View source for Owl (Marvel Comics)

{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Owlmaleev.jpg
|caption=Artwork for the cover of ''Daredevil'' vol. 2, 78 (December 2005).<br/>Art by [[Alex Maleev]].
|character_name=The Owl
|real_name=Leland Owlsley
|species=Human mutate 
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' #3 (August 1964)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Misiroglu |first1=Gina Renée |last2=Eury |first2=Michael |title=The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood |date=2006 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |isbn=9780780809772 |url=https://archive.org/details/supervillainbook0000gina/page/266/mode/2up |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Conroy |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Conroy (writer) |title=500 Comicbook Villains |publisher=Collins & Brown |date=2004 |isbn=1-84340-205-X |url=https://archive.org/details/500comicbookvill0000conr/page/86/mode/2up |language=en}}</ref>
|creators=[[Stan Lee]] (writer)<br/>[[Joe Orlando]] (artist)
|alliances="Owl Gang"<br/>Gang of Four<br/>[[Sinister Six]]teen
|powers=
*Extremely skilled criminal organizer and money launderer
*Superhuman sight and hearing
*Enhanced strength, resiliency/resistance, reflexes/reactions and endurance
*Hollow bones
*Natural razor-sharp fangs and talons (with attachment devices)
*Ability to glide short distances
}}
The '''Owl''' ('''Leland Owlsley''') is a <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; supervillains (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[supervillain]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character is depicted usually as an enemy of the [[superhero]]es [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]], [[Spider-Man]] and [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]]. Created by writer [[Stan Lee]] and artist [[Joe Orlando]], the character first appeared in ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' #3 (August 1964).

The character has appeared in numerous media adaptations, including the television series ''[[Daredevil (TV series)|Daredevil]]'' (2015), set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] in which he was played by [[Bob Gunton]].

