Frank Miller created Elektra. Then he killed her. It was up to him to bring her back again, in a special stand-alone graphic novel from Marvel's former Epic imprint. Fifteen years later, Elektra Lives Again is still a top-notch story filled with layers and symbols -- and I don't usually like back-from-the-dead stories.

Although named for Elektra, the book focuses more on Daredevil -- or, rather, his alter-ego Matt Murdock. Matt is obsessed with his former lover, who vies with Karen Page for the role of Love of His Life. But, while Matt and Karen might have made a good life together, Matt and Elektra never had a shot; the ninja-trained assassin crossed too many lines and was, let's face it, just too independent ever to settle down. Hell, Matt would have had better luck setting up housekeeping with the Black Widow!

Back to the story. Elektra is dead. Or is she? Matt's having repeating, highly detailed nightmares about the mystical Hand's efforts to bring Elektra back from the grave. The process involves killing, then resurrecting the person who killed her: Bullseye. So, when Bullseye is murdered in prison, Matt begins to suspect that his dreams are more than just passing fancies.

There are, of course, lots of brief, brutal battles with ninjas from the Hand. Even better is a short, swift mind game between Matt and the man who shoved a pen through Bullseye's skull. As for Elektra herself, she makes quite a few appearances, but it's often not clear whether she's there or if it's another of Matt's bad dreams. (Or, in one case, a pretty darn good dream.)

Appropriately, the book leaves you with many questions. Obviously, anyone who haunts comic shops now knows Elektra is in fact alive again -- although she may be dead for good in Hollywood -- but it's anyone's guess how she stands at the end of Elektra Lives Again.

- Rambles
written by Tom Knapp
published 5 February 2005