Elektra Part 3: Bizarre Adventures #28 (September, 1981)

I consider this Elektra’s third appearance for two reasons:
Her next appearance is in Daredevil #174, also dated September, 1981, so from a publication standpoint, this story fits here chronologically. Also, this story takes place outside of New York, which means Elektra was so distraught over the events of Daredevil #’s 168 & 169 that she left the city, if not the country.

I have this story in the Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller Vol. 3 trade.


Elektra is on a ship somewhere at sea where she kills a few men and sets a time bomb. Before she can get away, she’s ambushed and has to fight her way through. The bomb goes off, sinking the ship, but she’s injured and is stuck floating on debris with the man she was hired to kill. Her target explains that her employer, an old man named Von Eisenbluth, was a Nazi and during the war he performed experiments on Jews. Elektra’s target had escaped the camp, and was here for revenge. They make it to Von Eisenbluth’s island when he shoots her, and sets off to seek justice. Elektra’s still alive of course, and makes it to Von Eisenbluth’s mansion in time to hear her target shoot her employer in the legs. This doesn’t seem to bother Von Eisenbluth because he’s so old his legs have been numb for a while. The old man then pulls out his own gun and shoots his trespasser dead. Von Eisenbluth then apologizes to Elektra for stealing her kill, saying that it’s been “such a long time since I have shot a Jew.” Elektra turns to leave, then spins around and hurls a sai into the old man, killing him.

Notes of Interest:
1) This is only nine pages long, being just one of several stories in this issue.

2) Miller’s writing chops are strong here - early film noir with a little pre-Quentin Tarantino time jumping going on. Makes me wonder if Tarantino ever read this.

3) I like how we see her resourcefulness. She loses one sai by the time she’s in the water, and gives up an earring to reach a dune buggy. Talk about using what you have…

4) Elektra shows a little morality here, killing her employer. Maybe seeing Matt again affected her more deeply than she thought?

5) She must be pretty good at throwing sais around to have this one go through Von Eisenbluth’s body into the chair behind him.

WTF? Moment: Where does Miller come up with the names? Von Eisenbluth? Really?