Elektra: The Hand (Vol. 1)

**Line**: Marvel Knights

**Status**: Ongoing

## Details

**ELEKTRA: THE HAND**

Writer: CHUCK DIXON

 Artist: JEROME OPEÑA

Location: America/Japan

Concept: Elektra takes her rightful place as leader of the Hand with the goal of reforming the ancient ninja clan.

1. Elektra

 2. Echo

3. Jimmy Hudson (Ultimate Wolverine)

4. Ronin

5. Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe) Supporting: Snake Eyes (G.I. Joe) Villains: Ogun; Black Spectre (Mandrill); Maggia (Nefaria family (Count Nefaria); Silvermane Family; Hammerhead); Lady Bullseye; Deathwatch

## Issues

**ELEKTRA: THE HAND #1**

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"THE FIVE FINGERS"

The smoke has cleared following the Hand versus Foot war, and one ninja has emerged as undisputed shogun - the leader of a new, united clan. Her name is Elektra, and she's dedicated to making this reformed Hand a force for good!

Having expunged the dark magic practitioners, Elektra has assembled a new ruling council referred to as the Five Fingers. She is the thumb, who is essential and works with the others to create a strong grip. Echo, the deaf warrior with photographic reflexes, is the pointer finger. Her unwavering integrity will guide the Hand in a positive direction. Master Splinter, mentor of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is the ring finger due to his aspirational dedication and commitment to the honorable practice of ninjutsu. The little finger is Ronin. Many have worn the mask in the past, but this mysterious Ronin will serve a small but important role that only Elektra knows. And finally, the middle finger is the Arashikage master Storm Shadow. He is bold and defiant and isn't afraid to take necessary action. He led the Hand before Elektra, and now he is her most trusted advisor... and perhaps more?

From their base in Manhattan's Shadowland, the new Hand embarks on its first mission, which will also be the repayment of a debt to an old ally: the rescue of Jimmy Hudson, the young "ultimate" Wolverine and son of Logan, who they've learned has been held captive since the dissolution of the X-S.C.A.P.E. covert opts team by the terrorist organization Black Spectre! Is the Hand ready to take action that might already start another war?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #2

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"NO SUCH THING AS THE MAGGIA" Part One "FAMILY FEUD"

It's ninjas versus mobsters as Elektra decides to use her Hand to suffocate the world's most prolific consortium of organized criminals - the Maggia! The two biggest Maggia families - the Silvermanes and the Nefarias - must be the first to fall, though their defeat will be far easier planned than executed! While Ronin and the others attack street level drug and weapon trafficking operations, Elektra secretly requests that her new lover Storm Shadow engage in the clan's necessary wetwork, activities that involve a level of violence that Master Splinter and Echo may not approve of. His first task - eliminate the head of the snake - Silvio "Silvermane" Manfredi. But the Arashikage master isn't prepared when his target turns out to be a cyborg wise guy with superhuman strength and durability!

Meanwhile, young Jimmy Howlett awakens in Shadowland - finally liberated from the clutches of Black Spectre. But it's a bad time to be a son of Wolverine (see THE UNCANNY X-MEN #33), and Jimmy is left directionless. Can Splinter help him find a place within the Hand? And is that what Black Spectre's leader, the master manipulator Mandrill, wanted all along???

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #3

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"NO SUCH THING AS THE MAGGIA" Part Two

The ninja vs. mobster war escalates! Cyborg wiseguy Silvio "Silvermane" Manfredi has captured his would-be assassin and Elektra's lover Storm Shadow and is holding him ransom. His demands? The Hand must cease all hostilities against the Maggia. To Elektra, those terms are unacceptable. Instead, she, Echo, Ronin, and Raphael will set a trap for Silvermane... but Silvermane's set a trap of his own with assistance of his capo, Hammerhead!

Meanwhile, Splinter continues to integrate Jimmy Hudson into the new Hand. But Jimmy's odd behavior indicates that his time as a captive of Black Spectre is still affecting him. There's nothing serious to worry about though. After all, it's well established that the mind-control powers of Blck Spectre's leader, the menacing Mandrill, only work on women... Right?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #4

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"NO SUCH THING AS THE MAGGIA" Part Three "HEAD BUTTS"

This is it. Elektra versus Silvermane. The art of ninjutsu versus the science of cybernetics. What was once Silvermane's palatial Long Island estate has become a war zone, and the leaders of the Hand and Maggia factions have found each other in the fray. This is Elektra's chance to cut the head off the prominent Manfredi crime family and save her lover Storm Shadow. But, not unlike the ninja of Japan, ancient Italy has its own brand of legendary killers... and Silvermane is ready to unleash them!

