Elektra by Greg Rucka: Ultimate Collection

Elektra (2001) (Collected Editions) #2-3

by Greg Rucka, Chuck Austen (Illustrator), Joe Bennett (Illustrator)

Immerse yourself in the world of the Marvel Universe’s most dangerous assassin as acclaimed writer Greg Rucka takes Elektra Natchios — a woman trained in the ninja arts by both the Chaste and the Hand, the epitomes of purest good and foulest evil — on a soul-searching journey into her own mind. Taken hostage by a deadly adversary, Elektra is forced to confront her murderous past and realizes she must change or die. But first, she needs to discover the shocking truth about who has set out to destroy her career — and why! A shaken Elektra decides to amend her murderous ways — but will she be able to reach out for help, and find a life beyond killing and death? Collecting ELEKTRA (2001) #7-22 and material from MARVEL KNIGHTS DOUBLE-SHOT #3.

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

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2012

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

[Lukasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greg Rucka is a great writer. After devouring the Lazarus series, I wanted more of the good thing. I always liked Elektra and thought Ruckaw ould make her arc shine.

It didn't.

The collection is uneven, and in places poorly written. The art by Carlos Meglia destroyed one of the more interesting arcs in the collection. I didn't know I had artists to avoid at all costs but I do now.

It shows Elektra for who she is, a feral lunatic addicted to violence and killing. It gives her a redemption arc of sorts but takes too many shortcuts along the way.

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another one I am not able to delve into... :S

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little better than the first arc. I will say I didn't really care for the ending, but I suppose it did fit the character. This is one long, continuous arc that progresses nicely. The art was good for the most part, but a few issues did have a different artist whose work didn't quite fit the series. The Greg Horn covers are awesome. Overall, this was good.

[Florin Pitea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the comics collected here were mediocre in point of graphics, some were poor and some were quite good. The switch from realistic drawing to cartoonish and back within the same story arc, however, proved to be jarring.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story for her!! Greg Rucka is one of my favs. However I'm only giving this collection 4 instead of 5 because some of the art in a couple issues was truly atrocious.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that over-sexualized Elektra. The art also changes a lot about 2/3rds of the way through. I didn't like either style that much but the latter felt a little hard to read.

Not sure about this story at all. What would cause Elektra to lose confidence? That seems like one thing that couldn't be taken from here.

[aaroh · Rating 3 out of 5]

never had more mixed feelings about a comic run. there was so much potential here with elektra's character and it works in some places, doesn't work in others and fails horribly at some.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed a lot of Greg Rucka's work, and I find Elektra very interesting as a flawed character, but I couldn't really get into this book. There's an extreme tonal whiplash between the attempt to tackle serious issues like sexual assault, trauma, severe depression, and dealing with consequences, and the oversexualization of the main character in every other page.

Nothing wrong with characters like Emma Frost, for example, expressing their sexuality on their own terms, and nothing wrong with skimpy outfits or ridiculous costumes and unrealistic situations, but this works better in books that don't take themselves so seriously. There is something really off, seeing a woman who is clearly depicted to be suffering, mentally straggling, and going through a breakdown, also having her costume constantly and conveniently torn to reveal even more skin, and posed and exposed in a way that is clearly meant to titillate the reader. It's not the first comic to have women drawn as if someone forgot how gravity, human breasts, and fabric work, but it just feels extra out of place here, considering the mature themes of the plot.

The story also doesn't seem to go anywhere, or know what it's trying to say. Reading this in 2025, it definitely feels like a product of a different era of comic books.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nie oceniać książki po okładce. Cała seria ma najgorsze okładki ever, przeseksualizowane przedstawienia Elektry jak z tanich fantazji dla nastolatków. Jeśli chodzi o treść, to jest świetnie. Seria zaczyna się od zeszytu #7, bo pierwsze 6 nie zostało napisane przez Grega Ruckę. Doczytałem osobno pierwszą szóstkę, dobra historia nadająca się jako wstęp do życiorysu Elektry dla osób niezaznajomionych z jej postacią. Do tego zeszyt #6 jest w pełni "niemy" (bez dymków), była to część akcji "Nuff said" z listopada 2001 roku.

Gdyby ostatnie kilka zeszytów (3) nie miało drastycznie innej kreski wybijającej trochę z rytmu czytania (wyglądającej bardziej jak 90s'owa animacja Cartoon Network niż to co mieliśmy poprzednio), to by było 5 gwiazdek i pełna rekomendacja. Tak czy siak, warto!

Zeszyty w antologii:
Elektra (Vol. 3) #1
Elektra (Vol. 3) #2
Elektra (Vol. 3) #3
Elektra (Vol. 3) #4
Elektra (Vol. 3) #5
Elektra (Vol. 3) #6
Elektra (Vol. 3) #7
Elektra (Vol. 3) #8
Elektra (Vol. 3) #9
Elektra (Vol. 3) #10
Elektra (Vol. 3) #11
Elektra (Vol. 3) #12
Elektra (Vol. 3) #13
Elektra (Vol. 3) #14
Elektra (Vol. 3) #15
Elektra (Vol. 3) #16
Elektra (Vol. 3) #17
Elektra (Vol. 3) #18
Elektra (Vol. 3) #19
Elektra (Vol. 3) #20
Elektra (Vol. 3) #21
Elektra (Vol. 3) #22

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collects the issues #7-22 of the Marvel series, Elektra from the early 2000's.
What a roller coaster...again. New author, same artist, and wonky storytelling.


