Definitive Elektra Collecting Guide and Reading Order

The Elektra comic books definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Find every issue and appearance! Last updated December 2017 with titles scheduled for release through August 2018.

Elektra is arguably Marvel’s most-recognizable female villain, with only Mystique to challenge her for the title.

Except, she was never really a full-fledged villain. She was introduced as an assassin, but she was no more evil than Wolverine. Like Logan, she was simply the best at what she did. And, as with many great Marvel villains, as fans demanded more and more of her, she was eventually made into a hero – or, at least, a noble protagonist who still killed people.

You can think of Elektra’s continuity in two unequal halves.

The first half is entirely written by Frank Miller. Miller used Elektra for less than two years in his run on Daredevil, but his operatic arc of her love and death made her an indelible icon.

Miller was clearly as enamored with the character as her fans were. He returned to her three more times – in the limited series Daredevil: The Man Without Fear and Elektra: Assassin, and in the graphic novel Elektra Lives Again.

By most accounts, Marvel had a gentleman’s agreement with Miller to leave Elektra alone until he was ready to resurrect her. Dardevil’s mid-90s writer D. G. Chichester was the one who broke the embargo, and so began the second half of Elektra’s Marvel career – as a reluctant ally to heroes.

Despite a string of limited and ongoing series, and even a movie to call her own, Elektra has the distinction of being relatively underexposed within the Marvel universe. She had never interacted with a hero other than Daredevil on the page until her run with Wolverine in 1996! Though many characters knew her by reputation, few had actually encountered her prior to the resolution of Secret Invasion over a decade later in 2008.

[Patreon-2017][/Patreon-2017]

• By Frank Miller (1981 – 1987 & 1990)
• Elektra Returns (1993 – 1995)
• Volume 1 (1996 – 1998)
• Volume 2 (Marvel Knights) (2001 – 2004)
• Elektra, Imposter
• Dark Reign (2009 – 2010)
• Heroic Age (2010 – 2012)
• In Thunderbilts in Marvel Now! (2013 – 2014)
• Volume 3 (2014 – 2015)
• All-New, All-Different Marvel: Volume 4 (2016 – present)

Join the Crushing On Crushing Krisis mailing list for a notice whenever this page is updated with new collections – plus, a not-more-than-weekly ping about new comics content.

Name: Email address:

Elektra by Frank Miller (1981 – 1987 & 1990)

Elektra’s story begins prior to her introduction on the page due to several retcon stories that precede her introduction in Daredevil #168.

Elektra: Root of Evil #1-4: Daredevil Epic Collection, Vol. 19: Root Of Evil
Collects Daredevil (1964) #333-This is the first major non-Miller Elektra story to be released after his work with the character. It includes many scenes from her early life, which places it here – but it also fits into present-day continuity as listed below.

Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
This Frank Miller and John Romita, Jr. retelling of Daredevil’s origin establishes Elektra’s official (and improbable) origin as Matt Murdock’s college girlfriend in issues #2-3. This landmark series is available in the Daredevil by Frank Miller Omnibus Companion, in Daredevil Legends Vol. 3 (see also this listing), in a 2008 Premier Hardcover (ISBN 0785134786), and in a trade paperback.

Elektra: Assassin #1-8
For years this Miller and Sienkiewicz limited series was considered non-canonical. Now we can say with some certainty that it precedes her appearances in Daredevil. Also, it establishes her long-running antagonist role with S.H.I.E.L.D. Also available in hardcover. Also reprinted in the Elektra Omnibus (reprinted in 2016), in Elektra/Daredevil: Love and War along the OGN of that name, and in a 2018 paperback (ISBN 9781302918682)

Bizarre Adventures #28
Chronologically this is the first non-flashback story of Elektra. Collected in Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller, Vol. 3 and Elektra: The Movie (unconfirmed). Also reprinted in the Elektra Omnibus (reprinted in 2016).

Elektra appears in Marvel historical retelling series Code of Honor #2

Daredevil #168-169: See Daredevil for collection information

Daredevil #174-182: See Daredevil for collection information
Elektra’s classic showdown with Bullseye and initial death occur in issue #181. The pivotal scene in #181 has been replayed many, many times in future books, often in Daredevil’s recollection. There is no point to trying to list all of those occasions here!

