking a deal since Stymie is clearly guilty, Matt is subconsciously (?) trying to ensure that Stymie's case goes to trial so that he can get the maximum sentence. Foggy eventually talks some sense into him.

It's an interesting idea showing Matt as somewhat flawed, even though in the end he doesn't go through with it.

On the other hand, Daredevil is very closely associated with Matt Murdock. I don't think reminding us that there's a whole neighborhood of former children out there that used to call Matt "Daredevil" is such a good idea (and right after revealing a few issues ago that his father used to wear a devil's mask while wrestling).

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Trump

Chronological Placement Considerations: Tony Stark appears in Daredevil #204 between Iron Man #177-178 so i've pushed Daredevil #202 and #203 back in publication time a bit to accommodate.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

So...Trump's a crazy guy who goes around shocking things. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)