Does Elektra Have Powers – Looming Obsession

Does Elektra Have Powers? That stay around I mean.

Elektra Natchios, the femme fatale kunoichi created by Frank Miller has quite a reputation. Aside from her on-and-off relationship with Daredevil, this mercenary has plenty going for her. Elektra has quite a rich life full of struggles, whether it’s her losses or escaping dominating forces.

But there’s one part of her life that’s so bizarre most writers don’t touch it. In Miller’s wild mini-series Elektra: Assassin he and artist Bill Sienkiewicz show off her mindbending psychic powers. But in more recent comics like Dark Reign: Elektra people say this information is out of date. And considering that Elektra doesn’t use this power much, maybe they’re right. But what if it’s something bigger.

Does Elektra Have Powers in Assassin?

In the eight issue mini-series Elektra uses a hypnotic psychic power that allows her to swap minds. The first instance is where she assumes the identity of a comatose woman. Apparently it works so well that to everybody else including the woman’s coworkers can’t tell something’s off. Except for a cyborg agent Elektra already encountered from touching his mind. Yeah and apparently she and Garret have a telepathic connection. It’s how Elektra has to call for help when her consciousness is about to go vegetative in her assumed identity. Did that make any sense? No? Good, because that’s what I’m here for.

Power Origins

Full disclosure, Occam’s Razor dictates that this power isn’t used anymore because it feels too absurd for martial arts crime drama. I mean I first thought it was because of some of the SHIELD technology and implants Elektra acquired from that cyborg. Cuz she did access records from some kind of huge headset. It would make sense she would get rid of that tool since it served its purpose.

But I have a feeling that in-universe this psychic power of Elektra’s is tied to the Hand. You know, the weakest link in Daredevil season 2 because of executive meddling?

…The ninja cabal who serve the interests of a primordial demon called The Beast? Anyone?

(Sigh) Through this demon, the Hand developed drugs with different effects. Some are used with brainwashing. Just ignore the evolutionary regression angle. The lizard brain has been debunked. All that you need to know is the drug enhances physicality and survival instinct, at the cost reason and affection.

As for Elektra’s powers, it seems to be tied to another drug. Apparently a mayonnaise smelling milk gives whoever drinks it a connection to the Beast. It’s what allows the Beast to possess a rather uncanny senator. Plus this power seems to act like a hive mind since some of the Hand ninja are able to track Elektra and ambush her.

Wait, But How Did…?

Admittedly that last bit is a best guess. Garret the cyborg agent could just as easily identify Elektra’s “form” after he receives a psychic impression from her. But he never seems to hear anything from the Beast.

My best guess is that Elektra’s variant is a mutation. Because in a few Wolverine issues, she uses a little telekinesis. Unlike the other Hand ninja who never demonstrate anything similar. How or why? Frankly those are questions for different times.

So How Does Elektra Have Powers?

Back onto why Elektra doesn’t use her psychic powers much anymore. Probably to keep the Beast out of her head. Whether the Beast has that hive mind or not, it still haunts Elektra for breaking rank with The Hand.

Would you like to keep hearing voices, especially from a monster that can claw at your flesh without touching you? Plus it’s safe to say that psychic connection is what The Beast uses to reincarnate; you know Anti-Christ prophecy jargon. So yeah, what’s the point of having powers if it comes with that baggage?

Or maybe some other writer will come up with why does Elektra have powers. Who knows; the ink’s not dry yet.

Thanks for coming and as always remember to look between the panels.