Bullseye Fact — October 23, 2026

Today's Fact

Verified against three independent sources. Issue cited below.

A BRAIN TUMOR MADE HIM SEE DAREDEVIL — EVERYWHERE!

The Featured Fact

The deadliest aim in the Marvel Universe was once defeated by his own skull. In Daredevil #169 (April 1981) — “Devils,” by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson — Bullseye is in custody awaiting surgery for a brain tumor that has been causing migraines, paranoia, and one very specific hallucination: every person he sees is Daredevil.

He escapes from the hospital before the operation and does exactly what that symptom predicts: he starts killing random civilians, sincerely believing he is finally killing his nemesis — over and over again. The rampage runs from a Times Square movie theater to a hostage’s apartment and down into the subway, where the roar of the tunnels scrambles Daredevil’s radar sense and Bullseye beats him half to death.

Then comes the moment that defines them both: Bullseye, knocked out, lies on the tracks with a train coming — and Daredevil drags his would-be murderer to safety. The tumor was successfully removed, the hallucinations vanished, and Bullseye’s lawyers got him freed by arguing the tumor had caused his crimes. He repaid the mercy the Bullseye way: straight back to work as an assassin — within the year he would murder Elektra in Daredevil #181.

Why It's Obscure

Bullseye has been beaten by Daredevil, paralyzed, and given adamantium bones. The strangest defeat of all was neurological: for one classic Miller issue, the whole world wore horns.

1981

Daredevil #169, “Devils” — the second issue of Frank Miller’s run as writer-penciler (with Klaus Janson). The tumor explains Bullseye’s earlier breakdown after kidnapping Black Widow in #160–161.

The symptom

Pressure from the growth causes intense headaches and hallucinations: during an episode, everyone Bullseye meets is Daredevil. He escapes custody the night before his scheduled surgery.

The rescue

Beaten unconscious on the subway tracks, Bullseye is saved from an oncoming train by Daredevil himself — a mercy Bullseye found more humiliating than any defeat.

The acquittal

Tumor out, symptoms gone — defense lawyers argue his criminal behavior was the tumor’s fault and win his freedom. The legal system’s aim, unlike his, occasionally misses.

Gallery

Real depictions tied to this fact — no AI imagery, nothing mislabeled.

Cover of Daredevil #169 (1981) — **Daredevil #169 (1981)**The “Devils” issue itself — Miller and Janson’s tumor story, in which every New Yorker Bullseye meets wears Daredevil’s horns.

Bullseye comic art — **The man who never misses**Bullseye in his classic costume — the assassin whose perfect aim was briefly hijacked by a growth pressing on his brain.

Bullseye comic cover art — **Back on the job**Freed after the tumor’s removal, Bullseye returned to assassination almost immediately — and to Daredevil’s rogues’ gallery for good.

Sources

Every claim above is verified against at least two of these independent sources.

Bullpen Bulletins

Bullseye (Earth-616) — Marvel DatabaseBullseye was declared insane due to a brain tumor and began hallucinating, believing random people were actually Daredevil and trying to kill them all; Daredevil defeated him and the tumor was removed.
Daredevil #169 — “Devils” — Comic VineIssue synopsis: the tumor’s pressure causes headaches and hallucinations in which Bullseye perceives everyone as Daredevil; he escapes Midtown Hospital before surgery, attacks civilians, and Daredevil saves him from the subway train before the tumor is removed.
Daredevil vs. Bullseye: A History of Their Classic Rivalry — CBRIn Daredevil #169 Miller revealed Bullseye saw strangers as Daredevil and killed them; it was a brain tumor, and Daredevil proved his selflessness by saving the enemy who could simply have been left to the train — after removal, Bullseye went right back to killing.