Elektra (comics)

Elektra Natchios (, ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She was initially created as a supporting character for the superhero Matt Murdock / Daredevil, to whom Elektra has functioned as a villainous adversary, love interest, and later, a heroic ally. Created by Frank Miller, the character first appeared in '' Daredevil'' #168 (Jan. 1981). Her violent nature and mercenary lifestyle has served as a divisive point of conflict between her and Daredevil, which, in 2020, culminated in her becoming the second Daredevil.

The character is a highly trained assassin of Greek descent who wields a pair of sai as her trademark weapons. Elektra is one of Frank Miller's best-known creations, and has appeared in numerous modern storylines even though Marvel had promised not to revive the character without Miller's permission. She is the title character of three ongoing series: The first, written by Peter Milligan and Larry Hama and drawn by Mike Deodato Jr., from 1996 to 1997; the second, primarily written by Greg Rucka, from 2001 to 2003; and the third, written by Haden Blackman, from 2014 to 2015. She has also appeared as a supporting character of Wolverine and in other series and mini-series.

Jennifer Garner portrayed Elektra in the films '' Daredevil'' (2003), '' Elektra'' (2005), and ''Deadpool & Wolverine'' (2024). Élodie Yung portrayed the character in the MCU television series '' Daredevil'' (2016) and '' The Defenders'' (2017).

Publication history

Creation

Elektra was created by Frank Miller, who based the character's appearance on Lisa Lyon, a female bodybuilder. Miller and Janson also sometimes modeled her appearance on the actress Bo Derek. Miller has said that he designed the character around Electra, a character in Greek tragedy, and the Electra complex theorized by Carl Jung.Miller and Janson, p. 787. Comics scholar Paul Young has identified the first appearances of the character as paying homage to Sand Seref, a femme fatale character in Will Eisner's series, '' The Spirit''. Miller has frequently cited Eisner as an inspiration. Some critics have also compared the character to Catwoman, who has a similar ambivalent relationship with Batman, although Elektra is portrayed as much more dangerous and violent.

Frank Miller period: 1980s and early 1990s

Elektra first appeared in '' Daredevil'' #168 (January 1981). Miller intended this issue, which was essentially a filler story, to be Elektra's only appearance. She instead became a frequently appearing villain in ''Daredevil'', until she was murdered by Bullseye in issue #181 (April 1982). She was resurrected shortly after, but the story contained a narrative note which indicates that Daredevil must never encounter her again.

Miller collaborated with Bill Sienkiewicz on '' Elektra: Assassin'', a surrealistic, satirical miniseries that ran from 1986 to 1987, with unclear relation to mainstream continuity. Mary Jo Duffy, the editor who initiated the project, writes that Sienkiewicz was the chosen artist because of his skills: "the fine drafting, the loony caricatures, and the high-style infusion of sex-and-drugs-and-rock'n'roll." In the story, Elektra discovers that a US presidential candidate intends to launch a nuclear war, and in opposing him she comes into conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, cyborgs and monsters. The series concludes with the successful election of the candidate, but the replacement of his mind by another character whose motives are ambiguous. The Daredevil ''Fall from Grace'' storyline establishes that ''Elektra: Assassin'' is a hallucinatory distortion of canonical events in which Elektra took part, in the mind of a delusional S.H.I.E.L.D. cyborg named John Garret (who is the main protagonist of the story).

In 1990, Elektra appeared in another Miller creation, '' Elektra Lives Again''. This is an avant-garde story that takes place outside normal Marvel continuity. It won an Eisner Award for "Best Graphic Album: New".

In 1993, Miller revisited the character in the miniseries '' Daredevil: The Man Without Fear''. Taking place in the past before Matt Murdock took on the Daredevil identity, the story elaborates the relationship between Murdock and Elektra Natchios.

1990s

After over a decade's absence from regular continuity, she reappeared in ''Daredevil'' #324–327 (Jan.–April 1994). ''Daredevil'' writer D. G. Chichester recounted that he and editor Ralph Macchio had discussed the character's return several times:

This upset Frank Miller, who claimed that Marvel had previously promised him that the character would not be used in any publication.

Electra served as a supporting character in ''Wolverine'', written by Larry Hama (in #100–106). The Wolverine story arc establishes that Elektra has been re-trained and rehabilitated by Stick and is now morally good. While she remains unusually ruthless, this is the first time she takes on a heroic role. As a spin-off of this storyline, in 1996 she starred in an ongoing series that lasted nineteen issues, initially written by the same author along with Peter Milligan and illustrated by Mike Deodato Jr. The series establishes that Elektra was resurrected by the Chaste, the adversaries of the Hand. The series has a much lighter tone, sometimes including parody of romance comics, and Elektra is much more virtuous. The narrative declares, "She was once a wild-eyed assassin ... of course, she's a completely different person now." However, she struggles with a tendency to relapse into her earlier, more indiscriminately violent, tendencies. Elektra briefly resumes her relationship with Daredevil in this series, although he is unfaithful to his primary girlfriend at that time, Karen Page.

2000s

Elektra appeared in a second self-titled ongoing series that lasted 22 issues, from 2001 to 2003. While initially written by Brian Michael Bendis, the series was primarily written (after issue #6) by Greg Rucka. This series ignores the events of the previous series written by Milligan, and Elektra returns to her earlier morally-ambiguous, tormented characterization. In 2002, Rucka also wrote a novella featuring the character along with Wolverine, titled '' Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer''. While this is a prose narrative rather than a graphic novel, it includes extensive illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano. The status of the story with Marvel mainstream canon is unclear; the characters do not appear to have met before, and do not make reference to earlier stories in the Hama and Milligan series in which they interact. In an interview concerning his approach to these characters, Rucka comments on Elektra's allure as tied to her mysterious and enigmatic nature, and states that for this reason she is very difficult to write or to identify with. He describes it as a compelling emotional detachment, and contrasts this to Wolverine's demeanor, which he sees as warmer.