Daredevil #190: See Daredevil for collection information
Shows glimpses of Elektra’s resurrection

Elektra Lives Again
This Frank Miller graphic novel was his final word on the Daredevil universe, but has been proven not to exist in regular Daredevil continuity. It’s effectively a “Elektra – The End” style of story that imagines her last adventure following her resurrection in #190. Collected (and reprinted several times) in hardcover and paperback. Also reprinted in the Elektra Omnibus (reprinted in 2016).

Daredevil #197 & 208: See Daredevil for collection information
Shown only in flashback

Daredevil #287-288: See Daredevil for collection information
Shown only in flashback. These are not Frank Miller issues.

Elektra Returns (1993 – 1995)

Elektra: The Hand (2004) #1-5
This 2004 series details the process of Elektra’s resurrection in flashback.

Daredevil #314-315: See Daredevil for collection information

Daredevil #319-320, 322-327, 330, 332 & Annual 10: Daredevil Epic Collection, Vol 18: Fall From Grace
Elektra’s return to life and continuity! Collects #319-332 & Annual 10. Annual 10 comes after #325.

Elektra: Root of Evil #1-4: Daredevil Epic Collection, Vol. 19: Root Of Evil
This series includes both pre-debut portions of Elektra’s origin and present day action.

Elektra, Vol. 1 (1996 – 1998)

Elektra was introduced to the wider Marvel Universe for the first time during a brief supporting stint in Wolverine before launching into her own ongoing for the first time in 1996.

Wolverine #100-106, 102.5 & Uncanny X-Men #332
The UXM issue follows Wolverine #100. #102.5 falls between #103-104. See Wolverine for collection information.

Over the Edge #8: Not collected. An anthology-style series.

#-1: Elektra: The Movie
This flashback story was reprinted for the movie companion TPB.

#1-19 & -1: Elektra By Peter Milligan, Larry Hama, & Mike Deodato Jr.: The Complete Collection (ISBN 978-1-302-90433-3)

After #8: Amazing Spider-Man #424. If you choose to count inter-company crossovers, Witchblade/Elektra and Elektra/Cyblade fit here.

After #17: Daredevil #375

Peter Parker: Spider-Man / Elektra Annual ’98: Not collected

Daredevil (1998) #7-8 & 1/2
This is a flashback. See Daredevil for collection information

Marvel Knights Elektra, Vol. 2 (2001 – 2004)

Note that Greg Horn’s photo-realistic covers on the Rucka portion of this run have little relation to the interior art of this series.

#1-6: The Scorpio Key
This relatively early Brian Bendis work depicts Elektra taking on an assignment to prevent Hydra from obtaining a key artifact, but is she being hunted or abetted by SHIELD?

After #6: Behind the scenes in Daredevil Vol. 2 #28, and on-panel in Daredevil Vol. 2 #34

#7-9 (& 10-22): Elektra by Greg Rucka Ultimate Collection
This is the only collection of issues #7-9. It also includes #10-22 – the contents of the next two TPBs. Greg Rucka’s run is a problematic one – he tries to find the humanity in Elektra by breaking her down physically and emotionally, but it doesn’t feel in-character and at points looks down upon Elektra as a literary concept rather than simply writing a good story about her.

During #8: Daredevil Vol. 2 #36-37

Elektra / Wolverine: Redeemer #1-3 Oversize Hardcover
I need to check this story to see if it falls into continuity at all; if it does, it is conceivably a flashback. See also this Titan Books printing (ISBN 1840235365).

Before #10: Marvel Knights Double Shot #3. Elektra also appears in flashback in Spider-Girl #60.

#10: This one-off issue is collected both with #11-15 below, and in Rucka, above.

Elektra: Glimpse & Echo #1-4: Not collected. A Marvel Knights limited series.

Before #11: Punisher, Vol. 6 #27

#11-15 (& 10): Vol. 1: Introspect (ISBN 0785109730)
Also contains #10 and Marvel Knights Double Shot #3, both above. This run is also collected in Rucka, above, minus the Double Shot issue.

#16-22: Vol. 2: Everything Old Is New Again (ISBN 0785111085)
This run is also collected in Rucka, above

#23-28: Vol. 3: Relentless (ISBN 0785112227)

#29-35: Vol. 4: Frenzy (ISBN 0785113983)
This pair of Robert Rodi tales (and final one-shot) feels the most Elektra of everything in this series. The first story – of her misgivings in infiltrating a South American guerrilla movement, is true to her vicious efficiency but also aware of her growing thread of humanity introduced by Rucka. The following arc about assassinating a Jersey Shore crime lord while sick with a plague is darkly comedic in the vein of Garth Ennis or Daniel Way.

