Marvel's Man Without Fear is one of the most consistently well-written characters in the superhero genre, having benefited from a variety of talented creators, and that history comes with some iconic character dynamics within the urban jungle of Hell's Kitchen. Elektra is among the most notable, as well as being Daredevil's most famous love interest.
And as with other comic book romances like Batman and Catwoman, this duo's history is famously complicated. Over decades, the two have featured in well-received stories, ranging from her early days under Frank Miller's tenure to her donning the second Daredevil mantle alongside Matt Murdock.
10 The Man Without Fear
Frank Miller ranks among Batman's greatest writers, but he has an even stronger reputation with Daredevil. The writer got his start in the industry with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen and, outside his standard-setting mainline run, he wrote the hero's definitive origin in The Man Without Fear.
Written in the 90s, this limited series was acclaimed for effectively doing what Miller did with Batman's origins in Year One, and it also established the budding relationship between college-aged Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios. It was a sincere, touching, and tragic exploration of their dynamic that highlighted how truly important these characters are to each other.
9 Elektra
The Man Without Fear fleshed out the pair's origins in greater detail, but Miller created Elektra for her debut in Daredevil #168 in her self-titled storyline. It introduces her as Matt Murdock's once-great love-turned-deadly assassin out for the hero's head.
While she's initially shown as a femme fatale archetype, it was a striking addition to Daredevil's mythos. More importantly, this comic paved the way for all the compelling character growth Elektra would see -- as well as for Daredevil and their gradually built-up romantic relationship.
8 Hunters
Before her famous bout with a certain infamous marksman, Miller continued developing Elektra and her dynamic with Daredevil in the issues that followed her titular debut. The Hunters story arc from #174-176 saw the pair team up with the likes of classic rogue Gladiator as they fight off Kirigi and his other minions from The Hand.
Here, fans are treated to a compelling collaboration between the two characters that serve narrative justice to both; arguably more so for Elektra, as this storyline shines a spotlight on how capable of a martial artist she is and what makes (or made) her one of Marvel Comics' premier antiheroes. Hunters helped build the narrative foundation to make Elektra a worthy mainstay character.
7 Last Hand
Daredevil is no stranger to tragedy, nor is Elektra. Later on, during Miller's run on the series, Elektra would cross blades with Bullseye, the unhinged assassin and Daredevil's greatest nemesis barring the Kingpin of Crime. Last Hand sees Bullseye break out of prison and uncover who the Devil of Hell's Kitchen is, choosing to strike at Elektra, making for one of the most heartwrenching -- and formative -- moments in the hero's lore.
This, along with Karen Page's death, proved to be a major driving force that haunts Matt's life, as well as spur his character development. And though comics are infamous for cheapening deaths with resurrections, Elektra is perhaps one of the most deserving of the latter, considering the fully-fledged character she'd become in the following decades.
6 Doing Time
The standard for writing the Man Without Fear is high given the incredible writing talent the character's enjoyed, but Chip Zdarsky's ongoing run still deserves to be mentioned among Daredevil's best-ever comics. It also saw some thrilling character developments among the cast in Doing Time, with Elektra donning the mantle of Daredevil in Matt's absence.
While the latter is held behind bars, the assassin takes on this new role in his stead and also to earn his trust, but this new milestone in Elektra's life is well-earned rather than a lazy plot device. Fans see the newfound hero struggle to adapt her approach to vigilantism to Matt's philosophies and what the symbol means to Hell's Kitchen, all while making this version her own.
5 Lockdown
The stakes continued to rise in Zdarsky and artist Marco Checchetto's run on Daredevil, with Elektra progressively coming into her own. The Lockdown arc tells explosive parallel stories following the grueling circumstances Matt deals with in prison while Elektra is put on a collision course with her most personal enemy.
Bullseye is one of the most fearsome opponents Elektra has defeated in the comics, and while this wasn't the first time she's done so, their latest rematch was conveyed in a suitably cathartic manner. The sadistic assassin entered a new league of danger in Lockdown, and the parallel stories that eventually come together carry a great combined weight while setting the stage for the climactic Devil's Reign crossover event.
4 Woman Without Fear
It's been great to see how prominent Daredevil has become over the years, from the success of the acclaimed MCU show to how Zdarsky and co. are developing him in the source material. That includes Elektra, as aside from her supporting role alongside Matt, she got a focused spotlight in her limited series Woman Without Fear.
Joined by artist Rafael De Latorre, Zdarsky writes a personal tale of this new Daredevil that functions as a great expansion of her lore and relationship with Matt. Pitting her against a character like Kraven the Hunter made for a thrillingly creative conflict, working just as well as an isolated story that's simultaneously Elektra's and fits within the wider Daredevil mythos.
3 The Red Fist Saga
After Devil's Reign, which effectively turned Kingpin into an Avengers-tier threat, and mainline Daredevil series ushered in the start of a new overarching storyline. Now with the prophecy of the Fist coming to fruition to combat The Hand, both Daredevils join in a battle spanning beyond the streets of Hell's Kitchen.
This ongoing arc is an excellent one for both Matt and Elektra, as the series now practically treats them as co-leads, with the story combining what makes Daredevil such an exciting grittier hero with the fantastical elements that go beyond street-level crime noir. Seeing how their relationship -- in and out of the costumes -- should be satisfying to see, especially with the supposed fate looming over their heads.
2 Elektra Lives Again
The aftermath of Last Hand was a turning point for Matt Murdock in his corner of the Marvel universe. The hero has been characterized by his unstable life rife with disasters, and Miller's Elektra Lives Again was a memorable sort of epilogue to her death. This miniseries follows the supposed return of the titular assassin from the dead, but the story is presented in a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere and point of view.
It's deeply emotional as it chronicles the psychological effects of her death on Matt, but it also did wonders to expand upon the characterization of Elektra, giving her an even greater death. Elektra Lives Again blurs the line between dreams and reality, ultimately telling a story of grief, coping, and learning to let go.
1 Spiked
Before her untimely demise, Miller featured Elektra in another antagonistic role opposite Daredevil in a climactic faceoff. The Spiked storyline in Daredevil #179 sees the hero's former love act as an assassin under the Kingpin attempting to kill reporter Ben Urich.
Given how the character was introduced several issues earlier as a point of emotional conflict with Matt, Spiked served as a fittingly tense and promised payoff. The two clash as Daredevil defends Urich, and while Elektra ultimately wins the fight, she couldn't bring herself to deal the finishing blow on Matt, furthering the tension and soon-to-be heartbreaking finale in Last Hand.