Beginning in Ultimate Spider-Man #51 (February 2004), an alternate version of Elektra serves as a recurring adversary in Brian Michael Bendis's acclaimed re-interpretation of Spider-Man in the Ultimate Marvel timeline. In October of the same year, this alternate version of the character featured in her own five-issue miniseries written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Salvador Larroca, with Daredevil as a supporting character.

Also in 2004, Elektra appears as a prominent leading character in Mark Millar's ''Wolverine'' storyline "Enemy of the State," with art by John Romita Jr. (who previously drew Elektra in the ''Man without Fear'' miniseries a decade earlier). In this storyline, she works with SHIELD to help Wolverine fight the Hand. In the course of events, she appears to be re-brainwashed by the Hand, although this is revealed to be a ruse on her part. However, in order to maintain the deception, she kills a number of SHIELD agents in cold blood.

In the mainstream Marvel universe, Elektra encounters Matt Murdock again in ''Daredevil'' vol. 2 #77 through #81 (November 2005 - March 2006), written by Bendis and illustrated by Alex Maleev. In this storyline, she arrives to warn Murdock about Kingpin's public revelation and confirmation of his secret identity.

In 2007, in the ''Secret Invasion'' storyline also written by Bendis, Elektra is kidnapped and replaced by a Skrull, an alien being who can shapeshift to impersonate others. This Skrull is then killed, and the true Elektra is restored to Earth. In 2009, Elektra re-appears after her kidnapping by the Skrulls in the miniseries ''Dark Reign: Elektra'' by Zeb Wells.

2010s

In the '' Shadowland'' series of 2010, written by Andy Diggle, Elektra fights Daredevil, who has now himself been corrupted by the Hand.

In 2013, Wells returned to the character in a sequel to ''Dark Reign'', in which Elektra again teams up with Wolverine, this time against Kingpin. This occurs in a story arc of '' Savage Wolverine''.''Savage Wolverine vol. 2: Hands on a Dead Body'', Marvel, 2014.

Elektra featured in a third ongoing series from 2014 to 2015, written by Haden Blackman. This was illustrated in a more surreal, psychedelic style reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz's depiction of the character in the 1980s. The primary artist, Mike del Mundo, affirms that his approach is an homage to ''Elektra: Assassin''.Elektra vol. 2: Révérence, 2016. Leah Bernstein, a comic-book critic, acclaims this as the best of the Elektra series. Blackman affirms that the character is difficult to write, because it is hard to avoid what he describes as "the stigma of being 'Daredevil's dead girlfriend.'" Nonetheless he concludes that upon completion this was the story and character he is "most proud of writing."

Elektra reappears in the ''Daredevil'' series in a storyline beginning in April 2016, written by Charles Soule. In this story, Elektra is supernaturally deluded into believing that she has a daughter.

In 2019, Elektra featured as part of the Savage Avengers, along with Wolverine, Punisher, Venom, Brother Voodoo, and Conan the Barbarian.

Elektra again encounters Daredevil in a long story arc written by Chip Zdarsky, beginning with ''Daredevil'' (2019) #10 (July 2019). As a result of the spell cast to maintain Daredevil's secret identity, Elektra has separated her memories of Matt Murdock and Daredevil and thinks of them as two separate men.

2020s

Elektra continues to feature in Chip Zdarsky's run of ''Daredevil''. While Daredevil is incarcerated, Elektra decides that she needs to impress him with her commitment to protecting innocent people in Hell's Kitchen. In order to do this, she becomes a new Daredevil, making a new costume for herself that modifies the original. She later joins forces with the original Daredevil and they work together as a team up to the conclusion of Zdarsky's ''Daredevil'' series with issue #36 in February 2022. In her new persona, Elektra is also the main protagonist of Zdarsky's three-issue miniseries ''Daredevil: Woman without Fear'', the first issue of which appeared in March 2022. In this story, she fights Kraven the Hunter. Elektra and Daredevil co-star in the '' Devil's Reign'' miniseries and Marvel event, which concluded in May 2022. Subsequently, they are the leading protagonists in Zdarsky's new ''Daredevil'' series, which concluded in April 2023.

In 2021, Elektra also appeared in a new mini-series titled ''Elektra: Black, White and Blood''. Largely outside of mainstream continuity, each issue features a different writer and generally in the horror comics genre. Authors include Charles Soule, Peter David, Ann Nocenti, Peach Momoko, and Kevin Eastman.

Personality and characteristics

Elektra is an unusually ruthless antihero and femme fatale. Scholar Paul Young defines some of her defining initial characteristics as including her succinct speech patterns, her "athletic, eroticized body," her father complex, and her lethal weapons and fighting prowess. He notes that another critic, Larry Rodman, memorably compared her to a "psychotic swimsuit model." Young points out that Elektra combines the femme fatale of film noir with chopsocky martial arts films. The character is also associated with hypersexuality, particularly in the 1993 ''Man without Fear'' miniseries.

She shows few compunctions about killing her adversaries, and in some stories even kills innocent people. However, she maintains a strong affection for Matt Murdock and, later, other people she admires. She is often morally conflicted and attempts to use her skills for good. Miller says that Elektra's violent disposition originates from the trauma of the loss of her father, and that he meant the character to illustrate Jung's Electra complex: "She was a young woman who had her sexual interest centered on her father, and just as she was transferring this to another man, her father is killed." Miller argues that this initial anger led to corruption by other forces (the Hand and the Kingpin). In his view she is not essentially good, but rather "one of the villains who's got a weak streak in them." After her resurrection, in the 1996 ongoing series written by Peter Milligan, she has a more conventionally heroic disposition,Elektra #4, February 1997. but in subsequent stories her moral character continues to vacillate.

