It’s been nearly almost five years since Elektra had a solo book (2017’s Elektra #5), but she’s celebrating her 100th issue this week in an extra-sized anthology. Featured here are two stories and four comic strips celebrating the character. More importantly, comics legend Ann Nocenti returns to write the character with Sid Kotian on art. With Elektra more important than ever given her turn in becoming Daredevil, it’s a great time to be an Elektra fan.
The opening story by Nocenti and Kotian, with colors by Edgar Delgado, is a great action-adventure featuring Typhoid Mary. As you can see in the preview, they start out fighting, but this tale is largely about Typhoid’s dissociative identity disorder as well as the hold Kingpin has over her. Elektra is no villain or killer and it’s interesting to see how Nocenti pulls on those threads. The two nearly fight to the death, but there’s a history between them that is explored.
Close one!
Credit: Marvel
There is a positively fabulous 9-panel grid that explores Kingpin’s literal and figurative hold over Mary that’s not to be missed. The two have recently set sail in Devil’s Reign #6 and are happy together, but you can see how it’s a very unhealthy relationship here. Kingpin’s giant hands seem to fondle and manipulate her just enough to get his way. It’s a great way to show Kingpin’s size–which isn’t always so dramatic–affects how he can manipulate others while he speaks.
Elektra comes off as a strong solo hero in this tale too. Again, she’s not quite the focus, but by tethering Mary with Elektra we get a sense of who these women are and where they came from.
Customary of these milestone issues, Marvel follows up the opening tale with a reprint of every Elektra cover. With 25 covers per page, we get a glimpse at the stories and can revel a bit in the impressive history of the character. They’re a touch too small, however, making them hard to take in, but it’s nice to have them here.
Following this story is a rooftop adventure featuring Daredevil and Elektra written by Declan Shalvey with art by Stefano Raffaele. Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg play well with the day and night scenes with a supernatural green glow hovering around the two characters. They literally dance in the scene, which plays to the fact that these two characters are longtime lovers, but it never lasts. It’s a romantic way to convey that.
Time to dance.
Credit: Marvel
Next up is a full-page comic strip by Chris Giarrusso which plays into the fact that Elektra wears a Daredevil costume. It’s a cute way to remind readers she’s not the first person to pretend to be Daredevil. Drawn with a Saturday morning cartoon flair, it’s fun as heck.
Ty Templeton gets to close out the book with three comic strips, the first being a full pager followed by a Calvin and Hobbes homage and a fun Punisher adventure. All three are depicted across a double-page splash as if we’re reading the Daily Bugle comics section. It’s yet another great homage by Templeton to other cartoonist styles.
All told, this is a good milestone issue, although it feels a bit thin. Another conventional superhero story not in a cartoonist style would improve the overall feel–it’s a bit heavy on Sunday morning comic strips–but it’s an entertaining read all the same. Elektra #100 opens with an impactful story by a comics legend, making this a can’t be missed read for longtime fans.
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