Elektra. The first woman ever loved by Daredevil, the man without fear. Her touch was warmth. Her smile was light. Then, her father was murdered, and a soft heart became as stone. She left this country, driven by rage and grief, to study the many arts of killing with an order of ninja called The Hand - until she betrayed them. Forced into exile, she came back to the land known as America; now, as an assassin-for-hire. And for her crimes, this tragic, haunted woman is hunted by the one man she has ever cared for, remembered through years of loneliness and denial - Daredevil! When Elektra confronts her lost love, only death can follow.
Frank Miller is an American writer, artist and film director best known for his film noir-style comic book stories. He is one of the most widely-recognized and popular creators in comics, and is one of the most influential comics creators of his generation. His most notable works include Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns, Batman Year One and 300.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
The material for this book was culled from Frank Miller’s entertaining Daredevil run. It was then edited into a chronological account of Elektra’s origin story starting when she first met Matt Murdock back in college.
Talking about super-hero abilities as a way to pick up women? Huh. That’s genius…
Things go swimmingly until a tragedy forces Elektra to leave school and focus her rage on becoming a ninja assassin.
She bounces from sensei to Stick until she ends up with The Hand – an evil group of ninja assassins. The group’s creepy leader is looking for some smexy times, Elektra says no and leaves the group to become a freelance mercenary-a-go-go.
But, nobody leaves The Hand. Alive.
Well, most people don't…
Elektra ends up in New York City, where, by comic book law, she’s bound to run into Daredevil.
Because Daredevil still has unresolved feelings for Elektra, she kicks his ass…
…before Daredevil rescues her and she reveals that she has some unresolved feelings of her own.
Then she kicks his ass a few more times.
*sigh*
Bullseye is in the slammer, so the Kingpin is in the market for a new heavy hitter, so he hires Elektra.
This doesn’t sit well with Bullseye, who breaks out of comic book jail where they hire only the most inept prison guards. This leads to one of the more brutal and iconic events in comics.
Caveat: You’ll believe a character can be a brought back to life, because it happens frequently in this volume. Freakin’ ninjas and their demon magic.
Bottom line: In order to keep the focus on Elektra, the book makes jumps in continuity that can sometimes be slightly difficult to follow; introducing some plot threads and leaving some hanging. Still, if you have an interest in Elektra, this would be the recommended place to begin – it’s some of the best writing that Miller has done – dark, brooding, action-packed – he basically re-defined the character of Daredevil and the tone of the books.
Both the crap-Fleck movie and the Netflix series have tried to put their own spin on this character with decidedly uneven results. The movie unskillfully borrows some elements from Miller’s story; the Netflix series portrayal throws sadistic and crazy into the mix, making it somewhat far removed from the version presented here.
As to the suck-fest movie, Elektra, the less said the better.
If you want an idea what a dude would look like cosplaying Elektra, check out the cover.
It reminds me of a weird experience watching the annual Halloween parade in Greenwich Village.
The obligatory Skottie Young and/or cute pic for Trish:
7/10 [Remark: not really a review of the content, rather of the container. I will maybe write about the content when I review the whole Daredevil run by Miller and Janson. In the meantime, you can check this video on the subject, with some spoilers.] With the exception of the standalone stories Elektra: Assassin (1987) and Elektra Lives Again (1990), two quite experimental comics for Marvel standards, the character of Elektra Natchios was prominently featured in merely seven issues of Daredevil, in between 1980 and 1982. Namely, issues #168, #174-176, #180-181 & #190, plus a couple of other short tales published elsewhere. Basically, there are only four stories involving the character, from when she is introduced to when she dies. For the rest, she has never appeared again in any other Marvel comic book: never. You get me? NEVER. Sheeesh. Zip it. Don't wanna hear... Now, in 1984 Marvel decides to republish those four stories featuring the sexy lethal Greek ninja assassin. However, they want to spare as many pages as possible. So, focusing exclusively on Elektra, they cut every scene involving any other Daredevil-related subplots. The result is a cut and paste of the original material, with many pages missing and a few other rearranged. Theoretically, this kind of operation would leave me disgusted. But guess what? Surprisingly, all in all, this actually reads fine. The issues of Daredevil where Elektra appears are here rearranged so to tell one coherent story, as seen from the point of view of Elektra, rather than Matt Murdock, as it was obviously the case in the original version. In particular, the curators (Miller himself? Danny O'Neal?) cut off a bit of the inner thinking that Daredevil usually has during the fights. As if we were watching Matt silently fight from Elektra's perspective. I kinda approve. Yeah, shut up Matt! Let us enjoy those cool stylised ninja queer choreographies! Ultimately, call me heretic, but I think that this is a decent read to get at the heart of Miller's first and most beloved creation. It is obviously not as satisfying as reading the whole Daredevil run by Miller and Janson, that goes without saying. But it is still a more coherent reading than just grabbing Daredevil #168, #174-176, #180-181 & #190. There are some incoherencies with the colouring, though. Unfortunately, many passages are recoloured, and not as well as the original colours by Wein and Janson! Recommended to 1) those who already know the run, love Elektra and want to re-experience her brief career in a way slightly different than usual; 2) those who think that Frank Miller only portraits women as whores. Elektra is one hell of a bitch, sure, but go and try to tell he that she is a whore, if you have the guts.