Fictional character biography

Family and early life

Elektra was born on a Greek island near the Aegean Sea, to Hugo Kostas Natchios and Christina Natchios. She had an older brother named Orestez.

Two contradictory accounts of her family history have been given. In ''Elektra: Root of Evil'' #1–4 (March–June 1995), Christina is killed by assassins hired by Orestez, while in ''Elektra'' #18 (1995), she is killed by an insurrectionist during the Greek Civil War. In both accounts, she gives premature birth to Elektra just before dying.

When nine-year-old Elektra was assaulted by kidnappers, the men were all killed by Orestez, who had grown into an accomplished martial artist after leaving home. Orestez advised his father that Elektra needed to learn self-defense. Hugo hired a sensei to teach her the martial arts.

In '' Elektra: Assassin'' #1 (Aug. 1986), the adult Elektra has vague memories of being raped by her father as a five-year-old. Years of counseling and medication had convinced her this was a false memory, but the doubt remained. Elektra grew up close to her father but was plagued by dark visions and voices with no known source. She occasionally reacted to them with self-harm. Her father eventually sent her away to psychotherapy to become more stable. It was uncertain whether Elektra actually became more stable or merely appeared to be. She became a black belt in karate at age 12.

Activities as an adult

Hugo Natchios eventually served as a Greek ambassador to the United States. Nineteen-year-old Elektra attended Columbia University in New York City. There, Elektra began dating classmate Matt Murdock. A year later, Elektra and her father were kidnapped by terrorists. A rescue attempt by Matt went wrong, and Hugo was gunned down. Elektra lost faith and hope. She quit Columbia and returned to China to study martial arts. Stick, a member of the benevolent Chaste organization, recognized the darkness in her soul and attempted to train her himself, but she ultimately sided with the Hand, a sect of mystical ninja who trained her as an assassin. She later broke away from them and became an independent agent, and in this role she encountered Daredevil. She defeated Daredevil in her mission to kill the criminal Alarich Wallenquist. However, she failed her assignment, and Daredevil had to save her from being killed by Eric Slaughter, revealing his secret identity to her in the process.''Daredevil'' #168 (Jan. 1981) Although the pair worked together to fight the Hand, they also came into conflict.

Elektra later battled the Hand alongside Daredevil and Gladiator. She then battled Kirigi.

She soon became the chief assassin in the employ of the Kingpin, New York City's premier crime lord. She attempted to kill Daredevil after he tried to stop her from terrorizing Ben Urich. The Kingpin then assigned her to kill Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, Matt's partner. When Nelson recognized Elektra as Matt's college girlfriend, she was unable to kill him.Cowsill 2021, p. 129.

Elektra was fatally stabbed by Bullseye with one of her own sai in a battle over which of them would be the Kingpin's assassin. Elektra managed to crawl to Daredevil's house before dying in his arms as Bullseye watched the two, hidden among a crowd that had gathered to see what was going on. Later, members of The Hand stole her body and attempted to resurrect her. Daredevil, with the assistance of Stone, a member of Stick's order, intervened, defeating The Hand ninja. Daredevil then tried to revive Elektra himself. Although his attempt failed, it did have the effect of purifying Elektra's soul. Elektra's body subsequently disappeared, as did Stone.

Later, Elektra was found to have been resurrected by Stone and residing upon the Chaste mountain, where she claimed to have found peace. It was revealed that when Elektra was resurrected, the evil aspect of her soul had physically split apart from her and had been placed in its own body by the Snakeroot (a part of The Hand), as a consequence of the ritual performed by Daredevil. Her darker half called itself Erynys ().Cowsill 2021, p. 130. Erynys was tasked to get the About Face Virus for the Snakeroot so that the merger of the corpse and Elektra's essence would become permanent, allowing them complete control over an obedient version of the assassin. Confronted by Daredevil, Stone and Elektra, the Snakeroot fought back in a gruelling battle over the virus. Eventually, Erynys was killed, thus returning the dark side to Elektra's soul.

Some time later, Stick sent Elektra to help Wolverine at a time when physically and mentally regressed to a bestial form. She helped retrain Logan to the point where the latter could think and vocalise as a human once more, and spent time thereafter as the X-Man returned to a normal form, including taking Logan with her on a visit to her ancestral home.

Seeking a focus for her life, Elektra recruited her own order of fighters and mercenaries called the Ryu, to oppose the Snakeroot. She proved to be a poor leader, however, and the entire Ryu was killed trying to prevent the Snakeroot from assassinating a set of pure souls for their cause. Elektra ultimately completed the destruction of the Snakeroot and the protection of the last soul alone.

Later, Elektra asked martial-artist King Lau and boxer McKinley Stewart to help her open a Dojo. After a showdown with Bullseye led to the death of a young woman's father, Elektra took in the girl, Nina, as her roommate and ward. During this time, a villain named the Architect was calling all super-villains to meet in New York City, for a competition to have Elektra kill him so that he could be reborn in a new host body. With the help of Doctor Strange, the Architect was killed and his essence was trapped in the body of a small demon, caged by Strange.