==Publication history==
The character first appeared in ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' #3 (August 1964).<ref>{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]] |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |page=257 |author-link=Jeff Rovin}}[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofsu0000rovi_h5r9/page/256/mode/2up]</ref> He was a recurring foe of [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]] during the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, he has made occasional appearances in various Marvel titles, against such superheroes as [[Spider-Man]],<ref>''[[Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' #73-76. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Manning |first2=Matthew K. |title=Spider-Man Chronicle: Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging |date=2012 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-0756692360 |page=131}}</ref> and has faced Daredevil again.<ref>''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' #301-303, and vol. 2 #78. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Originally [[Bob Layton]], writer of the first five issues of ''[[X-Factor (comic book)|X-Factor]]'', had intended to use the Owl as the [[Alliance of Evil]]'s mysterious master (mentioned in ''[[X-Factor (comic book)|X-Factor]]'' #4 (May 1986)). The final page of ''X-Factor'' #5 initially featured the Owl, but as Layton was removed from the book and replaced with [[Louise Simonson]], the final page was changed to feature a new character named [[Apocalypse (character)|Apocalypse]] instead, as Simonson and editor [[Bob Harras]] wanted a new villain for the book.<ref name="comicbookresources">Callahan, Timothy (September 28, 2009). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23092 "WHO'S YOUR DADDY, NIGHTCRAWLER?"]. [[Comic Book Resources]].</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
Leland Owlsley was once a successful financier and financial investor, nicknamed "The Owl of [[Wall Street]]" for his financial acumen, until evidence of his [[tax evasion]] and crooked business deals were exposed by the [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS). Rather than fight the charges, he fled to a hideout across the [[Hudson River]] and pursued a new career as a [[crime lord]]. The Owl had already been pooling a percentage of his earnings into researching superpowered enhancements; the result was a serum that enhanced his physical prowess and gave him the ability to fly. He subsequently employed two enforcers and captured [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]] in a chance encounter, planning to kill him at a meeting of underworld bosses in order to make himself the undisputed overlord of crime. However, Daredevil escaped and confronted the Owl in battle. Eventually determining that he could not defeat Daredevil unarmed and alone, he fled, escaping his foe in the river.<ref name="DD3">''Daredevil'' #3 (August 1964). Marvel Comics.</ref> When he came to shore, Owl was captured by police, convicted, and sentenced to prison by Judge Lewis.<ref>''Daredevil'' #20. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Following an escape, the Owl established a new hideout on a volcanic isle and kidnapped Judge Lewis and Matt Murdock (Daredevil's alter ego), forcing them to participate in a sham trial with Murdock forced to defend Lewis. With a clever distraction, the lawyer was able to change into Daredevil. The Owl's second confrontation with his nemesis ended in a draw, and both were forced to flee the erupting island.<ref>''Daredevil'' #20-22. Marvel Comics.</ref> He was later freed from prison by Mr. Kline, who ordered him to capture Daredevil. Learning from their previous encounters, the Owl finally overcame Daredevil and sent him plummeting to his death. However, the vigilante was saved by [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]], and the two of them worked together to thwart the Owl's planned heist of the San Francisco public treasury.<ref>''Daredevil'' #80-81. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Owl then moved to Chicago with a scheme to siphon valuable knowledge from the brains of his victims, and battled the [[Tigra|Cat]].<ref>''The Cat'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Owl returned to San Francisco, and briefly captured Daredevil and the Black Widow.<ref>''Daredevil'' #116-117. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Owl was later stricken with a debilitating ailment resulting in the paralysis of his legs. He returned to New York and recruited the [[Man-Bull]]. The Owl attempted to kidnap a neurologist to cure his ailment but was foiled by Daredevil.<ref>''Daredevil'' #144-145. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Owl was later rescued by his henchmen and fitted with a neurological pacemaker to cure his ailment. He battled Daredevil and [[Spider-Man]] and was incapacitated when his pacemaker short-circuited.<ref>''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' #73. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Owl was confined to a life-support module designed by the [[Maggia (comics)|Maggia]]. He schemed to loot New York under cover of a citywide blackout, but was captured by Spider-Man, the Black Widow, and Simon Stroud.<ref>''Marvel Team-Up'' #98. Marvel Comics.</ref> No longer confined to the module, the Owl later engaged in a gang war against [[Doctor Octopus]] in an attempt to usurp the [[Kingpin (character)|Kingpin]]'s position as the crime boss of New York's underworld. The Owl encountered Spider-Man and the [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]], and was beaten by Doctor Octopus.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #73-75. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Owl was later mystically summoned to Winnipeg, Canada, by [[Llan the Sorcerer]]. There, he battled [[Alpha Flight]] and [[Gamma Flight]] with [[Nekra]], [[Asp (character)|Asp]], and [[Mac Gargan|Scorpion]].<ref>''[[Alpha Flight (comic book)|Alpha Flight]]'' #79-80. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Owl was later among the criminals assembled by [[Doctor Doom]] to battle the [[Fantastic Four]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #336. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Over the years the Owl has become less and less human as a result of bizarre experiments he has subjected himself to in efforts to improve his natural ability to glide and repair damage to his spine that rendered him a paraplegic. The Owl once needed to use an exoskeleton to walk but has since recovered from this injury.<ref>''Daredevil'' #301-303. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Owl started to re-establish his presence in the criminal underworld in the absence of the Kingpin. When Spider-Man visits him regarding information about the kidnapping of [[May Parker]], the Owl says that [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]] and the [[Vulture (Marvel Comics)|Vulture]] kidnapped her. This turns out to be a ploy by the Owl, who is after the two villains (hiring the Black Cat to find them) for stealing from him.<ref>''[[Marvel Knights Spider-Man]]'' #3-4. Marvel Comics.</ref> He began to enlarge his criminal empire by refining Mutant Growth Hormone from his own genetic material, though Daredevil was able to get him arrested.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