This is a trade paperback compilation from 1989 of a four-part series taking all the Elektra pages from Miller’s original Daredevil run and attempting to make a cohesive story out of them. It kind of fails, especially in the fourth section (issue #4 of the original Marvel Special Edition format series, also known as Baxter books). Too much of the DD story is eliminated and what’s left is disjointed and awkward. This was the work that put Frank Miller on the map, and I had the original Special Editions, which had excellent new covers by Miller. I wish Marvel would remaster this and republish it … some of the pages in this TPB look they were photographed from an actual printed comic, and a lot of the reproduction is subpar. Still, it’s an interesting experiment of mining the source material for a totally different story and it almost works. Almost, but not quite.
Works of fiction fundamentally have plots and subplots intertwined together. These span out over the course of chapters, scenes, etc. during the course of the work.
Comics are no different in that their purest essence is episodic storytelling. There are A and B and C plots threaded over multiple issues with the ultimate goal of prolonging sales of a title for as long as possible.
Now imagine taking a whole bunch of comics published over the course of four years and assembling the pages associated with just one plot into a single volume. Sure, you'd probably get the entire arc of that plot. But storytelling is messy, and its usually impossible to extricate one plot entirely from the others.
That's what this collection is. Marvel took all the pages associated with Elektra from Daredevil and Daredevil-associated comics published roughly between 1981-84 and stuck them together in a single book. Not whole issues -- just clumps of pages without accounting for any other plot threads that may coincidentally appear on those pages.
Daredevil loses his radar because of an injury, but the loss (and assumed recovery) of his radar is never mentioned again? Hmmm, that must have been resolved on pages that didn't contain Elektra content. Ah well, onto the cutting room floor.
Wait, now Daredevil is suddenly in an isolation tank because he got a second dose of the radiation that originally gave him powers? ::flips back a few pages:: Did I miss something?
Yes, in point of fact. Whole issues, in point of fact. If it didn't have to do with Elektra, it got cut, regardless of whether or not the existing Elektra pages had other plot content on them.
The result is a shambling, disorganized mess. Adjacent plot threads are brought up and disappear with no conclusion. Time jumps occur with absolutely no rationale. Suddenly, we're seeing things that happened months later with everything in between cut.
Es la primera vez que leo algo de Elektra y he de decir que me ha parecido una maravilla, conocer sus orígenes, su entretenimiento, su lucha interna ha sido toda una aventura y sobre todo el amor entre ella y Daredevil. De Frank Miller no voy a decir nada, ya está todo dicho de él, como siempre un gusto leerlo. El dibujo tal y como a mí me gusta, clásico y directo.
Found this lovely edition recapping the lives and loves of Elektra Natchios and Matthew Murdock. The art is gorgeous even if some of the dialogue is a little stilted and exposition-heavy. Not essential, but a nice addition to the collection.
Len málo Marvel komiksov z 80.rokov obstojí aj v súčasnej rýchlej dobe. Elektrina sága je jedným z nich. Mix superhrdinský komiksu s noirom ladí pekne a dodáva príbehu dôveryhodnosť. A mladý Miller bol už vtedy majstrom kresby. Okrem gýčových výrazných farieb sa dočkáme aj viacerých vychytaných atmosférických políčok, ktoré naznačujú Sin City budúcnosť.
I read this in comic form when it came out - yup, I'm that old - and thought it groundbreaking at the time, creating a cohesive and interesting backstory for a hero who have seemed a little bit dull up till then. For all her uberviolence, I love Elektra.
I've never really gotten into Daredevil that much (not sure why not), but this is fantastic: gritty, visceral, dark, nuanced. Miller and Jansen perfectly set the tone and run the mood through every page.
An interesting comic in a lot of ways. First of all, you can definitely tell from it that Frank Miller would have been far better suited to the DC Comics Silver Age style of one-issue plot lines (perfectly fine in the 60's, outdated in 1981) than the "serious and realistic" wave he pretends to have invented. We see Elektra being saved by Daredevil and passionately kiss him, then in the next issue she hates him for no reason whatsoever other than Frank Miller says so, then she wants to help him, then she wants to kill him. I get that the character is a conflicting one, but it's nonsensical nonetheless. Hell, even her origins are nonsensical, given that her father was killed by accident by the police who, without even seeing what was actually happening in the town hall, shoot all their guns with the risk of involving the people they originally intended to rescue. And nobody investigates about this bloody affair! We pass on Daredevil, who loses his inner radar because of an explosion but it doesn't matter since his abilities and fighting skills are the same as before. The radar is restored thanks to a confrontation with Daredevil's own inner demons (?) and then is the time to apprehend Elektra because she kills...miles away from Daredevil's sensorial range. But the worst part of this all goes to Foggy Nelson, who may be one of the worst self-condoning prick I've ever seen in all Superhero comics period. This guy blames himself for all Matt Murdock's Law agency problems, those same that somehow resulted in his own marriage breaking apart (??), yet he goes to a trial that he considers "menial job" and HE WINS IT! But hey, it's Frank Miller we're talking about, so he NEEDS to put depression and mental suffering that will be forgotten after two pages, right? just to make the reader's life more interesting and heartfelt! And what about the Kingpin? He doesn't want to kill Daredevil because it's not worth it, than he hires Elektra to stop him, than he decides to leave out of the protection a mob elected as Major for his own advantage because Daredevil shows him a ring...that could have been stolen from a dead corpse since Kingpin's wife has been missing for so many years? oh, and the death of Elektra was so well executed! She is such an efficient killer that leaves Foggy Nelson alive! But remember, this is "realistic" writing, not a hackened plot full of contrivances and holes! I would have given one star and one star only if not for the drawing skills of Miller, which are MILLIONS OF LIGHT YEARS BETTER than the abominations of David Mazzuchelli. Oh and what about Daredevil as a character? sorry, but I still don't find him that interesting. NEXT!