She was hired by Nick Fury to assassinate Saddam Abed Dassam, the leader of Iraq who was in league with HYDRA, and retrieve the Scorpio Key. Fury hired her as a way to avoid accountability in global political circles. HYDRA tried to hire her, an offer she refused. They then set the Silver Samurai on to her and it appeared she killed the Silver Samurai though the latter appeared alive and well in other comics. When she eventually obtained the Scorpio Key, she refused to give it to Fury, believing that Fury could not be trusted with such a powerful weapon. She instead gave it to the police officer who had killed her father, stating that the officer had a debt to her and would not let her down.

Wolverine: Enemy of the State

Elektra worked with S.H.I.E.L.D.

HYDRA and The Hand joined forces, killing off various heroes and resurrecting them into their possessed warriors, including Wolverine, who became their killing machine. Based on her relationship with Logan and her ties to the Hand, Fury hired Elektra to lead the mission, paying her in excess of $200,000, more money in one day than the (then) yearly salary of the President of the United States. She worked to stop Wolverine from killing others as well as to try to turn him back to his normal self. During a fight with The Hand, Elektra was killed and resurrected as a Hand warrior, eventually becoming their leader. Along with the X-Man Northstar and other superhumans killed and resurrected by the Hand, Elektra attacked Fury, injuring the latter badly and causing the destruction of a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier.''Wolverine'' vol. 3 #27. Marvel Comics.

Thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D., Wolverine eventually came to his senses and wanted revenge. During a fight with Elektra, she mentally spoke to Wolverine, using new abilities given to her by the Hand. She explained that being killed by The Hand was all part of a plan she had from the beginning. She explained that she had been resurrected by The Hand and infiltrated the organization, making them believe they had been successful in resurrecting her as a brainwashed warrior. She told him that they would take The Hand and HYDRA down together. They fought off many ninjas and were victorious. Gorgon, however, attacked Elektra and threw off her mental blocks, enabling him to read her thoughts and see where Fury was being treated for his injuries (he also discovered that the Vatican also hired her, to kill him). Gorgon teleported, with Elektra, to kill Fury. When they arrived, Elektra ordered the S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers to attack. Gorgon used his power on her neck and she collapsed. Wolverine eventually used Gorgon's own powers against him, defeating him.

In an email to Kitty Pryde, Fury says that Elektra has survived albeit missing and probably in Eastern Europe, creating her own militia group which intends to be her own version of The Hand. Fury also says that Elektra is at present, no threat. It is during the time following the helicarrier's destruction that she is abducted by Skrulls and replaced with an imposter.

Daredevil and the Kingpin

Elektra resurfaces to help Daredevil with a situation with the Kingpin. The crime lord, in exchange for his freedom, offered the FBI irrefutable evidence that Matt was Daredevil.

It is revealed that Elektra actually helped the Kingpin gain all the needed information back when she was Daredevil's enemy, and she returned because she felt an obligation to help Matt out of the trouble for which she felt responsible. It was also revealed by the Black Widow that Elektra is now the leader of The Hand.

Daredevil meets up with Elektra, the Black Widow, and the new White Tiger in front of the building that holds the "Murdock Papers" (the evidence Kingpin was talking about). They intended to retrieve the papers before the FBI could get there, but were suddenly attacked by Bullseye. Daredevil and Elektra fought the villain and, after a lengthy and bloody battle, won. However, Daredevil was suddenly shot by Paladin (who was working for FBI operatives) and was left bleeding profusely in Elektra's arms. Elektra then takes Matt to the Night Nurse, but insists that The Hand should cure him. Black Widow appears and objects. While Elektra and Black Widow fight, The Hand heals Murdock.

Outside the Night Nurse's medical office, reporters and police gather. Elektra then jumps out the side window, along with The Hand to drive off the police and FBI. She gets in a quarrel with Luke Cage, and quickly exits the scene at Matt's request.

It was later revealed that "Elektra" was actually a Skrull and not the real Elektra.

Replacement by Skrulls

Elektra seemingly reappears, appearing to be corrupted by the Hand. She kills, resurrects, and imprisons the vigilante Maya Lopez to use as a weapon. The New Avengers rescue Lopez who ends up stabbing Elektra to death, however, her death revealed that "Elektra" is actually a Skrull in disguise.

It turns out that the real Elektra was selected to be replaced by the Skrull Siri. Elektra was targeted by several Skrull impostors while staying in Japan, but she fought and killed most of these Skrulls (including Siri). Elektra gets blindsided and severely beaten by the Super-Skrull Pagon who ultimately took Elektra's place (since Siri was killed by Elektra) as a major "reveal" of Veranke's intent to take over the world's superheroes.

The real Elektra was revealed to be alive upon one of the Skrull ships and was released during the final battle between the heroes and the Skrulls. Iron Man immediately orders her held in protective custody at S.H.I.E.L.D.''Dark Reign: Elektra'' #1 (March 2009). Marvel Comics.

"Dark Reign"

Being the only Skrull captive showing signs of experimentation and torture, Elektra finds herself weakened by multiple injuries. Norman Osborn orders her studied and monitored to obtain information as to why this was the case. Paladin breaks into H.A.M.M.E.R. headquarters intending to kill Elektra for $82 million. She overpowers Paladin and chokes him by spitting her broken tooth down his throat. She forces him to surrender the keys to her to escape. Before leaving the cell, she murders the interrogator who was torturing her for information. She finally makes her escape after taking down several H.A.M.M.E.R. operatives and manages to reach Murdock's office to raid his stash of first aid supplies. After being confronted by Nelson, she collapses from extensive blood loss due to her injuries.''Dark Reign: Elektra'' #2 (April 2009). Marvel Comics.