After #34: A flashback in X-Statix #26

Elektra: The Hand #1-5
Though released here, this story occurs directly after Daredevil #190, above.

Bullseye’s Greatest Hits #3-4 are released here, but Elektra’s very brief on-panel appearances here are flashbacks to her classic showdown with Bullseye.

Wolverine: Enemy of the State
Elektra is a key player in this Wolverine story, which is also available in an impressive oversized hardcover and in the Wolverine by Millar omnibus.  Wolverine’s rampage and recovery makes several minor on-panel appearances in other titles, and she also appears in those. Her full continuity is Wolverine #20-21, 23-24, 26 (and Academy X #13), 27 (and Irredeemable Ant Man #2), #29-31. See Wolverine for further information.

Elektra, Imposter?

For a brief period, Elektra takes a role of primary importance in the Marvel Universe, but she’s not all she seems to be. To say too much more would spoil the contents of these stories. If you’re primarily reading for the long-term development of Elektra, these appearances are not necessary to read.

New Avengers #40 & 45: The stories in these issues fit earlier in continuity than their release. See New Avengers.

Daredevil #77-81: This normal-seeming Elektra is actually the imposter. She is also implied in #88, though not explicitly seen. See Daredevil for collection information

New Avengers #27-32: See New Avengers.

Mighty Avengers (2007) #6-7: See Mighty Avengers.

Secret Invasion #1: See Marvel Universe Events: Secret Invasion

The Mighty Avengers (2007) #16: See Mighty Avengers.

Daredevil (1998) #112: See Daredevil for collection information

Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #19: See Avengers Initiative.

Secret Invasion (2008) #8: See Marvel Universe Events: Secret Invasion

Elektra, Dark Reign (2009 – 2010)

The true Elektra returns and plays her widest role across the Marvel Universe yet, making appearances throughout the Dark Reign period headlined by Norman Osborn’s rule of the Dark Avengers.

Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #19: See Avengers Initiative. A brief appearance.

Dark Reign Files (2009) #1: Dark Reign: Accept Change

An appearance in Dark Avengers #3 is merely a flashback to Daredevil #181.

Dark Reign: Elektra (2009) #1-5
Her first current-continuity series in half a decade.

Hulk (2008) #14-15 & 17: See Hulk. Part of a run-in with X-Force.

Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk (2010) #2: See Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk (1968) #607-608: See Hulk. 

Black Widow (2010) #2-3: Vol. 1: The Name of the Rose
Also available in hardcover

Daredevil (1964) #506-507
See Daredevil for collection information. #507 is in dream only.

Elektra in the Heroic Age (2010 – 2012)

While the wider Marvel Universe graduated from Dark Reign into a more straight-forward period of heroicism, Daredevil was plunged even more deeply into darkness with Shadowland. As an epic confrontation with The Hand that saw Daredevil confronting Bullseye, Elektra winds up being a pivotal character – including receiving her own one-shot.

Heroic Age: Heroes (2010) #1: Origins of Marvel comics
This is a history of Marvel heroes as told by Steve Rogers. Apparently he is retelling it prior to Shadowland, but Elektra’s in-story actions continue directly to Shadowland from Daredevil, above.

Shadowland: See Marvel Universe Events: Shadowland. Elektra plays a prominent role in this event, both acting as a story catalyst and reintroducing her into the New York centric world of Marvel heroes. She appears in #3-5, Daredevil #508-511, her own one-shot, and After the Fall #1.

Strange Tales II (2010) #1: Strange Tales II
This brief appearances is of dubious continuity. Available in hardcover.

Taskmaster (2010) #1 has Elektra in a single panel of flashback.

Heroes For Hire (2011) #1: Heroes for Hire: Control
Elektra appears briefly as one of the heroes.

Avengers (2010) #10: See Avengers

Heroes For Hire (2011) #9-11: See Marvel Universe Events: Fear Itself.