He managed to manipulate behind the scenes and get the Kingpin arrested for a past murder when it looked like Fisk was going to make a deal with the FBI.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2011}} The deal in question involved Matt Murdock being arrested for being Daredevil. When [[Foggy Nelson]], representing Murdock in court, visited him in jail, he was apparently killed by the other prisoners. The Owl later taunted Murdock about this, and Murdock, who had become unhinged due to his friend's death, brutally beat the Owl. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Foggy was alive at the time and in witness protection.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2011}}

Later, the Owl escaped prison and stole [[Deathlok]] from [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], killing four agents in the process. He sets up an auction in hopes of selling him off to the highest bidder to other supervillains. However, he did not ask permission from the [[Hood (Marvel Comics)|Hood]] (the self-established "Kingpin of Supervillains") and the Hood subsequently stole Deathlok from the Owl and shot the Owl.<ref>''[[New Avengers]]'' #33. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Owl has since then appeared in police custody. He was subsequently freed by the Kingpin, who sought to employ him as part of his plan to take revenge on The Hand.<ref>''Daredevil'' vol. 2 #118. Marvel Comics.</ref> He took [[Dakota North (character)|Dakota North]] captive and implied he would torture and sexually assault her in order to get information on Daredevil, who then appeared and cut every nerve in both his arms and legs using a sword the Owl had tried to attack him with.<ref>''Daredevil'' #500. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Members of Owl's gang were shown fighting in a gang war with the Maggia at a scrapyard. [[Hammerhead (comics)|Hammerhead]] shoots the gang while [[Silvermane]] was fed to a metal crusher.<ref>''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #618. Marvel Comics.</ref>

It was later revealed that Owl received his henchmen from [[Taskmaster (character)|Taskmaster]] who had trained them.<ref>''[[Avengers: The Initiative]]'' #32. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Owl was next seen purchasing a product called Ebony which came from the glands of [[Corruptor]]. He planned to synthesize it into a street drug only for Daredevil to arrive and steal it.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Owl attended a circus with Kingpin, [[Madame Masque]], [[Tombstone (character)|Tombstone]], and [[Hammerhead (comics)|Hammerhead]] when [[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Hawkeye]] stole their money.<ref>''[[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Hawkeye]]'' vol. 4 #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Owl's gang later ended up in a gunfight with a gang led by the third [[White Dragon (comics)|White Dragon]]. Both Owl and White Dragon were brutally beaten up by the [[The Superior Spider-Man|Superior Spider-Man]] (Otto Octavius's mind in Spider-Man's body). The remainder of Owl's gang fled and were recruited by [[Norman Osborn|Goblin King]] to join the [[Goblin Nation]].<ref>''The Superior Spider-Man'' #10. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The [[Sinister Six]] (consisting of [[Boomerang (character)|Boomerang]], [[Overdrive (character)|Overdrive]], [[Shocker (character)|Shocker]], [[Speed Demon (character)|Speed Demon]], and [[Janice Lincoln|Beetle]]) assaulted Owl's base. Overdrive and Speed Demon were captured by Owl and interrogated. Beetle tried to blackmail the Owl into releasing them while covertly dialing for backup. Unimpressed, the Owl got ready to execute her when reinforcements arrived in the form of Tombstone (who was revealed to be Beetle's father).<ref>''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