Elektra wakes up handcuffed to a hospital bed in the Night Nurse's clinic. The nurse explains that she bound Elektra for her own safety, although the ninja easily frees herself. Their conversation is interrupted when a hit woman named Nico breaks in and attempts to kill both of them. Elektra sends Nico flying out the window then arms herself with the ninja's weapons while telling the Night Nurse to escape. Elektra jumps into the alley and battles Nico, only to find that another hit man named Carmine is also attempting to kill her with a sniper rifle from a rooftop. She manages to defeat Nico while evading Carmine's shots and obtains some clues from Nico as to why she was being targeted for assassination. On the rooftop, Carmine is murdered by Bullseye (in the guise of Hawkeye) who was sent by Osborn to kill Elektra.''Dark Reign: Elektra'' #3 (May 2009). Marvel Comics.

Elektra climbs to the top of the building to confront the third assassin, only to be taken aback when she discovers that he is Bullseye. Although initially hesitant, she stands her ground and faces her killer. The two begin to fight when Nico manages to reach the rooftop to check on Carmine. Bullseye attempts to kill her with a drug laced arrow, but she is saved by Elektra (who accidentally gets the drugs on the arrow in her system in the process). Bullseye then kicks the seemingly sedated Elektra off the building, but she manages to land safely. Bullseye follows and confronts her on the street, attempting to kill her with her own sai, much like their first encounter. However, this time Elektra outmaneuvers him and stabs him through the back with one of his own arrows. Nico once more interrupts the fight, attempting to shoot the fleeing Bullseye, then confronting the heavily drugged, helpless Elektra. H.A.M.M.E.R. agents enter the fray and shoot Nico, but are ambushed and killed by Wolverine before they can finish Elektra off.''Dark Reign: Elektra'' #4 (June 2009). Marvel Comics.

After escaping H.A.M.M.E.R., Wolverine reveals to Elektra where Nico ran, and Elektra tries to confront the problem head on and peaceably end the conflict. Arriving at the Blackhawk crash site, she discovers that Agent Brothers, a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, was the one who put a price on her head. Brothers claims that she was responsible for killing hundreds of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents during the Blackhawk incident. Elektra, having no memory of the incident, denies the accusations and urges both Brothers and Nico to go in peace, stating that it was her Skrull impostor who was responsible for the incident. However, Osborn then appears, and reveals that Elektra was in fact abducted after the Helicarrier attack, although she has no memory of this because she had used a mind trick to "forget" her resurrections and the incidents surrounding them to prevent the Skrulls from accessing them during her abduction. Osborn taunts Elektra to undo this mind trick, and Elektra obliges. It is then revealed that Elektra is actually guilty of the accusations. She then proceeds to kill both Nico and Brothers.''Dark Reign: Elektra'' #5 (June 2009). Marvel Comics.

Code Red

Elektra was involved in an incident with the Red Hulk, X-Force, a new villain, the Red She-Hulk, and a few other well known mercenaries such as Deadpool and the Punisher.

Shadowland

In " Shadowland" storyline, Stick tries to convince Elektra to help stop the Hand from corrupting Matt. But she refuses, because she wanted him to be cold-hearted just like her out of spite for him. She reconsiders when she witnessed the broadcast of Daredevil killing Bullseye. She joins the Hand so she can gain intel on the Shadowland fortress to help the super heroes infiltrate it. Later upon rejoining the Hand, Elektra visits Daredevil and Typhoid Mary at Bullseye's grave intending to resurrect him. She then helps sneak the super heroes into the building, to stop Daredevil from resurrecting Bullseye. A fight erupts and just when Elektra tried to reach out to Matt, the Demon of the Hand finally possesses him. Once he defeats all of the super heroes, Iron Fist used his chi energy on the demon to help heal Matt's soul. While that was happening, Elektra entered Matt's mind to encourage him fight the evil presence of the demon. Matt killed himself to stop the demon from causing any more chaos. Elektra later resurrected him.

Thunderbolts

As part of the 2012 Marvel NOW! branding, Elektra becomes a member of Red Hulk's Thunderbolts.

Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

During the " Avengers: Standoff!" storyline, Elektra was incarcerated for some unknown reason in Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. used the powers of Kobik to turn her into Sheriff Eva. During this time, she was in love with Absorbing Man's altered human form of an ice cream vendor named Henry. After Baron Helmut Zemo and Fixer started using a machine to turn all the inmates back to normal, Elektra was among those restored. She talked Absorbing Man out to harming the innocent lives at Pleasant Hill.

During the 2016 " Civil War II" storyline, Elektra joined S.H.I.E.L.D. to free her conscience of the deaths of the passengers of the crashed Black Hawk. She took the position of field director when Phil Coulson left the group. When Coulson was trying to interfere with Captain Marvel's plans to use Ulysses Cain's abilities to stop crime before it happens, Elektra discovered that Leo Fitz was Coulson's mole in her group which Maria Hill was alerted to. At the same time, she also reinstated Grant Ward into S.H.I.E.L.D. and placed an explosive collar on his neck to ensure his loyalty.

Becoming Daredevil

During Chip Zdarsky's run on ''Daredevil'', Elektra seeks out Murdock to help form an organization called The Fist to take down The Hand once and for all. To prove herself trustworthy, she takes up the mantle of Daredevil and protects Hell Kitchen while Matt is in prison.

Powers and abilities

Elektra's primary abilities are a strong knowledge of martial arts and weaponry. Elektra learned ancient martial arts of China, Siam, and Japan. She is a master combatant with the Okinawan sai, her usual weapon of choice. She is also highly skilled with the katana, daggers, three-section staff, and shuriken. She is a master of many Japanese combat forms including Ninjutsu, Aikido and Karate. Elektra is an Olympic-level athlete, strong in gymnastics and swimming, with superior strength, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina, endurance, dexterity, reactions, coordination and balance. She is resistant to pain and extreme heat and cold. She is also able to keep to the shadows and move with such speed that she can remain unseen even in daylight.

