Elektra, Vol. 1: Introspect

Elektra (2001) (Collected Editions)

by Greg Rucka

Elektra is forced to confront her murderous past after being taken hostage by an adversary. Feeling desperate in her containment, Elektra must choose between continuing her homicidal professin or making an attempt to change her life.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Greg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Elektra! I really enjoyed this story. I like seeing Elektra second guessing herself but still being badass. This woman is one of my all time favorite characters so I will read any of her stories.

[Odo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elektra, Vol. 1: Introspect is an Elektra graphic novel that collects issues 10-15 (plus a short bonus issue) of the Marvel Knights run of Elektra comics that ran from 2001 to 2004. Featuring, of course, the titular assassin Elektra Natchios, all six issues are written by Greg Rucka, although the artists vary between Carlo Pagulayan, Danny Miki, Joe Bennett, and Greg Horn, and most of the coloring is done by Nathan Eyring. The colors in the first issue are interesting because they look like they were done with colored pencils; you can see the delicate strokes that a colored pencil would likely make, and it's a unique style. Other than that, however, I did not much enjoy the first issue (which is issue #10 of the overall series), subtitled "Unemployment," because I found it to be a bit confusing, hard to follow, and unnecessary. (This first issue is, in fact, the main reason why I dock a star from my rating.) We see, for example, Elektra using various aliases such as Miss Ketterman, Mrs. Salvatore, and Nicole, and while I guess that I understand why she would use aliases (as she has, in fact, done so already in this Marvel Knights series), why, for example, does she, as Mrs. Salvatore, demand two tickets to a Broadway show and then give said tickets away to a homeless man? I do not understand what the narrative significance of that is supposed to be. I also don't know if it should have been included in this book to be honest because it doesn't have much connection to the following five issues, which make up an arc titled Introspect. In issue #11, the first issue of the Introspect story, we see Elektra buying newspapers in bulk because, as she has been doing throughout this series thus far, she is using coded language from prospective clients publishing ads for work in newspapers to do her work as an assassin. The problem, however, is that she isn't finding any work because no one wants to hire her, and we see sides of Elektra that I don't believe I have ever seen prior to reading this book. She has a breakdown, tearing her sofa to shreds and even contemplating suicide. She is even kind of funny in issue #12 because, under the influence of a drug that has been administered to her, she calls her captor "Rolly" because he is in a wheelchair. (I want to emphasize, however, that I do not find ableist jokes funny. I only found this funny because of how out of character that it is for Elektra.) I, for the most part, have no issue with the art or the coloring that is featured throughout the Introspect story, although Elektra's skin does look really strange at times, as it, for some reason, looks kind of mottled. I think that the intent was to present her as dirty and in need of a shower (something that comes up in dialogue at least twice later in the story), but I think that they probably could have accomplished that without making her look like Deadpool. There is also a pretty sickening scene in issue #14 to which I feel the need to call attention. There are two men who approach Elektra (who is weak from exhaustion, dehydration, and despair), and they talk amongst each other about how she is attractive. A third man reminds them, "Colonel says stay clear of her," and they respond, "Yeah, we know... just seems a waste, that's all." There are two reasons why I find this dialogue shocking: (1) it's quite obvious to me that they are talking about raping her, as I fully believe that that is what they mean when they say that it "seems a waste," and (2) as they soon make clear via the dialogue, they believe her to be dead, and I can't decide whether or not that makes it worse. I have to tip my hat to Rucka, however, for being willing to go there; it definitely presents just how abhorrent and deplorable that these men are. The aforementioned bonus issue (titled "Elektra: Trust") is pretty short and not at all relevant to the Introspect story, although I don't mind that because it's not intended to be; it's just included as a bonus story. The art, done by Greg Horn, is really interesting because it's very realistic, with much of it looking a lot like photographs. I, overall, absolutely love this book. Introspect is probably the best Elektra story that I have read yet; it's so captivating and emotionally compelling, and I cannot wait to see where this series goes from here on out because this really seems like a game changer.

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rucka's scripts are great, but deals with some fundamental problems with Elektra, namely, that she is an assassin. Artist Joe Bennett draws one chapter, and nicely inks himself. Carlo Pagulayan draws the longer story arc, and his layouts are great but his faces are interchangeable, a real weakness here. And there's a final short drawn by Greg Horn, from this same early-2000s vintage. I am enough of a Rucka completist to wonder where his next arc took the character.
Mildly recmmmended.

[Thebadwolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably closer to 3.5 stars.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this being one of my first Elecktra graphic novels and though it is pretty violent and disturbing, I enjoyed the plot and the character.

[Zach Zook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing first step for me into Elektra’s world. I’d enjoy seeing what happens next.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great arc that explores Elektra's upbringing and her path as an assassin.

[Scott A. Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this, felt like something like First Blood. Well thought out themes with fantastic action.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art of Carlo Pagulayan is a great improvement from the flat-looking Elektra drawn by Chuck Austen. I actually love Pagulayan's Elektra, and the action sequences make sense and are beautiful to look at.