Meanwhile, Master Splinter suspects that his new protégée Jimmy Hudson may not have fully recovered from his time spent as a prisoner of Black Spectre. Little does he know, Black Spectre's leader spent extra time on Jimmy. Mandrill's mind control powers traditionally only work on women, so he had to exploit the rules of gender fluidity to bring forth Jimmy's feminine side. Mandrill now fully controls "Jamie Hudson," and while Jimmy aims to work with his new clan, Jamie is going to burn the Hand to the ground!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #5

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"TRANSLETHAL" part one "HONEY TRAP"

Having seemingly defeated Silvermane's Maggie family and sent them fleeing from New York, Elektra and the Hand turn their attention to another enemy. The criminal/terrorist organization Black Spectre is led by the Mandrill, a horrific monster inside and out. He has the appearance of a primate and the ability to control the minds of females - a violative ability he uses to dominate and strip women of their agency. This alone makes him a priority for elimination in the eyes of Elektra, Echo, and the other Hand leaders. But given her gender, Elektra herself is hesitant to lead an attack. Her lover and majordomo, Storm Shadow, will instead lead an all-male assault on Black Spectre's compound. Joining him will be Splinter's newest protege, the ultimate wolverine Jimmy Hudson. The Hand believes Jimmy will want revenge, given that Black Spectre held him prisoner for over a year. Little do they know that Mandrill exploited the rules of gender fluidity to create the female persona of Jamie Hudson within Jimmy - a persona the Mandrill could control! Now Storm Shadow, Raphael, Ronin, and the other ninjas are about to walk into a perfectly laid trap - one they may not walk away from!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #6

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"TRANSLETHAL" part two "FAY WRAY COME OUT AND PLAY"

The leader of Black Spectre, the heinous Mandrill, can mentally control women. Elektra thought a Hand ninja strikeforce comprised only of men would lead to his defeat. She didn't anticipate that the ultimate wolverine, Jimmy Hudson, had birthed an alternate female personality while imprisoned by Black Spectre for an entire year - a female personality totally controlled by the Mandrill! Jimmy has betrayed his team and left them at Black Spectre's mercy!

Now is the time for Mandrill's grandest plans to come to fruition. Days ago, he enlisted the help of the mutant Fabian Cortez, whose power is to amplify the powers of others. With Fabian at his side and the males of the Hand defeated, Mandrill ascends to the top of the Empire State Building in a horrific tribute to King Kong - intent on spreading his pheromones across the entirety of Manhattan and controlling the minds of every woman in New York! Elektra must lead Echo and the female Hand members on an impossible mission to knock the simian super-villain from the skyscraper knowing that one errant breathe could render them his slaves!

Plus, Storm Shadow must survive as an unwilling combatant in Black Spectre's seedy fight club in a cage match against the unkillable clawed child of wolverine, "Jamie" Hudson!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #7

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"NINJAS VS. PIRATES IN SPACE" part one "A HISTORY OF VIOLENT NON-VIOLENCE"

Long ago, a pacifist sect of Kree monks were exiled from their homeworld of Hala. Some of these monks found their way to Earth, where they established a temple in what would one day be called Vietnam. There, these Priests of Pama practiced and perfected Kree martial arts and, selectively over the centuries, taught some humans their ways. One of these humans was the Hard Master of 15th-century Japan's Arashikage ninja clan, the ancestor of Storm Shadow, who believed he was chosen by Hachiman (八幡神), the god of war, to master all forms of combat - terrestrial and otherwise. But the Hard Master was arrogant, and when he learned that the pacifist exiles were hiding an alien sword of untold might known as the Halana Blade, he had to steal it. He brought the weapon back to his clan, and though he never learned how to harness its power, when the Arashikage split (see SNAKE EYES: REAL AMERICAN HERO #8), it was was taken by the faction that would become the Hand. In cosmic circles today, the Halana Blade is considered a long-lost and priceless treasure spoke of in taverns and space-ports across the galaxy. There's nothing pirates love more than treasure, and there's no greater pirates in the galaxy than the STARJAMMERS! A mysterious tip leads Corsair, Ch'od, Raza Longknife, and the rest of the crew to Earth and Vietnam, where they learn the treasure's last whereabouts. Get ready for a clash of natural enemies, pirates and ninjas, with a sci-fi twist as the Starjammers come for the Halana Blade - whether Elektra and the Hand are willing to part with it or not!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ELEKTRA: THE HAND #8

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

"NINJAS VS. PIRATES IN SPACE" part two "THRASH AND TREASURE"

The Starjammers, swashbuckling pirates of the cosmos, discovered that the Earth-born ninjas in the Hand secretly possessed the long-lost, ancient, and incredibly dangerous (and therefore incalculably valuable) Kree weapon known as the Halana Blade - and in a daring and unexpected raid, they plundered it right from the heart of Manhattan's Shadowland! But the Hand has come under new management since Corsair and his band of space buccaneers last visited the planet. Its new shogun, Elektra, will not tolerate such brazen theft and will reclaim her clan's treasure! Enter the mysterious Ronin, the heretofore nameless finger of the new Hand whom Elektra finally reveals to be none other than Zen: Intergalactic Ninja! A discarded work of Rigellian genetic engineering trained by the Mystic Masters of Om, the unparalleled martial artist Zen was the first alien who came looking for the Halana Blade - though he was convinced it was safe in Elektra's hands. He does not feel the same way about space pirates...

Zen has a starship that can give pursuit, but first Elektra, Zen, and Echo must break into U.S. Space Command to steal information on the Starjammers' course. Too bad the crew of the U.S.S. Excelsior happens to be in port and ready to defend their home base!

Meanwhile, Storm Shadow, Raphael, and a recovered Jimmy Hudson travel to Vietnam to learn from the reclusive Priests of Pama what exactly the Halana Blade is. Unfortunately, these exiled Kree monks have long memories and recognize that it was Storm Shadow's ancestor who stole the blade from them in the first place...

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99