After a series of failures Boomerang teams up with the Owl and forms the '''Sinister Sixteen''' in order to retrieve the picture of Doctor Doom that the former had stolen a few days before, and that was now in the hands of the Chameleon. The line-up consisted of the dregs of the underworld that Boomerang used as cannon fodder so that he could retrieve the painting.<ref>''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' #12. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In the "[[Hunted (comics)|Hunted]]" storyline, Owl is among the animal-themed characters captured by Taskmaster and [[Black Ant (comics)|Black Ant]] for [[Kraven the Hunter]]'s Great Hunt.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 5 #16. Marvel Comics.</ref> Owl escapes after Kraven the Hunter has [[Arcade (Marvel Comics)|Arcade]] deactivate the forcefield around [[Central Park]].<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 5 #22. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Owl is among the crime lords competing with Mister Negative to obtain the Tablet of Life and Destiny in order to win the favor of Mayor Wilson Fisk.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 5 #59. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Owl is among the crime lords that attended the wedding of [[Randy Robertson (character)|Randy Robertson]] and [[Janice Lincoln]] where it was crashed by [[Shotgun (comics)|Shotgun]] who shot Tombstone. As Spider-Man goes after Shotgun, the crime lords blamed each other for calling the hit.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' Vol. 6 #31. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Gang War (comics)|Gang War]]" storyline, Owl attends a crime lord meeting. After Hammerhead states that his crime family is backed by [[Count Nefaria]] and Silvermane, Owl states that he will stand down for now.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' Vol. 6 #38. Marvel Comics.</ref> During a crime lord meeting at Arthur Avenue, Owl demanded to know who ran him out of Red Hook. [[Crime Master]] denies any knowledge of it to Owl.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man - Gang War First Strike'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Elektra is visited by Owl who states that Madame Masque, [[Roderick Kingsley|Hobgoblin]], [[Diamondback (Willis Stryker)|Diamondback]], the [[Heat (comics)|Heat]], [[Lady Yulan]], [[Mister Negative]], [[Shang-Chi]], and [[Ringmaster (comics)|Ringmaster]] want control over New York City while also mentioning that someone has become the Heat's benefactor. Before leaving, Owl tips off Elektra to a shipment that the Heat are expecting.<ref>''Daredevil: Gang War'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Owl later visits Madame Masque informing her that he hedged the heroes as she instructed. When Madame Masque states that Owl doing that is crossing the line as she summons [[X-23]]'s clone [[Bellona (comics)|Bellona]] to her side. Owl has a brief fight with Bellona until he sees her bring out her retractable claws. Owl is then thrown into the same cell as [[Count Nefaria]], Hammerhead, and [[Silvermane]].<ref>''Daredevil: Gang War'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref> Madame Masque later mind-controlled Owl during the fight in Central Park and unleashed him on Spider-Man as he moved in to confront her. Spider-Man managed to defeat Owl.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' Vol. 6 #43. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2015}}
The Owl has ingested a special serum which enabled him to naturally glide for short distances, though he has to leap from a height of at least {{convert|20|ft|m}} off of the ground to do so. He is able to perform complex midair maneuvers while he glides which would be impossible for ordinary humans. The Owl's gliding ability is assisted by a weak psionic ability to levitate his body. Under the right conditions, such as favorable air currents, the Owl can glide for at least the length of a city block. He uses specially designed capes to allow him to do this.

His bones are hollow, and he possesses a greater proportionate muscle mass than normal humans. Though the Owl only exercises moderately, his strength, endurance, resistance/resiliency to injury and fatigue, and reflexes/reactions are enhanced as a result of his mutation (he is physically stronger and tougher than any Olympic weightlifter). His vision and hearing are superhumanly acute, his head can rotate 180 degrees, and his eyes can move independently of each other in their own sockets and have greater visual range than an ordinary human. His teeth and nails are essentially fangs and talons which can tear through human flesh with relative ease. Most of his adversaries assume that he is just a normal human as he almost never engages in physical struggles; he relegates this to his underlings, like the [[Vulture (Marvel Comics)|Vulture]] and [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]].

Over the years the Owl has taken a number of experimental drugs and subjected himself to experimental surgical procedures to increase his ability to glide. These experiments have met with mixed results and a by-product of them is that he has been mutagenically altered in a way that has negatively affected his sanity and made him more animal-like. For instance, he enjoys eating live mice with his vintage six-hundred-dollar wine. It also paralyzed him down the waist for some time, making him unable to stand or walk without a special leg-brace exoskeleton.