Elektra has the ability to mesmerize others, and as such make them see illusions or other phenomena.

Elektra also has the ability to "throw" her mind into those of others. For instance, she was able to track down her enemy, Ken Wind, by temporarily "borrowing" people's minds and acting through them while she hunted around for her prey. This temporary mind control enables her to metaphorically sniff out the psyche, or intent, of her targets. It saw extensive use during '' Elektra: Assassin'', in which she was heavily reliant on only her ninja powers.

Elektra can communicate telepathically with individuals possessing similar levels of mental discipline, such as the Chaste. She mastered this ability during training with The Hand, which mentally links her to The Beast, the demigod of The Hand. She is able to shield her mind from others.''Wolverine'' Vol 3 #29. Marvel Comics.

She can see glimpses of future events across precognitive visions.

Themes and motifs

Elektra stories tend to emphasize her characteristics as a sex symbol and femme fatale. For example, in the 1996 ongoing series she speaks of the "fevered desires" and "dark, sensual fantasies" she inspires in men. The Frank Miller stories in particular also explore madness, sadism, death, and mourning. The ''Elektra: Assassin'' miniseries is a satire on American culture and politics, in which idealistic justifications for US policy have hidden, obscene motives of dominance, lust, and self-destruction.

Supporting characters

Elektra was initially a supporting character for Daredevil, as an early girlfriend and an antagonist. He often appears in stories in which she is the main protagonist. She also commonly appears in a stories featuring Wolverine, who at one point refers to her as a "kindred spirit." She also sometimes works together with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Her primary antagonists and enemies include the Hand and Bullseye, who at one time succeeded in murdering her (although she was resurrected).

Cultural impact and legacy

J. Andrew Deman describes Elektra as "an iconic Marvel warrior woman." Following her example, the popular character Psylocke of the X-Men adopted as similar costume and fighting style, in 1989. As with Elektra, the Hand trains and shapes Psylocke into a ninja assassin.

Elektra was one of the primary inspirations for the Bad girl art trend of the 1990s in American comics.

Doug Petrie, a writer for ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', credits Elektra as the inspiration for the character of Faith. In his view, "In a different, teen, punkier context, Faith is so much like Elektra."

Other versions

What If?

In the story "What If Elektra Had Lived?", penned by Frank Miller, Elektra's murder at the hands of Bullseye does not occur as Bullseye is cut down and killed while trying to escape from prison. Elektra spares Franklin Nelson's life, irritating the Kingpin, who swiftly orders her execution. After fighting off several assassination attempts, Elektra flees to Matt Murdock's brownstone home. Murdock initially wants to take Elektra into custody, but she warns him that with the Kingpin putting a bounty on her head, she will die at the hands of his agents if she is sent to prison. Murdock decides to flee New York with Elektra, putting up his home for sale and cutting off contact with Nelson. The couple are last seen enjoying a quiet sunset on a beach, far removed from society and seemingly happy.

House of M

Elektra appears as one of the assassins of the Kingpin and is later hired by John Proudstar to bring down Luke Cage's "Avengers".

Marvel Zombies

In the ''Ultimate Fantastic Four'' arc "Crossover", Elektra is seen among the zombie hordes preparing to attack Magneto, Mr. Fantastic, and the few living humans they are protecting. She is also among the zombies that attack (and infect) Frank Castle. The infected Wolverine from this incident travels to another Earth where he kills the human Elektra with his claws, impaling her through the stomach in the manner of Bullseye.

Mutant X

In the Mutant X Universe – an alternate world which was visited by the Earth-616 (mainstream Marvel Universe) Havok – Elektra (surname: Stavros), while still equally trained as a martial artist and assassin, is the nanny and bodyguard of Scotty Summers. Scotty is the son of that reality's Alex Summers and Madelyne Pryor. Elektra stays close to Scotty, protecting him from repeated assaults by his mother, the Goblin Queen, and her brainwashed allies. Following the disappearance of the Goblin Queen, she indulges in an affair with Havok. She seemingly dies near the end of the series, though Scotty reassures Alex that she will come back.

Ultimate Marvel

:'' See also: Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra and Ultimate Elektra for information on the two starring miniseries.''
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Elektra Natchios is a student at Columbia University who has a knack for martial arts and is a great fan of Bruce Lee. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was 6, and her father is trying to make money with a laundromat.

In this universe, she starts out as a sweet, innocent girl who cares deeply for her loved ones – so deeply that she is willing to go over dead bodies to help them. This trait starts her descent into becoming one of the most deadly assassins in the world.

There is a gap between the Elektra featured in ''Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra'' and ''Ultimate Elektra'' and the one shown in ''Ultimate Spider-Man''. In the first two arcs, she is a normal college student, but in the last arc – which is set a few years later – she has become the Kingpin's right hand and is a villainess. She is hired by an unknown person to kill a Latverian terrorist, but Spider-Man prevented her from doing it. She is shown in this universe as a highly dangerous and skilled killer, and was able to take down the likes of Hammerhead, Black Cat, Moon Knight, and Spider-Man easily. She was later put into a coma when Moon Knight threw one of his crescent blades at her, hitting her in the head when she was about to kill Black Cat.

