Warning: Spoilers for Daredevil #14!The central romance betweenDaredevilandElektrais officially over. Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios have been entangled in a love affair of some sort since Elektra’s 1980 debut. While Elektra isn’t Daredevil’s first love interest, she is his most significant, and vice versa. Their journeys are forever intertwined, to the point thatElektra becomes the new Daredevilbecause of her relationship with Matt.
That relationship is now over as ofDaredevil#14 by Saladin Ahmed, Luigi Zagaria, Jesus Aburtov, and Clayton Cowles. After several past issues of growing tension between the pair, Elektra makes one last definitive statement about their relationship status:“There is no longer a we, Matthew.”
Tracking the history of Elektra andDaredevil’srelationship from their humble beginnings to now helps to truly understand why the two are done - and why, regardless of whether this is a temporary break-up,their separation might be for the best.
How the Romance of Matt Murdock and Elektra Natchios Began
Daredevil#168 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Joe Rosen
Matt and Elektra’s complicated relationship first begins inDaredevil#168, which also marks Elektra’s on-panel debut. The issue begins business-as-usual with the title character interrogating criminals - until their meeting is interrupted by an assassin dressed in all red, hoping to collect a bounty on Daredevil’s head. Matt is disturbed when he immediately recognizes the voice of his attacker. He calls her Elektra, prompting a flashback that reveals howhe and Elektra first met when they were much youngerwhile attending Columbia University.
Much of Elektra’s backstory is covered in the fan-favorite MarvelDaredevilshow, streaming now on Disney+!
A romance quickly blossomed from their first chance encounter. What followed wasa year-long dating situation that lasted until she watched her father die during a hostage situation, prompting her to go back to her native Europe. There, she trained to become a ruthless bounty hunter, paving the way for her to reunite with Matt on opposite sides of the law. By issue’s end, Elektra learns that it’s her former lover Matt under the Daredevil mask, further complicating their relationship. From then on, Daredevil works hard to reform the assassin, pushing her towards the side of good.
Daredevil Reformed Elektra, Leading to Her Taking on the Mantle
Daredevil#25 by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Marcio Menyz, and Clayton Cowles
Over the years, Matt attempts to reform Elektra’s questionable morals as an assassin to varying results, but the greatest result begins inDaredevil#25. After the former lawyer is arrested and put behind bars, Hell’s Kitchen is still in need of a Guardian Devil.Elektra assumes that mantle in his place,a mantle she still carries and shares with the original Daredevil to this day. At the time, it was really Elektra’s deliberate attempt to gain Matt’s trust to build the Fist, an opposing force to the Hand, but the long-term effects of becoming Daredevil stick with Elektra. In fact, she now sticks toa no-kill rule in Matt’s honor.
Not long after this, the biggest turn in Elektra and Matt’s relationship transpires:they get married in order to form the Fist, becoming the King and Queen of the Fist in their battle against the Hand. While well-intentioned, their efforts prove for naught and only lead to their friends being captured by the Beast in Hell, forcingDaredevil to sacrifice himselfby going to Hell to save them as the Hand of God. Everyone assumes Matt died from the ordeal, including Elektra, until he resurfaces,reincarnated as a priest.
Elektra was ready to accept him back into her life - until he clarified that he couldn’t leave his new life, not even for the love of his life.
When Matt first returned to the living, his memories as Daredevil were wiped in favor of the new life that God thrust upon him as Father Matthew. Elektra accepted this and even continued being Daredevil while he was busy caring for orphaned youths. Once his memories returned - as the Seven Deadly Sins from Hell were hunting him - Elektra was ready to accept him back into her life. However, Matt clarified thathe couldn’t leave his new life as a priest, not even for the love of his life. She was confused and heartbroken, but accepted it.
Where Do Elektra and Daredevil Stand Today?
How the Fan-Favorite Marvel Romance Died
As the two continued to work together with each passing issue, heartbreak grew for Elektra the more she worked with a man who was half-in and half-out of her life. Her acceptance grew into frustration untilshe decided to break up with Father Matt for good. It also didn’t help that, against Elektra’s wishes, Matt refused to punish Kingpin for his latest crimes, as he was possessed during said crimes. Elektra was less than understanding, and letting Wilson Fisk walk was the final straw for her.
Kingpin’s New Fire Powers Make Him the Perfect Demonic Opposite of Daredevil
Daredevil has gone toe-to-toe with Kingpin before, but now that Wilson Fisk has demonic powers, he’s bringing Hell to Man Without Fear.
Since the root of their conflict lies in Matt refusing to leave his new life as a priest behind, it looks evident that this relationship is over for the time being. That being said, the two have found each other again through worse circumstances (like death) one too many times in the past for fans to believe that this is truly the nail in the coffin for them. It may take time, and it’s not likely to happen anytime soon, but the chances are likely that one day,DaredevilandElektrawill reunite.
