Review: Elektra Assassin

At the height of her popularity in the 1980s, Elektra, Daredevil's sometime lover and enemy, was actually already dead. Frank Miller's ground breaking 8-part miniseries Elektra: Assassin showcased early adventures of the assassin. Although Frank Miller didn't draw the series, Bill Sienkewicz's stunning artwork certainly dazzled the audience with his unique style, which was last seen during his run in the New Mutants series.

The Elektra: Assassin hardcover collects the miniseries originally published by Marvel's other imprint Epic Comics during the 1980s (references to Communism and Cold War phrases like "Mutually Assured Destruction" certainly pop up). Like other Daredevil characters during Frank Miller's run on the series, such as The Punisher, Elektra was actually a likeable antihero/villain. The miniseries captured a classic adventure of Elektra at an undisclosed period before meeting her final fate at the hands of rival assassin Bullseye. Daredevil is not featured in the entire paperback except in a minor cameo, but other characters such as Nick Fury and agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., play pivotal roles. In fact, the storyline involves S.H.I.E.L.D. experiments gone horribly wrong, an ancient evil and an assassination attempt at the President of the United States.  At one point, Elektra is locked up in an asylum and has to escape. What else would you expect from a character like Elektra and a writer like Frank Miller? Readers will see flashbacks from her training with her mentor Stick as well as his death which was alluded in the Daredevil series.

Overall, while the story may not be impressive, Miller does reveal some background hints on Elektra's past. The hardcover certainly adds more depth to the character and leaves the reader to decide and judge her actions and motives during her appearances in the Daredevil series.

Bill Sienkiwicz miniseries artwork

The amazing visual style done by Sienkewicz both for the cover artwork and the entire miniseries, truly captures the essence of the madness in Elektra's life and quite possibly, her mind.