PunisherMax

A more "realistic" version of Elektra appears in the '' PunisherMAX'' series, from Marvel's ''MAX'' imprint. This version of the character is Japanese: the Hand lends her services as a bodyguard to the Kingpin, especially to protect him from the Punisher. She also becomes the Kingpin's lover. It is revealed that Elektra was secretly hired by Kingpin's ex-wife Vanessa to assassinate him for failing to prevent the murder of their son Richard. It is also revealed that she is in a lesbian relationship with her. Elektra eventually has a final confrontation with the Punisher to save Vanessa. She manages to seriously wound the Punisher, but is shot several times and left permanently incapacitated. Later, a representative from the Hand has one of his men finish her with a sword.

Secret Wars (2015)

During the ''Secret Wars'' storyline, there are two different Elektras that exist in Battleworld:

* A Wild West version of Elektra resides on the Battleworld domain of the Valley of Doom. She is seen as a minion of Governor Roxxon alongside Bullseye, Grizzly, and Otto Octavius where they were first seen intimidating Judge Franklin Nelson into leaving town so that he wouldn't preside over Red Wolf's trial. Sheriff Steve Rogers and Red Wolf later fought the villains which ended with Otto Octavius being killed in battle, Bullseye killing Sheriff Rogers, and Natasha Barnes diverting the remaining villains in the other direction so that she can hide Red Wolf. Elektra and Grizzly later fought Red Wolf again where they end up defeated by him.
* Elektra is known as Red Sai, the leader of the Red Hand school in the ''wuxia''-inspired K'un-L'un region of Battleworld. Due to an oath made by a previous master of the Red Hand to serve every emperor of K'un-L'un, she serves as Emperor Zheng Zu's assassin. Red Sai is also the former friend and lover of Shang-Chi, the emperor's son, who was exiled for the murder of Lord Tuan, the previous master of the Iron Fist. During the tournament to decide the new ruler of K'un-L'un, Red Sai and Rand-K'ai, Tuan's pupil, fight Shang-Chi in the penultimate round of the Thirteen Chambers. During the fight, Red Sai confesses that Zu had sent her to assassinate his rival Tuan but ultimately failed. To spare his lover and her students from the emperor's wrath, Shang-Chi killed Tuan; Zu implicated and exiled his son for the murder to cover his own involvement. After the truth is revealed, Red Sai and Rand-K'ai let Shang-Chi pass so that he could defeat his father. After Shang-Chi emerges victorious, Red Sai pledges herself to the new emperor.

In other media

Television

Elektra appears in Marvel's Netflix television series, portrayed by Élodie Yung as an adult and by Lily Chee in flashbacks.
* First appearing in the Daredevil season 2, second season of '' Daredevil'' (2016), this version was trained by Stick (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Stick from childhood until the Chaste deemed her too dangerous and he had her adopted by Hugo and Christina Natchios to keep her safe. While in college, she met and dated Matt Murdock (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Matt Murdock. In the present, Stick sends her back to New York City to make him return to his side and help defeat the Hand. Though she falls in love with him, they break up after she fails to make Murdock kill Roscoe Sweeney for killing his father years prior. Murdock attempts to reconcile with her by convincing her to leave Stick and become her own person, but she seeks revenge on Stick after one of his assassins attacks her. When Stick gets kidnapped by the Hand, Elektra and Murdock work together to find him, discovering she was destined to become the Hand's leader "Black Sky" in the process, though he helps her choose her own path. She later sacrifices herself to save Murdock from the Hand's forces, but they dig up her body and prepare to revive her.
* Elektra appears in '' The Defenders''. Revived and now working for the Hand as a brainwashed assassin, she is tasked with killing Chaste members and anyone who can threaten their plans, running afoul of Danny Rand (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Danny Rand, Colleen Wing (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Colleen Wing, and Jessica Jones (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Jessica Jones in the process. When Murdock, Rand, Jones, and Luke Cage (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Luke Cage join forces to form the Defenders (comics), Defenders and combat the Hand, Elektra is sent to attack them, but is defeated by Rand. Following this, she slowly regains her memories, but kills Stick, kidnaps Rand, kills the Hand's leader Alexandra Reid to assume control of the group, and manipulates Rand into helping her unearth ancient caverns filled with dragon skeletons said to contain the secret to eternal life. After the Defenders rescue Rand and set explosives in the Hand's headquarters, Murdock stays behind to reach Elektra before they share a kiss and disappear in the explosion. While Murdock survives, Elektra's fate is left ambiguous.

Film

* Elektra appears in the 20th Century Fox film '' Daredevil'' (2003), portrayed by Jennifer Garner. This version is the daughter of billionaire Nikolas Natchios, who had her trained in martial arts after she witnessed her mother's death at a young age. In the present, she encounters and falls in love with Matt Murdock before witnessing Nikolas' death. Initially assuming Daredevil was the culprit, she attacks him, only to learn he is Murdock. Realizing Bullseye (character), Bullseye is her father's killer, she confronts him, but is fatally stabbed, left for dead, and dies in Murdock's arms.
** Elektra appears in a Elektra (2005 film), self-titled spin-off film (2005), portrayed again by Jennifer Garner. In this film, it is revealed that she was once a martial arts prodigy called the "Treasure". Following her death, Stick resurrected her and trained her in Kimagure, which grants the practitioner precognition and the ability to resurrect the dead. Due to her rage and fear of seeing her mother's killer however, she is expelled from Stick's training compound and becomes a contract killer. Years later, she finds herself protecting a target she was meant to kill but became acquainted with, Mark Miller, and his daughter Abby Miller, the current "Treasure", from the Hand.
** Following her previous film appearances, Elektra's film rights reverted to Marvel Studios in 2014 and became available for use in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Garner would eventually reprise her role as Elektra in the MCU film ''Deadpool & Wolverine'' (2024). After being banished by the Time Variance Authority (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Time Variance Authority (TVA) to the Void (Marvel Cinematic Universe location), Void, she joins a group called the "Resistance" in rebelling against its ruler Cassandra Nova (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Cassandra Nova.