The Owl wears a set of metal razor-sharp steel-tool talons attached to each forearm (closely resembling Wolverine's claws) and a specially designed cape designed to resemble an owl's outstretched wings to assist him in steering during flight, and often uses various other bird-themed weapons and pieces of equipment. This special equipment was designed for him by the [[Tinkerer (Marvel Comics)|Tinkerer]]. Although the Owl is somewhat deranged, he is an extremely skilled criminal organizer and money launderer.

==Other versions==
===Age of Apocalypse===
An alternate timeline variant of the Owl appears in ''[[Age of Apocalypse]]'' as a member of [[Apocalypse (character)|Apocalypse]]'s [[Marauders (comics)|Marauders]] who is later killed by [[Gwen Stacy]] and [[Hawkeye (Clint Barton)|Clint Barton]].{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2012}}

===Age of Ultron===
An alternate universe variant of the Owl makes a minor appearance in ''[[Age of Ultron]]'' #1.<ref>[[Bendis, Brian Michael]] (w), [[Hitch, Bryan]] (a). ''[[Age of Ultron]]'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Marvel Zombies===
An alternate universe variant of the Owl makes a minor appearance in ''[[Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness]]'' #2 as a servant of the Kingpin who is killed by the Punisher.<ref>''[[Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness]]'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
* The Owl makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'' episode "The Insidious Six" as a crime lord and associate of [[Silvermane]]'s.
* Leland Owlsley appears in the [[Daredevil season 1|first season]] of ''[[Daredevil (TV series)|Daredevil]]'', portrayed by [[Bob Gunton]].<ref>Harris, Will (May 7, 2015). [http://www.avclub.com/article/bob-gunton-daredevil-greg-bunny-and-shawshank-rede-218869 "Bob Gunton on Daredevil, Greg The Bunny, and The Shawshank Redemption"]. [[The A.V. Club]].</ref> This version is a crooked human [[accountant]] for the firm Silver & Brent who manages [[Wilson Fisk (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Wilson Fisk]]'s finances and has a son named Lee Owlsley.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Into the Ring|series=Marvel's Daredevil|credits=Abraham, Phil (director); Drew Goddard (writer)|network=[[Netflix]]|airdate=April 10, 2015|season=1|number=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Shadows in the Glass|series=Marvel's Daredevil|credits=Surjik, Stephen (director); Steven S. DeKnight (writer)|network=[[Netflix]]|airdate=April 10, 2015|season=1|number=8}}</ref> After Fisk falls in love with [[Vanessa Marianna-Fisk|Vanessa Marianna]], Owlsley conspires with [[triad (organized crime)|triad]] boss Madame Gao to kill her, believing Marianna is a bad influence on Fisk.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Nelson v. Murdock|series=Marvel's Daredevil|credits=Blackburn, Farren (director); Luke Kalteux (writer)|network=[[Netflix]]|airdate=April 10, 2015|season=1|number=10}}</ref> However, Gao is forced to leave town due to [[Matt Murdock (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Matt Murdock]] dismantling her [[heroin]] ring. Owlsley attempts to blackmail Fisk into letting him take over Gao's operation, but reveals his failed attempt on Marianna's life, causing an enraged Fisk to throw Owlsley into an elevator shaft to his death.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Daredevil|series=Marvel's Daredevil|credits=DeKnight, Steven S. (director); Steven S. DeKnight (writer)|network=[[Netflix]]|airdate=April 10, 2015|season=1|number=13}}</ref>

===Video games===
The Owl appears as a mini-boss in ''[[Spider-Man (1995 video game)|Spider-Man]]'' (1995).

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* {{Marvunapp|http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix5/owlleland.htm|Owl}}

{{Daredevil}}
{{Spider-Man characters}}
{{Stan Lee}}

[[Category:Characters created by Joe Orlando]]
[[Category:Characters created by Stan Lee]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1964]]
[[Category:Fictional crime bosses]]
[[Category:Fictional gangsters]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics businesspeople]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman senses]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics male supervillains]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics mutates]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics television characters]]