ORGANIZER

Real Name: Abner Jonas

Identity/Class: Human, behind-the-scenes planner

Occupation: Politician, Reform Party mayoral candidate

Group Membership: Leader of the Organization

Affiliations: Ani-Men (Ape-Man, Bird-Man, Cat-Man, Frog-Man); Reform Party (Bernard Harris, Milton Monroe), Deborah Harris, Phillip Sterling

Enemies: Daredevil (Matt Murdock)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: The guy who wears the same ring as Abner Jonas

Base of Operations: Chemco Building, Manhattan, New York City (he used this as a base for the Organization; he himself never physically met with anyone as the Organizer)

Appearances: Daredevil I#10 (October, 1965)

Powers: The Organizer had access to some advanced equipment, including that which he used to outfit the Ani-Men as well as his fancy "communicate through other people's televisions" device. He operated strictly behind the scenes, communicating with agents over closed circuit broadcast. He was a master planner and could coordinate numerous operations at once. Unfortunately for him, he didn't remember to take off his big, honking ring when he appeared as the Organizer, and made sure to point it at everyone.

He utilized the original Ani-Men, as well as a number of uncostumed henchmen to carry out his plots. The Organizer was more than willing to kill or frame any of his allies (political or criminal) if it would further his ends.

Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown, graying

History: Abner Jonas was the mayor candidate for New York City for a third political group known as the Reform Party. However, he sought greater power and wished to take control of the party, as well as the whole city.

The Organizer recruited and outfitted the original Ani-Men (although that name for them actually came later) to serve as his agents. He sent them out on a city-wide crimewave, stealing valuables and information to benefit his career. He also directed the Ani-Men to direct false attacks on members of the Reform Party, to garner sympathy, and hopefully votes.

The Reform Party attempted to recruit Foggy Nelson to join them as their District Attorney candidate, using Deborah Harris to influence him. Harris was a former classmate on whom Nelson had a crush, and the daughter of Bernard Harris, the candidate for borough president. While Foggy, Matt Murdoch, and Karen Page attended a yacht party of the Reform Party, Matt's ears picked up a message from the Organizer to Frog-Man, causing him to realize that the Organizer was on the yacht, and a member of the Reform Party.

Daredevil thwarted several missions by members of the Ani-Men, causing the Organizer to make increasing efforts to put an end to him. The Organizer had Daredevil duped into opening a bank vault to free a man trapped inside the vault. The man turned out to be Cat-Man, who gassed Daredevil, and the Ani-Men cleaned out the vault, framing DD for the theft.

The Organizer next had his Ani-Men kidnap Debbie Harris (actually his ally) to gain control over the lovestruck Foggy. However, Daredevil succeeded in capturing Cat-Man during the kidnapping, and he was convinced to reveal information to the police to reduce his own sentence. Ape-Man was sent to silence him, but Daredevil fought him off, and learned that Debbie was allied with the Organizer in the process. Daredevil freed Debbie Harris, hoping to follow her back to the Organizer, but she returned to her own apartment.

Matt and Foggy set a trap for the Organizer by telling the members of the Reform Party that they had info on the Organizer locked in their safe, but even though he fell for it, he escaped capture. However, with the Reform Party lagging in the polls, the Organizer did become more desperate, threatening to assassinate the incumbent mayor. When Debbie refused to have any part of this, he threatened her life. Daredevil vowed to protect her and she gave him what little information she had on the Organizer.

Daredevil next defeated and impersonated Frog-Man, capturing the camera built into his costume, and transmitting his image and voice to televisions across the city. The Organizer had Daredevil dropped through a trap door and escaped. He next had a broadcast of the Organizer address the city while he had sent Milton Monroe off on a mission, hoping to frame him. Foggy explained that the broadcast could have been pre-recorded, but then Ape-Man and Bird-Man arrived and kidnapped Jonas. While Daredevil defeated the two remaining Ani-Men, Foggy tackled Jonas as he attempted to flee. Daredevil explained that the Organizer was always wearing the same ring as Jonas, and he was sent to prison and convicted by the testimony of Debbie Harris.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Wally Woods, and Bob Powell.

Phillip Sterling, the Organizer's assistant (not even seen in these stories) went on to become the Exterminator, and later the Death-Stalker.

Deborah Harris went on to marry Foggy...and ruin his life.

The Organizer was described as the most mysterious menace (alliteration, the presence of Stan Lee) ever to challenge Daredevil. His actual motives and goals were the only things that were mysterious, with that frickin' ring sticking out in almost every picture he was in. I guess since it was only issue #10, he beats out the Purple Man, Matador, Stilt-Man, and the other 5-6 guys DD as most mysterious so far.

I bet if the Organizer caught Daredevil, he would have hooked him up to some slow, easy-to-escape death-trap while he explained his history, motives, and plans.

Also, if this story had been written in the 90s, when Daredevil explained how the ring had given the Organizer away, Jonas would have said, "D'oh!"

Organizer has an entry in Marvel Legacy: The 1960s Handbook.

Clarifications:
Abner Jonas should not be confused with:

• Abner Jenkins, the Beetle now known as MACH-V of the Thunderbolts @ Strange Tales I#123