Matador (Marvel Comics)

Matador
Cover art for Daredevil #5. Art by Jack Kirby and Wally Wood.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil (1st series) #5 (December 1964)
Created by	Stan Lee Wally Wood
In-story information
Alter ego	Manuel Eloganto
Team affiliations	Emissaries of Evil
Partnerships	Man-Bull
Abilities	Skilled swordsman Trained bullfighter

Matador is the name of two Marvel Comics characters.

The Matador first appeared in Daredevil (1st series) #5 (December 1964), and was created by Stan Lee and Wally Wood. The character subsequently appears in Daredevil Annual #1 (September 1967), Daredevil #129 (January 1976), Marvel Year-in-Review '92 (1992), U.S.Agent #1 (June 1993), Daredevil #23 (November 2001), and Spider-Man's Tangled Web #13 (June 2002). The Matador received an entry in the Marvel Legacy: The 1970s Handbook #1 (2006).

Manuel Eloganto was once the most famous bull fighter of Spain. However, his cruelty and brutality towards the bulls made the crowd hate him. When a riot broke loose during one of his performances, Manuel had to be rushed to the hospital. After his recovery, he swore revenge upon all mankind. From that moment on, he vanished from sight, starting to make evil schemes.

The Matador appeared suddenly in the path of an armored car. At the last second, he hurled his cape over their windshield and leapt out of the way, causing them to swerve into a streetlight pole. Daredevil appeared on the scene to stop him, but had to leave to save a falling window washer, and the Matador made his escape. He eventually caught the attention of Daredevil. The two fought each other, resulting in Matador being defeated and handed over to the police.

Some time later, Electro recruited the Matador to be one of his Emissaries of Evil in a plot of revenge against Daredevil for previous defeats. Daredevil happened across their recruitment meeting and attempted to bring them in, but Electro managed to knock him out. The Matador suggested that they finish him then, while they had the chance, but Electro declined, because that would be too easy. Later, as part of Electro's plan, the Matador followed Daredevil and ambushed him, but Daredevil easily overcame him. The Matador was knocked into the water by the docks and escaped. The Matador was with the rest of the Emissaries for one final, mass-assault on Daredevil. He managed to cover Daredevil with his cape and began pummeling him relentlessly, but when he uncovered the cape he found that he actually had Leap-Frog in it, and Daredevil surprised him and dropped him with a single punch. Daredevil wrapped the whole group up in a lasso and left them for the cops.