| Ben Urich | |
|---|---|
.png) Ben Urich as depicted inDaredevil #16 (May 2001) byDavid W. Mack | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Daredevil #153 (July 1978) |
| Created by | Roger McKenzie (writer) Gene Colan (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Benjamin Urich |
| Team affiliations |
|
| Supporting character of | |
Benjamin "Ben"Urich (/ˈjʊərɪk/) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in stories featuringDaredevil andSpider-Man.
Urich is ainvestigative journalist for theNew YorknewspaperTheDaily Bugle. Urich deduced the secret identity of Daredevil, and has used him as a source of information, and vice versa. To a lesser extent, he has a similar relationship with Spider-Man, whosealter ego Peter Parker, a photographer for theBugle, occasionally accompanied Urich on assignments. Urich has used these connections to exposesupervillains posing as businessmen includingKingpin andGreen Goblin.
He was portrayed byJoe Pantoliano in the 2003 filmDaredevil, and byVondie Curtis-Hall in thefirst season of theMarvel Televisionstreaming television seriesDaredevil, set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
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Created byRoger McKenzie andGene Colan, Ben Urich first appeared inDaredevil #153 (July 1978).[1]
Urich first appeared inDaredevil stories, where he investigatedWilson Fisk, a businessman who was secretly the Kingpin, the head of the New York criminal underworld.
Urich plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in thePunisher limited seriesCircle of Blood (drawn byMike Zeck). When a younger, less experienced Punisher plays into the Kingpin's ruse, he leaves a message for Urich. The resulting story results in the murders of several mafia men and the deaths of many innocent people, teaching the entire community how vital Kingpin unfortunately is.
Ben learns the secret ofDaredevil's identity but refuses to divulge it. He is drawn into the circle of revenge the Kingpin has planned for Daredevil. Ben tries to overcome the intimidation but the threats come closer to home. His fingers are broken and he hears the death of a witness over the phone. His courage crumbles but he rallies back. His wife is nearly killed. The would-be hit-woman turnsstate's evidence and Ben and several allies go to interview her. One of his self-proclaimed 'entourage' and a prison guard turn out to be Kingpin assassins. Ben defeats one by a severe pistol whipping. The witness is killed. Kingpin uses a super-powered assassin, Nuke, to try to take out all his enemies, but the attempt fails.[2] Urich uses public support to destroy the Kingpin's empire.[3]
Urich later takes on another criminal businessman,Norman Osborn, also known as the villainousGreen Goblin. After Osborn's presumed death, Urich writes an exposé book on the man's many crimes, titledLegacy of Evil. During the course of research for the book, Ben helps Spider-Man and theMolten Man saveLiz Allan's son from kidnappers who resembled the Green Goblin. His research helps the trio go through the Goblin's history and eventually discover what had really gone on.[4] When Norman returns from the dead (or rather, Europe), he is able to discredit Urich and the book, going to great effort to clear his name. Urich refuses to retract his exposé on Osborn despite being threatened by him and risking his career, and investigates him further to prove that Osborn is a criminal.
Ben becomes colleagues with his nephewPhil Urich. Though unsure at first, Phil proves to be a skilled investigator. Though his work life is professional, his personal life is in shambles, causing him and Ben to become endangered.[5]
During the period where Daredevil's identity was exposed in print, Ben refuses to confirm it toJ. Jonah Jameson on the principle of protecting his sources, and his status at work suffered for it. Jameson was able to move beyond that argument when he assigns Ben to the new supplement,The Pulse. During this assignment he reveals to Peter Parker that he knows his identity as Spider-Man. It is also around this time that Matt Murdock sets up a meeting with Ben to privately declare he is ending their professional relationship to avoid anyone else discovering this connection and using Ben to get to Murdock.[6]
Ben Urich turns out to be right when he originally exposed the Green Goblin, asDaily Bugle research would show, and conclusively when the Green Goblin is publicly unmasked byLuke Cage and Spider-Man and sent to jail. Plans for a re-release ofLegacy of Evil are discussed at that point.[citation needed]
Ben is approached by theKingpin to act as journalist covering the Kingpin brokering a deal with theFBI for release and reinstatement of his wealth, in exchange for proof that Daredevil is in fact Matt Murdock. To Ben's horror, he is the one who is forced to lead the FBI to Daredevil's location. Matt Murdock is recovering at theNight Nurse's clinic, of which Ben Urich knows the location (he had written an article on her), and he is forced to give that information to the FBI, due to the manipulation of the Kingpin.
During the 2006 "Civil War" storyline, Ben is one of the main characters inCivil War: Front Line, coveringIron Man's side as anembedded journalist on behalf of theBugle. His neutrality is called into question after a confrontation with the Green Goblin, who was supposed to be in prison at the time but had been secretly released as part of one of Iron Man's plans. After insisting toJ. Jonah Jameson that it was him, Ben is fired.[volume & issue needed]
InCivil War: Front Line #4, Ben reveals to his friendSally Floyd that seeing theSilver Surfer during the alien's first visit to Earth caused him to realize that mankind is not alone in the universe. This drove him into alcoholism for about a year.
In the end ofCivil War: Front Lines, Ben leaves theDaily Bugle, with Jameson's blessing and understanding, and forms the online newspaper Frontlines.com with Sally Floyd. They later form the print newspaperFront Line.