Herc (2011) #8-10: Herc: The Complete Series by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
#8 is also a part of Spider-Island. See Marvel Universe Events: Spider-Island

Spider-Island: Heroes For Hire (2011) #1: See Marvel Universe Events: Spider-Island

In Wolverine (2010) #16 Elektra appears briefly as a mental construct. She appears in a single panel of unspecific flashback in Daredevil (2011) Annual 01.

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #695: See Spider-Man

Elektra joins Thunderbolts in Marvel Now! (2013 – 2014)

With Marvel Now, Elektra’s transformation from feared assassin to uneasy anti-hero is complete, as she appears as part of a rechristened Thunderbolts team for the entirety of the group’s run. The team consists of of Deadpool, Punisher, and Agent Venom, among others, and is lead by Red Hulk.

The run features Elektra heavily, although it occasionally takes her in some out-of-character directions. You could easily skip it with little consequence.

Savage Wolverine (2013) #6-8: Vol. 2: Hands on a Dead Body
Elektra is a co-star in this story by her frequent author Zeb Wells, which occurs before her Thunderbolts membership and prior to Kingpin’s appearance in Superior Spider-Man. Available in hardcover and in oversize hardcover along with an earlier Wolverine/Spider-Man team-up.

Thunderbolts #1-13 & Annual 1: See Thunderbolts. Elektra is one of the stars of this series, and the second arc focuses one her heavily.

Fearless Defenders (2013) #5-6: See Fearless Defenders. This is a brief appearance in the middle of a big brawl of female heroes. It occurs between Thunderbolts #13-14.

Thunderbolts #13-26 & Annual 1: See Thunderbolts

The Superior Foes of Spider-Man (2013) #9

Daredevil (2011) #35: See Daredevil. She co-stars in this penultimate issue of his 2011 series. This occurs between Thunderbolts #26-27.

Deadpool: The Gauntlet: See Deadpool. This is a brief appearance.

Deadpool #27: See Deadpool. A brief appearance in this wedding issue of her Thunderbolts teammate.

Thunderbolts #27-33: See Thunderbolts

Elektra, Vol. 3 in All-New Marvel Now (2014 – 2015)

A pre-launch change in the creative line-up of this series finds past Elektra scribe Zeb Wells off the book (to focus on recently-sold TV work), and Batwoman’s Haden W. Blackman writing the title with interior art from groundbreaking cover artist Mike Del Mundo. The result was a stunning comic – perhaps her best series of all-time.

Though this book launched before the end of Thunderbolts, all of the action occurs after the end of that volume.

#1-6: Vol. 1: Organ Donors

#6-11: Vol. 2: Reverance

Elektra appears in non-continuity visions in Daredevil (2014) #9. She cameos in, alongwith seemingly every other character in the Marvel Universe, just prior to Secret Wars. During Secret Wars, Elektra appears in A-Force (2015) #5.

Elektra in All-New, All-Different Marvel (2016 – 2017)

Elektra has a low profile at the start of All-New, All-Different Marvel, not making her first appearance until several months into the new continuity with a two-issue arc of Daredevil. Later, she had a brief flurry of guest appearances around Civil War II before getting her own limited series in early 2017.

Illuminati (2016) #6: Illuminati: Life of Crime
Elektra appears for a half-issue fight, having apparently become a captive of the alternate-reality depicted in Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill (2016) #1 (where she also appears, but not as herself). This issue is also collected along with Standoff – see Marvel Universe Events.

Daredevil (2016) #6-7: See Daredevil. This is a co-starring appearance that deals with the ramifications of Daredevil’s secret identity being wiped from the perception of nearly everyone on the Earth – including Elektra!

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016) #8-10: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol. 2: Under New Management
A part of Civil War II. Elektra appears in the final pages of #8 and glancingly in #10, but stars throughout #9.

Uncanny Avengers [II] (2015) #15-17: See Uncanny Avengers.
This gorgeous trio of issues directly follow Civil War II and see Elektra teaming with the remainders of the team against The Hand.

Spider-Man 2099 (2015) #17-19: Spider-Man 2099 Vol. 6: Apocalypse Soon
Another gorgeous three-issue team-up arc!

We get yet another Daredevil #181 flashback in Daredevil (2016) #15, and a flashback to the more-recent #6-7 in #27.

#1-5: Elektra Vol. 1: Always Bet On Red

Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Check Amazon for Marvel’s newest Elektra titles.

Back to Crushing Comics