Issue(s): Marvel Team-Up annual #4
Cover Date: 1981
Title: "Power play!"
Credits:
Frank Miller - Writer
Herb Trimpe - Penciler
Mike Esposito - Inker

Review/plot:
Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Power Man, Iron Fist, and Daredevil try to stop the Purple Man while also preventing him from being assassinated by an agent of the Kingpin named Heinrich for disrupting a drug shipment.

The Purple Man is able to control people even by a TV broadcast, which is odd. I thought his powers were pheromone-based. It seems they are actually sound based, since Moon Knight is able to ignore the commands by wearing earplugs.

The Kingpin is able to resist the Purple Man's control, in a scene rather well depicted by Trimpe...

...who isn't too shabby, if a little old school, this entire issue.

Frank Miller has been transitioning from artist/writer to simply writer in the Daredevil book but to my knowledge this is the first issue where he's purely writing, and it's not bad, but not the same as his Daredevil stuff.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This takes place after the Kingpin returns to New York City. It's the first time Moon Knight meets Daredevil or Power Man & Iron Fist (so it has to go before Moon Knight #13). Beyond that, any break in the various heroes' solo books will do.

References:

• The Purple Man apparently died in Daredevil #154.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The Purple Man's powers have been portrayed inconsistently over the years. When you review the Emperor Doom Graphic Novel, you'll see that the plot of that story requires people to breathe in the Purple Man's pheromones to be affected by his power.
(BTW, I recommend you buy plenty of asprin before you review that issue. You'll need it for the headache you'll get trying to place that story chronologically.)

What I remember about this issue is that Peter Parker had gone from somebody who liked Ella Fitzgerald (ASM 136) to an Elvis Costello fan, which made me a little sad.

Even if the powers were pheromone-based, I'd think earplugs would still work. You'll still do whatever he tells you to, but you can't actually hear him tell you to do anything.

It's interesting that the Purple Man has stopped scheming and getting into fights, and instead uses his powers to get whatever he wants on a whim. This becomes his default characterization, with later writers like Bill Mantlo (!) and Brian Bendis really upping the ante on how much creepier that sort of day-to-day sociopathy is that Killgrave's more supervillainish "dress up a gang in purple and try to take over the city" criminal activities.

I thought this was a great issue, Purple Man is a very underrated villain imo.. the way he uses his powers to live a life of leisure is different and interesting. This characterization was definitely used in the Jessica Jones TV show. Between this and his art on Amazing Annual 14, wish Miller did more Spider-Man.

I sort of wonder if Miller was going back to the basics for Killgrave because it worked so well: the idea of a villain who just can smooth-talk his way into getting what he wants instead of needing a gang or any of that. Considering that is how the Purple Man worked in his first appearance, it just worked for him...and considering that Frank doesn't use Killgrave in his Daredevil run, at least he does give him some mileage in redefining him into his more classic role in another comic.

I always thought that a decent issue of "What If?" could've been inspired by this issue. "What If ... Spider-Man, Daredevil, Power Man, Iron Fist and Moon Knight formed a super team?"

I believe this was Miller's first official "writing" credit.

I am not a fan of the art. That full-page spread, the last scan, Spidey looks like the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon. And the rest of the issue wasn't much better.

I'm also not a fan of the writing, honestly. Serviceable for Marvel at the time, but Miller would get much better very quickly on "Daredevil." Power Man, Iron Fist and Moon Knight didn't even appear in the story until halfway through. The story did set up the Kingpin as a serious villain [which I think Miller did something with later] but for me, the only interesting part is when Spidey doesn't know any Shakespeare, and asked what he does know, answers "Elvis Costello." 'Fine, sing us some Elvis Costello.'

A landmark story signaling Frank Miller's arrival in comics. I'm not a fan.

@Gary Himes: I'd go for that as an ongoing! Good combination of powers and personalities there. Moon Knight was a mercenary but regrets it, Cage is the 'Hero for Hire' and Spidey is leary of the whole idea but takes photos of himself for money and Iron Fist is above such things but has money Peter Parker never did. I really think it'd be seriously good with the right creative team!

this issue feels like a waste of a great concept. all the street level heroes in a team-up against the purple man and the kingpin. the possibilities are great.

Maybe the purple mans powers are still pherome based but since Moon Knight could actually hear the commands from the purple man it didnt matter.