During the 2007 "World War Hulk" storyline, Ben and Sally, in their capacity as the new editorial staff ofFront Line, are two of the few reporters who cover the alien invasion in close proximity, at times too close as they end up dodging live fire to get 'soldier on the street' interviews. During the course of those events, Sally Floyd learns thatDaily Bugle editorJonah Jameson was the mysterious financial backer of the publication, a fact which they agreed to hide from Urich, lest it kill his spirit.[7]
Ben Urich tries to uncover the identity of theRed Hulk. He works with She-Hulk and Peter Parker. They investigate a former S.H.I.E.L.D. base and almost perish in a terrorist explosion. Red Hulk appears before Urich and threatens to destroy those he works with if the story ever sees print.[8]
During the 2008 "Secret Invasion" storyline, Ben was covering a story in a local hospital, only to be trapped inside during the Skrull attacks. He survives, though a new-found nurse friend and all the others inside are killed by rampaging Skrulls. Ben and many other human refugees make their way toStark Tower, though few are aware a human-hunting Skrull with a large body count hides within. The Skrull perishes via human trickery. Ben and one of the Stark Tower survivors, a young girl, wander the city. The duo witness the climactic battle against the Skrulls inCentral Park.[9]>
He finds out after the invasion ends, that his wife has died; the exact manner is left unclear. He hits both an incredible depression and writer's block. After taking some time off and seeing the city begin to recover, he starts to recover himself. He then gets word of Norman Osborn's rise to power and confronts him at the press conference announcing the control of the Thunderbolts Initiative over S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, only to get brushed off by Osborn, and the crowd around cheers for Osborn. This ultimately breaks Urich's writer's block, prompting him to write his return article: "Dark Reign: Norman Osborn Takes Control".[10]
In the 2010 "Siege" storylien, Following a superpowered disaster in Chicago, Ben teams up with his old friend Bill Stern, a disgraced former news reporter who rescues him from police custody. By coincidence they findVolstagg of theWarriors Three, who was involved in the disaster. The trio travels to Oklahoma, intent on covering Osborn'sSiege of Asgard. All three end up separating and encountering each other again and again, due to Osborn's attacks onAsgard. Ben is almost eaten by Venom during a press junket near the battle. Volstagg saves Ben and Bill from the explosive effects of the HAMMER helicarrier crashing down. All three work to save and evacuate Asgardians with Ben leading the effort. Ben sees the heroes defeat the menace of the Sentry's alter-ego the Void. When Norman Osborn tries to escape, Volstagg captures him with a knock-out blow. Ben and Bill return to New York as colleagues while Volstagg works at Soldier Field to rebuild.[11]
During the "Shadowland" storyline, Ben is forced by gang members to write about Bullseye's funeral. He manages to leave his notebook in Essex County Morgue. Daredevil finds it and leads a rescue mission. The funeral service is interrupted by Daredevil and the Hand, as a massive brawl breaks out, almost killing Ben.[12] Ben becomes involved with the return of the Punisher, who literally fell into the care of Norah, one of his employees.[13]
During the 2014 "Goblin Nation" storyline, Urich leans of his nephew's identity as the newHobgoblin, and attempts to arrange a meeting to talk Phil down and convince him to accept a cure for the Goblin formula, but when Robbie Robertson is discovered in the area, Phil believes that Ben had been trying to set a trap and delivers a serious injury to Robbie beforeThe Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in Peter Parker's body) appears. Phil is able to get away when Ben convincesSpider-Man to take Robbie to hospital, but Ben makes it clear that he had no interest in protecting Phil and was simply trying to help Robbie while he could still be saved, accepting that Phil liked what he had become and was uninterested in redemption or help.[14]>
With theDaily Bugle on its deathbed, Ben approachesJessica Drew and convinces her to assist him with investigating potential stories and cases, both local and nationwide.[15] The two are later joined byPorcupine.[16]
The three later become a close-knit team handling super-villain confrontations, with Porcupine handling the main battling work. Drew becomes sidelined with a mysterious pregnancy.[17]
Ben later becomes involved in the battle to eliminate Baron Mordo, who was magically rampaging through New York City. Ben's pure soul allows him to wield a magic suit of armor and destroy many of Mordo's monsters.[18]
An alternate universe variant of Ben Urich makes a cameo appearance in the 2005 "House of M" storyline.[19]
An alternate timeline variant of Ben Urich appears in 2009'sSpider-Man Noir (vol. 1). This version is a jaded cynic and substance abusing reporter from 1933 who blackmails crime bossNorman Osborn for money to feed his drug habit.[20] After taking idealistic social activist Peter Parker under his wing, Urich "takes back control of his life" before he is killed by theChameleon disguised asJ. Jonah Jameson.
An alternate universe variant of Ben Urich from Earth-1610 appears in theUltimate Marvel imprint. This version is marginally younger than the mainstream incarnation, works as a top reporter at theDaily Bugle, and displays no connection to Daredevil.[21][22]
Two alternate universe variants of Ben Urich fromBattleworld appear in the 2015 seriesSecret Wars.
Ben Urich appears inDaredevil (2015), portrayed byVondie Curtis-Hall.[25] This version is a strugglingAfrican-American journalist at theNew York Bulletin who is later killed byWilson Fisk.[26][27][28][29]
Ben Urich appears inDaredevil (2003), portrayed byJoe Pantoliano. This version is bald and works for theNew York Post.
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