#7-9
Elektra is hired by a woman from Greece to collect the men who raped her when she was in college (note that these issues aren't collected in the Vol. 1 of this series. Too dark of a topic?)

#10-22
Elektra is blacklisted and unable to find work as an assassin. With no outlet, she falls apart mentally and physically. She's then picked up, drugged, and imprisoned by someone who lost someone close to him because of Elektra. She's shown how her actions have affected others. Sedated once more, she's left in the desert to either escape or kill herself.

yadda yadda yadda...
Elektra hits rock bottom, but gets the opportunity to train with someone who has given up the rage filled path that Elektra is on. (Is this the first time we see her all in white?)

This collection ends with Elektra going through an alignment shift. Something key to future development of the character.

====
Bonus: Some of these issues have the WORST art style I've ever seen. It reminds me of 'Crimson' and Humberto Ramos' art. It's all fine and good, but you can't shift back to a realistic character style on the next issue.

Bonus Bonus: Drake? Had to have someone besides Stick

[Ekenedilichukwu Ikegwuani · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm not sure what to make of this. there are some really good story arcs, but they all fall apart a bit, ESPECIALLY the last one. the last arc seems to forget what it was trying to do and loses itself completely, ending in a way that i wasn't only not expecting, but seemed opposite to what it was trying to build up to

[Brian Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts a little slow, but things pick up once the Introspect story line starts. Greg Rucka did good job presenting Electra as a flawed human with a list of issues who wants to change but doesn't know how. The artwork is all over the place, which can (and does) take away from the writing. I also didn't care much for the covers or the cover artist. Solid book...mostly because of the writing.

[Richard Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hadn't read this run since it came out in single issues. I think I might have liked it better if it were a different character. It didn't feel like "my" Elektra, so it was harder to get into. Some really great moments, but not much more for me.

[Jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

The definition of okay. Very inconsistent art. Some of the absolute worst art, including the first few issues. But most of it was decent, art wise. The story ranged from stupid to kinda cool. The ending left me very confused about how I was supposed to feel. Definitely not Rucka's best.

[Dow · Rating 4 out of 5]

yes, it's another one of those "you're a female comic book character, you have to deal with being a MoNsTeR" but i guess they way they concluded it wasn't terrible. art was certainly weird in a couple issues though. seriously, why did they go with actual photos of people for a whole issue. idk

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for a redemption arc. I didn't appreciate the inconsistent artwork and it doesn't look like the next creative team kept the white costume or the good guy vibe but I thought Rucka's story was good.

[AnaDeCintra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado ver el declive de Elektra, hasta estar apunto de llegar al suicidio, para luego salir adelante y aprender a vivir con todo lo que había hecho.

[Kurt Lorenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvel Knights: Double Shot #3, ☆☆
7-9, ☆☆
10, Unemployment, ☆☆☆
11-15, Introspect, ☆☆☆☆☆
16-17, Standing Outside the Temple in the Rain, ☆☆☆☆
18-22, Everything Old is New Again, ☆☆☆☆

[Colm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much. Far more than I expected to. I was really riveted by it. Especially by the redemption arc towards the end of the run. This was all a pleasant surprise as I wasn't expecting much from Elektra. As far as I was concerned I just needed to get through it to get to the other side, so imagine my surprise when it turned out to be hugely compelling reading!

My only gripe with it was that the change of art in issues #19 and #20. To change art in the middle of a five issue arc is a terrible decision from a continuity standpoint and to do it in such a jarring way by completely changing from realism to caricature is even worse. Worst of all was the fact that the caricature style was completely ill-suited to the series. It wouldn't have worked for the series even if it had been the art style from the beginning and so to do it at the height of the dramatic tension in the arc? Let me simply say that I hope whoever made the decision got chewed up for it.

[Chummy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firt off, I love the Daredevil mythos and has a soft spot for Elektra.

That said, this collection is just so so. I was expecting a lot from the great Greg Rucka, been hearing about him but I havent read his previous works and this will be the first time and I find everything bland. Sorry. IMHO. I was expecting hardboiled sttreet level stuff and what I felt after reading the whole collection was just kind of half-meant stories and stories that are run of the mill types. Or am I reading it worn or is it just me.

Different artists on different issues didnt help either,makes it more chaotic and half meant. Only Carlo Pagulayan's work (and yes, a fellow Pinoy, no bias here) was noteworthy but even he was not in his top form unlike his works in The Hulk.

I was expecting too much I guess, next time I wont.

[Brad Krautwurst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I just don't like the character of Elektra as much as I was hoping to, but I took the advice of someone on Comic Book Herald and skipped issues 4-9 after struggling to get through #1-3 (this is my first exposure to her, as I haven't gotten to where she shows up in Daredevil yet), but... in a world that holds people such as The Punisher, Magneto, and Daredevil, the idea of an assassin being addicted to killing seems quaint and uninteresting to me. Also, the art in #19 bordered on caricaturing. I liked some of the characters and Elektra definitely has potential.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the writing, but the art is extremely inconsistent, and sometimes ill-suited to the story.