KATHY MALPERKATHY MALPER
Real Name: Kathy Malper
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: District attorney
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Robert Asbury, Brenda, Officer Brick, Judge Bryant Chalmers, Charley, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Jack Fargo, Jill, Jimbo, "Foggy" Nelson, Glorianna O'Breen, Ms. O'Neill, Karen Page, Ben Urich
Enemies: Badlands, Charles Boroughs, Cobol Charlie, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Kruel, Maltese, Mr. Fear (Larry Cranston), Sinclair Spectrum, System Crash (Kill-O-Byte, Knowbot, Wirehead)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Dragon Lady"
Base of Operations: New York City, New York,
USA
First Appearance: Daredevil I#299 (December,
1991)
Powers/Abilities: Kathy Malper is a quick-tempered and efficient district attorney.
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 100 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown (sometimes red)
History: (Daredevil I#299 (fb) – BTS) –
District attorney Kathy
Malper developed a reputation as a cutthroat attorney, called "the
Dragon Lady"
by some. She focused her attention on Asian crime lords and she
once received a gift from Hong Kong for her work.
(Marvel Encyclopedia HC Vol. 5: Marvel Knights -
Kathy Malper profile - BTS) - Kathy Malper was a die hard fan of the
Red Sox baseball team, often wearing a team cap in her office.
(Daredevil I#340 (fb) – BTS) – While investigating
an
Asian tongs gang, Malper was threatened at gun point to drop the case.
She got
out of town, considering retirement.
(Daredevil I#340) – Malper went to rural
Pennsylvania. While
at the Ghost of a Chance Diner, she saw Victor Krueller come crashing
through
the window. As Karen Page, "Foggy" Nelson and Glorianna O'Breen joined
her,
Malper asked chef Robert Asbury to grab aprons to clean the wounds up
but then
Wilson Fisk entered.
(Daredevil I#341 (fb)) – Kingpin savagely beat
Krueller,
seemingly killing him, then he ordered his man Kai-Shek to burn the
diner down with the patrons inside.
(Daredevil I#342 (fb)) – Kingpin had Asbury,
O'Breen, Urich,
Malper, Nelson and Page all drugged and returned to their homes.
(Daredevil I#299) – Tough on her
staff members, Malper was
chiding Charley and Jill as she entered her office, lighting up a
cigarette,
and found Daredevil in her window offering intel on the Kingpin's
connections
to Hydra. Malper initially refused his help, stating that she stayed
away from
costumed heroes then she went to celebrate her birthday with her staff,
pleased when they got her tickets to a baseball game. Daredevil rushed
in and
stopped her from opening a briefcase with a bomb inside it, saving the
lives of
everyone there. Malper then reviewed the files he'd brought and
realized he had
powerful evidence. Daredevil asked that she help speed along the
reinstatement
of the law license of Matt Murdock in return.
(Daredevil I#300) – Malper eagerly delivered a
search
warrant to Fisk and his man Maltese, bypassing Ms. O'Neill to do so.
Maltese
tried reminding her that they had an arrangement with the government
but she
refused to follow the history of payoffs. During Fisk's grand jury
trial, Malper
presented evidence that Fisk had been behind an attack on the city by
Nuke and
his connections to Hydra. She checked in with Daredevil, who gave her
even more
to work with, forcing Kingpin into hiding. Malper arranged a discounted
law
office (government-seized property) for Murdock to rent then presented
Murdock
with his restored law license.
(Daredevil I#327) – Captain America showed Kathy
Malper the
remains of computer hacker Knowbot and the robot Kill-O-Byte. Wirehead
(of
the System Crash group) soon arrived to steal the corpses and Malper
sent security
forces after him but he escaped.
(Daredevil I#328) – The police arrived at the home
of
Sinclair Spectrum, a computer hacker who'd been questioned by Captain
America
and Daredevil. Kathy Malper threatened to take Spectrum down to the
police
station if she didn't come clean.
(Daredevil I#329) – Malper worked overnight with
her men to
search Sinclair's apartment. When they tried to take the hard drives,
an
electric pulse triggered, wiping the machines clean and making Malper
furious. Spectrum
bragged about electronic crime becoming more prevalent, unnerving
Malper.
