Issue(s): Elektra: Assassin #1, Elektra: Assassin #2, Elektra: Assassin #3, Elektra: Assassin #4, Elektra: Assassin #5, Elektra: Assassin #6, Elektra: Assassin #7, Elektra: Assassin #8
Published Date: Aug 86 - Mar 87
Title: "Hell and back" / "The ugly man" / "Rough cut" / "Young love" / "Chastity" / "What we're fighting for" / "Vox populi" / "Hail to the chief"
Credits:
Frank Miller - Writer
Bill Sienkiewicz - Penciler

Review/plot:
This is a groundbreaking experimental series that was part of Marvel's Epic line. From a certain point of view, it's kind of a shame that one of the best things to come out of Epic was a series using Marvel's super hero universe. Epic had the potential to be Marvel's Vertigo. But i love the Marvel Universe, so from a selfish point of view i'm glad.

The plot is relatively straightforward. Elektra is going after a Beast, possibly literally a demon that was raised by the Hand to take over America by possessing a presidential candidate. Elektra is pursued by an experimental cyborg created by a morally problematic division of SHIELD. Elektra gains control of the cyborg, manages to stay a step ahead of the rest of SHIELD, and in the end defeats the Beast and swaps the cyborg's mind into the body of the new president.

It's a pretty cool plot, but it's the delivery that puts it into a higher category. The first issue is told from Elektra's perspective, and it demonstrates her mental instability very well. In terms of panel layout, character perspective, and symbolism, the first issue of this series is basically David Mack's entire career (and let me be clear that i like David Mack's Kabuki series quite a bit).

The rest of the series is for the most part told from the cyborg John Garrett's perspective, and the ability to work with that perspective allows the story to be told from unique angles. Garrett also isn't particularly stable, and he soon winds up somehow bound to Elektra. It's not clear to me whether she was able to program him or if she's meant to be demonstrating mystical ninja powers or if he's just crazy enough to voluntary become subservient to her. But Miller's internal monologues and somewhat stream of consciousness narration just provide a really great way of delivering the story. And Sienkiewicz's painted art, with experimentation in panel layout, cutting and pasting, and abstract pictures make the whole thing riveting.

Quality Rating: A+

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - unfortunately this did not really have as big an impact on the direction Marvel took as we may have liked. From a plot point of view, there's

Chronological Placement Considerations: This takes place quite a bit before its publication date, prior to Elektra's first published appearance in Daredevil #168.

References: N/A

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? Y

Reprinted In: N/A