Preview
Elektra
Real Name: Elektra Natchios
Birth Date: August 13
Birthplace: Greece
Height: 5'9”
Weight: 130 lbs.
Eye Colour: Blue-black
Hair Colour: Black
Base of Operations: Global
Occupation: Mercenary assassin; former student and dancer
Nicknames: Little Amber, Epsilon, Perfect Death; impersonated Chastity McBryde and Sandy Newton; numerous aliases throughout mercenary career.
Temperament: Observant, unforgiving, calculating, precise, silent; the consummate killer.
Another Marvel Comics’ creation; Elektra is a beautiful fictional character and the love interest of the superhero Daredevil (Matthew Murdock). She first appeared in Daredevil Vol. 1 #168, January 1981 and created by Frank Miller and became one of his best-loved creations for Marvel.
Driven by tragedy and perfected by training, Elektra kills for hire, loves for thrills and leaves destruction in her wake. She's a superb practitioner of the Sais, moves with supernatural speed and is resistant to weather, pain, and torture. Elektra travels the world as an assassin, addicted to violence, blood and death. Over the years, the assassin has a highly distracting sex appeal combined with silent intimidation, she can subdue a victim before violence even occurs, making her work easier. Elektra remains at large, feared by lawmen and criminals alike, an unstoppable myth.
Elektra History
When it comes to Elektra's history, the stories often contradict each other.
Frank Miller laid out an origin of her childhood and family history in Elektra: Assassin,
while consequent writers have built upon it. Unfortunately, because of the
mysterious nature of her character, other writers have used their artistic
license to create Elektra’s various stories instead of helping it along.
Elektra Natchios was born to Christina Natchios and Hugo Kostas Natchios in the Greek island of the Aegean Sea at a villa with white stucco walls that overlooked the ocean where the Natchios' palatial estate was described as paradise. Elektra also had an older brother named Orestez Natchios and a pet dog, Agamemnon, who was a gift from his father. The name given to her as “Elektra” is from a Greek mythology -- “Electra” who was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
Her father was a young, newly appointed ambassador to an unspecified country. However, Hugo and his wife had grown apart. He was humiliated as his wife shared her affections openly towards other men. In addition, people questioned his ability to manage the world when he couldn't even manage his own family. When Christina became pregnant for the second time, both Hugo and his son, Orestez, a young man at the time, suspected that Hugo was not the father. Enraged, Orestez hired men to kill her mother.
On August 13 of that year, the couple was on holiday in the Aegean Sea. A helicopter flew over and firing down upon them. The couple was taken to a nearby hospital and Hugo recovered, but Christina only survived long enough to give premature birth to her daughter. Guilt over harming his father drove Orestez away from his family. Hugo was the only family left to Elektra. After medical tests proved that he was the father after all, he accepted the baby, naming her Elektra.
Elektra proved to be a talented child and excelled in gymnastics and martial arts. She attended parochial school where, despite her high intelligence, she received poor grades. When she was nine, her pet dog named Agamemnon was killed when she was assaulted by the kidnappers. Elektra was saved by Orestez, now a grown man who developed into a skilled martial artist. He briefly acquainted himself to his little sister and then left again. The very next day, Elektra began martial arts training under a Japanese sensei, achieving a black belt by age twelve.
Father and daughter eventually set their sights on New York, where Elektra attended college at Columbia University majoring in political science and women's studies. There, the young woman fell in love with Matthew Murdock, soon to become the Daredevil. Their relationship was the first for both, but tragedy turned Elektra's world upside down when she witnessed the terrible accident that lead to her father's death a year later.
Driven by anger and grief, she threw herself into martial arts again and ran away leaving her lover and shunned the law. She met her mentor named Stick, a member of the benevolent organization called the Chaste. He recognized the darkness in Elektra’s soul and attempted to train her himself, but she ultimately sided with the Hand, an evil cult of ninjas who tricked her into killing her original sensei as an initiation rite. Elektra planned to learn their ways, and then use it against them, but instead they corrupted her even further. She again encountered Matt Murdock, who was now active as Daredevil. She soon learned of his double identity, and although the pair worked together to fight the Hand, they also came into conflict frequently. Eventually, she killed the Hand’s high lord and escaped.
She now becomes a ruthless and highly trained freelance killer, joining a series of lethal martial arts clans only to break free each time to forge her own path. In the past decade, she has shown a certain degree of compassion for others, though she’s an assassin-for-hire, selling herself to the highest bidder. She accepts large sums of money to sustain a lifestyle. Her life is one of seclusion, world travel, cover identities, disguises, and an ongoing inner battle that takes a toll as severe as the world of violence, blood and death in which she lives.
Elektra's Death
Elektra keeps coming back from her grave. She died
twice and resurrected many times.
Her First Death: Daredevil Vol. 1 #181 (1986)
Elektra was hired as the chief assassin by the crime lord, the Kingpin. She was tasked to kill Matt Murdock's partner, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson but changes her mind at the last minute. Bullseye, seeking to regain his position as the Kingpin’s chief assassin, ambushed Elektra. After an epic battle written by the original Frank Miller, Bullseye slits her in the throat before stabbing her in the chest with her own sai. Mortally wounded, Elektra crawled to Matt’s apartment and died in his arms.
Her Second Death: Wolverine Vol. 2 #24 (2005)
Wolverine is about to kill Daredevil, after supposedly taking him by surprise, but it's merely a set-up by Elektra, who is waiting for her trap to spring. Elektra has her own troubles, when the Gorgon shows up behind her. He murdered Elektra on the rooftop across Daredevil's apartment. Unfortunately, Daredevil came late and Wolverine has a moment of lucidity. He explains to Matt that this was all a setup, Hydra didn't want him, they wanted Elektra, and now, Gorgon has claimed her. Meanwhile, the Hand works to resurrect the dead Elektra.