(Daredevil I#330 (fb) – BTS) – Malper filed formal
charges
against Spectrum. Public defender Jack Fargo was appointed to represent
her.
(Daredevil I#331 (fb) – BTS) – Hearing Fargo was
murdered
and Spectrum was missing, Malper began investigating leads and learned
about
the murder of another hacker, Cobol Charlie. She let the "new"
Daredevil (actually the same
Daredevil claiming to be a new one) investigate the scene of Fargo's
murder.
(Daredevil I#331) – Despite telling the hero that
he needed
to earn her trust, Malper found herself sharing details of the case and
her
suspicions with Daredevil.
(Daredevil I#341) – Daredevil met with Malper in a
run-down
abandoned jail, inviting her to connect the attacks on Doris and Ben
Urich and
the murder of Glorianna O'Breen. With thoughts of the Ghost of a Chance
on her
brain, Kathy was horrified when Kruel burst in and started fighting
Daredevil.
Kathy hit Kruel in the face with a baseball but he slammed her up
against the
wall, choking her until Daredevil saved her. Kruel rushed away and
Daredevil
got Malper to the hospital.
(Daredevil I#367) – After WFSK, the radio station
owned by
Wilson Fisk, was used in an attack on New York City, Malper and the
police went
in to shut the station down. Malper informed the DJ, Karen Page, that
she was
out of a job and Page was furious. Malper questioned Karen's
connections to
the radio but then Malper rushed off to Ryker's Island after getting
news of a
riot there.
(Daredevil I#373 (fb) – BTS) – Malper was in a bar
when an
employee from Ryker's hinted to her that there had been an escape
during the
riot.
(Daredevil I#372 (fb) – BTS) – Malper spent weeks
working on
the fallout from the riot, which had been started by Mr. Fear. She
initially
got reports that there had been no casualties or escapes during the
riot but
later got news that there had been an escape of a mystery prisoner and
some
apparent deaths.
(Daredevil I#372) – Malper showed up at Ryker's
Island and
forced Officer Brick to show her a cell where prisoners were scrubbing
bloody
messages off the wall. Attorney Matt Murdock, who worked for Rosalind
Sharpe,
showed up at Malper's office to discuss the case against WFSK. Malper,
carrying
a baseball bat, aggressively told him that the radio station was part
of her
ongoing investigation into Mr. Fear. Judge Chalmers called to deny
Malper's
request to interview the warden of Ryker's and Malper was furious.
Malper was
later meeting with her secretary Brenda when Daredevil came in seeking
intel on the
Mr. Fear case. Shortly after, Malper went to find the warden and
discovered
Daredevil battling Ghost Rider at the site. The warden rushed into
Malper's
car and Malper's driver rushed away as Ghost Rider pursued them and
used his
Penance Stare on the warden then returned to the prison to destroy the
evidence.
(Daredevil I#373) – Malper left work late and
found
Daredevil waiting outside, and they reviewed the facts of the case
together. After
over a dozen tries, Malper finally got a hold of Chalmers but he was
evasive
and refused to change his mind, hanging up. Malper had later fallen
asleep at her
desk when Chalmers called her to set up a meeting that night. Malper
met the
judge, who gave her a piece of paper with a cop's badge number on it,
saying he
was passing the burden on to her. Malper then asked Daredevil for help.
(Daredevil I#374) – Malper showed up at Chalmers'
home
wanting more intel but he rushed her away. Malper later called the
judge to
let him know she was coming after him but the judge had already been
killed by
Mr. Fear.
(Daredevil I#375) – When Karen Page was arrested
for
allegedly killing police officer Charles Boroughs, whom she claimed
had been
her stalker, Kathy Malper was called to the stand to testify. Defense
attorney
Matt Murdock asked her questions but prosecutor Blake Tower continued
objecting, frustrating Malper. When Murdock brought in proof that Judge
Chalmers
was the father of Boroughs, Kathy was called back in to testify,
evidence
showing that Mr. Fear had been behind the recent crimes.
(Daredevil I#380 (fb)) – When criminals poisoned
the water
at the courthouse, Daredevil saved many lives and Malper questioned him
about
his intel.
