Daredevil #3 (1964)
By Stan Lee, Joe Orlando, Vince Colletta
So, What Happens? An accountant framed by the unscrupulous businessman known as the Owl suicides. Having found papers connecting the Owl to the illegal proceedings, the police arrest the man, who randomly chooses Nelson and Murdock to represent him in court. Intrigued by the Owl and his reputation, Matt accepts and arranges for him to be set temporarily free, making sure to memorize the man's distinctive traits with his special senses. The Owl never comes back to court so a warrant for his arrest is issued. Daredevil scours the city to pick up his trail, but the Owl has left by boat and moved to a fortress across the Hudson, where he is testing two new underlings known for their strength and skills: Sad Sam and "Ape" Horgon. Having been exposed, he has decided to openly become a criminal. Satisfied by the two men, the Owl keeps them in line by showing off his ability to glide thanks to his special cape. He then decides to hire Matt as a front for his operations and goes to NY to get him, but Matt senses his scent and has time to change into Daredevil and get the drop on the Owl and his men. Daredevil's skills and agility are too match for Sad Sam and Horgon, but before he can tackle the Owl, Karen Page accidentally enters the room and is taken hostage. With no other choice, Daredevil surrenders. He and Karen are taken to the Owl's fortress, where the mobster wants to show his prisoner to every gangster in town in order to be acknowledged as their boss. Left alone, Daredevil quickly escapes his cage and frees Karen. He then sends her to call the police whilst he finally faces the Owl, who's no match in a physical contest but still manages to escape thanks to his traps and gliding cape.