Warning: contains a preview for Elektra: Black, White and Blood #4!
The Woman Without Fear, Elektra, is getting an even more badass origin than the one fans know. Elektra recently joined the cadre of brutal Marvel heroes featured in the Black, White and Blood anthology line, and in her final issue, she's getting a samurai-inspired origin from Marvel's Stormbreaker Artist graduate, Peach Momoko.
Orphaned at a young age and turned into a killing machine by the Hand, only to later be used as a pawn in their pursuit of recruiting Daredevil into their ranks, Elektra's backstory is largely defined by the control others have exerted over her. Whether it be the direct control of the Hand or the Chaste, or the pleading of Matt Murdock to live by his moral stances, Elektra often finds herself at the behest of an outside force dictating her next mission. While she has broken that cycle, with her and Murdock both holding the "Daredevil" mantle as they look to destroy the Hand for good, Elektra is overdue for a story that frames her origin through her own agency.
In the preview for Elektra: Black White and Blood #4's 'Assassin' from Peach Momoko, fans get a glimpse at a whole new origin for Elektra Natchios. In the iconic black, white and red coloring signature to the series, Elektra dons a kimono and Jingasa as she treks through a tumultuous snowstorm, promising an epic samurai-inspired origin for the deadly assassin. This seemingly follows the trend of Momoko's Demon Days series, in which the creator has reimagined the origins of Marvel legends including Wolverine, Spider-Man and Black Widow in a world inspired by Japanese folklore.
Luckily, for fans of the skilled assassin, Momoko is giving fans a taste of what a self-motivated Elektra is capable of. In medieval Japan, samurai were skilled warriors often employed by feudal lords, with the best among them reaching legendary status. With the skill set and body count fans have seen Elektra accumulate over the years, it's easy to imagine her joining the ranks of the worlds' greatest samurai. The issue also includes 'Powers You Can't Comprehend' by Matthew Rosenberg and Alberto Alburquerque, as well as 'Rendezvous' but Kevin Eastman and Freddie E. Williams - enjoy previews of both below.
These stories appear to depict Elektra at her most brutal and amoral, as she works for the Kingpin and faces down her own death. The Black, White and Blood format has created some great stories so far, exciting writers and artists with its inherent challenge, but it's especially exciting to see Elektra reclaim the spotlight rather than acting as an antihero in the adventures of others.
Elektra is a character with a long and complicated past, often defined by who she's associated with more than her own journey. While the Black, White and Blood series has given fans a glimpse into a whole new side of the sai-wielding killer, Elektra may be getting her best one-shot yet as these stories focus on Marvel's greatest assassin.
Elektra: Black, White and Blood #4 hits comic stands May 18, from Marvel Comics.