(Daredevil I#380) – Malper and her team discussed a recent explosion, and Malper presented theories on those behind it.
(Daredevil Cyber Comic: Protection
Racket, Part
One) - Following the Kingpin's return to crime, Kathy Malper arranged a
meeting with Daredevil to ask his help
regarding the southwestern racketeer Badlands, who had decided to
extend his reach to New York. Malper then revealed to Daredevil that
Badlands would be facing a lot of criminal competition and that the
justice system hoped to keep the potential crimelord war from becoming
bloody, figuring that if she could get Daredevil to aid a local
crimelord like the Kingpin against Badlands, it would be a favor
Kingpin would owe the justice system in the future.
(Daredevil Cyber Comic: Protection Racket, Part
Two - BTS) - After Daredevil reluctantly agreed to protect the Kingpin
as Badlands attempted to move into the Kingpin's territory and he
visited Kingpin to offer his protection, the Kingpin remarked that he
had no reason to fear Badlands and that the idea of Daredevil
protecting him sounded like another attempt on the part of Kathy Malper
to force Kingpin's ingratiation to the court system.
(Daredevil Cyber Comic: Protection Racket, Part Four) - Following a head injury suffered at the hands of Badlands' agent, Bullseye, Daredevil visited the hospital where Kingpin had also been taken, alongside Kathy Malper, where he was diagnosed with temporary synesthesia. Malper commented that while the diagnosis was interesting, she needed to know if this temporary synesthesia would affect Daredevil's ability to protect the Kingpin from Badlands. Daredevil sarcastically commended Malper on her concern for him and Malper apologized, explaining that she saved her concern for the Red Sox and putting the Kingpin in the justice system's debt was too good an opportunity to pass up. The power in the hospital soon went out, surprising both Kathy Malper and Daredevil, who assumed the power outage was the work of Badlands' agents.
Comments: Created by D.G. Chichester, Lee
Weeks and Al Williamson.
Judge Chalmers' name was frequently spelled as
Chalmer.
Thanks to Proto-Man for providing the info from the
Daredevil Cyber Comic!
Kathy Malper's
official height and weight were given in her profile in Marvel
Encyclopedia HC Vol. 5: Marvel Knights. - Proto-Man
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Kathy Malper should not be confused with:
(Daredevil I#372) – A secretary for district attorney Kathy Malper, Brenda went rushing from the room in fear when Daredevil entered.
--Daredevil I#372
(Daredevil I#372 (fb) – BTS) – After Mr. Fear
caused a riot
at Ryker's Island, prisoner Charles Boroughs escaped, leaving blood
behind on
the walls. Officer Brick was among those involved in covering up the
escape.
(Daredevil I#372) – District attorney Kathy Malper showed up at Ryker's demanding to see the cell and Brick was reluctant to show her. Malper saw prisoners scrubbing blood off the walls. Brick asked Malper to keep him out of all this as he had children to protect.
--Daredevil I#372 (372 (fb) – BTS), 372
(Daredevil I#375 (fb) – BTS) – Judge Chalmers was
the father
of Charles Boroughs, a man who went on to become a police officer and
who also
enjoyed torturing women, later exposed as the Triple-Threat Killer and
going to
jail. Chalmers kept a detailed journal about being ashamed of his son.
Manipulated by Mr. Fear, Chalmers kept it private when Boroughs
escaped from
prison and he used his influence to get him back on the police force.
(Daredevil I#372 (fb) – BTS) – Judge Chalmers
received a
request from district attorney Kathy Malper to interview the warden of
Ryker's
Island. Mr. Fear sent an agent to threat Chalmers.
(Daredevil I#372) – Chalmers called Malper to deny
her
request as the agent watched over him.
(Daredevil I#373) – After evading a number of
phone calls
from Kathy Malper, Chalmers finally answered the phone but refused to
change
his mind. The agent remained in his chambers watching over him,
informing him
that "Charlie" was beginning to date again and Chalmers cried out about
the
unnecessary bloodshed. At his home, Daredevil confronted Chalmers then
fought
off his armed guards. He told Chalmers he knew he was working with Mr.
Fear
and told him he would give him a chance to come around. Later, Chalmers
called
Malper and asked to meet. Malper met the
judge, who gave her a piece of paper with a police badge number on it,
saying
he was passing the burden on to her. Malper then asked Daredevil for
help.
