While Matt Murdock is synonymous withDaredevil, recent comics have seen his longtime flame and trained assassin, Elektra Natchios, take up the mantle—even as she grapples with the weight of years of guilt over her less-than-legal actions. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, writer Erica Schultz discussed this new side of the complex character.
Erica Schultz began writing the Elektra iteration of Daredevil in 2023 withDaredevil: Gang War(art by Sergio Davila), followed by 2024’sThe Woman Without Fear(art by Michael Dowling). Schultz’s latest series,Daredevil: Unleash Hell(art by Valentina Pinti and Jose Luis), debuted on January 8 and pits Elektra against the villain Muse.
After promising Murdock that she would not kill and taking on the role of Hell’s Kitchen’s guardian,Elektra has undergone significant character development.No longer just a dangerous anti-hero or occasional criminal,Elektra has earned her place as a heroworthy of the Daredevil mantle.
Spider-Man May Disagree, But Elektra Has Proven Herself a True Hero
“I Think Putting the Horns on Has Definitely Changed Elektra."– Erica Schultz
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Schultz discussed how taking on the mantle of Daredevil has profoundly changed Elektra, as the weight of such responsibility would for anyone who takes it seriously. Beyond her promise to Matt not to kill, Elektra genuinely wants to be heroic.She struggles with her past, believing she has done terrible things but not to the point of being irredeemable. Schultz firmly believes Elektra has proven herself as a true hero—to both herself and those who have been watching her ever-evolving journey.
However,where Elektra stands among the superhero communityis up for debate, at least among the other heroes. Schultz highlighted the tension within the superhero community regarding Elektra’s place as a hero, particularly inGang War, where she clashes with Spider-Man, who refuses to see her as a true hero. However, Elektra isn’t seeking his approval—she’s proving it to herself. While killing comes easily to her, holding back is the real challenge, one she has willingly taken on. She has accepted her past without apologizing for it, instead using those experiences to shape the person she is striving to become.
I think putting the horns on has definitely changed Elektra. That kind of responsibility will change anyone who takes it seriously. Aside from the obvious, no killing promise she made to Matt, Elektra wants to be heroic. She feels she’s done loads of bad stuff, but that she’s not irredeemable…or is she? I don’t think she is. I think she’s gone out of her way to prove to herself and anyone else paying attention that she is a bonafide a hero.
Elektra’s Decades-Long Bond with Matt Murdock Proves She’s the Perfect Daredevil
Elektra First Appeared inDaredevil#168 (January 1981)
Elektra is practically synonymous with Matt Murdock/Daredevil, especially considering her publication history and character background. Created by the legendary Frank Miller inDaredevil#168 in 1981,Elektra was introduced as Matt’s former college love-turned-femme fatale who could kill without a second thought.Her dangerous side and questionable morals represented a temptation that Matt Murdock could not resist. Over the years, Daredevil and Elektra have clashed, but also fought side by side, highlighting their complicated and sometimes unstable relationship.
Despite their tumultuous history, it’s clear that when it matters most, Matt trusts Elektra so deeply that he’s willing to put the safety of his beloved Hell’s Kitchen in her hands. Elektra first took Murdock’s place as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen in Marco Checchetto andChip Zdarsky’s 2019Daredevilrun. Her journey as Daredevil has continued to evolve in Schultz’s various series, each further solidifying her as a true hero and showing that Matt’s trust in her was well-placed. WithDaredevil: Unleash Helljust beginning, it’s exciting to see how Elektra embraces her role asDaredeviland continues to prove herself as a steadfast hero.
“Tortured Passion”: Daredevil’s Frank Miller Knows Why the Hero’s Romance With Elektra Couldn’t Last
Daredevil and Elektra have a romance that spans decades of Marvel Comics history. However, according to Frank Miller, they were never meant to last.
