Daredevil (1964) 8

If clothes make the man, then the villain makes the hero.

Sadly, until Frank Miller, Daredevil was at the mercy of whatever gimmicks or cast offs others had to toss his way. Electro was a mercy guest star in issue two, but not until DD 18 did the Man Without Fear finally meet the Gladiator.

Shoot, Doctor Doom didn’t even come slumming until the 37th issue.

Daredevil (1964) 8

No, Daredevil got to face off against the likes of The Fellowship of Fear, The Matador and The Organizer. Amongst that line up Stilt-Man made his first appearance in DD eight. He’s gonna be our emcee for a day tailor made for him if ever there was, National Walk on Stilts Day.

By now you know we don’t make these up. Yes, it is a real non-holiday inaugurated somewhere around the dawn of the new millennium by Bill “Stretch” Coleman of Denver, CO.

Bill is, and remember the definition of professional is someone who gets paid to to do it, a professional stilt walker. His reasoning for singling out a special day for the activity is to encourage others to take up the sport, hobby or career. His motto: “Walk tall and stretch your imagination!”

Stilts have been used for mobility since the sixth century BC. In the Landes region of France, shepherds would use them as aids with herding sheep. In urban areas they were a means to, literally, rise above the filth. Most recently they are employed more in business practices.

Kinda how Wilbur Day envisioned them. Only for more sinister purposes. Using stolen hydraulic ram schematics, Day created a telescopic legs and body armor for use in more larcenous endeavors.

Initially Stilt-Man and Daredevil were exclusive, but over the years Day branched out into the Marvel U and has fought such heroes as Iron Man, Thor and Spider-Man.

Day was the first Stilt-Man. He eventually met his end when the Punisher killed him during Civil War. He would later return during Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy.

During the interim, an unnamed criminal happened upon the gimmick and fashioned himself as Stilt-Man. Daredevil, Luke Cage and Ms. Marvel all have had the honor of defeating this second incarnation.

A third player entered the field with the help of the Tinkerer. Michael Watts still has delusions of grandeur, but has been silent lately.

Outside comic books, the Day Stilt-Man appeared in the Iron Man episode The Armor Wars. Stilt-Man guested on the PSP version of Spider—Man: Web of Shadows and, finally, the Nintendo DS version of Iron Man 2.

So, stand tall, stand proud today. Try your luck at some stilt walking – if insurance premiums are paid up – or find some old Stilt-Man issues to read. I’m still on the fence about trying Daredevil eight. Guess I’ve done worse.