Video games

* Elektra makes a cameo appearance in ''Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter'' as one of Apocalypse (character), Apocalypse's prisoners.
* Elektra appears as a boss in the '' Daredevil'' (2003) tie-in game as a brainwashed servant of the Kingpin until Daredevil eventually frees her.
* Elektra appears in a Elektra (2005 film)#Video game, self-titled mobile game.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects'', voiced by Jani Jakovac.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel: Ultimate Alliance'', voiced by Gabrielle Carteris.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Super Hero Squad Online''.
* Elektra appears in ''LittleBigPlanet'' via the "Marvel Costume Kit 2" DLC.
* Elektra appears as a boss, later unlockable character in ''Marvel Avengers Alliance''.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes'', voiced by Laura Bailey (voice actress), Laura Bailey. This version works for the Kingpin.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Heroes (video game), Marvel Heroes'', voiced by Kat Cressida, Kathryn Cressida.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Contest of Champions''.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel: Future Fight''.
* A Marvel Noir-inspired incarnation of Elektra named Eliza appears as a playable character in ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2''.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Strike Force''.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order'', voiced again by Kathryn Cressida.
* Elektra appears as a playable character in ''Marvel Puzzle Quest''.
* Elektra appears in ''Marvel Snap''.

Miscellaneous

* Elektra appears in the ''Marvel Comics Super Heroes'' collection of commemorative postage-stamps.
* Elektra appears in a Marvel-licensed slot machine.

Bibliography

By Frank Miller

In addition to her signature appearances in ''Daredevil'', Elektra starred in three series produced by her creator, Frank Miller:
* ''Elektra Saga'' #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 1984) (reprints of material from ''Daredevil'' #168, 174–177, 181–182, 187-190 and ''Bizarre Adventures'' #28)
* '' Elektra: Assassin'' #1–8 (Marvel Comics, 1986, with Bill Sienkewicz)
* '' Elektra Lives Again'' original graphic novel (Marvel Comics / Epic Comics, 1990)

Additional series

Elektra has also headlined the following series:
* ''Elektra'' vol. 1 #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 1995)
* ''Elektra Megazine'' #1–2 (Marvel Comics, 1996, reprint series)
* ''Elektra'' vol. 2, #1–19 (Marvel Comics, 1996–1998)
** ''Elektra'' vol. 2, #−1 (Marvel Comics, 1997, "FlashBack Month" issue)
** ''Peter Parker: Spider-Man / Elektra '98'' Annual (Marvel Comics, 1998)
* ''Elektra'' vol. 3, #1–35 (Marvel Comics / Marvel Knights, 2001–2004)
** Issue 3 was Recalled comics, recalled by Marvel due to featuring nude images of the character. An edited version was later reissued to retailers.
* '' Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer'' #1–3 (Marvel Comics, 2002)
* ''Elektra: Glimpse & Echo'' #1–4 (Marvel Comics / Marvel Knights, 2002)
* ''Elektra: The Hand'' #1–5 (Marvel Comics, 2004)
* ''Dark Reign (comics), Dark Reign: Elektra'' #1–5 (Marvel Comics, 2009)
* ''Shadowland (comics), Shadowland: Elektra'' one-shot (Marvel Comics, 2010)
* ''Elektra'' vol. 4, #1–11 (Marvel Comics, 2014–2015)
* ''Elektra'' vol. 5, #1–5 (Marvel Comics, 2017)
* ''Daredevil: Woman Without Fear'' #1–3 (Marvel Comics, 2021)
* ''Elektra: Black, White & Blood'' #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 2021)

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate version of Elektra starred in the following series set in the fictional Ultimate Marvel Universe:
* ''Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra'' #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 2002)
* ''Ultimate Elektra'' #1–5 (Marvel Comics, 2004)

Collected editions

Ultimate Universe

Intercompany crossovers

Elektra has been featured in Fictional crossover#Comics, crossovers with characters from other publishing companies:
* ''Elektra/Cyblade'' one-shot (Marvel Comics / Top Cow Productions, 1997)
* ''Witchblade/Elektra'' one-shot (Top Cow Productions / Marvel Comics, 1997)

See also

* Women warriors in literature and culture
* Electra

References

Bibliography

* Cowsill, Alan (2021). ''The Way of the Warrior: Marvel's Mightiest Martial Artists''. DK. ISBN 978-0-7440-2719-8.
* Langley, Travis, ed. (2018). ''Daredevil Psychology: The Devil You Know''. Sterling. ISBN 978-1-4549-3011-2.
* Lindsay, Ryan K., ed. (2013). ''The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil''. Sequart Research & Literacy Organization. ISBN 9780578073736.
* Miller, Frank and Klaus Janson (2022). ''Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson Omnibus''. Marvel. ISBN 978-1-302-94553-4.
* Young, Paul (2016). ''Frank Miller's Daredevil and the Ends of Heroism''. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813563817.

External links

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Elektra
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elektra
Characters created by Frank Miller (comics)
Comics characters introduced in 1981
Daredevil (Marvel Comics) characters
Fictional aikidoka
Fictional assassins in comics
Fictional Greek people
Fictional hypnotists
Fictional immigrants to the United States
Fictional karateka
Fictional murdered people
Fictional female assassins
Fictional female ninja
Fictional female warriors
Fictional saijutsuka and jittejutsuka
Marvel Comics adapted into video games
Marvel Comics female superheroes
Marvel Comics martial artists
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