SPOILER WARNING for Daredevil #32!
While Elektra might be standing in for Matt Murdock and fighting crime as the new Daredevil, Spider-Man just revealed that he still doesn’t trust her. After crossing paths with her while scouring the city for Bullseye, the Web-Slinger lays out his simple reason for worrying about Elektra taking over for the Man Without Fear.
Murder tends to be taboo in the superhero community, but Elektra Natchios isn’t afraid to take a life. Having been trained as an assassin, Elektra tends to act as an antihero, killing when necessary, but ultimately fighting for the greater good. When Matt Murdock is sent to prison, however, she takes over as Daredevil, promising to avoid her more violent methods in order to protect the city as he would. So far, she’s been keeping to her word, even dulling her iconic sai into blunt weapons to avoid offing an enemy. Unfortunately, her limits are about to be tested as she attempts to stop a killing spree courtesy of Bullseye.
New York City is on lockdown as Bullseye’s rampage continues in Daredevil #32 by Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, Marcio Menyz, and Clayton Cowles. Having been a previous victim of Bullseye, Elektra has a very personal stake in the manhunt for the infamous villain and she focuses all her energy on tracking him down. While out on the hunt she runs into Spider-Man, who’s also patrolling the streets. Recognizing who she is under the Daredevil mask, Spidey stops for a quick chat and fills Elektra in on the progress that the city’s other heroes have been making. Not wanting to waste much time, Elektra assures the wall-crawler that she will find Bullseye, but Spider-Man replies, “That’s what I’m worried about. What is Elektra going to do when she finds him? And is it the same thing that Daredevil would do?”
Spider-Man and Elektra’s conversation in this issue may be brief, but it’s long enough for Spidey to admit that he doesn’t believe Elektra truly stands for the same ideals as Daredevil. While this insinuation may seem harsh, Peter Parker has good reason to be concerned. Elektra’s history with Bullseye is anything but pleasant, giving her more reason than anyone to want him dead. That, combined with the fact that she’s a trained killer, gives her the means and motive to put him down. In fact, when Elektra does finally come face-to-face with Bullseye at the end of the issue, she seems ready to end Bullseye once and for all, calling him, “the test I’d gladly fail.” Judging by this mindset, it seems like Elektra may never truly have what it takes to live up to the legacy of Daredevil.
Only time will tell how Elektra decides to deal with Bullseye, but until something is done, the death count will continue to rise. Hopefully, Elektra will prove Spider-Man wrong and keep to her word as Daredevil, but until then fans can keep up with the action in Daredevil #32, available now in stores and online from Marvel Comics.