Warning: spoilers for Elektra #100 are ahead.
In 2021, Marvel Comics introduced important changes to one of its most recognizable characters, Daredevil. Matt Murdock went willingly to prison after accidentally killing a man. In his absence, the duty of watching over Hell's Kitchen fell on the shoulders of Matt's former lover, Elektra Natchios, who donned a Daredevil costume of her own and became the Woman Without Fear. The storyline was well-received by fans and critics alike, but the present relaunch of the Elektra comic book series shows that she is back to her roots as Marvel's deadliest assassin, leaving her Daredevil identity behind.
In the pages of Marvel's Daredevil series, written by Chip Zdarsky and drawn primarily by Marco Checchetto, Matt Murdock decided to let himself be arrested after accidentally killing a small-time criminal in a fight, wanting to prove that heroes are not above the law. Daredevil obtained the privilege of not revealing his true identity during the trial or in prison, but while he was in jail fighting his own demons and a conspiracy to use prisoners as test subjects for drugs, he could not leave Hell's Kitchen unprotected. Elektra stepped in, and even after Matt was released she did not abandon her new role, with her adventures shown in the Daredevil: Woman Without Fear series, by Chip Zdarsky and Rafael De Latorre. However, things have changed as Marvel decided to bring Elektra back to her roots.
In one story from Elektra #100, by Ann Nocenti, Sid Kotian, and Edgar Delgado, the titular character is no longer wearing her Woman Without Fear costume. She is still helping Matt and Hell's Kitchen, but it's unclear if she will remain as another Daredevil. The actual fate of Elektra's Woman Without Fear identity will be revealed in the upcoming Devil's Reign: Omega, but according to Marvel Comics, Elektra #100 is meant to be the starting point of the character's future. Because Elektra doesn't wear her Daredevil costume in Elektra #100, it could be that her time as the Woman Without Fear was meant to be temporary after Matt's release from prison. If so, this would be a real shame, as this development was one of the best storylines in Marvel's recent history.
Since taking over the Daredevil role while Matt served time in prison under the mask, Elektra has had to change and adapt from her ruthless assassin ways to more nonlethal methods. This was a great spin for the character and a breath of fresh air, as putting Elektra in an unfamiliar context forced her to evolve for the first time in years. Elektra's motivation and her devotion to Matt's cause have been tested plenty of times during her time as Daredevil, but she always stepped up. Her motivations for putting on the red-horned suit are different from Matt's: while the latter did it out of a sense of duty and guilt, Elektra did it for love, to show Matt that she is a good person and she cares for him deeply. This allowed Elektra to handle the Daredevil's mission with more ease than Matt, who always felt conflicted about the violent nature of his crusade against crime.
The nature of superhero comics means that big character changes never last for too long, as even the best storylines have, at some point, realigned to the status quo. In this case, Elektra's time as the Woman Without Fear was exceptional and it pleased readers and critics, but it is looking like Marvel is already getting rid of its best version of Daredevil in years.
Source: Marvel Comics