No soy fan de Darkdevil ni nada, pero cuando empece a leer este tomo simplemente no puede parar, es Frank Miller, say no more. Aunque no conozcan a Dardevil, este tomo es absolutamente recomendable y autoconclusivo, en 9 numeros sucede de todo, desde la introduccion de Elektra, su romance con Matt Murdock, peleas contra ninjas, una trama politica muy interesante, dardevil venciendo a sus propios fantasmas , una pelea con un cocodrilo gigante y una especie de rey morlok.....en fin muy recomendable.
The Elektra Saga is clever and inventive! Full of cunning, plot twists, exploits and hijinks! Backstory and Elektra's relationship with Daredevil is explored in ways that you will and will not expect! The Elektra Saga will keep you on your toes guessing which way things will go! The different characters and the motivtions make for an totally unpredictable stroyline! You will be up late to see where this goes with The Elektra Saga full of daring do, cunning, adventure and action from the start! Brilliant crisp high five! Get it when you can! :D
Mr Miller love your storytelling. Many new writers and designers of today's comics don't seem capable of meeting these standards for creative brutal redemptive women. Just love Elektra. From her arduous beginnings to her true test of loyalty then the spilling of her soul to its purging. My kind of comic! Could not yourself Mr Miller and the equally wonderful Mr Everette Hartsoe combine to reignite the inimitable Razor? Just a thought.
A continuación tenéis algunos detalles de mi opinión sobre la 'Saga de Elektra'. El resto, junto a la reseña de 'El hombre sin miedo', en El Planeta de mis Nimios
'En esta saga Miller nos presenta a Elektra, desde que conoce a Matt Murdock en la universidad hasta cuando se reencuentran años después. Descubrimos varias historias que, juntas, nos sirven para conocer por una parte a Elektra (personaje muy atractivo por sí mismo) y por otra a Murdock/Daredevil.'
'Este conjunto de historias son muy importantes a la hora de dotar a Daredevil de un trasfondo y una gran personalidad (algo a lo que Miller contribuye en gran grado). [...] Además, Miller introduce grandes dosis de crueldad y brutalidad en las historia de este superhéroes, no tiene ningún tipo de reticencias y es capaz de ‘maltratar’ a cualquier personaje si piensa que es necesario para la trama.'
'En resumen, una fabulosa historia de Daredevil en la que Frank Miller consigue darle una profundidad al personaje que antes no tenía (y que contin��a haciendo durante el resto de su etapa) y una historia que nos hará pasar desde momentos muy graciosos hasta otros realmente trágicos pasando por otra amplia gama de situaciones.'
Don't be surprised when your legends disappoint you. His work on Daredevil, and especially the so-called "Elektra Saga", is how Frank Miller made his name back in the 1980s. I have read parts of that, but never the entire run or the entire Elektra story. The problem with this collection is that it only collects the Elektra parts. And that is not much of a story. It is clear there is so much more going on in the book at the time that is cut here that the whole affair feels extremely disjointed. Condensing four years of storytelling and focussing on a character who is not the main character of the larger narrative leaves one with a dissatisfying array of events and a (by now pretty well-known) finale that actually feels less than epic. Obviously much more went on in the actual Daredevil book that only gets referrenced in passing and leaves you wondering what's actually going on (Daredevil loses his radar, not that it makes too much of a difference, appears to have it back, then has to stay in a sensory deprivation tank because his senses got upped in another not-reprinted-here issue...) - you always feel like you skipped a few pages. Maybe I'll try to get my hands on a complete collection of Miller's run, but this collection of bits without context really does not do it for me.
Pretty good. I picked this up after reading Miller's Daredevil run with art by David Mazzucchelli, and while Miller's a celebrated comics artist in his own right, he suffers by comparison to his Year One collaborator. Really interesting to watch Miller working out some of the ideas he'd go on to use in that book and Dark Knight Returns, though.
Don't know why no one talks about this one more. You've got The Hand, Bullseye, and ninjas all over the damn place. Stone may be the coolest guy of all time.
Brilliant stuff, loads of hints of the coming greatness of Miller. And Elektra, one of the best female characters ever produced. So deadly, so cool. Brilliant stuff.