Her First Resurrection: Elektra Lives Again (1990)
Despite when Elektra died in his arms, Daredevil is plagued by recurring nightmares and terrible premonitions that his former lover may be alive. Elektra has in fact, returned and active once more.
Her Second Resurrection: Daredevil Vol. I #181 (1990)
The Hand disinters Elektra's body hoping to resurrect and to make her into one of their own. Before the complex ceremony could be completed, Daredevil, Black Widow, and Stone, who’s a member of the Chaste fought and stopped them. Daredevil was unsuccessful in completing the ceremony, but Stone was not. At the Chaste's mountain, it is revealed that Matt's innocent love for Elektra has also purified her soul of evil.
Her Third Resurrection: Wolverine Vol. 2 #27 (2005)
Elektra, alongside with Northstar, was killed and resurrected as Hand warriors, and eventually Elektra becoming their leader. During Wolverine’s fight with Elektra, she mentally spoke to him, using her new abilities given to her by the Hand. She told him that they should take The Hand and Hydra down together and make a surprise attack against them. Together, they take down an entire armada of their ninjas. Elektra later reveals that she was "in very deep cover" for S.H.I.E.L.D. and thus, she had to play along with the bad guys in order to defeat them from within the Hand's base. It turns out that they were unable to corrupt her spirit because she had already been through the process before.
Skills and Abilities
Exotic Martial Arts
Elektra is a master martial artist. An expert in the use of various martial-arts implements primarily ninjutsu but extends to other unspecified disciplines including Chinese, Japanese, and Brazilian styles.
Olympic-level athlete and gymnast
Elektra is a strong swimmer, expert in kyudo (archery), gymnast and a great olympic-level athlete. Her eagerness to learn and try new things and unwillingness to fold to pain has given her a great advantage over her opponents.
Multilingual
As she travels the world, she learned different languages like Chinese, French, Greek, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish, to name a few.
Super-Strength
Elektra possesses a peak of human level strength. She has good upper body strength, as evident when she shoved Wolverine and Mac during a pissing match with each other. In that situation, both men were triple her weight. Her strength comes mostly from her superior speed, which combined with velocity makes the impact of her hits tremendous.
Speed and Agility
Her speed and agility are probably her greatest assets. She's been known to swipe weapons off of a trained operative before they can finish blinking. She once stopped a bullet with her bare hands and habitually deflects them off her Sais.
Durability
Elektra pushes herself on a daily basis to reach her peak human limits. She has naturally enhanced her body through daily, lifelong training. From this, she has achieved a decathlete's endurance, a gymnast's flexibility, and furious strength.
Intelligence
It can be said that Elektra can achieve anything because she is smart and intelligent, and that is exactly the kind of attitude that has saved her while fighting super-powered enemies like The Beast in the past. Her intelligence is more of a cunning sort; she's never been book-smart in school. Nonetheless, Elektra is an avid reader and shows tremendous ingenuity and dry wit around other people especially those she dislikes.
Telepathy
The assassin has the ability to "throw" her mind into that of others. This temporal mind control enables her to literally sniff out the psyche or intent of her targets. She can communicate telepathically with individuals possessing similar levels of mental discipline, such as the Chaste.
Energy Projection
No mutant abilities would allow her to cast off explosive energy.
Fighting Skills
Elektra's fighting skills are comparable to some of Marvel's biggest guns -- including Wolverine, The Punisher, and Captain America to name a few. In part, Elektra's success is owed mostly to the fact that she doesn't shy away from pulling dirty tricks.
Weapons used by Elektra
The Sai
Elektra uses two bladed Sais as her trademark weapon. This is her primary tool in her assassinations throughout the years.
Guns
Throughout her long career as a bounty hunter, she has had experience with all types of foreign firearms. This includes knowledge of Nick Fury's most advanced gun technologies although not the world's best sharp-shooter, she nonetheless has impressive aim.
Sniping Tools
Elektra has also shown proficiency in the use of various martial arts weapons throughout her long career. To date, her list includes: horse chopper, bo, pitchfork, nine-section chains, kama or sickle, spear, 3-section staff, katana and its shorter cousins the wakazashi and tanto, blow darts, poisoned spikes, crossbow, shuriken, and six-foot staff amongst others.
Other Weapons
She also owns all of the necessities such as single-eye binoculars, grappling hooks, and all lengths of cable.
Other Appearances of Elektra
Comics
Daredevil/Elektra: Love
and War HC
Daredevil Visionaries:
Frank Miller Vols. II and III TPB Elektra: Assassin TPB
Elektra Lives Again HC
Elektra: The Scorpio Key
TPB
Elektra Vol I:
Introspect TPB
Elektra & Wolverine:
The Redeemer HC
Movies
Elektra (2005 film) : From the pages of Marvel Comics comes ELEKTRA, an action event movie. Elektra is a 2005 movie directed by Rob Bowman. It is a spin-off to the 2003 movie Daredevil, starring the Marvel comics character Elektra Natchios. In the ultimate battle between good and evil stands a warrior who makes the choice that tips the balance. Jennifer Garner stars in the title role as a strong, mysterious and sexy action heroine, a lethal synthesis of grace and power.
Video games
· Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects
Elektra’s powers here include as master martial artist, proficient in weapon handling, athletic skills, minimal lifting strength and can run on walls.
· Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Elektra is not one of the physically stronger characters here, but she is the fastest in the game and her sai attacks are very deadly.
Comic Appearance
Photoshoot Appearance
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