Ben Urich is a
Marvel
Comics character, usually
appearing in
comic books featuring
Daredevil and
Spider-Man. Created by
Roger McKenzie and
Gene Colan, he first appeared in
Daredevil #153 (
July 1978).
Urich is a
chain-smoking, tough-as-nails investigative journalist for the
New
York
newspaper The Daily Bugle. Urich deduced
the secret identity of Daredevil and has used him as a source of
information and vice versa. To a lesser extent, he has a similar
relationship with Spider-Man, whose
alter
ego Peter Parker was a photographer for the
Bugle who
occasionally accompanied Urich on assignments. Urich has used these
connections to expose
supervillains
posing as businessmen, including the
Kingpin and
Green
Goblin.
Fictional character biography
Urich first appeared in
Daredevil stories, where he
investigated Wilson Fisk, a businessman who was secretly the
Kingpin, the head of the New York
mafia.
Urich plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in the
Punisher limited series
Circle of Blood (drawn by
Mike Zeck). When a younger, less experienced
Punisher mistakenly believes his quest of killing the Kingpin is
over, he leaves a message for Urich. The resulting story results in
the murders of several mafia men and the deaths of many innocent
people, teaching the entire community how vital Kingpin
unfortunately is.
Later, Urich was also responsible for outing Norman Osborn as the
Green Goblin in a book titled
Legacy Of Evil, although after Osborn's presumed death.
During the course of research for the book, Ben helped Spider-Man
and the
Molten Man save
Liz Allan's son from kidnappers who resembled the
Green Goblin. His research helped the trio go through the Goblin's
history and eventually discover what had really gone on. When
Norman returned from the dead (or rather, Europe) he was able to
discredit Urich and the book, going through great effort to clear
his name.
During the period where Daredevil's identity was exposed in print,
Ben refused to confirm it to
J.
Jonah Jameson on the principle of
protecting his sources and his status at work suffered for it.
However, Jameson was able to move beyond that argument when he
assigned Ben to the new supplement,
The Pulse. During this assignment he
reveals to Peter Parker that he knows his identity as
Spider-Man.
Ben Urich turned out to be right when he originally exposed the
Green Goblin, as
Daily Bugle
research would show, and conclusively when the Green Goblin was
unmasked in public and sent to jail. Plans for a re-release of
Legacy of Evil were discussed at that point; however,
nothing further has yet been mentioned in any subsequent story arc
of any title. Although the Green Goblin is currently at large
again, he can no longer walk around free as he was before.
Later, Ben
was approached by the Kingpin to
act as journalist covering the Kingpin brokering a deal with the
FBI
for release
and reinstatement of his wealth, in exchange for proof that
Daredevil is in fact Matt Murdock. To Ben's horror, he was
the one that was forced to lead the FBI to Daredevil's location.
Matt Murdock was recovering at the
Night Nurse's clinic, of which Ben
Urich knew the location (he had written an article on her), and he
was forced to give that information to the FBI, thanks to the
manipulation of the Kingpin.
Civil War
During Marvel's summer crossover event
Civil War, Ben is one of the main
characters in
Civil War: Front
Line, covering
Iron Man's side as
an
embedded journalist on behalf
of the
Bugle. However, his neutrality is called into
question after a confrontation with the Green Goblin, who was
supposed to be in prison at the time but had been secretly released
as part of one of Iron Man's plans. After insisting to
J. Jonah
Jameson that it was him, Ben is fired.
In
Civil War: Front
Line #4, Ben reveals to his friend
Sally Floyd, that seeing the
Silver Surfer during the alien's first visit
to earth causes him to realize that mankind is not alone in the
universe. This drove him into alcoholism for about a year.
In the end of
Civil War: Front Lines, Ben leaves the
Daily Bugle, with Jameson's blessing and understanding,
and forms the online newspaper Frontlines.com with
Sally Floyd, they later form the print newspaper
Front Line.
World War Hulk
During Marvel's next crossover event
World War Hulk, Ben and Sally, in their
capacity as the new editorial staff of
Front Line, are two
of the few reporters who cover the alien invasion in close
proximity. During the course of those events, Sally Floyd learns
that
Daily Bugle editor
Jonah Jameson was the mysterious
financial backer of the publication, a fact which they agreed to
hide from Urich, lest it kill his spirit.
Secret Invasion
During the invasion, Ben was covering a story in a local hospital,
only to be trapped inside during the Skrull attacks. He survives,
though a new-found nurse friend and all the others inside are
killed by rampaging Skrulls. Ben and many other human refugees make
their way to
Stark Tower, though few are
aware a human-hunting Skrull with a large body count hides within.
The Skrull perishes via human trickery and Ben and one of the
survivors wander the city.
The duo witness the climatic battle against
the Skrulls in Central
Park
.
He finds out after the invasion ends, that his wife has died, and
hits both an incredible depression and writer's block. After taking
some time off, and seeing the city begin to recover, starts to
recover himself. However, he then gets word of Norman Osborn's rise
to power, and confronts him at the press conference announcing the
control of the Thunderbolts Initiative over SHIELD and the
Avengers, and confronts Obsorn on his past, only to get brushed off
by Osborn, and the crowd around cheering for Osborn. This
ultimately breaks Urich's writers block, prompting him to write his
return article: "
Dark Reign:
Norman Osborn Takes Control".
Ben Urich tries to uncover the identity of the
Red Hulk. Red Hulk appears before Urich and
threatens to destroy those he works with if the story ever sees
print.
Other versions
House Of M
The
Daily Bugle is a propaganda machine for the ruling
mutant class. Urich is seen encouraging fellow reporter
Kat Farrell to write what the people in charge
want.
MC2
Although Ben's nephew,
Phil Urich, is
active in this reality, Ben is not shown. However, Felicity Hardy
is seen reading a book entitled
His Name was Spider-Man,
written by Ben.
Marvel Noir
Urich is a substance abusing reporter on Norman Osborn's payroll.
He takes under his wing the social activist Peter Parker, whose
youthful idealism contrasts his jaded cynicism.
Ultimate Ben Urich
In
Ultimate Marvel continuity, Ben
Urich is a somewhat younger top reporter at the
Daily
Bugle who works with Peter Parker. Parker, as Spider-Man,
sometimes feeds him information. He wrote a series of articles that
took down Kingpin and received a book deal because of the project.
He submitted incriminating evidence on the Kingpin to court (given
to him by Peter Parker), and Kingpin had to leave the country. He
was attacked by a vampire in
Ultimate Spider-Man #95; as
of Issue #96, however,
Ultimate Morbius
appears to have cured his potential vampirism.
In other media
Films
- Ben Urich appeared in the 2003 Daredevil feature film, played by
Joe Pantoliano. In the film he works
for the New York Post, as the
rights to the Bugle were tied to the Spider-Man films. He discovers
Daredevil's secret identity during his investigations (Urich is one
of the few people who believe Daredevil to be anything other than
an urban myth), but, when faced with the possibility of printing
the story, he decides not to publish it, realizing that Daredevil
does a great deal of good in the city.
Novels
Video games
References
- World War Hulk Front Line (2007)
- World War Hulk Front Line #6 (Dec. 2007)
- Secret Invasion: Front Line #1-5
- Incredible Hulk #600 (July 2009)
- Spider-Man Noir #1
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