The Owl

Leland Owlsley was a corrupt financier who turned to crime after losing his legitimate business licenses, using an experimental drug to gain owl-like agility and the ability to glide. He became a powerful New York crime lord and persistent enemy of Daredevil.

A creature of the Bronze Age Marvel universe, The Owl first swooped onto the page in 1983's Super Spider-Man TV Comic #517, brought to life by the creative team of Bill Mantlo and Al Milgrom. Over a remarkable four-decade span stretching into 2026, this character has kept some seriously compelling company — sharing adventures with the likes of Daredevil, Black Cat, and Matt Murdock across titles like Daredevil and Jackpot & Black Cat. It's a testament to the character's staying power that The Owl remains a fixture in the darker, street-level corners of the Marvel universe, the kind of figure that serious Daredevil readers will want to track down.