While most comic book fans identify Elektras inaugural arc in Daredevil with her iconic death murdered with her own sai by the lunatic Bullseye the bulk of the story focuses on the femme fatales experience working as Kingpins chief assassin. The fact that Kingpin, still relatively new to the world of Daredevil comics at the time this storyline was published, would choose Matt Murdocks college sweetheart, Elektra Natchios, as his hired gun only managed to further elevate the Kingpin/Daredevil feud. Watching Daredevil confront his former love, who had turned cold and calloused, created riveting, character-driven drama during the acclaimed Frank Miller/Klaus Janson run on the series. And, even with Elektras looming presence over Matts life, the storyline ultimately came down to Daredevil vs. Kingpin. During this arc, Elektra threatens the life of Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich, who is investigating the link between Kingpin and New York City mayoral candidate Randolph Cherryh. When Ben backs off the story in order to protect himself, Daredevil looks at some of the reporters photos and notices one of Kingpins thought-to-be-dead wife Vanessa, wandering the sewers as a vagabond. Daredevil uses this information to convince Kingpin to withdraw Cherryh from the mayoral race. This game of one-upmanship and can you top this would become a trademark for the Daredevil/Kingpin relationship. Meanwhile, Elektras failure to assassinate Matts law partner, Foggy Nelson (per Kingpins request), directly leads to Bullseye killing her in order to prove his worth to the boss. Elektras death has a profound effect on Matt for years. So, The Elektra Saga is another in a long line of instances where Daredevil might have won the battle, but Kingpin won the war.
Mark is a professional writer living in Brooklyn and is the founder of the Chasing Amazing Blog, which documents his quest to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and the Superior Spider-Talk podcast. He also pens the "Gimmick or Good?" column at Comics Should Be Good blog.