(Daredevil I#374) – Malper showed up at Chalmers'
home, wanting
more intel, but Chalmers rushed her away only to find Mr. Fear waiting
for him.
Fear forced Chalmers to overdose on medication, killing him.
(Daredevil I#375 – BTS) – The judge's journals
were found
and brought out in court.
--Daredevil I#372 (375 (fb) – BTS, 372-374, 375 –
BTS
(Daredevil I#299) – Employees of the experienced and cutthroat district attorney Kathy Malper, Charley and Jill were there when Daredevil intervened at Malper's birthday celebration, saving them all from a bomb.
--Daredevil I#299
(Daredevil I#299) – Employee of the experienced
and
cutthroat district attorney Kathy Malper, Jimbo was there when
Daredevil
intervened at Malper's birthday celebration, saving them all from a
bomb. Jimbo
presented Malper with her birthday present, tickets to a baseball game.
--Daredevil I#299
images: (without ads)
Daredevil I#341, p5, pan1 (Kathy Malper, main)
Marvel Encyclopedia HC Vol. 5: Marvel Knights, Kathy Malper profile
(Kathy Malper, face)
Daredevil I#299, p9, pan5 (Kathy Malper, face, smoking)
Daredevil Cyber Comic: Protection Racket (Kathy Malper, standing in
ball cap)
Daredevil I#372, p12, pan6 (Brenda)
Daredevil I#372, p1, pan3 (Officer Brick)
Daredevil I#374, p10, pan4 (Judge Bryant Chalmers)
Daredevil I#299, p10, pan2 (Jimbo)
Appearances:
Daredevil I#299-300 (December, 1991-January, 1992) – D.G.
Chichester (writer), Lee Weeks (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Ralph
Macchio
(editor)
Daredevil I#327 (April, 1994) – D.G. Chichester (writer),
Scott McDaniel (penciler), Hector Collazo (inker), Ralph Macchio
(editor)
Daredevil I#328 (May, 1994) – Gregory Wright (writer),
Sergio Cariello (penciler), Ariane (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Daredevil I#329, 331 (June, August, 1994) – D.G. Chichester
(writer), Scott McDaniel (penciler), Hector Collazo (inker), Ralph
Macchio
(editor)
Daredevil I#341-342 (June-July, 1995) – Alan Smithee
(writer), Keith Pollard (penciler), Art Nichols (inker), Marie Javins
(editor)
Daredevil I#372 (February, 1998) – Joe Kelly (writer), Ariel
Olivetti (penciler), Pier Brito (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#373 (March, 1998) – Joe Kelly (writer), Richie
Acosta (penciler), Bud LaRosa (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#375 (May, 1998) – Joe Kelly, Chris Claremont
(writers), Cary Nord, Ariel Olivetti, John Paul Leon, Tom Lyle, Brian
Denham,
Rick Leonardi (pencilers), Mark Lipka, Pier Brito, Robert Jones, Chris
Carlson,
Scott Hanna (inkers), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#380 (October, 1998) – Dan G. Chichester
(writer), Lee Weeks (penciler), Robert Campanella (inker), Jaye Gardner
(editor)
Daredevil
Cyber Comic: Protection Racket, Part One (1998) - D.G. Chichester
(writer), Daerick Gross (art), Gregg Sanderson (editor)
Daredevil Cyber Comic: Protection Racket, Part Two (1998) - D.G.
Chichester (writer), Daerick Gross (art), Gregg Sanderson (editor)
Daredevil Cyber Comic: Protection Racket, Part Four (1998) - D.G.
Chichester (writer), Daerick Gross (art), Gregg Sanderson (editor)
Marvel Encyclopedia HC Vol. 5: Marvel Knights (2004) - Kit Kiefer
(writer), Kuljit Mithra, Jeff Christiansen, Barry Reese (writers,
research), Michael Ruscoe, Seth Biederman, Syd Barney-Hawke
(contributing writers), Ronald Byrd, Michael Hoskin, Kyle Sims
(additional writers, research), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
First Posted: 09/20/2019
Last updated: 09/20/2019
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
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