Melvin Potter

"Kid's half an idiot." "It's the other half that counts."

- Leland Owlsley and Wilson Fisk

Melvin Potter is a brilliant, but mentally impaired designer who was coerced into working for Wilson Fisk. Potter later created Daredevil's Suit for Daredevil when he was asked to make a suit that could protect him from injury, in exchange for keeping Betsy Beatty safe. When Fisk was sent to jail, Potter retired from building suits for criminals and focused his efforts on Beatty and protecting Daredevil and Elektra as they continued to fight evil.

Working for Wilson Fisk
"That'll be all Mr. Potter." "Okay, need anything else, Mr. Fisk, sir?" "Not today, Mr. Potter."

- Wilson Fisk and Melvin Potter

A talented designer, blacksmith and armorer despite being mentally impaired, Potter was forcibly recruited by Wilson Fisk to design and build armor and protective suits for him. When Potter refused, Fisk warned him that he intended to hurt his friend and caregiver Betsy if Potter did not do as instructed. Fisk also made Potter build an armored suit and waistcoat for Leland Owlsley, after he was attacked by a masked man. Owlsley made a comment to Fisk calling Potter half an idiot, but Fisk assured him that it was the other half that mattered.

Working with Daredevil
"You shouldn't be here." "You work for Fisk?.. I asked you a question..."

- Melvin Potter and Daredevil

When the man in the mask discovered that Potter was the person who had been providing the body armor for Wilson Fisk, he tracked down his warehouse and looked at Potter's designs. Potter arrived shortly after and prepared to continue his work on a new design, however he quickly discovered the intruder. Potter panicked at the break in, knowing that Fisk had ordered that no one enter Melvin Potter's Workshop without Fisk's permission, and he was horrified when the man began asking about how exactly he came to work for Fisk. Potter told the intruder that he should not be there before attacking the masked man, revealing his combat skills and brute strength. Potter slammed the man's head against his work top while attempting to kill him with his strength, all the while telling him over and over that he should not be there. He began using items around his shop, such as chains and saw blades which he threw, to fight off the intruder. The man continued to fight back however and managed to get Potter in a choke hold until Potter was able to free himself and continue fighting the invader for as long as he could. Eventually Potter was defeated by the masked man and broke down crying, believing Betsy Beatty's life to now be in danger as Wilson Fisk would find out he broke his one rule that no one is allowed in the workshop. Much to his surprise however, the masked man comforted Potter and assured him that he did not work for Fisk and was planning on finally bringing down his reign of terror. The man told Potter that if he made an armored suit for him, he would ensure that Fisk never harmed him or Betsy ever again. When Potter asked him what kind of suit he required, the man told him he wanted a symbol.

Delivering the Red Suit
"I haven't had enough time to get all of it through the process, black parts will give the most protection, red might deflect a knife depending on the angle, might not." "It'll do just fine, thank you Melvin."

- Melvin Potter and Daredevil

Potter did as instructed and made a suit designed around devil imagery and a specially designed Billy Club to the masked man's specifications. When the masked man came to collect the suit, Potter explained the design, noting which areas of the armor were more protective against bullets and knives. The masked man later used it to fight Wilson Fisk, defeating him and putting him in jail.

Helping Daredevil
Potter was approached by Daredevil for help when the Punisher attacked the masked vigilante.

Personality
Despite being mentally troubled, Potter is extremely skilled mechanically and as an engineer catching the eye of Wilson Fisk and Daredevil for manufacturing a material that was both light and bulletproof. He is somewhat artistic in this regard, creating a suit for Daredevil that is reminiscent to the look of the Devil, to be a symbol for his enemies, and advance his weapons further such as adding a grapple mechanic for his billy club. Though sometimes violent such as attacking the masked man in his workshop (although this was in self-defence at the time because he believed him to be one of Fisk's men), Potter is also highly emotional, breaking down in tears when he was overpowered and that Betsy was no in danger. He carries a wide-eyed, almost childlike enthusiasm to his creations and revealing them to Daredevil. Potter is also smart enough to take advantage of an opportunity that comes his way such as assisting the masked man to protect him in the field so he would protect Betsy.

Abilities

 * Expert Combatant: Potter is very proficient in melee, close quarter and unarmed combat. He was able to hold his own in a one on one fight with an injured Daredevil, using tools inside his workshop as improvised weapons, and came close to beating him.
 * Expert Engineer: Potter is highly skilled in designing all kinds of body armor and weaponry. He can build light armor that protects the user without interfering with their mobility and speed.
 * High Level Strength: Potter is shown to be surprisingly physically strong, easily able to lift Daredevil in the air, with no visible signs of strain.

Creations

 * Wilson Fisk's Suit
 * Leland Owlsley's Suit (2015)
 * Daredevil's Suit (2015) - protective body armor worn by Matt Murdock aka Daredevil.
 * Daredevil's Billy Club (2015)
 * Melvin Potter's Suit (2015)
 * Daredevil's Billy Club upgrade (2015) - a multi-purpose cane with different modes, such as two short sticks or a larger staff.

Allies

 * Betsy Beatty - Caregiver
 * Leland Owlsley † - Customer
 * James Wesley †
 * Turk Barrett
 * Matt Murdock/Daredevil - Enemy turned Customer
 * Elektra † - Customer

Enemies

 * Wilson Fisk - Employer turned Enemy

Appearances
In chronological order:
 * Daredevil
 * Season One
 * In the Blood (mentioned)
 * Shadows in the Glass
 * The Path of the Righteous
 * Daredevil
 * Season Two
 * Dogs to a Gunfight
 * Penny and Dime
 * A Cold Day in Hell's Kitchen

Trivia

 * In the comics, Melvin Potter is known as Gladiator and one of Daredevil's first enemies, eventually becoming an ally of Daredevil. The symbol that Potter uses on his costume in the comics can be seen in his workshop and on his personal body armor.