Greg Rucka is also much better than Brian Michael Bendis. This story is gripping and intriguing. Introspect explores what constitutes the identity of Elektra and what happens when you take away her assassin self. It is a story I'm interested in reading in any form in superhero comics, because you are throwing the hero into situations where they can't resort to their usual easy way out. What will they do? What impact will this have on their personality and on their character? It's a new angle to try on an old character, instantly refreshing it. And Rucka does it very well.

So why the low rating? I have two big problems with this. Elektra gets a lot of flak for being an assassin. She is a monster because she kills, or so Rucka says. But previous arcs have shown us that Elektra kills when she has to and tries to be as compassive as she can without risking her life while leading a successful career as an assassin for hire. She is not a murderer, she is a mercenary. And she only takes works when she believes in the outcome. Her life is fraught with morally dubious choices, but it isn't quite right to pin her down as a monster, because she is clearly not one. Presenting Elektra in this light is a complete misunderstanding of the character, and that bugs me.

And I can't quite keep out of my mind that she is getting this reformation arc because she is a woman. It seems that being an assassin is more reprehensible because she is female, and Marvel women can only be saints or whores. This feeling is reinforced because she is abducted by a white man who knows better, who wants to break her, enlighten her poor lost soul, and lead her to a new life of selflessness. A man whose fiancée had died to give him plausible motivation. A man who takes Elektra's agency because he is convinced he is morally superior and thus capable of saving Elketra. Deadpool would never get an arc like this one, for example. So let me say something: women can be as soulless as men, they can be evil, good, complex, selfish, selfless, whatever. Women have the whole range of personality traits because they are human. So can we please have a female assassin who is not shamed because she is a female assassin?

I'm looking forward to seeing if Rucka can get himself and Elektra out of this mess, but I'll have to start reading modern Ms. Marvel or Squirrel Girl at the same time in order to keep my sanity.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm giving this the same score as the previous volume, Introspect is overall much more solid. The new author, Greg Rucka, is a good choice because he tries to ground Elektra and shows her struggling with unemployment and the effects of being assassin. Questions like what happens when innocent people are killed by superheroes or regular people try to get revenge are explored here. While I think Bendis did this better in Daredevil, I still think this goes a long way towards fleshing out Elektra and making her seem like a real person.

As my score indicates, not everything was an improvement. The first issue to second issue felt pretty disjointed since the first one focuses on her unemployment and then jumps to what feels like a very loosely connected plot. It doesn't help that the art in the first issue of this arc is not good. Thankfully the rest of the issues are solid, if uninspiring. This story shows enough improvement for me to read the next story arc and I'm hoping it can continue to improve in future story arcs.

[Neil McCrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greg Rucka gets the character of Elektra as well or better than anyone else who has ever written her. The problem here is that for this story to have any power it must be a game changer for Elektra, yet there is no sense that this is more than a tiny ripple in the status quo of the character. The best way to handle this story would have been as an ongoing subplot over a year or two while she engaged in more action heavy adventures, only to end it with a dramatic couple of issues that permanently changed the direction of the character. Sadly, that was probably not an option from an editorial point of view.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Marvel Knights book. Dark, but hey its Elektra, it pretty much has to be dark. Elektra as a person and a broken person even. And mostly not killing even. Good writing, good art. And finding decent art for Elektra is unusual especially given her standard costume. Can Elektra change? Even if she could, I wouldn't think Marvel would let her. But this book at least let's you see possibilities. 4.5 of 5.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually really like Greg Rucka's writing, especially with tough female protagonists. But this story is not about the tough, unstoppable kick-ass heroine Elektra. It's about Elektra suffering at the hands of her enemies. And suffering. And suffering some more. Elektra as victim. Not impressive. What happened to her Ninja training? She's more than an assassin for hire, and to see her whimpering over her own unemployment didn't ring true - and isn't what I want to see.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is potential here. Rucka writes crime well. He is obviously setting up a longer story. I hope it works.

The art is violent and beautiful at times. The art for the tag story that was all CGI is just terrible. It's obvious the artist is experimenting with something new. It's a problem because it just feels flat now that artists can use the art style so much more effectively.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

PRECIOUS MURDERER CHILD.

I CAN'T.

FEELS.

Seriously though, Elektra is so screwed up. But this whole thing was screwed up? She wants to die but the only way they'll let her is if she does it herself? Like serious no stahp don't emotionally hurt my precious murderer child.

AKA i have too many Elektra feels and I'm dying.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay - but not that gripping a story line. Always an interesting character - and sort of in form

[Margot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elektra the assassin is deprived of employment, a purposeful torment masterminded by a vengeful victim. But in the end Elektra will kill.you.all

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more like the Elektra I love. Silent, deadly and sexy. And she has a new gimmick also: Now she is lost.
Great fun.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elektra is a really interesting character, but a lot of writers don't really seem to know what to do with her besides break her. This definitely felt like a book about a woman written for men.