Once upon a time, she was a villain. Now she’s among the most visible heroes in the Marvel Universe. Not bad for a woman whose name was misspelled on her debut cover. Your Major Spoilers review of Elektra #100 from Marvel Comics awaits!
ELEKTRA #100
Writer: Ann Nocenti
Artist: Sid Kotian
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Editor: Devin Lewis
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: April 13, 2022
Previously in Elektra: Elektra has been many things – a pawn, a pariah, and even a provocateur. But through it all, she has been one thing above all others: the most dangerous human being in the Marvel Universe! Everything that has happened in her long and storied life has been leading to this moment. It’s a starting point for a whole new era for Elektra.
ELEKTRA VERSUS TYPHOID
Elektra #100 begins with tornadoes threatening the city of New York. While TV pundits argue what it means and whether it’s truly going to happen at all, Elektra ambushes Typhoid, one of Kingpin’s enforcers, in the streets. (This is explicitly defined as a flashback, by the way, as I think that whole arc is or has just finished being wrapped up.) They battle and Elektra remembers meeting Mary when they were both just kids in the psychiatric ward. For her part, Mary has created a balance of her various personalities and wonders why Elektra is suddenly the one showing evidence of multiple identities, having taken over as Daredevil. She also likens her personalities to the arms of an octopus, which brings up a whole new conflict, one that doesn’t end until they’re almost destroyed by the storms around them. Thankfully, Thor and Storm are able to protect the city, leaving the two assassins to an uncomfortable truce.
THE OCTOPUS THEORY
There’s a second story in this issue, featuring Daredevil, likening their relationship to a dance, with a few cartoony bits to round out the big anniversary package, but the biggest takeaway from Elektra’s 100th issue? It’s not about Elektra at all. As one who fondly remembers Nocenti’s classic Daredevil run from the ’90s, it’s nice to see her back to play with Typhoid/Mary/Typhoid Mary again, but for all the hubbub, it’s a story about her, with Elektra as a sounding board. The Daredevil story, while beautifully drawn, is ALSO more about him than it is here, leaving me with the distinct feeling that Elektra is a bystander in her own special issue. The battle sequences are well done, though, especially with both women sporting new looks thanks to artist Kotian, and the visual of Typhoid wearing tight braids to keep her mind tightly bound is played with is really exciting and interesting ways throughout the issue.
BOTTOM LINE: MOSTLY MARY’S STORY
For my part, I enjoy much of Elektra #100, especially the incisive writing of Ann Nocenti, but caution those who love the Greek ninja that it’s not really her book at all, and that while it looks quite good and features some bonus material, it doesn’t feel like quite enough to justify the 5 dollar price tag, shaking down to 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. It might be intentional that Ms. Natchios isn’t the focal point of these stories, but if it is, the concept doesn’t quite pull itself together enough to work for the whole issue.
But, boy, is this a good Typhoid story!
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ELEKTRA #100
In the shadows of the Kingpin's fall, Typhoid Mary and Elektra fight, and it's a really good issue for both characters, but not quite buoyant enough for the price tag.
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Writing8
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Art6
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Coloring7
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.